Israel

          There is no such thing as a Palestinian.  Yasser Arafat claimed ownership of the territories because the Palestinians were descendants of the Philistines.  That was a lie.  In 1967, before the war, the lands that Israel won in battle were occupied by Syrians, Egyptians and Jordanians.  When the war was over, these countries abandoned those people.  Nobody wanted them. 

          Five times, since 1948, the Arab nations have tried to annihilate the Jewish nation.  Five times the Israeli’s were victorious; yet we see these enemies of Israel’s existence preparing to try again.  “The definition of insanity is to do the same thing time after time and expect a different result.”[1]  It seems to be that Ishmael turned out to be what God said – a wild ass. 

          The Arab people living in Israel have more rights, prosperity and freedoms than any of the like people living in the surrounding countries.  These Arabs don’t want the “Palestinians” to be successful: they would no longer have the freedoms and advantages they presently enjoy.         

          Why do I defend Israel?  The borders that God Almighty set for Israel encompassed a lot more territory than Israel’s present borders.  Perhaps the world powers should have enough sense to go back to those borders.  Perhaps the Arabs know what the real borders should be, and therefore want to obliterate Israel before God can have His way with the land.  What I think is the real basis of the conflict is that the Arabs know they are not God’s chosen people and are therefore jealous.  God said: “As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord”[2]. 

          Jesus didn’t come to do away with Judaism.  He came to fulfill Judaism.  That is why we Christians are actually Jews in the spiritual sense: we have been grafted into the vine[3]  Paul said: “I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.

    If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!”[4] In recognition of this fact: pray for the peace of Jerusalem[5]. 

          What is a gentile?  The Old Testament definition was anyone who was not a Hebrew.  The New Testament definition is anyone who is not a Hebrew or Christian.  Christians are grafted into the vine and are children of God.[6]  God said: “No one may appear before me without an offering.”[7]  Animal sacrifice is no longer needed because of what Jesus did for us.  That is why the curtain separating the Holy of Holies was torn in two when Jesus was crucified.  We now have direct access to God, because of Jesus.  Since that day, no priest or anything else has to stand between us and God.  You and I are now personally responsible to God because of this.  Our access is now dependent on having a “Born Again” experience.  We must accept, b y faith, that Jesus is our Lord and Savior.  You were not born into this relationship; it is something you have to accomplish individually. What is it that God wants us to do?  Recognize that we are sinners, be sorry for these shortcomings, accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, ask Him for forgiveness, accept that forgiveness and then live like you are forgiven.  Peter said: “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is to you, and to your children, and even to the Gentiles—all who have been called by the Lord our God.”[8]  The Jews do have a special relationship with God due to His covenants with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  I don’t understand that relationship as it is today, but I do know that The Jews are still His chosen people.  God said: “I will bless those who bless you (Israel), and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."[9]  Can you see the difference in prosperity between Israel and the surrounding nations?

          Blessing and cursing, life or death, good or evil; the choice is up to us.  Every American administration since 1948 has stood by and blessed Israel.  The present administration seems to be going in the wrong direction.  The same type of rhetoric that the Nazi’s used against the Jews is rampant throughout the world.  It’s almost as if it is the in thing to be anti-Semitic.  There are even people in our country that want to outlaw circumcision.  That would prevent the Jews from fulfilling their covenant with God.  Literature, put out by the author of this legislation in San Francisco, is promoting the worst anti-Semitic drivel I have ever seen.   Keep in mind that God was going to kill Moses because he had not circumcised his son.[10] 

          What should we do as a nation?  Do we abandon Israel in this obvious time of need?  President Barack Obama has announced that the starting point for peace negotiation with the ‘Palestinians’ should be the pre 1967 borders. That would be suicide for Israel, and he should appreciate that fact.  Israel cannot be defended with those borders.  President Obama has now been rebuked three times in his efforts to hurt Israel’s border security: First, by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, second by our congress by their positive reception of the Israeli Prime Minister, and third by the Canadian Prime Minister at the G8 conference.

 

The following is a posting conversation I had on Facebook.

Me - President Obama has now been rebuked three times in his efforts to hurt Israel’s border security: First, by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, second by our congress by their reception of Netanyahu and third at the G8 conference.

Person 1 - What a disrespectful picture to post of our nations leader. Regardless of if you think he is right or wrong we should still respect our leader of this free nation. His job can't be easy and he is surly doing what he thinks is best overall for everyone. Just as you do and say what you think is right even though not everyone agrees with your beliefs or ideals.

Person 2 - I guess those of us not retired yet might as well understand we will have to keep working so we have money and medical insurance. Those of you retired better get your resumes together because "what's good for the goose will have to be good for the Gander". So, no more SS, Medicare, etc. Here's your voucher and good luck! I hear Walmart is hiring!

Person 2 - PS Rick, since the Jews don't believe in Christ, and therefore will not be in heaven, why in the world do you care about their security? I mean 2012 is around the corner!

Me - Obviously some people don't understand what I said. I didn't pose the picture. I didn't disrespect him. What has Israel got to do with SS and healthcare? You are swallowing one of the biggest democrat lies in history. At your age, SS and Medicare will not be changed. It's 54 and below where the changes take place. That is if the republicans can save the country.r SS was taken away and the government said oh well sorry you don't get paid anymore? I guess that job at walmart would be looking pretty good. It will be an atrocity to this nation to not have a SS program, a Medicare, Medicaid and other social service programs. Hopefully in my lifetime we will also see free or very low cost healthcare for everyone.... Go Obama!!!! Thank God he looks out for the poor and needy, kind of like Jesus did.

Person 1 - So it's okay to continue to take SS out of my husbands and your sons paycheck and have no intention of them receiving benefits when they retire? I'm so confused, does that mean it would only matter if it affected you personally? What if your SS was taken away and the government said oh well you don’t get paid anymore? I guess that job at Walmart would be looking pretty good. It would be an atrocity to this nation to not have a SS program, a Medicare, Medicaid and other social service programs. Hopefully in my lifetime we will see free or very low cost healthcare for everyone….Go Obama!!!! Thank God he looks out for the poor and needy, kind of like Jesus did.SS was taken away and the government said oh well sorry you don't get paid anr SS was taken away and the government said oh well sorry you don't get paid anymore? I guess that job at walmart would be looking pretty good. It will be an atrocity to this nation to not have a SS program, a Medicare, Medicaid and other social service programs. Hopefully in my lifetime we will also see free or very low cost healthcare for everyone.... Go Obama!!!! Thank God he looks out for the poor and needy, kind of like Jesus did.

Me - I don't know what your SS will be like but I'm sure it will be the best our country can provide. Again I ask - what has this got to do with Israel?

          This te;lls me that a lot of people are so tied up in their own ideas and ideals, they can’t see the forest for the trees.  Is it that no one really cares about Israel?  The last time this happened we lost six million Jews. 

          Silver and gold have I none, but what I have I give unto you: rise and be healed from your unbelief and accept eternal life through Jesus, the Christ and our Lord.

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[1] Albert Einstein

[2] Ezekiel 34:12-15 NIV

[3] Romans 11:13-24 NLV

[4] Romans 11:13-24 NLV

[5] Psalm 122:6

[6] Romans 11

[7] Exodus 34:20

[8] Acts 2:28-29

[9] Genesis 12:31

[10] Exodus 4:24