#DYK: Is God fighting for Israel now?

Yours is a perceptive question. Good that you are following the news!

God loves all people – good and the wicked. In Matthew 5:45, we read the words of Jesus – ‘God sends the rain on the just and the unjust’. In II Peter 3:9, we read, ‘God does not want anyone to perish’.

By the way, if God only favoured the just, you and I might also run into a serious problem. We haven’t always been perfect.

When God called Abraham, who is the Father of Faith (Genesis 12), it was not only to bless Him, but to bless all the peoples of the earth through him. But in Old Testament history we find that the Israelites completely missed the point.

While the Israelites enjoyed God’s protection and favour in some of their wars, they were also at the receiving end of God’s wrath – and suffered miserably throughout their history. We find that they were obstinate, rebellious and idolatrous. So, it is wrong to assume that God always helped Israel and fought against the enemies. In fact, the reverse is also true (example, pagan king Nebuchadnezzar ravaged Jerusalem about 600 years before Christ).

On the other hand, under Joshua’s leadership, Rahab, an immoral woman part of the enemy’s camp, was received into the fold of the Israelite community. She eventually becomes a forerunner to Christ in His biological lineage (Matthew 1: 5). The God of the Bible cares for the stranger, the outcast and the foreigner.

God cares for the Israelites and the Palestinians. Interestingly, most of the Jews in Israel today are secular Jews, few of them religious, and there is also a minority of Messianic Jews (Christians). There are a number of Arab Christians in Palestine. And remember, God loves everyone.

Apostle Paul identifies the true Israel in Romans 9. In verse 6, he wrote, not every Israelite is a true Israelite. In fact, He calls you and me as the spiritual Israel (v. 8). So, we have an ethnic Israel based on race, and a true Israel based on grace.

Yes, the formation of the Israel state in 1947 is deemed a miracle. Further, the six-day war in 1967 when Israel trounced all her enemies is considered another historical miracle. You might love reading up more on that not-distant history.

It takes the Sovereignty of God to orchestrate His good plans for a race, a community, a tribe, a nation and every individual at the same time.

Meanwhile, yes, we are chosen to be a blessing. We can truly sing the Sunday School song: ‘Many sons had Father Abraham. I am one of them and so are you…”.