A Biblical Lens to See Israel

Everyone should look at everything through a biblical lens.  God’s Word is truth.  I hear people make assessments of Israel without any reference to what the Bible says.  On the other hand, some overshoot and use Israel as their prophetic pin cushion.

I see two perspectives to organize appraisal of Israel.  One, treat Israel as the consummation of the Abrahamic Covenant, promises still unfulfilled.  Two, reckon Israel according to biblical principles like any other nation.

God’s Promises to Israel

Romans 9-11

For number one, in Romans 11:1, the Apostle Paul asks a rhetorical question:

I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

Answer.  No.  Why even ask the question?  Israel as a nation doesn’t believe (Romans 9).  It’s Israel’s fault (Romans 10).   Paul gives the answer in the strongest possible negative:  “God forbid.”

Old Testament Teaching

“God forbid” corresponds to Old Testament teaching:

Psalm 94:14, “For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.”

1 Samuel 12:22, “For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.”

Psalm 89:31-37 describes Israel with her unbelief, disobedience, and then God’s faithful implementation of His unilateral covenant:

31 If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments;

32 Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.

33 Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail.

34 My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.

35 Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David.

36 His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me.

37 It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven.

The Old Testament says much more, making the same point and in different ways.  God set aside Israel in a deliberate, limited way for His ultimate ends.  When you look at Israel in the Middle East, you should understand that God has a plan for her still.

Biblical Principles for Judging Nations

For number two, Israel is a nation.  According to biblical principles, God instituted nations.  He also expects believers to judge between nations based on His Word and support a better nation or culture over another one based on those principles.   We should do that with the United States too.

God separated men into distinct lands to preserve the good against the evil.  It is not a cookie cutter clarity in these divisions as we analyze.  I’ve been to Israel and I saw what was good and bad there.  Even without the promises of God to Israel, Israel deserves the land.  She is not beyond criticism, but she is exponentially better than the nations surrounding her.

Based on an accurate view of history, Zionism is historical.  According to the Bible, it is biblical.  In a philosophical way, Israel better represents the nationalistic purpose of God.  Arab’s having lived on that land for centuries doesn’t negate Israel, any more than American Indians negate the United States.

At the same time, I can see the tribulation of Hamas upon Israel a possible means to God’s ends.  It is not a sign, as some people characterize it.  The signs are to come like Christmas is coming.  For Christmas to come, Thanksgiving must first arrive.  Occurrences before actual signs could lead to those signs like Thanksgiving leads to Christmas.