Protesters outside the Israeli embassy in London demonstrate against Israel's actions to protect themselves against Hamas terrorism aimed at Israeli citizens for years. Misunderstanding the roots of this Middle East conflict, much of the world stands against Israel. July 2014
There is no doubt that there have been many wars and military altercations in the 66-year history of Israel. The world tends to turn its ears to the collective voices of a much larger population of Arabs shouting against Israel from both the Middle East and countries throughout the world to where they have immigrated. The forgetting and/or rewriting the history of Israel (i.e., the growing number of Holocaust deniers) can make it difficult to hear the side of the tiny nation who has nonetheless endured being the target of hatred ever since its charter as a state was signed.
Even Believers in Yeshua sometimes wonder why we should support Israel. The reasons are simple and they come from the Bible.
Why should we support Israel?
Israel is God’s Chosen People
For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, His treasured possession. -- Deuteronomy 7:6
For the Lord has chosen Jacob to be his own, Israel to be His treasured possession. --Psalm 135:4
God loves Israel
I have loved you with an everlasting love --Jeremiah 31:3
God’s covenant with Israel is everlasting and forever
God has not replaced Israel in with Christians. His covenant with Israel is everlasting and forever.
I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. --Hosea 2:19
But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend, I took you from the ends of the earth; from its farthest corners I called you. I said, ‘You are my servant’; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. --Isaiah 41:8-9
Believers in Yeshua are chosen by God also
“As God’s New Covenant People, Christians are inextricably related to His Old Covenant People, who together share a common prophetic destiny.” 1
But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. --2 Thessalonians 2:13
But now in Messiah Yeshua you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Messiah. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one…that in Himself He might make the two into one new man…” --Ephesians 2:13-15
There is blessing from God when we bless Israel—the opposite is true as well
I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse --Genesis 12:1-3
The Bible is clear: God loves Israel.
God is clear: He will bless those that love Israel, too.
UPDATE Day 12 - Operation Protective Edge
- During the first 24 hours of the ground invasion, Israeli troops discovered 13 tunnels into Israel.
- Another assault on an Israeli community was thwarted by IDF troops as Hamas terrorists emerged from a tunnel. The groups exchanged gunfire resulting in the death of one terrorist, the others’ escape, and the wounding of two IDF soldiers. Latest IDF reports say the “Hamas terrorists who infiltrated Israel were wearing IDF uniforms.”
- A Gaza man got the attention of IDF troops by pleading for medical assistance and then tried to throw grenades at them.
- IDF forces were approached by a donkey strapped with explosives, a tactic the IDF calls despicable, cruel, and abominable, but which has been used before by terrorist fighters.
- As Day 12 came to a close in Israel, IDF forces have hit 2,350 enemy targets in Gaza, including 1,100 rocket launchers. Hamas has fired more than 1,770 missiles at Israel.
- Since the beginning of the ground phase, IDF has uncovered 13 tunnels with 34 access points in Gaza
- The death toll in Gaza is up to 325, most of which are civilians unprotected by their leadership. Two Israeli 2 civilians have perished with several others injured. IDF forces have lost three soldiers and sustained a number of injuries in the fighting.
- Protesters in Turkey burned a Star of David and the Israeli flag in a demonstration against Israel’s Operation Protective Edge. Protests continue in London and around the world as well.
Prayer Points
The mission of Operation Protective Edge is to rid Gaza of its ability to harm Israel. Its goal is peace. Day 12 of this mini-war has come to a close. Let us stand with Israel. Let us hold Israel in our hearts and in our prayers.
Please pray for:
- The safety of IDF soldiers – husbands, fathers, sons, and daughters – and for their families who love them
- Israeli citizens in grave danger from attacks by way of tunnels not yet detected by IDF forces and from the persistent rocket attacks aimed directly at them in cities and communities all over Israel
- Gaza citizens also in danger and suffering as a result of the blinding hatred of their leadership
- Ministries in Israel that Jewish Voice supports. They are serving the people of Israel in this time of great anxiety and need. One ministry has evacuated nearly 190 people and provided for the essential needs of over 2,600
- Believers in Israel to shine Yeshua’s light into this dark time
- All to come to faith in Yeshua who is Himself the Prince of Peace
Please pray against:
- Serious injuries in Israel
- The evil that motivates Hamas and other terror organizations
- Any peace agreements that would further endanger Israel and irresponsibly favor her enemies
- The spread of anti-Israel sentiments around the world
Your support of Jewish Voice is a support of Israel. We contribute financially to over two dozen ministries in Israel that help the Jewish People there meeting practical needs and shining Yeshua’s light and love. At this time of great danger to Israelis in all parts of Israel, not just the south, your expression of love and compassion through contribution of any amount is greatly appreciated.
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Sources: IDF Blog, Times of Israel
1 “Why Stand with Israel?” by Sanra Teplinsky, Jewish Voice Today magazine, November/December 2007
