There’s a lot of prophecy that points to an age of prosperity and peace for the people of Israel. Various Scriptures describe a situation where exiles return to the land, many enemies are defeated, the Temple rebuilt, God’s King reigning and the nations looking to Israel’s King for wisdom, teaching and leadership.
Well, there seem to be two immediate problems with that. First, modern Israel is a secular republic without any king, let along God’s Messianic ruler. Secondly, the Temple remains un-rebuilt with a mosque on its site. Some who see prophecy fulfilled in the Middle East believe that these are future events, still to come, that the Temple will be rebuilt and that there will be a physical King, Christ himself returning and ruling politically on earth.
However, when we look at those prophecies in detail and in context, within the wider setting of redemption history, something else is going on. First, we realise that the scale and proportions of the prophesied new Temple don’t point to a literal fulfilment in Jerusalem. Secondly, we see that Paul distinguishes spiritual Israel, those who have faith from those who don’t and says that Gentile believers are grafted in (notice that the church doesn’t replace Israel as God’s people but rather is ingrafted in to those who always were God’s people and always will be). Third it is very clear that Jesus, and therefore those who are in him identifies himself with the fulfilment of those prophecies. Jesus is Abraham’s offspring, he is also the Temple, God’s people are in him. Fourthly, Scripture seems to be pointing to something greater than one nation in one small strip of land. The expectation is that God’s people will inherit the earth. So, we expect ultimately fulfilment of these promises in new creation.
If you are supporting Israel because you think that they are specifically and specially God’s chosen nation and that Scripture is being fulfilled in the current Israel State, then I think you are labouring under a misapprehension.
However, this doesn’t mean that we can’t or shouldn’t support Israel. Again, as I’ve said many times, this is not about Israel, right or wrong. It’s about recognising that in the past 75 years, there are many examples of Israel doing wrong and doing harm. We should not whitewash that out, even if it would be easier to do so. Yet, Israel remains a recognised nation state, and more than that, the only liberal democracy in the region.
That for me is enough reason to stand with Israel. We recognise the right of the country to exist. We see the atrocities committed by Hamas for what they are, evil. We may and in fact should hold Israel to account but we do so whilst supporting her right to exist and her right to defend herself.
Faithroots 