I just finished watching a video that was linked in an email from One Jerusalem. It was a televised debate on a Israeli news program between Jerusalem Post editorialist, Caroline Glick, and post-Zionist political activist, Dr. Gershon Baskin. To sum up the debate, Caroline Glick is a staunch supporter of Israel's right to sovereignty and Dr. Baskin, an Israeli, is a Palestinian sympathizer in favor of dividing Jerusalem and stopping all settlement building. Ms. Glick spoke unwaveringly and very eloquently opposed Dr. Baskin. To watch the debate yourself, click here.It goes without saying that my support lies firmly with Caroline Glick's position that Israel has a right to defend itself and that the boundaries which established Israel as a nation should be maintained. Also included in the debate was the threat of Iran developing nuclear weapons and using them against Israel. But God was strangely absent from the differing viewpoints. It was clear that both parties either had no solid understanding of God's will in this turbulent moment in Israel's history, of His will when He made His covenant with Abram (Genesis 12), promising that Abram's seed would forever inherit the land of Israel, or they chose to ignore it. Perhaps the most telling of their ignorance or arrogance is their inability to realize the miracle of their return to their own land. When we consider the stubborn disobedience of God's chosen people throughout their entire history, and the discipline God repeatedly dealt them even into most recent history, we can not help but wonder how a race of people can be so obstinate and ignore this historical fact that is written within their own Scriptures. It is a perilous and destructive behavior to remain so opposed to HaShem's will, and until Israel chooses to accept their Messiah and yield to Him, there will never be true peace there.
We believe that the events unfolding before us are markers pointing to the imminent return of Jesus Christ. And we also believe that when He does step foot on Mount Zion, those who pierced Him will mourn for their actions and unbelief (Rev 1:7) What is now obvious, however, is that Israel remains in disobedience to God's will and is still attempting to have it their way instead of turning to Him for the solution. For all of their debating, pandering, and negotiating, nothing will change until God decides it is time for it to change. Until then, we watch and wait for our Lord to return and reestablish His boundaries and divisions of the Holy Land and reclaim the holy city, Jerusalem. Only then will debate and hatred that is so predominant come to an end.
"And the name of the city from that time on will be: THE LORD IS THERE." (Ez 48:35)
