Releasing God’s Favour

A call to repentance for our treatment of both the Jewish & Palestinian People
by Tony Black. Reconciliation International. Jerusalem, April 1999. Updated March 2000 & Oct 2001.
http://www.openheaven.com   Scriptures taken from the New King James Version unless noted

For behold, in those days and at that time, when I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will enter into judgment with them there on account of My people, My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; they have also divided up My land. (Joel 3:1-2)

PART I - INTRODUCTION

For our purposes here, I shall use my own nation Great Britain as an example, but I think it's fair to say that the principles apply equally to all nations. The main theme we are addressing is not a question of which religion is right or wrong, but the sole principle of Righteousness. 

The Christian scriptures declare that "Righteousness exalts a nation" (Prov 14:34)

God's intention has always been that nations should bring glory to His name by revealing His true character to others. He first chose Abram for this purpose: "I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing." God promised. "And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year." (Gen 17:20,21)  

Thus the Nation of Israel - not Britain, not the USA, not we Christians, nor the sons of Ishmael, was God's chosen instrument of blessing (ie. chosen as the instrument to bring His blessing to all others.) But it is key to understand who the blessing was for. The answer is:  for everyone !

However, to receive and retain God's blessing a nation must act righteously. We know well the history of the nation of Israel and their ups and downs with God. Even the name "Israel" means "He struggles with God". It is not our purpose to judge them here, rather to examine ourselves amidst other nations, be they Christian, Muslim, Hindu or whatever. 

According to the Bible there is a specific requirement for righteousness which all nations ignore at their peril. It relates directly to their treatment of the Jewish People. Any nation which mistreats them forfeits, at least to some degree, the blessing of God, and worse, risks serious judgment. The Lord said to Abram: "I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you" (Gen 12). This principle, I suggest, is both emphatic and straightforward. If a nation is not living fully in God's blessing, it would do well to explore this issue - How has it treated the Jewish people ?

The everlasting Covenant

And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God." (Gen 17:7-8)

God has made a never ending covenant with the children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Contained within it are at least two irrevocable promises. 1) To be God to them and to their descendants after them. 2) To give them the Land of Canaan as an everlasting possession. God keeps His promises. If not, then how can any of us trust Him ? If He makes an "everlasting" covenant with a specific people group, then surely it is truly that - everlasting. The gifts and calling of God are irrevocable.

I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew... For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. (Rom 11. see also Deut 7)

Never to be "replaced"

A section of the Christian Church, and particularly in Great Britain amongst the "new" Churches, believes that God has discarded the Jewish people and replaced them with an alternative "spiritual Israel". This is known as Replacement Theology. This cannot possibly be accurate as it is neither consistent with the nature of a God who keeps His promises, nor is it actually what is written in the Bible. Furthermore, I suggest that it's a curse on our nation and a very real obstacle to our full blessing (Revival).

Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all ! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fulness bring! (Rom 11:11-12 NIV)

The Diaspora

The Scriptures foretell the ways in which Israel would sin against their God. Whilst heir Covenant is unconditional, their continued blessing and security is conditional upon obedience. As a consequence of their disobedience God has done just as He warned in dispersing them to the ends of the earth. Yet for all that He has never wholly cast them away, nor has He ever broken His everlasting covenant with them - as some suggest. This is a vital point. God knew that His people would sin; that He would disperse them; and that He would bring them back. He still has a future purpose and blessing for them.

After describing Israel's many sins He says:

Yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, nor shall I abhor them, to utterly destroy them and break My covenant with them; for I am the LORD their God. But for their sake I will remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God: I am the LORD. (Lev 26:44)

Jealousy - the root of the Problem

Jealousy (envy) about "who gets what" concerning the blessings of God is at the heart the problem. However, it is also a characteristic of fallen man which God frequently uses, despite our vagaries, to have His way. For example He has used the growth of the Christian Church to provoke jealousy amongst the Jews, and He has used the inherent blessings of His Covenant people (wealth as an obvious example in some cases) to provoke the non-Jew.

Probably the most contentious area remains the question of who are God's "chosen people". An Israeli friend once told me that he often wished that God had chosen another people instead ! This is understandable in the light of his family's experience during the Shoah (holocaust), and in considering Israel's struggle throughout history. This aside, "Gentile" jealousy of the Jews rightly bearing the title "chosen" (and "first born") is entirely unnecessary and often misunderstood. God has always intended that both should receive His blessing.

Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh-- who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands-- that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.... Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. (Eph 2:11/22 NKJ)

God's order of things

The Lord may do as He pleases. The fact that He first chose for Himself a people (and a land) and gave them double honour is His prerogative. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob-Israel are God's "first chosen". This is His order of things. The first born receives double honour (if born in God's chosen way). However, as non-Jews we need to understand what "God's people" were "first chosen" for -- to be a light and to bring the light -- for the benefit of all creation. Someone had to be chosen! If they have received a blessing, then they have certainly also been judged according to the conditions. It seems that the first born also receives double judgement !

The blessing is for us too

Instead of your shame you shall have double honour, and instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double; everlasting joy shall be theirs. (Isa 61:7 NKJ)

We need to understand how we as Christians (I cannot speak for Muslims, Hinhus, Buddhists etc) can receive our blessing, through the shedding our confusion. It is simply a matter of accepting God's order of things. The blessing for the non-Jew is found when, instead of confusion, we understand God's order and rejoice in our own "portion". It's a big slice of the cake too as fellow citizens of the Common-Wealth! In a commonwealth there is order. It is not a matter of superiority or position, it has to do with Function. It is has to be this way in the Body of Messiah, which has many parts ! It is also the same in a family, a city and a nation. Lots of differing roles.

In accepting this simple precept we are coming in line with God's order. It's better not to stand against it, for to do so is to stand against the Almighty Himself !! The truth is that we non-Jews are "chosen" too - something that amazed the Jews even long ago, and sometimes still does - but we were not chosen first and we were not chosen to bring forth the Messiah! He is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. In Him we can be grafted in -- and equal (but with different function).

In the modern era it sometimes seems as though the whole world is bent on turning God's order upside down. In the Kingdom of God it cannot be so. But just in case you think God is one-sided, in this the Jew must also accept God's Kingdom order of things. There is no room for arrogance on either side. The Bible is emblazoned with commands for justice, mercy, integrity and humility - to name but a few. An Israeli friend once pointed out that "the Jew may be first, but don't forget that the first shall be last". This is for God alone to say, and only eternity will tell - but, for the ambitious or proud, it's a principle worth noting !

But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, saying, 'These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.' But he answered one of them and said, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 'Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. 'Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? (Matt 20:10-)

On the road to National blessing - and Revival - we must first take the following two out of three steps:

STEP ONE - Learn to bless one another in our functions, and thereby live without enmity.
STEP TWO - Apologise to the Jewish people for our replacement theology and the anti-semitism that it breeds.

PART II - BRITAIN'S BROKEN PROMISE

God has often raised up mighty empires for His purposes. Such have been the Greeks, Romans, Babylonians and Assyrians. It is not co-incidental that in all cases the epicentre of activity has been focussed around God's people and land of Israel. So too, I suggest, with the British empire. In the modern era no nation more so than Britain has played a greater part in the re-establishment of a Jewish homeland.

The reasons that God gave Britain an empire were not just for our blesing. I believe it was firstly so that we might take the Gospel to the ends of the earth, and secondly, so that we might have the power and authority to re-establish the Jewish homeland in Israel. A heavenly mandate indeed ! Sadly however, we polluted the former to some extent with imperialism, and the latter we failed to complete. True, we did a lot of good things, but history records that our failings have affected both Jew and Arab alike, with subsequent cries for justice increasing in both camps even to this day. Regardless of your view in this matter, the main and only point in question for our purpose here is - have we acted righteously?

The Balfour Declaration issued on November 2nd 1917, with full approval of the Cabinet was a British promise made to the Jewish people. It said this:

"His Majesty's Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country."

As a consequence, in July 1922 the League of Nations entrusted Britain with the Mandate for Palestine (the name by which a much larger region was then known). Recognizing "the historical connection of the Jewish people with Palestine", we were called upon to facilitate the establishment of a Jewish National Home. Where did we fail in this vital, some would say God-given, commission ?

To begin with, in 1937 we (the British) recommended dividing the country into two states, one Jewish and one Arab. The Jewish leadership, under great pressure, were forced to accept the idea of partition. At least this would give them a homeland of sorts. The Arabs were uncompromisingly against any partition plan. We divided the land - and none too efficiently either - as the present situation shows! Furthermore we then further backtracked from even this weak arrangement:

"This pledge of a home... is the pledge which was given, and that is the pledge we are now being asked to break..." said Winston Churchill in 1939. Thus summarised the breaking of a covenant, a pledge that had been given at a crucial time, just prior to the Holocaust. Is it co-incidence that within a few weeks the World was plunged into war, and Hitler more firmly established in his so-called "Final Solution to the Jewish problem" ? How different would the scenario have been had we stood our ground ? Could the slaughter have been prevented ? Perhaps. We shall not know in this lifetime, but we will certainly find out on judgement day !

Some would say that our backtracking was due to a sense of "British fair play" in response to powerful representations from the Arab nations. Arab resentment of a Jewish presence had erupted in periods of intense violence when Jewish transport was harassed, fields and forests set on fire, and attacks launched against population centers and individuals. Attempts to reach a dialogue with the Arabs were ultimately unsuccessful. Others say our retraction was because we were fearful of German might and their alliance with the Arabs. The more cynical simply point to British self-interest in Oil.

Regardless of any argument, and to cut a long story short, history recalls that when the war ended in 1945 the struggle continued in Israel. Important to note that it was a struggle in which we, the British, actually spilled Jewish blood. The end result was that we managed to get ourselves into such a mess that in May 1948, when the United Nations voted on the Article which lead to the re-birth of the State of Israel, Britain abstained. Many people were deeply ashamed by this decision.

To quote Bob Jones, "The restoration of Israel to her homeland was not a political mandate but a spiritual directive from the very Word of God. The Scriptures emphasize that heaven and earth may pass away, but God's Word cannot fail. Therefore, to consider relinquishing that heritage would be contrary to the mandate of scripture and an offense against the Lord." In this respect Britain has indeed offended God.

The positive side: During the 26 years of the British Mandate, agriculture was expanded; factories were established; new roads were built throughout the country; the waters of the Jordan were harnessed for electricity; and the mineral potential of the Dead Sea was tapped. The Federation of Labour was founded to advance workers' welfare and to provide employment by setting up cooperatives in the industrial sector and marketing services for the communal agricultural settlements (Kibbutzim). Between 1933 and 1945, Britain was an important refuge for Jews fleeing Nazi-controlled Europe. It is estimated that over 80,000 Jewish refugees reached our shores, and 55,000 stayed. This much is in our favour !

Recent history - What a mixed bag we are ! After 1945 we placed increased restrictions on the number of Jews permitted to settle in the Land - at the time of their near exhaustion, precisely when the survivors of the Holocaust needed our help most. The Jewish community responded by instituting a wide network of "illegal immigration" activities to rescue these survivors. Blood was shed on all three sides - British, Jewish and Arab.

Between 1945 and 1948 some 85,000 Jews were brought to the land (Eretz Israel) by secret, often dangerous routes, in spite of a British naval blockade and border patrols set up to intercept the refugees before they reached the country. Those who were caught were interned in British detention camps on the island of Cyprus, or returned to Europe. Some died in the process. Towards the end of 1947 Britain finally washed her hands of the situation and turned the matter over to the UN.

The nation is re-born - On 14 May 1948 at 4pm the State of Israel was proclaimed according to a new United Nations partition plan (thus "all nations" also divided the land !). Less than 24 hours later, the five armies of Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq invaded the country, forcing Israel to defend the sovereignty it had regained in its ancestral homeland. In what became known as Israel's War of Independence, the newly formed, poorly equipped Israel Defense Forces (IDF) repulsed the invaders in fierce intermittent fighting, which lasted some 15 months and claimed over 6,000 Israeli lives (nearly one percent of the country's Jewish population at the time). Britain was impotent to their plight.

Consequences: Scripture is clear that God deals with people on two levels - Individually, on a one-to-one basis, and corporately, as tribes, languages, peoples, nations, cities and even empires. In His dealing with nations, His primary requirement has never changed: They should act righteously. From both an historic and Biblical perpective it is clear to see that He blesses them when they do, and that He judges them when they don’t. Can this bode well for Britain ?

It is not so much our intention here to have an historical debate about anti-semitism in general, nor really of the sins of replacement theology. There are other places to discuss that (with a history that goes back at least as far as 1190 - with the slaughter of 150 Jews at York). It has sufficed our purpose here to consider acts which have undeniably hindered the Jewish people in modern times. There are many other incidents that could be quoted.

To the question: Have we as Nation behaved righteously toward the Jewish people?- the answer, despite all the good we have done, is NO, we have not always acted righteously !

For this alone we must apologise to the Jewish people. We must also learn to bless one another in our God ordained functions, and thereby live without enmity. Furthermore we must now actively seek to be a blessing to the Jewish people (thus the "Love Israel" projects). Lastly, and most importantly, if we consider that now is a time when God is pouring out His Spirit on all flesh, then we had best take seriously the impending judgement that follows:

And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days... For behold, in those days and at that time, when I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will enter into judgment with them there on account of My people, My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; they have also divided up My land. (Joel 2:28-29, 3:1-2)

STEP 3: - Let us repent before The Lord our God. Let us apologise to the Jewish people (Holocaust included) and let us work toward justice for all peoples in the Land of the everlasting Covenant. 

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