One of the primary reasons I can hold so strongly to the authenticity of the Bible and Christianity is because of Israel.
Only the Bible explains why Israel is such a hot topic. Why the Jews were and sometimes still are a target of unexplained hatred from so many. It explains the unrest in Israel and Palestine. It explains the favour of God on his chosen people. It explains why Israel was reborn in 1948 after Babylon, Assyria, Tyre, and the Roman Empire are gone.
Israel is not popular. The devil makes sure of that. What else can explain the blind hatred of the Holocaust and the easily aroused anger of the Muslim countries all around the world?
However, God is promised to Abraham in Gen 12:3
I will bless those who bless you,
And the one who curses you I will curse
and in you shall all nations will be blessed
I believe that the United States, though in many ways imperfect and even wicked, have prospered to some extent because of this promise to Abraham. They have blessed and supported Israel in its time of need, particularly in the time of the nation's formation.
Many other countries have not, because they have cursed the apple of God's eye.
Israel might have been stiff-necked and stubborn. Many of them might have missed the Messiah. They called down a curse on themselves when they said,
" His blood be upon us and upon our children".
Many christians have sinned in persecuting the Jews and labelling them 'Christ-killers'. We should all repent if we had that notion, because it was for the sins of all mankind that Jesus died. God help us for persecuting the very race that he was born into! The apostles were Jews. It is very strange of the people have not recognised this when they called the Jews 'Christ-Killers'.
NEVERTHELESS, I can't help seeing that the Jews let the devil have a foot hold with this statement. They opened the gateway to persecution and did not come under the wings of the Almighty one. Jesus said in Luke 13:34b
"How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!"
My blood boiled today, as it often does when I read about Israel in the news.The media is often biased, particularly in Malaysia, where they constantly publish photos sympathetic to the Palestinians, and write headlines like "Israel refuses to ceasefire". When you read the fine print, it is Israel that has been attacked or provoked first. They launch a strong defense and their defense is criticized by the world. They have not lost a war yet, which is quite amazing, though they were often backed by the States. They have even won a war in 6 days!
Israel is not perfect. I'm sure the Israeli government sometimes makes questionable decisions that costs lives. But the blindness of the press and the biasedness is just another form of cursing Israel!
BUT,
there is hope yet. Israel will be the last harvest before the Lord returns. The gospel is to be preached to all the nations, and Scripture predicts the return of the Jews to Jesus. That is when the end will come.
Right now, I will continue to bless the Lord's anointed.
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