Rockets are launched from the Gaza Strip towards Israel on October 7, 2023
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In my parents’ house, I grew up hearing of the miraculous events that occurred in fulfillment of biblical prophecy: The rebirth of the State of Israel; the regathering of Jews from all over the globe; the flowering of an inhospitable desert wasteland; the rebuilding of cities left in ruins for centuries.
All of these were foretold millennia ago in the prophetic books of the Bible. Even now, in these difficult times of war, we can read the prophecies and see their fulfillment.
For others, though, it is challenging: They read the manipulated headlines and see the biased broadcast videos of mainstream news media. If this is their only source of information, it influences them. Some Christians voice criticism of Israel. Influenced by pacifist theology, they have difficulty understanding Middle East developments, especially the wars.
They inflate Jesus’ instructions about living peaceably with neighbors on an individual basis, to rejection even of self-defense against existential international threats.
The Bible indeed has much to say prophetically about wars involving Israel. Here a sampling.
Attacks on Israel are viewed as attacks against God. The Psalmist wrote that Israel’s enemies are in first order motivated by their hatred for God: “For behold, Your enemies are in uproar and those who hate You have lifted their heads. Against Your people they plot in secret, and conspire against Your sheltered ones. They said, ‘Come, let us cut them off from nationhood, so Israel’s name will not be remembered any longer’; for they take counsel together unanimously, they made a covenant against You” (83:3-6 [2-5]).
The writer entreats God to turn the enemies who wish to steal the Land of Israel (here called God’s Land, i.e. where He dwells), into chaff and stubble blown in the wind (vv. 13-14 [12-13]).
Zechariah says that God takes attacks against Israel personally, as if the attacker was figuratively striking the apple of God’s eye (2:12 [2:8]). Deuteronomy 32:10 reiterates that “His eye” refers to God’s eye.
Isaiah (41:8-16) makes clear that when God has brought the Jewish people back “from the ends of the earth” (v. 9; i.e. since 1948, not the limited return from Babylon), with His right hand (v. 10), He will steady the right hand of Israel (v. 13). As a biblical metaphor, the “right hand” stands for strength and valor in battle. In other words, His hand and Israel’s hand are joined in battle. God will use Israel’s right hand. These battles are God’s battles.
At that time, Israel will be “a new sharp threshing instrument having many blades” (v. 15) that will thresh the mountains (i.e. the armies gathered around Israel). Those who were enraged at Israel, who fought and contended with it, will be utterly decimated so that one cannot even find them afterwards (vv. 11-12). The enemies will be scattered like chaff in the wind (vv. 15-16). Three times these verses stress that Israel’s enemies will be as nothing. Where is Hamas? Where is Hizbullah? Where are Iran’s rocket launchers? Hundreds destroyed within minutes of the outbreak of the “12-Day War.” Scores of generals and terrorist leaders eliminated.
Even in the distorted images proffered by the news media and double-standard commentaries by morally perverse and ineffectual world leaders, the truth of these prophecies is evident.
Isaiah spoke of a time when Israel is restored (Chapter 62), when God contends on behalf of Israel. For its sake, He will not keep silent. After all the filth and sludge, the lies and condemnations that the nations throw at Israel, they will finally perceive its righteousness.
Chapter 63 speaks of God’s retribution upon Israel’s oppressors, here portrayed as Edom (Esau’s namesake), the merciless brother of Jacob (Israel) in the wilderness. God is depicted here (vv. 1-6) with horrific imagery, wearing garments stained with blood, as if He had trampled grapes in a winepress. He is returning from battle, having trodden upon nations in His anger. Interestingly, the ancient rabbis interpreted this reference to Edom as referring to the Roman Empire and later its descendant Europe. Christian Europe, which should have looked mercifully upon Israel its spiritual brother, instead treated it as its spoil throughout history.
This imagery is confirmed in the New Testament in the apocalyptic Book of Revelation (19:11-16): Jesus wearing white clothes soaked in blood; a sword that strikes the nations; the treading of grapes in a winepress representing God’s anger.
Israel strives for peace. It values and blesses true peacemakers. In the synagogue, the three daily services are replete with prayers for it. But God strengthens our right hand with His right hand when necessary. Warring against Israel, against God, is a foolhardy venture. Let us pray that peace will prevail for everyone’s sake.