The reelection of Israeli prime minister Benjamin (Bibi) Netanyahu in March 2015 came as somewhat of a shock, not only to the world, but to Israel itself. The polls had consistently predicted that he would go down to defeat and that Labor party leader Isaac Herzog would become prime minister. But to everyone’s surprise, Netanyahu was reelected, and this has certain implications both for Israel and also for the rest of the world.
Israel’s Security
For the rest of the world, and particularly for the United States, it shows that Israel places a high premium on its security and that when its security is threatened, this consideration overrides all other issues. Before the election, many thought that social and economic concerns would dominate the campaign and that matters such as a housing shortage and the high cost of living would favor the Labor party. But obviously the threat from Iran and its potential to acquire nuclear weapons eventually carried the day.
More than this, Israel under Netanyahu has clearly signaled its intention to “go it alone,” if necessary, without U.S. assistance and to take on the matter of its security without foreign help. This viewpoint has some support in the U.S., for no less an authority than senator and former presidential candidate John McCain commented recently, “The Israelis will need to chart their own path of resistance. ... Israel survived its first 19 years without meaningful U.S. patronage.” Like Israel, the U.S. is deeply divided politically, and while some support the present administration’s policies, others, along with Israel, are very critical of what they perceive as a soft line toward Islamic extremists. The proposed deal with Iran over its nuclear program, largely brokered by U.S. president Obama, has widened this rift and elicited strong words on both sides.
The Nuclear Treaty
In his speech to the U.S. Congress before the election in Israel, Netanyahu strongly condemned the proposed deal with Iran, calling it a “bad deal” and arguing that it facilitated Iran’s acquisition of nuclear weapons, rather than preventing it. The fact that his invitation to address Congress was arranged independently of U.S. president Obama only emphasized the ideological polarization in the U.S. It also emphasized the strain that presently exists in U.S./Israel relations.
For Israel too, Netanyahu’s reelection focuses their attention on security and their determination not to allow themselves to be victimized again. It was significant that during Netanyahu’s speech to the U.S. Congress, his wife Sara sat in the gallery with Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, for memories of the Holocaust have greatly influenced Israel’s thinking and policy. The phrase “never again” became popular in the 1970s to represent the feelings of the Jewish people about the Holocaust and referred to their resolve never again to allow themselves to be slaughtered simply because they were Jews. Netanyahu gave vent to this feeling in his speech to the U.S. Congress: “We are no longer scattered among the nations, powerless to defend ourselves. We restored our sovereignty in our ancient home. And the soldiers who defend our home have boundless courage. For the first time in 100 generations, we, the Jewish people, can defend ourselves. This is why — this is why, as a prime minister of Israel, I can promise you one more thing: Even if Israel has to stand alone, Israel will stand.”
Live in Peace
But there is another deep-seated yearning in the souls of the Jews — the wish to be able to live in peace and rest. Yet the attainment of this longing continues to elude them. Thomas Friedman captures this feeling well in his book, From Beirut to Jerusalem: “The tragedy and the irony of the Zionist revolution is that although it created all these instruments and institutions from the ashes of the Holocaust, it failed to eradicate the collective self-image of the Jew as victim. Although they can now speak their own language and walk with their heads held high, many Israelis today still feel as though they are victims of circumstance and living on borrowed time as much as any Jewish ghetto dwellers in history.” He goes on to say that Jews in Israel are constantly reminded, “You are not rooted. You are here against everyone’s will. You can never really relax.” This was written more than twenty years ago, but it remains just as true today.
Religious Unbelief
What does all this mean from a scriptural point of view? The fact is that the Jews have gone back to their land in unbelief, and it is well-known that the vast majority there do not practice their religion. Even leaders like Netanyahu quote the Word of God when it suits their purpose, but they neglect that which would condemn them. Their history is referenced to define them and justify their settling in the land of Palestine, but the reasons why they were taken into captivity more than 2500 years ago are seldom mentioned. Likewise, their general feeling of being victims is part of prophecy, although this in no way justifies the actions of those who persecute them. Moses could warn them of the consequences of disobedience, telling them, “I would scatter them into corners, I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men,” while Hosea could prophesy, “They shall be wanderers among the nations” (Hos. 9:1717My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him: and they shall be wanderers among the nations. (Hosea 9:17)). They have indeed been scattered “among the nations” (Deut. 4:2727And the Lord shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the Lord shall lead you. (Deuteronomy 4:27)) and have become “a burdensome stone for all people” (Zech. 12:33And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. (Zechariah 12:3)).
More than this, the Lord Jesus Himself warned that “Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled” (Luke 21:2424And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. (Luke 21:24)). Israel as a nation may have military control of the city of Jerusalem, but they dare not pull down the Mosque of Omar (although Jewish extremists have more than once plotted to blow it up). They live in a state of uncertainty and fear, despite their military power. They will not have the land in peace and safety until the Lord gives it to them, and all this cannot come about until Ezekiel 36:2626A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 36:26) is fulfilled: “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.” It is only when the Lord’s “judgments are in the earth” that “the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness” (Isa. 26:99With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. (Isaiah 26:9)).
The Future Covenant
As to defending themselves without foreign help, Scripture tells us that after the church is taken home to be with the Lord, Israel will eventually make a covenant, not with the U.S., but with “the beast” — the head of the revived Roman Empire. This “covenant with death” (Isa. 28:1515Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: (Isaiah 28:15)) will be for seven years (Dan. 9:2727And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. (Daniel 9:27)), but after three and a half years the beast will break his covenant, leaving Israel on its own. As a result, the king of the north (called “the desolator” — Dan. 9:2727And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. (Daniel 9:27) JND) will come down, who will ravage the land of Israel, cutting off two-thirds of the people (Zech. 13:88And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. (Zechariah 13:8)). All of their boasted military power will not save them, and the result will be that “she being desolate shall sit upon the ground” (Isa. 3:2626And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground. (Isaiah 3:26)). Only a remnant will escape, but then the Lord will appear on their behalf, deal with their enemies, and bring them into millennial blessing.
The Election of Grace
In view of all this, the believer today can view the world scene in intelligence, while realizing that today, God’s message for the Jew is what Paul stated in Romans 10:11Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. (Romans 10:1): “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.” It is true that God is preserving “a remnant according to the election of grace” (Rom. 11:55Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. (Romans 11:5)) for earthly blessing, but today God is calling all nations, the Jews as well as the Gentiles, to hear and believe the gospel of the grace of God. While recognizing that the Jews are still God’s chosen people, we also realize that “blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in” (Rom. 11:2525For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. (Romans 11:25)). Likewise, while God may honor in an outward way those who are kind to His ancient people, yet they will still find that to involve themselves nationally with Israel is to experience a burdensome stone.
What peace it gives to see God’s purposes being worked out and to know that “in the dispensation of the fullness of times” He will “gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth” (Eph. 1:1010That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: (Ephesians 1:10))! Man’s plans will fail, but God will never be frustrated in His purposes. Israel may reject the gospel today, but as a nation, they are “beloved for the fathers’ sakes” (Rom. 11:2828As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. (Romans 11:28)). God has in His purposes the exaltation of His beloved Son, with the blessing of the church in heaven and the blessing of Israel on earth.
W. J. Prost