Many Bible-believing
Christians today see the handiwork of God in the regathering of
the Jewish People to their reborn state—Israel. The news is
filled with the great drama now going on there. Two peoples are
locked in a struggle of epic proportions. To the worldly, not
enlightened by the prophetic lamp of the scriptures, the
struggle is merely political. It is not. At stake is the
question, "Who is God?" Is He the mighty Yahweh of the
Jews or Allah of the Muslim faith? The question is valid and
vital.
Where we as Christians stand
on this issue is of utmost importance. Are we supporting the
Arab side of the land struggle? If so we may, unwittingly, be
opposing our God. The prophet Ezekiel shows us God’s
perspective on the contested land and the embattled Jewish
people. Speaking to the invading forces of Gog at the time of
Israel’s final battle, God warns, "And thou shalt come up
against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover
the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee
against my land, that the heathen may know me,
when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their
eyes." Ezekiel 38:16
We emphasize the phrases my
people and my land. God tells us in this verse that
He considers the Jewish people and the Land of Israel to be
His. Note that this occurs before the revealment of Messiah
to the Jews as recorded in Zechariah 12:10. The land of Israel
and the Jewish people are inseparable. This is by Divine decree.
God promised the land to Abraham and his seed after him. That
promise was passed from Abraham to Isaac, then to Jacob and on
to the twelve tribes of Israel.
Simply put, if Allah’s
nation of Islam succeeds in wresting the land of Israel from the
Jewish people—the prophecies of our Judeo-Christian Bible will
have failed. The Bible would be invalidated and the Koran
verified as the true word of God to men. We are full of faith
that God’s word will not return to Him void. The Jewish people
will receive the Biblically promised land. They will do so even
if the whole world opposes them—for God’s will shall be
done.
The Israeli-Arab conflict over
the land seems epitomized in the current Hebron negotiations.
Almost daily we hear of Hebron’s little band of Jewish
settlers and their struggles to thrive as a community. We were
there a few months ago and would like to share with you
perspectives we gained. Consider. . .
A Brief History Lesson
Many are unaware of the modern
history of the Jews in Hebron. Until 1929 there was a thriving
Jewish community in Hebron. Jewish merchants and citizens lived
in peaceful coexistence with their Arab neighbors. Civility
characterized their interaction. More importantly, Jewish
physicians and nurses ran the sole health clinic in Hebron. The
amount of charitable care they provided the Arab community was
large. They were the only source of health care for the Arabs.
Riots plagued Jerusalem prior
to 1929, instigated by the Arab community. The result of these
riots was murderous persecutions of Jews in the "City of
Peace." Hebron remained quiet. Harmony between Jews and
Arabs prevailed until Arabs from Jerusalem came to foment
uprisings in Hebron. The quiescent way of coexistence there was
soon to be shattered.
British officers, as
eyewitnesses recall, told Hebron’s Jewish community leaders
that they were short on weapons. Due to this shortage they
couldn’t guarantee British protection of Hebron’s Jews
should the Arabs attack them. Unfortunately, the British also
told the Arabs the same thing.
August 1929 in Hebron was a
bloody month. Arabs began attacking Jews. Using knives, axes,
machetes, picks—whatever they could find—indiscriminate
attacks were unleashed. Not only were strong young Jewish men
brutalized, but also women, the elderly and even tender young
children. When Arab fury was, for the time being, satiated—69
of Hebron’s Jews had been slaughtered. Photographs of the
survivors keep the story fresh in our minds. Pictorial records
of victims’ wounds deeply jar our Christian sensibilities.
Having their fill of Jewish
blood the rioters began to turn on the British, who were
standing by to watch the melee. Seeing the advancing mob, an
officer on horseback drew his pistol and fired two shots into
the air. The riot stopped then and there. If only that man had
fired his precious two bullets an hour or two earlier, much
human suffering would have been averted.
The survivors were told that
their safety could no longer be guaranteed. They had to leave
their homes, synagogues, businesses and fields without any
financial compensation. Imagine suffering such material loss in
addition to their physical wounds. The Jewish community of
Hebron faded and, after the 1948 War of Independence, was
completely gone. Gone were benefactors of the Arabs. The medical
clinic was closed. Jews were barred from Hebron by its Jordanian
Army occupiers until after the ‘67 War.
In 1979, Jews finally began to
return to their homes and synagogues left behind for a half
century. What drew them there? What could impel them to move to
such an inhospitable place—whose bloody past looms over the
present? Quite simply and powerfully—the Word of God.
Scriptural Reasons
We heard an oft repeated
refrain in our travels in Israel. Jerusalem is the heart of
Israel and Hebron is the mother of Israel. Jewish roots here are
deep—the result of a history that goes back more than three
millennia! Abram dwelled in Mamre, which is in Hebron. Genesis
13:14-18 Abraham bought the cave of Machpelah in Hebron for 400
shekels of silver. Genesis 23:17-20 Joshua took Hebron as part
of the promised land of Canaan. Joshua 14:6-14 Hebron was one of
the six Cities of Refuge. Joshua 21:13 David began his reign
over Judah in Hebron. 2 Samuel 2:1-4 In Hebron David was
anointed king over all Israel. 2 Samuel 5:1-3 Conversely, Hebron
is not mentioned at all in the Koran.
The Tomb of the Patriarchs
holds the bones of the Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their wives—the
parents of the Jewish people. Is it any wonder that the Jews are
compelled to live here beside their ancestors? Their deep faith
yearns to be connected with the land and cities God gave to
their fathers. Bible prophecy assures us that one day their
hopes will be amply fulfilled.
Christian Beware
Some of our Christian friends
support the concept of Replacement Theology. That is, Israel has
been everlastingly superseded by the Christian Church.
Supposedly, Israel’s national role in God’s plan is
finished. (We do not agree. Limited space does not here permit a
verse-by-verse consideration of Romans, Chapter 11. Read it
carefully several times. It powerfully teaches Israel’s
continuing and future place in God’s plan for mankind.)
Generally the traditional
Christian churches tend to hold Replacement Theology’s
tenants. Not seeing Biblical promises to the land or people of
Israel as existing any longer, these churches actively support
the Muslim cause. They say that Israel should give up land.
Recently (December 1996) they sponsored a full page
advertisement in The New York Times calling for Israel to give
up sole administration of Jerusalem.
Ironically, in supporting
Islam’s aims, these Christians may be hurting the cause of
Christ. Islam’s goal is world domination. We quote from their
fiery rhetoric, "The governments of the world should know
that Islam cannot be defeated. Islam will be victorious in all
the countries of the world, and Islam and the teachings of the
Koran will prevail all over the world. Only then will their
Jihad (Holy War) be complete." "We shall export our
revolution to the whole world. Until the cry ‘Allahu Akbar’
resounds over the whole world, there will be struggle. There
will be jihad." We note the burgeoning growth of
mosques in the United States and Europe. (Interestingly, for the
first time, in December 1996 Islam’s half-crescent symbol was
raised in New York’s Grand Central Terminal alongside a
Christmas tree and a Hanukah Menorah for the holiday season.)
PLO flags covered with Arabic
script are displayed in public gatherings. The message,
"First we will kill the Saturday people and then we’ll
kill the Sunday people." Internationally renowned Bishop
Desmond Tutu recently addressed a snickering crowd of Arabs. He
was standing under such a banner as he spoke.
As Christians we must support
the message of our Bible. Israel, dwelling in its God given land
as a blesser nation, is part of that message. The God of Israel,
not Allah, shall reign over all the earth.
Concluding Thoughts
We have used Hebron as an
example. The larger contest for possession of the land will
greatly intensify when the issues of final redeployment and
Jerusalem come to the bargaining table. The principles that
apply to Hebron apply to the whole land issue. Remember all
God’s promises regarding the land and the people of Israel. As
Christians, perceiving the role of the Jewish people in the
plans of God, may our faith give us the courage to stand and to
speak for what is right.
Christian leaders and
governments of the so-called Christian world are exerting
tremendous pressure on Israel to give up land. It seems
incredible that Israel will possibly suffer a temporary land
loss because Christians are siding with Allah and not the God of
the Judeo-Christian Bible.