Israel is the center of controversy. The United Nations established the nation of Israel in 1948. Original borders were not specified but today Israel encompasses just over 8,500 square miles. The population is just over 8.2 million people. From its establishment, Israel has been the focus of war and conflict. The day after it formed and the British relinquished rule, Arab armies attacked. Israel has been successful in fending off attacks for almost 70 years. The United States is Israel’s supporter and ally. Arguably, the U.S. has no stronger ally than Israel. Many Americans support Israel because they believe God protects it. They reason that God promised them the land unconditionally and that we must back Israel or else find ourselves in opposition to God.
Israel Is Not the Israel of the Bible
The Israel of the Bible ceased to exist when invading Roman armies lay waste to the city in 70 AD. Today, Israel is a secular country established by fiat of man and not by God. Voters elect their government every four years in a nationwide election.
God’s plan for Israel first consisted of Judges, deliverers who would arise and defend the nation militarily. The people demanded a king (1 Samuel 8) and a monarchy began but that was not God’s intent. History shows that kings caused frequent problems for the nation. The Herod Dynasty, ruling in the days of Jesus and until the destruction in 70, bore no resemblance to the life of King David or Solomon. That nation was taken away in an act of Divine judgment through God’s use of the Romans.
Israel was Never Given Land Unconditionally
God promised Abraham the land upon which he traveled (Genesis 12:7). God fulfilled that promise when Joshua led the Israelites into Canaan (Joshua 11:23). Some patches remained to take, but God himself promised to handle them (Joshua 13:6).
The nations of Canaan were removed because of their wickedness. All were pagan, idol worshipping people. Joshua reminded Israel that God would protect and defend them only as long as they were faithful (Joshua 23:12, 13; Joshua 24:20). That same warning is given Solomon by David (1 Chronicles 28:9). After the death of Joshua, the people turned to idols. Time and again God warned and punished the people. They continued to disobey. By the time of Jesus, there was growing wickedness that culminated in the crucifixion of the Son of God. A generation later, the nation ceased to exist.
Israel Is Gone
The Romans destroyed the Temple at Jerusalem and to this day, that Temple has not been rebuilt. In 363 AD, A Roman emperor ordered a rebuilding of the Temple but building ceased after initial construction ended, either by sabotage, fire or an earthquake. Christian historians ascribed the earthquake to Divine intervention against the rebuilding.
Today, there is no need for Israel. God’s chosen people are Christians (Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 2:9). There is no sacrifice required for Jesus is our once-for-all sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10). Animal sacrifices were never enough to pay for sins (Hebrews 10:4).
If you wish, support Israel because it is an ally, because it is a wise diplomatic decision. However, do not support the present secular state of Israel out of some thought that God protects it today. All Jews may be saved in Christ but not because of their nationality.
Bryant Evans may be reached at bryant at preachersstudyblog.com. You can follow Bryant on Twitter @jbevans.
Israel ni kitovu cha ubishi. Umoja wa Mataifa ulianzisha taifa la Israeli mwaka 1948. Mipaka ya awali haikuwekwa, lakini leo Israeli ina eneo la zaidi ya kilomita 8,500 za mraba. Idadi ya watu ni zaidi ya milioni 8.2. Tangu kuanzishwa kwake, Israeli imekuwa kitovu cha vita na migogoro. Siku moja baada ya kuanzishwa kwake na utawala wa Uingereza kuachwa, majeshi ya Kiarabu yalishambulia. Israel imefanikiwa kukabiliana na mashambulizi kwa karibu miaka 70. Marekani ni msaidizi na mshirika wa Israeli. Kwa kweli, Marekani haina mshirika mkubwa kuliko Israel. Wamarekani wengi huunga mkono Israeli kwa sababu wanaamini kwamba Mungu humlinda. "Wanasema kwamba Mungu aliwaahidi nchi hiyo bila masharti na kwamba ni lazima tuwaunge mkono Waisraeli au tutakuwa katika hali ya kupinga Mungu.""" Israeli ya Biblia iliacha kuwepo wakati majeshi ya Waroma yalipoiharibu jiji hilo mwaka wa 70 W.K. Leo, Israeli ni nchi ya kilimwengu iliyoanzishwa kwa amri ya mwanadamu na si ya Mungu. Wapiga kura huchagua serikali yao kila baada ya miaka minne katika uchaguzi wa kitaifa. Mpango wa Mungu kwa Israeli kwanza ulitia ndani Waamuzi, waokoaji ambao wangesimama na kulinda taifa hilo kijeshi. Watu walitaka mfalme (1 Samweli 8) na utawala wa kifalme ukaanza lakini hilo halikuwa kusudi la Mungu. Historia inaonyesha kwamba mara nyingi wafalme walileta matatizo kwa taifa hilo. Utawala wa Herode, ambao ulitawala katika siku za Yesu na hadi uharibifu wa mwaka wa 70, haukufanana na maisha ya Mfalme Daudi au Sulemani. Taifa hilo liliondolewa katika tendo la hukumu ya kimungu kupitia matumizi ya Mungu ya Waroma. Mungu hakumpa Israeli nchi bila masharti, lakini alimpa Abrahamu nchi ambayo alisafiri (Mwanzo 12:7). Mungu alitimiza ahadi hiyo wakati Yoshua alipowaongoza Waisraeli kuingia Kanaani (Yoshua 11:23). "Kama vile alivyosema, ""mungu mwenyewe aliahidi kushughulikia mambo hayo"" (Yoshua 13:6)." Mataifa ya Kanaani yaliangamizwa kwa sababu ya uovu wao. Wote walikuwa wapagani, watu waliomwabudu sanamu. Yoshua aliwakumbusha Waisraeli kwamba Mungu angewalinda na kuwatetea tu maadamu walikuwa waaminifu (Yoshua 23:12, 13; Yoshua 24:20). "Hiyo ndiyo sababu ya kuonya kwa Sulemani na Daudi, ""Usiku wa mwisho wa siku za watu"" (1 Mambo ya Nyakati 28:9)." Baada ya kifo cha Yoshua, watu waligeukia sanamu. Mara kwa mara Mungu aliwaonya na kuwaadhibu watu wake. Waliendelea kutotii. Wakati wa Yesu, uovu ulikuwa ukiongezeka na mwishowe ulimfanya Mwana wa Mungu asulubiwe. Kizazi kimoja baadaye, taifa hilo liliacha kuwepo. "Kama ilivyoandikwa katika Biblia, ""Waroma waliharibu Hekalu la Yerusalemu, na hata leo Hekalu hilo halijajengwa tena.""" Mnamo mwaka wa 363 KK, maliki wa Roma aliamuru ujenzi wa hekalu hilo, lakini ujenzi ulikoma baada ya ujenzi wa awali kumalizika, ama kwa sababu ya uharibifu, moto au tetemeko la ardhi. Wanahistoria Wakristo walisema kwamba tetemeko hilo la ardhi lilitokana na kuingilia kati kwa Mungu dhidi ya ujenzi. Leo, hakuna haja ya Israeli. Watu waliochaguliwa na Mungu ni Wakristo (Tito 2:14; 1 Petro 2:9). Hakuna dhabihu inayohitajika kwa sababu Yesu ni dhabihu yetu mara moja kwa wote (Waebrania 10:10). Dhabihu za wanyama hazikutosha kulipia dhambi (Waebrania 10:4). "Akasema: ""Tunaunga mkono Israeli kwa sababu ni mshirika wetu, kwa sababu ni uamuzi wa kidiplomasia wa busara.""" Hata hivyo, usichunge mkono serikali ya kisasa ya kidunia ya Israeli kwa sababu ya wazo fulani kwamba Mungu anailinda leo. Wayahudi wote wanaweza kuokolewa katika Kristo lakini si kwa sababu ya utaifa wao. Bryant Evans anaweza kupatikana katika Bryant katika preachersstudyblog.com. Unaweza kumfuata Bryant kwenye Twitter @jbevans.