Israel Versus Palestinians -Whose side are you On?

The world is increasingly divided over the rights of Jews and Palestinians – people are taking sides. But there’s another option.

When Joshua approached Jericho to capture it, he saw a man with a drawn sword and wanted to know which side he was on

“When Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in His hand. Joshua approached Him and asked, “Are You for us or for our enemies?”

 “Neither,” He replied. “But as the Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Joshua 5:13-14

This passage shows that there’s a greater army – only seen by faith – the army of God.

Jews and Palestinians both claim the land ‘from the river to the sea‘  – ‘The Promised Land’, but who was it promised to ?

WHO WAS PROMISED THE LAND?

It’s called ‘The Promised Land’ because God promised it to the ‘seed’ of Abraham.

^“I will indeed bless you, and I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore. Genesis 22:17

Paul tells us that anyone who belongs to Christ is Abraham’s seed –

If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise”. [Galatians 3:29].

Another promise was that one of Abraham’s seed would have victory over His enemies and be a blessing to all nations

 And your seed shall possess the gate of His enemies, and by your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.” Genesis 22:18

Paul tells us that these promises were about Christ –

 “The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,” meaning One, who is Christ.”   Galatians 3:16

 CHRIST IS PRE-EMINENT

 Although Abraham was important in God’s plan, Jesus is more important –

“Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad…Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”  John 8:56 – 58

Jesus told the Jews that if they were really Abraham’s seed then they would love Him –

“They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s seed, you would be doing the works Abraham did, but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. John 8:39-42

Thus Jesus showed that a real Jew in God’s eyes, is one who loves Jesus, being born a Jew was not the criteria.  (See Born a Jew or Born Again)

ISRAELITES BY FAITH

Although God gave the literal descendants of Abraham the chance to be His light to the world, they trusted in their literal lineage and failed to see that God expected a faith line (See – God Divorces Israel). God was never concerned about a literal bloodline, He always accepted those of faith as ‘descendants of Abraham’. The moment a foreigner accepted the God of Israel they became an ‘Israelite’.

Caleb was such a person. When Israel first entered the Promised Land they understood that gentiles (foreigners) could be fully accepted as Israelites. Joshua and Caleb were the 2 faithful spies. Caleb represented the tribe of Judah, but he was a Kenizzite by birth – a native of the land (see Kenizzites in Genesis 15:9), but fully adopted into Israel by faith. God always intended the expansion of true Israel by this method.

Elijah was another such person – a foreigner who made the God of Israel his God

(See Elijah was a Gentile)

THE BLOODLINE OF JESUS

Although Jesus will sit on the throne of David and is his promised greater Son, was God ever concerned about a literal bloodline? John the Baptist showed that He  wasn’t concerned about the literal bloodline of Abraham but the faithline –

“Do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.”  Matthew 3:9

It’s also actually doubtful that Jesus was literally descended from David at all. In Matthew He is attributed  Joseph’s lingeage to David through Solomon. But Joseph was not the real father of Jesus. Luke traces the lineage of Jesus through Mary, his bloodline. But it goes back to David via Nathan, not Solomon. As Solomon was the first survivng child of David and Bathsheba, and Nathan is listed in birth order before Solomon, it seems likely that Nathan was David’s adopted son – by Uriah, not the literal Son of David

– See BLOODLINE OF JESUS – Via David or Uriah ?

NEW HEAVENS AND EARTH

From the beginning of time God has known the destiny of our planet, and the creator of the universe has revealed His plans through His prophets –

“Nations weary themselves in vain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.”  Habakkuk 2:13-14

God has declared that all the kingdoms of men are going to be swept away and replaced by His Kingdom on earth, ruled from Zion –

“I have installed My King on Zion, upon My holy mountain.”   Psalm 2:6

 The old Israel is going to be replaced with a better one –

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.”  Revelation 21:1

This is symbolic language saying that the rulers of Israel (heaven) will be replaced as will the people (earth) and there will be no separate nations (sea) because all the world will become the Kingdom of God. Sea is a symbol of separate nations.

Another example of this symbolic language linking the heavens and earth to literal Israel is found in Jeremiah (an emblematic parallelism below)

For my people are fools;
they don’t know me;
they are stupid children;
they have no understanding.
They are ‘wise’—in doing evil! But how to do good they know not.”  I looked on the earth, and  it was without form and void; and to the heavens, and they had no light.  Jeremiah 4:22-23

ISRAEL’S BLINDNESS

Israel, back in the land, re-gathered as promised, still in disbelief of her Messiah – is the end time witness that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand – see Israel Man of Lawlessness.

The  prophecies of Ezekiel that speak of the return of Israel prospering in the Land,  rely on their acceptance of Christ before their blindness is removed –

“And my servant David shall be a prince in the midst of them: there shall be one shepherd (Jesus – the good Shepherd) of them all; for they shall walk in mine ordinances, and keep my judgments, and do them.”   Ezekiel 37:24 (Septuagint)

“They will dwell securely when I execute judgments against all those around them who treat them with contempt. Then they will know that I am the LORD their God.’” Ezekiel 28:26

God’s judgements on  Israel’s neighbours do not occur until the return of Christ. This is after they are defeated one more time by their enemies  –  when they turn to Christ –

See Israel and Iran Coming Conflict

Jesus lamented greatly over Israel’s rejection of Him as the Messiah – it is only when they accept Him that they will truly prosper – until then their house is ‘desolate’ – 

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling! Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you that you will not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.’”  Matthew 23:37-39

There is a mistaken worship of Natural Israel –  they need to become part of spiritual Israel through Christ. Jesus said to Natural Israel –

“Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.” Matthew 21:43

See Youtube https://youtu.be/Rb916mk_lD8

See The Dragon the Beast and the False Prophet to understand Israel’s witness in disbelief of Christ