Gaza

Yesterday, marchers for Palestine filled the streets, and cries of genocide filled the media. Today, both sides rejoice, the rubble remains, and we think, “Did Israel need Gaza that badly and why?

Believers’ views can swing between either denouncing or deifying the modern state of Israel.  Of course, the land and people of Israel are deeply significant but we shouldn’t confuse covenants of promise with nationalism. God’s covenant with Abraham was never tribal or nationalistic—it was global: “Through you all the families of the earth will be blessed” (Genesis 12:3). This promise can only find its fulfilment in Christ, Abraham’s true seed (Galatians 3:16). The idea that Christians must support every political action or territorial claim of Israel to avoid divine curses is not rooted in Scripture, but in commentary—especially the Schofield Reference Bible which interpreted Genesis 12:3 as a geopolitical mandate, equating the establishment of God’s covenant with political Zionism. The promise of blessing was to Abraham personally, not to every decision of a future nation-state. The promise of everlasting possession of land was to Abraham and his seed, which ultimately is Christ.  National land promises were conditional on faith and obedience. Israel was exiled to Babylon for disobedience, and in the New Testament, after the believing Jews became the church, the gospel went to the Gentiles. Eventually, under duress, the Jewish people were dispersed throughout the world.

Of course, nations have the right to defend themselves, but the New Testament never commands believers to support every expansionist war or every political decision made by Israel, America or other nations.

Does God love the Jewish people? Absolutely. He still weeps over Jerusalem. But their inheritance is now found in Jesus, not geography. We pray for peace for Jerusalem, salvation for Jews, for an end to all wars and that world leaders can maintain peace. To me, 2-state, 1-state, or 3-state is not an issue. If God meant for Jewish faithful to live in the land forever, forever begins when Jesus returns. Then all God’s redeemed, Jews and gentiles (Palestinians, Kiwis and others), will inherit not only the land of Israel, but the whole earth too.