- Ac 17:24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
- 25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
- 26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
- 27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
The Jews are the only people in the earth who were expressly granted a portion of land by the Almighty God.
- Genesis 12:1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
- 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
- 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
About 500 years after these promises were given, the descendants of Abraham entered that land after their slavery in Egypt and sojourn in the wilderness. They conquered a land where the inhabitants practiced bestiality, incest, and burning their children alive to Moloch, among other things. This possession was given to Israel by God. No other nation has been granted such a thing. One may question whether or not this promise is still valid. However, the promise itself is a dimension to the argument which cannot be removed.
God has granted the times and boundaries for nations through the strength and attrition of human society. This is aside from the promises which God gave to Abraham. One nation weakens and another moves in. History in the Bible and human record displays this activity. It is the cycle of lost people trying to fulfill their desires. How many nations have arrived through violence and spoils of war? No doubt, some of the original explorers from Shem, Ham, and Japheth came upon pristine lands for them to inhabit. Perhaps some of them settled peaceably for a time. But none could escape the problem of avarice and greed. It is the reality of all earthly nations because sin is a constant in the human condition.
So who is to say that Israel has no right to keep and maintain the land which was gained in the aftermath of their neighbors’ aggressive actions? And what now can be said of this persistent propaganda that Israel should no longer exist? Which nation can accuse Israel without seeing the same grievances and worse when they look in the mirror of their history?
- Ps 9:15 The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.
- 16 The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.
- 17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
- 18 For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.
- 19 Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight.
- 20 Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.
Why should the physical nation of Israel pull back to its pre-1967 border? Don’t people remember how and why they became part of Israel? Ultimately as a result of a series of wars and battles instigated by various Arab nations.
This next thought is not unique to me– “If the Arab nations would lay their arms down there would be peace in the Middle East in regard to Israel. If Israel was to lay its arms down there would be a bloodbath.”
There is no doubt Israel has caused many of its problems as is the case with all earthly nations. Forcing Israel to give back what it took as a result of the 1967 war will not bring peace. Certainly there have been many decisions made by this country of ours that was not good. (ie. the way we treated the native Americans, slavery, etc.) You cannot always repair the bad decisions of the past. My 2nd point still applies. Israel is the only functioning democracy in the Middle East and they are the only Ally we can depend upon. They are not trying to take over and kill its neighbors. The very small percentage they control in the Mid-East is so minute, yet our president wants them to give up what they gained by defending themselves?
I do not know if the 1948 re-establishment of the physical nation of Israel was a result of prophecy or not as many believe. My backing of the physical nation of Israel is not necessarily based on scripture. One thing is for certain Israel has repeatedly been attacked many times since then. In every instance they were invaded first. They simply defended themselves. And they continue to defend themselves. Who are we to demand they give up what they rightfully control? If the Arab nations do not like the result they can only blame themselves.
I appreciate you comments, Jay.
The closest thing I see about God being behind the return of Israel is when Jesus said; “Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” Whether He indicated this as a course of events or as a matter of God’s purpose. . . I think it is God’s purpose, but I do not know. However, I do believe He desires the Natural Branches to be grafted back in, and the establishing of boundaries facilitates that – cf. Acts 17:26-27.
This might seem obscure. . .The Bible describes in prophetic language, the drying up of the river Euphrates to prepare the way for the kings of the East. (Rev.16:12) I believe this is about the end of the Ottoman Empire, its subsequent colonization by European powers and their overthrow by the people of these lands. In the course of these struggles, Israel emerged. God’s plan? Well, the text shows that it was an angel of the Lord who poured out the bowl of wrath upon the Euphrates.
Anyway. . .something to keep our eyes on. .