I have been wondering for some time now about Israel's right of statehood from a biblical perspective. I know from the Bible that Israel isn't any longer God's chosen nation. Only through faith in Jesus and the obedience to his teaching will God grant us "citizenship." However, in the current light of the war between Israel and the Palestinians, I have a difficult time to decide which side is right. (My guess is both are dead wrong.) I am grieved over the bloodshed in the "Holy" land. My question: did God provide Israel for the surviving Jews in 1945? Apparently, God has allowed this to happen. Does the Bible have any prophecies about a restoration of a Jewish state other than after the Babylonian exile? In some religious circles, the 21st century restoration of Israel is being taught. According to religious theology, you are sinning if you don't support Israel. There are various slogans like "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem," "America is blessed because it supports Israel" and "Blessed are those who bless Israel." What do you say? -- Katja Percoski (San Diego)
I do not mean to minimize the suffering of the Jewish people through the centuries -- especially at the hand of "Christians" -- yet I agree with you that pursuit of political and military solutions is really barking up the wrong tree. Moreover, I believe the prophecies about the restoration of Israel and its receiving its land back were fulfilled centuries before Christ, so the thinking "America is blessed because it supports Israel" is flawed from a biblical perspective.
In saying these things, I am not making a political suggestion. I have friends -- and brothers in Christ -- on the Israeli side as well as on the Palestinian side. The sphere of politics is completely separate from the sphere of the spiritual, at least under the new covenant. Jesus' kingdom is not of this world (John 18)!
This article is copyrighted and is for private use and study only. © 2004. Reprints or public distribution is prohibited without the express consent of Douglas Jacoby.
