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Biblical understanding about Israel
Watchman over Israel >>
By John Tweedie
I met him only days ago in Israel. At first glance, he seemed like the loneliest sentry in the world, serving in one of the most dangerous places, a solitary figure standing at the crossroads of ancient and modern history. Barely out of high school in Toronto, this young man had responded to a mysterious inner summons that called him back to his ancestral homeland, Israel. With his basic training behind him, he was now a full fledged member of one of the world’s elite armies, the IDF (Israel Defence Force).
His responsibility on this day was to stand guard over a valley where Israel’s history began in the heartland among the mountains of Samaria. Yet I couldn’t help thinking he seemed so young to have his finger on the trigger of the deadly M16 slung over his shoulder. From his lofty, if lonely, outpost this boy soldier had a panoramic view of Israel’s glorious past and troubled present.
Samaria: Birthplace of a Nation
Four thousand years before, as Abram passed through Shechem, in the plain of Moreh below, God appeared to him and promised to give him and his descendants the land on which he walked. To commemorate the moment - and the promise - Abram (exalted father), whose name God subsequently changed to Abraham (father of a multitude), built an altar unto the Lord (Genesis 12: 6, 7; 17: 5).
In the distance, across the valley, stood more biblical milestones and eyewitnesses to history, the mountains of Gerizim and Ebal, known respectively as the mountains of blessing and cursing. Moses, prior to his death on the other side of the Jordan River, had commanded Israel to assemble at Gerizim and Ebal, following their conquest of Canaan. Six tribes were to stand on one mountain and six on the other. They were to listen attentively as the loud voices of the Levitical priests recited, alternately, accompanied by responsive Amen’s from the people, the blessings or curses that would fall upon Israel according to her obedience or disobedience (Deut. Chs. 27 and 28). Since Israel was more inclined toward disobedience, this valley would bear witness to yet another grand assembly, that day when Joshua was compelled to challenge Israel and declare:”…choose you this day whom you will serve…but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Josh. 24:15).
Valley of Discontent
Called Shechem in biblical times, the city now dominating this wide valley of discontent is better known as Nablus. It is home to an ever increasing Palestinian population, and an urban sprawl which now covers the landscape between the mountains. As a result, Nablus has become important as one among a number of larger Palestinian cities in the current struggle for peace in the Holy Land. Yet, it is also the place where a nation called Israel was born. This young soldier knew this only too well; he must also have known that Joseph’s bones were laid to rest here following Israel’s Exodus from Egypt (Joshua 24:32; Acts 7:16). For this reason, Joseph’s Tomb had been a focus of Jewish pilgrimage down through the centuries. It remained so until it was attacked and burned by the citizens of Nablus a few years ago. Today, while some Jewish pilgrims still dare to pray there, they can do so only at certain times, and then only under military protection. Ironically, it’s only a stone’s throw from Joseph’s Tomb to Jacob’s Well, the place of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman (John 4). Her ancestors, the Samaritans, still live on Mount Gerizim, above Nablus.
Struggle in the Heartland
As more and more Jews return to Israel and build upon their ancient and biblical high places, they do so against the backdrop of a burgeoning Palestinian population in this biblical heartland. In an ideal world, both communities would peacefully co-exist, but recent history has shown that events on the ground are far from ideal. This is why Jewish children, even those in elementary grades, must travel to nearby schools under armed escort and in bullet-proof buses. It is also why Jewish communities are protected by barb-wire and perimeter fences. Ironically, if unfairly, Palestinians move around freely requiring no similar protection.
And so this young soldier of Israel must stay alert on his watch, knowing that terror can strike at any time and at any place. What was he thinking as his afternoon solitude was interrupted by a busload of excited Christians with black and white faces, members of Christians for Israel’s first truly international tour? We were from the African nations of Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda; from the European nations of Holland, Hungary, Transylvania and Ukraine; from America and Canada. Our heavy, bullet-proof bus had struggled to reach that high place above the new town of Itamar, but, in retrospect, the slow climb was worth the effort. The broad smile on the soldier’s face made it all worthwhile. God had not forgotten him, or Israel, not if Christians from so many nations far away had come to hug and encourage him. And who, but God, could have brought together such a culturally diverse group of Christians?
Promised Land or Palestinian State?
As certain nations seek ways to cheat her out of her God-given inheritance, I think of the Jews I met on this tour of Samaria. These are people who are daily risking their lives and those of their children in order to rebuild a nation in the place where it all began; they are doing so as a direct fulfillment of Ezekiel’s glorious prophecy (Ch.36). And I think of the young Canadian in the IDF uniform…
God calls this the Promised Land. He promised it to the descendants of Abraham.
The nations have named it the so-called West Bank, an area they have designated for a Palestinian state. These nations are now on a collision course with the God of Israel and of history. The question is: when and how will this struggle end? God knows! But I know this, that as long as one soldier of Israel is standing guard over the biblical heartland, we can be just as sure God is keeping His long-standing promises to His Chosen People!
(Rev. Dr. John Tweedie is the Chairman of Christians for Israel - www.c4i.ca)