The current resurgence of anti-Semitism and the outpouring of hate towards Israel should not surprise us. Since the days of Abraham, God has promised to bless the world through the descendants of the patriarch. Though Jewish scholars, scientists, and artists have blessed the world in many ways, the primary blessing would be the Messiah coming into the world through Jewish bloodlines.
It is clear from scripture that Satan, although not fully aware of God’s plan has been threatened by the thought of a savior or redeemer coming into the through Israel. If he cannot reign in heaven, he certainly wants to reign on the earth. The first coming of Messiah and the return of Messiah are ultimate threats to his “kingdom” here on this planet and his future.
We know of at least four attempts Satan made to derail God’s promise of blessing. I believe he incited Pharoah to order all the Hebrew sons killed in the days of Moses. I believe he incited Hamon in the days of Esther to have all the Jews destroyed in Persia. I believe he prompted Herod to have all the Israeli boys under two years of age killed in the vicinity of Bethlehem at the time of Jesus’ birth. I believe he drove Hitler to kill millions of Jews during the second world war and I believe he is inciting the Arab nations to “wipe Israel off the face of the earth” in this season. All of this is an attempt to somehow delay or cancel the return of Christ and the ultimate defeat of Satan.
God promised Abraham, “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Gen. 12:2-3). Scripture is clear that anyone who truly hates Israel is probably under demonic influence and is subject to the curse God declared over those who would curse Abraham and his descendants.
As Christians, especially, we should be a source of blessing to Israel. This does not mean that we have to approve of everything Israel does. I don’t approve of everything America, my church, my family, or even myself do, but my heart is still with all of these. Our spiritual roots are in Israel. Paul reminds us that we, as wild shoots, have been grafted into Israel (Rom. 11:27). We may also have to be reminded that Jesus was (or is) Jewish as well. Prophecies regarding the return of Christ center on Jerusalem. In Revelation 20, John speaks of the nations of the earth surrounding Jerusalem to destroy it in the end times, and God describes Jerusalem as “the city he loves.” Romans 11 strongly suggest that God is not done with national Israel and, in the end, many Jews will come to faith in Jesus.
In the New Testament, we are often told that the world (the systems of the world) will hate us because it hates Jesus. It hates Jesus because it is still under the influence of Satan who still wants to see Israel destroyed thinking that the return of the King will somehow be thwarted if Israel is destroyed. The world-wide uprising against Jews is evidence that Satan still has a hold on much of this planet. Satan hates what God loves and the world loves what God hates. In the same way that the “world” hates Jesus and his followers it will also hate his chosen people.
As followers of Jesus and as “spiritual Jews,” we must pray for and stand with Israel. Those who bless Abraham will be blessed. I hope during this season of war and protests against Israel that our hearts will be conditioned by the Spirit and not by the tide of events or the propaganda we see on television. I hope you will pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Ps. 122:6) and that God will use this season to open Jewish and even Arab eyes to the true Messiah.
