Jews are a relatively small group of people compared to the whole world.  Israel is a tiny, little nation.  They are a couple of gnats landing on a large person.  Proportionally the Jews and Israel receive a very big, gigantic reaction from the rest of the world.

Admittedly, I notice the Jews every day even though almost all of my days now I speak to none, not a single Jew.  I don’t have to go out of my way to ignore Jews.  None live where I am.

On the other hand, during my time in California, on average Jews were more hostile to me than any other people.  When I came to a door and saw a mezuzah shema (mezuzah means “doorposts”) on the doorpost, that meant a tough, very difficult situation was coming about 100 percent of the time.  I want to have a good conversation with a Jewish person and it is very disappointing that most Jews treat someone like myself, who loves them, worse than anybody.

Even with the very poor treatment, I support Jews and Israel.  My wife and I go out of our way to befriend Jewish people.  I even understand their hostility.  It isn’t merited, but it is understandable.

Why Israel and the Jews?

Maybe you have a hard time comprehending why so many people, especially young ones, right now are opposing Israel and the Jews.  These are harsh and even dangerous times.  It is widespread and many times violent.  Maybe even stranger, Jews themselves are part of the opposition.  Quite often the stories or the narratives contradict.  The two or more sides or factions tell clashing stories.

My main point of writing this post is to answer why so much hatred for the Jews and for Israel,  What could this be?  What causes this?  Here it is and not necessarily in this order:  The most prevalent reasons, I think, I will present at and toward the end, not the beginning.

Contrasting Theologies

Supercessionism

One, differing and contradictory theological positions cause the hatred.  Many Jews don’t participate in the theology that brings the incendiary treatment of them.  They don’t believe anything, but it doesn’t make any difference.  This as a section could be a very long explanation and discussion, almost an entire book.

I don’t think theology figures the degree of hatred that explains the present reaction to Israel and the Jews.  Those who see Israel replaced by the church, called supercessionists, don’t hate Israel because of that usually.  They aren’t still blaming the Jews for crucifying Jesus.  Some Jews may think this engenders hot passion, but most people, even if they’re supercessionists, don’t care about this.  They aren’t going to do what we see happening, just because of this theology.  These people haven’t even heard of supercessionism.

Supercessionism could describe a theological position that forms a premise for violent activity against the Jews, but it doesn’t provide the main impetus for hostile activity against them.  It can provide a kind of positional justification, but not the reason.  I remember getting slapped in the face by a Sophomore, when I was a Freshman in high school, while on a field trip, looking at leaves for Biology class.  When I asked him why, he said, “Because I wanted to.”  Several reasons contributed to the slap I took from him.

Allegorization

The supercessionist allegorizes scripture.  He can twist scripture by not taking it literally.  Dozens or hundreds of positions arise from spiritualizing what God’s Words say.

A moderated form of supercessionism exists that supports Israel and the Jews.  Those who take the attenuated position will support Israel, despite their Roman Catholic or Protestant ecclesiology.  If someone is going to allegorize scripture, then he can take the direction of supporting Israel, despite thinking that God replaced Israel with the church.

Envy

Two, many unbelievers are flat-out envious of the Jews.  They see Jews and Israel as a privileged caste.  They’re jealous.  On average they’re rich and successful by the world’s standard.  Jealousy likes people losing what they have.  Few to none are jealous of the Palestinians.

Satan’s Hate

Three, Satan hates Israel.  This hatred manifests itself in Genesis 3 with the serpent bruising the seed of the woman.  Sure, the seed is Jesus, but one cannot separate Jesus from the descendants of the woman and of Abraham.  Satan gladly attempts sticking his thumb in God’s eye with the crushing of Israel and the Jews.

End Times

Four, we’re getting closer to the end.  Let’s say that the future time when enemy nations surround Israel is December.  The rising hatred of nations against the Jews is August.  You’ve got to get to August to get to December.  I’m not saying actual August and December, but a metaphor, like Thanksgiving coming before Christmas.

God’s Judgment

Five, God will bring more judgment on Israel.  This goes back to Daniel 11-12.  Israel didn’t want to go back to the land to rebuild the temple and the walls.  They felt comfortable staying in captivity   Yes, those people cried for the blame for Jesus’ death.  The rest of history would give regular chastisement to Israel and the Jews.  It would never be easy.

God is working His plan.with Israel to get the nation to the place where the enemies surround them.  Now supportive nations like the United States hold back natural and supernatural world rejection of the Jews and Israel.  More of that protection disappears, emboldening the opposition.

Woke Philosophy

Six, a woke philosophy dominates the education system.  It’s a kind of zero sum game.  Israel grabs and gets, and because it does, these other nations starve and diminish.  It’s got a racial component to the darker skinned Palestinians.  And there is a class warfare piece to it.  Israel is upper class, getting favored status.

The idea too is that an international money cabal, led by the Jews, money grubbing and hungry, leaves other people without the privilege.  The university types see themselves as with some revelatory enlightenment.  They see through the deceit into the Jews.  Jewish people join these in this, feeling ashamed to be a Jew.  This is the main narrative being pushed to result in the widespread Jew and Israel hating.

A religious component enters from the Palestinian or Hamas, that accompanies the class envy.  What they think is a true religion, Islam, Judaism discredits it.  Their anger becomes its own self-fulfilling prophecy.  And yet it hasn’t worked.  Powerful nations try to annihilate the Jews and yet they go down in flames.

God Still Has a Plan for Israel

The Abraham and Davidic Covenants are still intact.  They are operational.  God still has a plan for Israel.  Those who attack Israel do so against a warning from God.  These nations haven’t been blessed and won’t, because they won’t accept these promises God made.  They should favor God with favor for Israel, even if they don’t like what Israel believes and does.

Israel is not a threat to the world.  Overall Israel provides great blessing to the world.  I’m not saying Israel is saved.  They will be.  God will save Israel.  In the meantime, we should hope Israel thrives.