Stand With Israel

A few weeks from now, Americans will go to the polls to determine
our next president—at a time when we are facing the greatest challenges
the world has ever known. The dangers of radical Islamic terrorism, the
nuclear threat posed by Iran and North Korea, economic meltdown and the
disintegration of Judeo-Christian values make this the most critical
election in the history of our nation.

In the midst of rising gas and food prices, a current housing
crisis, an unwanted war in Iraq and numerous other domestic challenges,
it is easy to overlook another, seemingly unimportant issue—America’s
support of Israel. Why should we be concerned about this tiny nation?

In Genesis 12, God declared that He would bless those who bless the
descendants of Abraham and curse the one who curses them. This promise
is just as true today as it was when it was first written some 4,000
years ago. All the Old Testament nations that once came against
Israel—the Amalekites, Jebusites, Canaanites—have vanished.

But America has experienced the unprecedented blessing of God during
our 230-year history in part because of our treatment of the Jewish
people. The Lord refers to Israel as “the apple of His eye” and warns
that anyone who touches it will be punished (Zech. 2:8, NKJV). Bill
Koenig, in his book Israel: The Blessing or the Curse has
documented case after case of God’s judgment on America whenever our
government has attempted to force Israel to give up land to the
Palestinians.

As Bible believers, we need to look at Israel through God’s eyes and
understand that this land was given to them by God as an “eternal
possession.” Regardless of what the U.N. decides or decided some 55
years ago, this land was given to the children of Israel by God as an
everlasting inheritance.

There are hundreds of Scriptures beginning in Genesis 12 and 15 that
make this truth crystal clear. In essence, the Bible is the Jewish
people’s land deed to Israel. God said it and that settles it. As
Christians, we must believe and agree with what the Scriptures teach.

Many Christian leaders believe that although Israel was given this
land by God, it is a conditional promise. In other words,
Israel’s entitlement to the land is based on their obedience and right
standing with God. And because they are no longer in right standing
with Him due to their rejection of Christ as Messiah, they no longer
have any biblical right to the land. This erroneous understanding has
led many prominent evangelical Christians to strongly support the
establishment of a Palestinian state and to lobby our government to
force Israel to give up land.

Though it is true that some of God’s blessings on the land (such as
enjoying true peace) are based on the Jews’ obedience, their right
to the land is unconditional. Numerous prophecies, such as that in
Isaiah 11 in which God promises that He will “set His hand again the
second time to recover the remnant of His people,” clearly show that He
is still very committed to Israel’s restoration and divine right to
this land.

Most Christians are familiar with the exhortation to “pray for the
peace of Jerusalem” (Ps. 122:6). But how should we pray? How can there
ever be peace?

The word translated “peace” in Hebrew, shalom, literally
means “to bring to completion.” God has a plan for this land and people
that will come to pass, and it includes the return of Yeshua, Jesus, to
the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. We must pray for God’s plan to be
fulfilled in this troubled land, for the Messiah to be revealed in the
hearts of Jew and Palestinian alike, and for His plan to be brought to
completion. Only then will true peace be realized.

I urge you to vote in the upcoming presidential election. You can
make your voice heard by voting for the candidate who will best
represent the laws, principles and standards the Lord has established
in His Word—the one who is most committed to continuing our support of
Israel.

Jonathan Bernis, a Jewish
believer in Yeshua (Jesus), is founder of Hear O Israel Ministries, an
organization doing extensive outreach and humanitarian aid around the
world. He is also executive director of Phoenix-based Jewish Voice
Ministries International. He founded two Messianic congregations and
served them as a senior Messianic rabbi for 11 years. To read past
columns in Charisma by Jonathan Bernis, click here.