The Conservative Edge

I’ve been thinking a lot about the state of Israel, especially since its recent clash with Hamas in Gaza. It seems that with every conflict, people start counting down to Armageddon, or wondering when World War 3 will begin. Some people think that the return of Jews to the land of Israel, especially since 1948, is a sure sign that “end-time” prophecy is being fulfilled. Many televangelists predict that world war against Israel, the Mark of the Beast, the Rapture, and Christ’s second advent are all at hand.

But I want to ask, first of all, just who are the Jews, and where did that name come from? It is important to understand that name, as it may require a re-thinking of conventional prophetic interpretation.

The most significant thing to remember about the term “Jew” is that it is a short name, or nickname. “Jew” is actually a short name for “Judah”, one of Jacob’s sons. It’s the same as someone using “Mike” for “Michael”, or using “Bob” for “Robert”, as we do today. This means, of course, that we cannot always use the term “Jew” interchangeably with “Israelite”. Or, to put it another way, all “Jews” are indeed Israelites, but not all Israelites are Jews. It’s the same as saying that all Ohioans are Americans, but not all Americans are from Ohio. See the difference?

So why is this distinction important? Well, it means that there are more Israelites in this world than could possibly live in the little parcel of land that the state of Israel now occupies. The origins of the nation of Israel begins with the Biblical patriarch Jacob, who had his name changed to “Israel”. This means that Israel is more about a man and his family, than about a tract of land. Only one of Israel’s sons, Judah, is the progenitor of the Jews. There are many other members that make up the beginnings of the nation of Israel, because Jacob (Israel) had 11 other sons. Where are their descendents?

It’s possible that there are as many Israelites in this world as there are any other nationality. When God promised Abraham, Jacob’s (Israel’s) grandfather, a multitude of descendents, God told Abraham to look in the sky and count the stars; to look at the sand by the sea and count the grains of sand. If Abraham could count the stars or number the grains of sand, then he could grasp just how his family would multiply. Does that sound like Israel would be forever tiny, just numbering a fraction of what other nations would be? Or does it seem as though God actually wanted “Israel” to cover the face of the earth? There are quite a few stars out there, you know!

Furthermore, that means the prophecies for Israel could involve millions of people all over the world, including many here in America. Some historians are sure that America and Britain actually descended from Joseph, a son of Israel, and I generally agree. If you remember the prophecy concerning Joseph, how he would be hated, and yet how his growth and influence could not be contained, then you could see how America could fit that description. No other nation has the influence that America does, yet it seems that America is truly hated, and now attacked by demonic murderers who would destroy every one of us if given the chance. The only other nation held in similar low regard by the world is…Israel. Surprised?

I can’t believe what I’ve been reading in my local newspaper this week. Many people have been writing to the editors, condemning the Israeli retaliation in Gaza. One reader stated that “Israel…is murdering innocent civilians in its so-called war against Hamas”, and that “Israel is no better than Saddam Hussein.” Another letter reads “There is a genocide going on in Gaza today”, and that President-elect Obama should “make a strong statement against the slaughter in Gaza.” There was even a public gathering downtown, where people protested againt Israel’s actions.

Are Americans so blind to the tactics of terrorist organizations? Do they never see the aggression that provokes the retaliation and subsequent war? Do they realize that Israel does indeed have a right–socially, morally, and militarily–to defend its borders and its people?

The Associated Press, at the beginning of the current conflict, reported that Hamas began launching rockets into Israel as the cease-fire agreement was set to expire. Israel was willing to extend the agreement, but Hamas was unwilling to cooperate. The AP also revealed on December 27, 2008, that thousands of Gazans received Arabic-language cell phone messages from the Israeli military, urging them to leave homes where militants might have stashed weapons.

This is the real tragedy: terrorist organizations who put citizens’ lives in danger by hiding weapons and munitions in homes and schools, thereby holding people hostage every day. In a sick form of passive-aggressive methodology, the terrorists actually hope for civilian casualties to further their cause. It works because they know that Israel will retaliate. Hamas (and other militants) are aggressors in picking a fight, but portray themselves as victims of aggression when someone fights back.

Many people wonder why Israel has such sophisticated defenses, built with the help of the United States. The reason is very clear. Israel, a land roughly half the size of my home state of Ohio, is under constant threat. Not only do organizations like Hamas, Fatah, and Hezbollah regularly attack Israeli interests, but the countries of Lebanon, Syria, and Iran pose serious threats too. Imagine being under constant fear of rocket attacks in Ashkelon, or suicide bombs in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Would you not want your government to protect your right to live?

The United States encountered several terrorist attacks in the 1990’s. From the first attack on the World Trade Center in 1993, to the attack on the USS Cole in 2000, we lost hundreds of fine service people to thugs and cowards like the ones attacking Israel right now. Would any American deny our right to take action against those who harmed us? Even though we didn’t strike back with sufficient vengeance—Bill Clinton allowed Osama Bin Laden to be extradited to Afghanistan—we had (and still have) the right to defend our country. Why should Israel have any less right?

I had the privilege to visit Israel in February of 2000, as they were preparing for the Pope’s historic visit later that year. I only saw a handful of soldiers the whole time I was there. The soldiers were so friendly, in fact, that some of them posed for pictures with certain female members of our tour group. All across the country, people just seemed to enjoy relaxing on their front porches, watching their kids play soccer at school, or buying goodies at the marketplaces. They seemed willing to be peacable folks, but it’s hard to be at peace when neighboring countries keep shooting rockets at them. Again, I ask—why shouldn’t Israel defend its people, and its way of life?

“War—what is it good for?” is a line from a classic rock song. There aren’t too many people who can tolerate even the thought of war or conflict. But, wars have been fought for centuries, and for various reasons. Some wars have been waged in the name of religion, which we are seeing right now. Other conflicts have arisen because one man or nation wanted to control the rest of the world.

But there are times when fighting, without declarations of war, can bring about desired results. Sometimes, a mere threat of rebellion, or news of some trouble brewing between two countries, can affect a society far removed from the area of crisis. Let me explain what war is good for.

On December 17, 2008, the oil cartel OPEC agreed to cut 2.2 million barrels of oil from its daily production. It was OPEC’s single largest reduction ever. Iran, especially, was a vocal proponent of such cutbacks. When asked whether the size of the cut was enough to get oil prices up again, OPEC President Chekib Khelil said, “I hope we surprised you.” He also added, “If you’re not surprised, we need to do something about it.”

However, the oil markets did not react as OPEC had hoped. Crude oil sank to $40.20 after the announcement. The fear of world recession, and lower energy consumption, was enough to override OPEC’s reduced production, which is to be put into effect January 1, 2009.

Is it a coincidence, then, that Hamas started firing rockets from Gaza into southern Israel, within 2 weeks of OPEC’s announcement? Hamas is supported by Iran, which is part of the OPEC cartel. When OPEC saw that oil prices weren’t moved by the threats of reduced supply, it put in force the statement made by Mr. Khelil: “…we need to do something about it.” That “something” is an old tactic used time and again by Mideast countries. Make war, and threaten the supply of oil to the Western countries, and the price of oil will go up. And one of the surest ways to start a war is to fire some rockets into Israel, because Israel almost ALWAYS retaliates.

Hamas doesn’t care if Gaza citizens get killed in the process. In fact, they hope for civilian casualties, because it then emboldens other terrorist organizations, and other countries, drawing them into the conflict too. Before you know it, you’ve got fires burning all over the Mideast, and oil markets in chaos. That is exactly what war is good for!

If the United States truly wants peace in the Mideast, then perhaps we should be pumping our own oil. Then those other countries would have fewer reasons to fight. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a lot more violence, initiated by Iran, Lebanon, Hamas, and Hezbollah against Israel. We’ll see how this unfolds in 2009.