A hot button topic of conversation in the media and across campuses around the country, if not the world, is who is responsible for the conflict that exists between Israel and Palestine. Many Christians struggle with what is going on, as the violence and carnage on both sides is indeed terrible. Some question the right of Israel to defend itself or even exit. Is the sanctity, or sacredness, of Israel valid? There is no doubt about what scripture says on this topic, and that is unequivocally yes! You would have to read volumes on the geopolitics and history of the area to get a complete understanding of the root causes behind the conflict. But to this day, Israel remains the apple of God’s eye. Deuteronomy 7:6 says “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.” As believers in Christ, we have been grafted into the vine (Israel), and therefore are also a treasured possession. Paul in Ephesians 2:19-20, “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.” In John 15:5, Christ said “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” Romans 11:24 Paul draws the parallel of Christians being “grafted” into Israel. He wrote, “After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!” Likewise, as a nation the United States must support Israel as well. Genesis 12:3 “I will bless them that bless thee and curse them that curse thee, and in thee shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.” Isaiah 60:12 “For the nation that will not serve you (Israel) will perish; it will be utterly ruined.” I firmly believe that we are blessed as a nation because of our past support for Israel, and if we were to pull that support so too would God pull his blessing. With that, we must also pray for peace in that area, and that through it all, all in that area might be saved. The saving grace of Christ is available to all, Jew, and non-Jew alike. John 3:16 applies to all. Pray for peace. Pray for Israel.
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