The Middle East Conflict Discussion

The topic of the current conflict in the Middle East was brought up by Brenna, one of my Onething Intern buddies. She had an assignment for one of her college classes to write an opinion paper on the ongoing conflict between Israel and the nearby Arab peoples.

In case you don't pay attention to the news, there has been renewed talk of peace between Israel and Palestine, by means of Israel giving Palestine more land, and even possibly by splitting Jerusalem in half. In my eyes, this isn't really news, as it's been the same story since Israel was established in 1947. They even gave back control of some of the land to Palestinians in 1994 in hopes of making peace, but shortly afterwards the Palestinian attacks escalated yet again.

The questions the professor asked Brenna to consider for her assignment were:

1. Why hasn't the situation changed for so long?
2. Why is it so important to bring a resolution to this conflict?
3. How can peace be achieved?

He also asked her to consider these real world issues:

4. Territory: Palestinians want Israel to relinquish all of the West Bank and East Jerusalem to the Palestinians. Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005, but is reluctant to return the rest of the disputed land.

Q. Should Israel return the land? Why or why not?

5. Jewish settlements: Palestinians believe that all Jewish settlements in the West Bank or Gaza Strip are illegal because they violate UN resolutions and international law. Israel is reluctant to withdraw.

Q. Are Jewish settlements in violation of UN resolutions and international law?

6. U.S. Support: Palestinians argue that the United States has unilaterally supported Israel in this conflict, creating a power imbalance in the conflict. Some believe U.S. support to Israel has promoted hatred among the Arab countries.

Q. Has the U.S. supported Israel? Why?

7. Security issues: Palestinians officially favor peace and disarmament. While the images of kids throwing stones at Israeli tanks are common, Palestinians also have access to arms, and extremists carry out attacks. Meanwhile, Israelis have an impressive armed force that is regularly used aggressively against Palestinians.

Q. How does the military prowess of both countries compare?

8. Jerusalem: In 1947, when the UN voted for the partition of Palestine into Arab and Jewish states, it designated Jerusalem as an international city. In1949, Israel declared Jerusalem as its capital city. Palestinians say that Israel must return all of East Jerusalem and the Islamic and Christian holy sites in the Old City. Israelis believe that a united Jerusalem must remain under Israeli control.

Q. What could be done to make Jerusalem an international city?

9. Palestinian refugees: Palestinians say that Israel must accept responsibility for Palestinian refugees who fled or were expelled as a result of the creation of Israel. Refugee camps often become semi-permanent and develop their own communities and informal economies, however, the social costs are high.

Q. What are some of the problems encountered by Palestinians in refugee camps? What has been done to alleviate these problems?

10. Water: Palestinians say that Israel must relinquish all of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, including the Jordan Valley. Israel believes that it must have access to the Jordan Valley. The construction of the wall has also created concerns on the access to water reservoirs.

Q. Are water resources presently allocated based on population size and agricultural use? How water is allocated? How it should be allocated?

These questions actually sparked something new in me, and has forced me to take another look at my biblical ideology regarding Israel in the context of real current events. This is a very difficult thing, and something that is often side-stepped or misunderstood.

It is a subject that it seems nobody has answers to, so I figured the best place to go for answers was to ask God to reveal it to me through the Holy Spirit and through His Word. What I ended up with was something that seemed to make sense, although it is hard to accept, and even hard to believe in and hope for. Yet I there is no other answer. Like most difficult questions, it seems the only right answer is the super simple answer you here so often from the high pitched voices of children in Sunday School.

"Jesus?"

Oh, it seems so foolish, it's almost painful... but it's the only way!

Next time: International Justice and Spiritual Mercy

STAY TUNED>

Love for Israel: A Jealous Love

Last time: "Why care about those who have rejected the Messiah?"

I'm continuing on the theme of Romans 9, where Paul is writing of his heart for Israel. He writes, "my grief [for Israel] is so great, the pain in my heart so constant..."

A thought creeps in... "But Paul is Jewish! Of course he is concerned for his people!" But Paul was also an Apostle to us Gentiles, and he is a major model of Christianity. Also, Jesus is Jewish, and wept over lost Israel. If we cannot, even as Gentiles, model ourselves after Christ and Paul, we might as well give up and go follow Zeus or some other pagan god. We are to be in-grafted into the Root of David, this is our identity. The in-grafted branch must not become arrogant.

Ok, so that was a sidetrack. So, this heart for Israel, how does it work? What does it look like to have a heart for Israel? Some say God doesn't love them, because they have rejected Him. Nothing could be further from the truth.

God is jealous for Israel, and he will not give himself rest until he can fully delight himself in them as his people. What is our part in this as Gentiles? We are to be watchmen on their walls, praying for them without ceasing! (Isaiah 62)

We are supposed to remember how we too, were once lost, and without hope, but he has shown us mercy, and extends that same mercy to his people Israel. God has a plan for Israel, and it involves us Gentiles! (Rom 11) This excites me. Maybe I'm odd, but I want to help God get what he desires with such zeal. I think it's a glorious calling, even though it starts with something so mundane and unexciting as prayer.

I might continue on this topic some more, but first, any questions or comments?

Love for Israel: Introduction, continued...

Previously:

Paul said, (Romans 9)

“I could wish myself actually under God’s curse, and separated from the Messiah,” --

Wait... what the... ?

“...if it would help my brothers, my own flesh and blood, the people of Isra’el!”

Uh, OK, I see you have a heart for your brothers, but really? What if God takes you up on that Paul? Do you really mean that? The Holy Spirit backs him up that he is not lying, so we have to believe that it is his true desire.

If you think about it one way, it seems like Paul loves his brothers more than he loves Jesus. He would give up being with his Lord, to whom he is a bond-servant, for them?

Or, thinking of it in reverse, it sounds like he values them more than his own salvation. He values them, his brothers who have rejected him and hated him, higher than personal relationship with the Father through Christ? He would give it all up, his own eternal destiny, his apostolic ministry, and the love of the Father and a life in Christ, something that he has said is more valuable than anything else he has ever had, for them?

Why? What is so special about them? He has a flourishing ministry among the Gentiles, who love him, and even support him financially, why not just walk away from those 'cold-hearted' Jews? Why care about those who persecute you? Why care about those who have rejected the Messiah, and even played a part in crucifying him?

Next Time: Some Preliminary Answers!

Love for Israel: A Teaser

The opening paragraph of Romans 9 contains the most brash and reckless statement of Paul recorded in the Bible. It’s simply outrageous. I read it, and part of me wonders, “How could he possibly mean what he said?” Paul knew what he was saying was bizarre, and knowing his readers would question him, he puts a big disclaimer on the front of this thing. He says, “I do not lie,” and claims the Holy Spirit is governing what comes next.

He says,

“I could wish myself actually under God’s curse, and separated from the Messiah,” --

Wait... what the... ?

Parashah 48 Excerpt: Judges

Every Shabbat (Saturday) I read a portion out of my Complete Jewish Bible. I look forward to this, and it's an excuse for me to get into the Word in depth.

This week, I just got started, and a very simple section struck me in a profound way. It was so good, I decided to share it with all of you. Enjoy!

*********************
Parashah (portion) 48: Shof'tim (Judges)
D'varim (Deuteronomy) 16:18-21:9
[excerpt, 16:18-20]

Adonai orders them to appoint judges and officers for all the gates in the cities. He establishes a couple of rules for them:

1. No Favoritism
2. No Bribes

Sounds simple, but it’s so crucial, and is still a problem in the justice system today. Verse 20 is powerful, and a worthy verse to live by for anyone who is in authority:

“Justice, only justice, you must pursue; so that you will live and inherit the land Adonai your God is giving you.” (CJB)

This was a command and a promise. When you think about it, it almost has to be taken prophetically, because the judges are already in the land, and have already inherited it. he is talking of another Land, the eternal Promised Land of which Israel was a precursor to. It might be the same land geographically, but it was a futuristic promise, of a resurrection inheritance.
Israel will inherit the Land, but only those of Israel that pursue justice.

Those judges who pursue justice, in other words, the Righteous Judge, Yeshua (Jesus), will inherit the land and will judge the world, and angels and demons (1 Corinthians 6:1-3).

This is weighty.

God, help me to judge righteously, to seek your authority, to always appeal to the highest court, the court of heaven, in all my judgments. Help me to not show favoritism, or take bribes, or to be selfish in my judgment, but to serve your people with justice from heaven.

Amen.

re: righteous anger pt II

Part II: Jesus is a lover.

Jesus loves me,
this I know,
for the Bible tells me so...

Continued from part I.

This sounds so basic, but do we really understand his love? Read on...

We have heard that Jesus loves us, from the Bible (John 3:16) and from the pulpit. We maybe have even experienced it a few times, like at salvation, baptism, or a rare church experience. But what do we really know about the Love of Christ? What have we really experienced of this love? Be honest.

Before we can fulfill the greatest commandment, to love the Lord with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our understanding, and all our strength, we must first receive His love, more and more. We must receive Him, more and more.

And we have known and believed the love that God has in us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

We love Him because He first loved us.
(1Jn 4:16,19)

Abiding in love... sounds a little romantic? Hah, I should hope so. Jesus is described as the bridegroom throughout the Bible. He loves us beyond measure. But just for a second let's take a look at that infinite love.

Here we are in the midst of the Jewish Pesach, the Passover, which serves as a reminder of how God delivered Israel from Egypt, and also foreshadows of Jesus, the sacrificial lamb (Exodus 12). A great opportunity to ponder the power of Christ.

We're going to skip the incredible mystery of God becoming man, and skip right to the incredible mystery of the God-man dying -- for us!

Christ was not killed. He laid down his life willingly (John 10:18), and suffered the brutality we get a picture of in the movie the Passion. This is God, who needs nothing from anyone, perfect in himself, choosing to become a humble man and suffer at the hands of other men. Why? For love.

This should blow us away. It's beyond understanding. Give yourself a few minutes to just thing about an infinite, perfect God, choosing to love us like this. Craziness.

I could go on and on... so maybe I will!

Creation. God created us for love. He didn't have to. He doesn't need our love, and in fact he could have been quite satisfied loving himself. Yet he desired to create us for love. The fall of man put distance between us, and He has been working a perfect plan to restore that love, and make it complete.

He could have just walked away. He could have started over. But he called his creation "good", and was not about to go back on his word. He is faithful even when we are not.

Every time God comes down from heaven to deal with people and doesn't wipe them out is only by the incredible mercy and meekness of God. I picture a huge, 18 year old, six-foot-six, 240 pound, muscular guy, bending down to play with a cranky, 2 year old girl with a smelly diaper. He could easily walk away, or if he's not careful, step on her and crush her.

It's not out of duty that he bends down to fix her diaper, nobody tells this guy what to do. It's not out of necessity, it's not because it's "what's right", but it's love. He cares!

And this is what inspired God to come to Abram, and make promises to him that He knew he would keep, all the while knowing that Abram would not be capable of perfectly keeping his side of the bargain.

This is what inspired God to make Israel into a people who he would call "Mine", while they would often chase after other gods.

With this love God became a weak, humble man. Jesus had his eyes on the Father, and the Father had in his eyes the future wedding of His beloved Son. This is what makes it all worth it.

Hopefully this gives you a little bit of the picture. These things were on the minds of the apostles. It's why Paul often would change his tone mid-thought and go off about the incredible love of God.

Look at one of his prayers for the Ephesians:

...that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, [so] that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to grasp with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height; to know the surpassing knowledge and love of Christ; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Eph 3:16-19, emphasis added)

Let that be your prayer for yourself, and see how it transforms you.

Next time: Jesus, the jealous husband.

Please leave comments, thoughts, etc.

re: righteous anger pt I

Righteous Anger. This is one of the most difficult topics, but pretty much anytime we try to behold God and his nature, it blows our mind.



Which is good, we need to restore a view of God as other than, far above us, yet he also wants us to take on his nature, and transform us into his image.

...you thought that I was like yourself; but I will rebuke you... (Psa 50:21)

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2Co 3:18)

Most of us have a hard time with a wrathful, jealous God, but I would argue that this is because we also don't understand his love very well, which basically means we don't know Him.

Reactions: true, scary, harsh?

It's ok, as we explore this, you'll see that God knows our weakness better than we do, and is beckoning us to search him out, to discover him, and he will do most of the work by revealing himself through the word and through prayer.

The glory of God is to conceal a thing; but the honor of kings is to search out a matter.
(Pro 25:2)

All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. Then He turned to His disciples and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see; (Luk 10:22-23) Emphasis added.

The good news is that Jesus wants to reveal himself to you, all you need to do is ask.

I am realizing this is a huge topic that will probably take like 4 or 5 posts to even get a good overview.

Maybe this whet your appetite though, if so, post a comment, a question, whatever, and I'll try to get back asap.

Next time: Creation. a divine love story

Coming:

• Jesus, the lover
• Jesus, the jealous husband
• Jesus, the judge
• Us, the Bride of Christ
• Wrap up and questions

Like all of you, I am figuring this stuff out as I go, and he is really opening my mind to who Jesus really is, and it's surprising.

Homework assignment: read slowly over Revelation 4 and 5. Is this a different view of Jesus than you're used to?

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