Pastor And His Son – Why Do We Support Israel?
Earl Malone
SON
Dad, Mr. Peterson thinks it is important that we understand about the Middle East in our 7th grade Social Studies class. He thinks some of us may have to fight in wars someday. I have a question for you, OK?
PASTOR HAIGEN
Whats that, son?
SON
Will you explain to me again why we as Christians should support Israel in its wars over there?
PASTOR HAIGEN
Because the dispute is over the land, houses, orchards and the property, and Israel is home to Gods chosen people. God promised the land of Israel and Palestine to the Jews.
SON
Who is a Jew?
PASTOR HAIGEN
What do you mean, “Who is a Jew”? Jews are people who pray in Synagogues, observe the 10 Commandments, observe the Sabbath every Saturday, and so on.
SON
But, didnt you tell me most Jewish people dont even attend synagogues or follow the laws of the Old Testament…are they considered Jews?
PASTOR HAIGEN
Well, many Jews have fallen away from the faith. But, ugh, there still considered Jews.
SON
Why?
PASTOR HAIGEN
Because they are descendents of Abraham. Specifically, God promised the land of Israel to the descendents of Abraham.
SON
So Gods promise to Abrahams descendents is based on a blood relationship to Abraham?
PASTOR HAIGEN
Yes.
SON
How can a man who wants to immigrate to Israel trace his ancestors thousands of years back all the way back to Abraham?
PASTOR HAIGEN
Well…I suppose he cant. But under Israels right of return laws, I think he just needs to be recognized as a Jew by the Jewish community.
SON
Do they check the family tree back thousands of years to Abraham for everyone immigrating?
PASTOR HAIGEN
No, I dont think so. Genealogy records back to Abraham dont likely exist for anybody.
SON
So how does the Israeli government know the immigrant is a descendent of Abraham?
PASTOR HAIGEN
Well, Im not sure, I guess its just assumed.
SON
Oh?
PASTOR HAIGEN
Do you understand now?
SON
Not exactly dad. I mean, doesnt the Bible say Abraham was born in the city of Ur, which is in modern day Iraq?
PASTOR HAIGEN
Yessss
SON
If Jews are descended from Abraham, why dont they look like other people we see on TV from Iraq or from the Middle East?
PASTOR HAIGEN
Well, some of them do. There are Jews who look just as Arab as Saddam Hussein.
SON
Why do all the Jews in my school and those Ive seen on television look like white people?
PASTOR HAIGEN
Well, when the Jews were dispersed in the Diaspora, that was in the same century when Jesus was crucified, many went to Europe.
SON
So, living among Europeans, they turned into white people?
PASTOR HAIGEN
Of course not. They probably intermarried with the indigenous populations, and its also likely many people of European descent converted to Judaism.
SON
So why did they go back to Israel?
PASTOR HAGAN
To get land that Abraham promised their ancestors.
SON
So how can anyone know if they have Abrahams blood? Manny Abasse, whose in our class, looks like an Arab and his parents told him they came here because some of these Jewish people from Europe took their grandparents house in Israel.
PASTOR HAGAN
God gave the land to the Jews and not to the Arabs. The Bible tells about it in Genesis 12, and many other places. Didnt you memorized those verses in Bible class, Son?
SON
Yea dad, I remember, God sent Abraham out into the wilderness to a new land and promised to protect him if he did what God said, right? And Joseph and Mary both descended from Abraham, so Jesus came from his tribe, right Dad?
PASTOR HAGAN
Yes son, very good! But a lot more is implied. God said He would give Abrahams future generations all the land forever. If you have any doubts, many other places in the Bible absolutely confirm that this is what God meant. Dont you remember my sermons about the land without a people and a people without a land? As Christians we cannot argue with Gods holy word, can we son?
SON
No Dad, I wouldnt do that, and you know I trust you, like Abraham trusted God and Isaac trusted his father. And I know you are smart abut the Bible and history…..but I have to get this straight about the land. Manny says his parents told him Jews stole their property with guns and killed the Arabs who would not leave. Do you think his dad lied to him?
PASTOR HAGAN
Your friend is a Muslim so he is not capable of understanding Gods holy law. They are blessed because they descended from Ishmael, Jacobs half brother, Ishmael. But God blessed them less than the Jews, and their blessing did not include land. Even if the Jews used force it is justified because they were taking back the land God gave them, its part of their “right to return”. You will find God even tells us where the land is in Geneses 15, it is between two big rivers the Nile and the Euphrates.
SON
Is it fair for Jewish people to take the land of Palestine that other people live on without at least proving they descended from Jacob, and that the Arab didnt? I mean Manny looks more like a native Middle Easterner than most Jews.
PASTOR HAIGEN
Well, son, when we talk about the seed of Abraham having a right to the land, its not just a blood right. Its also a spiritual right, meaning those who are the spiritual seed of Abraham are the same as his genetic sons and dont need to provide proof of linage.
SON
Dad, we sang those songs at camp and at Sunday school about us Christians being the “Sons of Father Abraham” and “Climbing Jacobs Ladder.” So do Christians also have a right to the land in Palestine? If I could get my land I think I would give it to Manny.
PASTOR HAIGEN
Sorry son, only Jews have land rights under Gods promise to Abraham.
Its absolutely true that we Christians are spiritual sons of Abraham, just as the songs says, which means we will go to heaven if we believe in Gods promise through His Son. But Jews are the only ones with an earthly claim to the land of Israel, it was given to them by God. Thats whats taught in seminary, and its generally recognized by Evangelical Christians, and I can give you a hundred Bible sites that prove it without a doubt. Son, some things you must accept by faith as fact. You dont want to doubt Gods holy word, do you, Son?
SON
No Dad, but Mannys folks says there are Christians in Palestine who lost their houses too. So do Jews have a right to take the houses from Christians?
PASTOR HAIGEN
The Christians you are talking about are Arabs, and we dont really know if they are true believers.
SON
Well Dad, I really believe in Jesus, why cant I have land there?
PASTOR HAIGEN
Because were not the seed of Abraham in the same way Jews are.
SON
How is that, Dad?
PASTOR HAIGEN
Look, Christians are Abrahams spiritual seed, but not in the way Jews are.
God made a covenant with Israel and swore loyalty to her, and Israel decides who is a Jew with land rights and who is not.
SON
Who is Israel?
PASTOR HAIGEN
Israel is a government of the state that chose that name. They became a state right after World War II, and your grandfather fought in it, and it was just before I was born.
SON
Do they decide who gets the land based on the Bible?
PASTOR HAIGEN
Well, I guess you could say they do, the government sometimes quote Genesis 12, as one authority. But as a Christian I take it on faith that the Government of Israel is able to decide who came from Abraham. I dont see why God would deceive us as to who are his chosen people. I have faith that modern day Jews are either spiritual children or directly descended from Abraham, and through Gods covenant have exclusive right to Palestine.
SON:
Should I tell Manny we have to take it on faith that the people who took their land have a right to it and all Christians believe that?
PASTOR HAIGEN
Son, there are some people who say they are Christians but who dont believe in the chosen peoples rights. They are wrong about a lot of things and we dont need to know about them. It boils down to that Manny and his family and others who dont believe as we do need to become true believers in Jesus Christ before the rapture comes and leaves them behind, or worse yet they die unsaved.
SON:
So tell me one more time, why is it right for the Jews to come to Palestine and take Mannys house?
PASTOR HAIGEN
Son, I dont know why you are having trouble with this, you get straight As in school. We cant try to right every wrong. But Israel will always be the home of the Jews. God promised the land of Israel and Palestine to them. The Palestinians cannot overcome Gods will, they must leave like your friends parents did.
SON
I am not sure I can explain it to Manny and my class so it will make sense to them.
PASTOR HAGAN
Its simple son, you just have to believe that the Jews are Gods Chosen people.
SON
Oh! I think were back to where we started, Dad. …I guess I will do my homework and go to bed, Goodnight Dad.
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