September 30, 2024
“The land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I will give it to you, and I will give the land to your descendants after you.” (Genesis 35:12)
There is something foundational that people need to know about the nation of Israel, the conflicts we have seen through the ages, and the conflict we see right now.
The land of Israel was given to the Jews directly from God. He promised it to Abraham and then reiterated that promise to his son and grandson. And it is an everlasting promise with no exceptions. “I will give it to you,” God said, “and I will give the land to your descendants after you.”
You can see this promise in multiple places—Gen 12:7; 13:15; 26:3, 4; 28:13; Ex 32:13. It is the only nation on earth that left their land for decades and then returned. This can only be explained by the activity of God Himself.
THE REASON FOR THE CONFLICT
There is an enemy that we all have. He is unseen and powerful, and the Bible describes him as Satan, the Prince of this world. He has a great deal of temporary authority, and he is served by a host of helpers. Paul reminds us of this:
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12)
Satan hates God and anything that represents God. He hates the promises of God and seeks to thwart God at every turn. He hates that God has been faithful to His promise, returning the Jews to the land of Israel in 1948 (the greatest national promise from God fulfilled in our lifetime). Satan also knows that the land of Israel will play a major part in the fulfillment of the prophecies regarding the end of this age. And Satan has one stated goal: He comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10).
For decades, since the beginning, this Enemy has sought to destroy the nation of Israel—to annihilate them—and remove them from this land. Why has anti-Semitism always been with us? It is demonically driven. Why do college students march and riot in hatred of the Jews? Why did Hitler seek out and kill 6 million Jews? Why is there a hatred of the Jews around the world? No one nation is hated by so many (and it has always been so for no reason.) We must realize it is all about the promises and purposes of God and a deeper, evil force seeking to abort the work of God.
OUR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT
I have been to Israel over a dozen times, taking groups of people to encounter God in ways that can only happen when you are standing in the very places where Abraham, Issac, and Jacob; David and Elijah; Peter and Paul and Jesus Himself stood. It is a sacred place and a reminder of the faithfulness of God.
This is why, as the Psalmist says, we should pray for the peace of Jerusalem and support Israel. It does not mean that we agree with every action they take. But it does mean that we support their right and calling from God to live on the land He has promised and defend themselves from every enemy that seeks to remove them. God is involved in this promise, and He will see it fulfilled. He is always faithful to His promises.
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