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Upon my arrival to Israel, I had no idea what to expect. I was aware of their current ceasefire agreement but other than that, I had no idea what was going on. I also usually don't bother to watch the news because it's mostly lies and propaganda anyway. Besides, my mind was set on visiting the most biblically iconic sites that Israel had to offer.
Considering the country was at war just a few days prior to my arrival, there were certain aspects of daily life here that I simply couldn't avoid. While visiting the tomb of Abraham in Hebron, we got stuck at a checkpoint for two hours. Coming from America, I assumed there was a logical reason for the hold up. Once we finally got through the line, however, there were just soldiers standing guard, pointing guns at the cars as they drove by.
I thought to myself, "This is strange." I wondered what the point of this was. I soon realized that it was merely to make the life of the Palestinians harder. Not thinking much more of it, we proceeded to leave the area and head back to Jerusalem.
It wasn't long before I started making friends in Jerusalem and was invited into a home to eat with a family of a friend who worked at a new hotel downtown. We were having a great time discussing aspects of life and faith while getting to know each other on a more personal level, when suddenly, multiple shots rang. Hoping that the urine running down my leg wasn't noticeable, I asked in my most confident tone, "What was that?"
They proceeded to tell me that some of the Israeli police shoot out gas at night to pollute the quality of the air that they breathe. In disbelief, I watched as she proceeded to show me proof of these actions. Her friend had sent her videos of this very thing happening a few nights before. I couldn't help but think to myself, "Is this the same Israel that I've been supporting from America?"
The reality is that most people in America only support Israel because of its significance in the Bible and not based on the state of the country today. So we have blindly supported Israel no matter what because at some point the children of Israel were known as God's people. We see in the Bible, however, God Himself doesn't show this type of blind loyalty to Israel. They only got full support from God when their actions and behaviour reflected His character.
"4 And the Lord said to him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in the midst of it. 5 And to the others He said in my hearing, Follow [the man with the ink bottle] through the city and smite; let not your eye spare, neither have any pity. 6 Slay outright the elderly, the young man and the virgin, the infant and the women; but do not touch or go near anyone on whom is the mark. Begin at My sanctuary. So they began with the old men who were in front of the temple [who did not have the Lord’s mark on their foreheads]. 7 And He said to [the executioners], Defile the temple and fill its courts with the slain. Go forth! And they went forth and slew in the city. 8 And while they were slaying them and I was left, I fell upon my face and cried, Ah, Lord God! Will You destroy all that is left of Israel in Your pouring out of Your wrath and indignation upon Jerusalem? 9 Then said He to me, The iniquity and guilt of the house of Israel and Judah are exceedingly great; the land is full of blood and the city full of injustice and perverseness; for they say, The Lord has forsaken the land; the Lord does not see [what we are doing]. 10 And as for Me, My eye will not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their wicked doings upon their own heads." - Ezekiel 9:4-10 AMPC
Ironically, isn't this the exact reason that Jesus Himself now accepts everyone with open arms? Because He was rejected by the people that He chose first?
"16 But Jesus said to him, A man was once giving a great supper and invited many; 17 And at the hour for the supper he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, Come, for all is now ready. 18 But they all alike began to make excuses and to beg off. The first said to him, I have bought a piece of land, and I have to go out and see it; I beg you, have me excused. 19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to examine and put my approval on them; I beg you, have me excused. 20 And another said, I have married a wife, and because of this I am unable to come. 21 So the servant came and reported these [answers] to his master. Then the master of the house said in wrath to his servant, Go quickly into the great streets and the small streets of the city and bring in here the poor and the disabled and the blind and the lame. 22 And the servant [returning] said, Sir, what you have commanded me to do has been done, and yet there is room. 23 Then the master said to the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges and urge and constrain [them] to yield and come in, so that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you, not one of those who were invited shall taste my supper." - Luke 14:16-24 AMPC
Unfortunately, we have pledged our allegiance to a state that is known for killing the prophets and the execution of God's only begotten Son. Perhaps this delusional stance stems from the presence of sin within our own lives and us hoping that God will turn a blind eye to our lives as well and only listen to our words. Maybe our support for Israel is merely another check on our list of religous obligations.
"37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, murdering the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together as a mother fowl gathers her brood under her wings, and you refused! 38 Behold, your house is forsaken and desolate (abandoned and left destitute of God’s help)." - Matthew 23:37-38 AMPC
If we look at the statistics today, Christianity only makes up 2% of the religion in the state of Israel. Have we solidified our commitment to a state that rejects Jesus and His authority simply because they were mentioned in the Bible? What about Jesus Himself? Is it possible to love Jesus and stand with a state that constantly proves it is against Him by their beliefs and behavior? Last time I checked, it was the Prophets that made the land Holy not the land that made the Prophets Holy.
"37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:" - Hebrews 11:37-39 KJV
Has the current state of Israel become an idol over Jesus in the hearts of the American people? Have we become so accustomed to the support of Israel that we are completely denying the ways and teaching of Jesus Christ simply to keep our tradition?
"51 You stubborn and stiff-necked people, still heathen and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are always actively resisting the Holy Spirit. As your forefathers [were], so you [are and so you do]! 52 Which of the prophets did your forefathers not persecute? And they slew those who proclaimed beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, Whom you now have betrayed and murdered—53 You who received the Law as it was ordained and set in order and delivered by angels, and [yet] you did not obey it!" - Acts 7:51-53 AMPC
Sadly, it is the tradition of men that killed our Lord and Savior in the first place. Is it possible that we are murdering Jesus today without realizing it?
"8 You disregard and give up and ask to depart from you the commandment of God and cling to the tradition of men [keeping it carefully and faithfully]. 9 And He said to them, You have a fine way of rejecting [thus thwarting and nullifying and doing away with] the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition (your own human regulations)!" - Mark 7:8-9 AMPC
Does not Jesus Himself say, "Whatever you do to the least of these, you do to Me"?
"40 And the King will reply to them, Truly I tell you, in so far as you did it for one of the least [in the estimation of men] of these My brethren, you did it for Me. 41 Then He will say to those at His left hand, Begone from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels! 42 For I was hungry and you gave Me no food, I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome Me and entertain Me, I was naked and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not visit Me with help and ministering care. 44 Then they also [in their turn] will answer, Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You? 45 And He will reply to them, Solemnly I declare to you, in so far as you failed to do it for the least [in the estimation of men] of these, you failed to do it for Me." - Matthew 25:4045 AMPC
Have we condoned the killing of people that Jesus compared Himself to? Real religion is to be a voice for the voiceless, to offer hope to the hopeless and to stand with those who are oppressed.
"27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." - James 1:27 KJV
We must allow God Himself to lead us in who we support and not Fox News. Otherwise we will be fooled into falling in love with the oppressor and hating the oppressed.
Question of the Day: Has our loyalty to Israel blinded us from their hatred towards Jesus and everyone else?