Israel-Gaza war: Don’t ignore what the Bible actually says

Christians today are asking serious questions in response to the 7 October attack by Hamas, to Israel’s ensuing war in Gaza, and to the huge anti-Israel protests around the world:

Why are the Jewish people and their state hated so much? Why is the Palestinian-Israeli conflict so long-lasting and traumatic? How does modern Israel relate to biblical Israel? Are we witnessing fulfilment of biblical prophecy in any way? How should we relate to the Jewish people now, given that our Saviour is for ever Jewish (Luke 1:32-33; Rev 22:16)?

Simplistic Bible-based responses by some church leaders treat this conflict as if it were just a personal disagreement – ‘Blessed are the peacemakers’ (Matt 5:9); ‘Never take your own revenge’ (Rom 12:19); ‘Love your enemies’ (Luke 6:35). Of course these principles are godly, and modelled by Jesus Himself. But until we have forgiven a neighbour for torturing, raping and then slaughtering our own little sister or grandmother, we Christians have no right to lecture the grieving citizens of Israel.

Even if we were to treat this like any other international war, the Bible has far more to teach us. God has entrusted governments with ‘the sword’ to avenge evil and enforce justice (Rom 13:1-7; Luke 14:31-32), and although individuals should not resort to violence (Matt 26:52), soldiers serving their government can use force justly (Luke 3:14; Matt 5:41). ‘Just war theory’ is a robust Christian concept based on biblical patterns found throughout the history and laws of Israel. At the same time, the Bible recognises the tragic justice of collective punishment for the offences of leaders (Luke 19:41-44; 20:15-19; 23:27-31), provided there is due warning given (Luke 11:49-51) and opportunity for innocent individuals to escape (Luke 21:20-22). If Jesus decreed this for His own beloved nation, others cannot expect different standards of justice.

Applied to the current war in Gaza, Israel has taken pains to conduct its warfare against Hamas (not a war against Palestinians) strictly according to international law, as it always does. After all, the idea of human rights originated in Israel’s own teaching that every human is equally made in the image of God (Gen 1:27; Amos 9:7). Israel fully recognises its unique ‘chosen’ status as a nation is not because they are better than any other people (Deut 7:7-8; 9:4-7). This is why Israel has consistently welcomed Gazans for urgent medical treatment, even Hamas leaders and their families, and feel they must justify any change of policy even during wartime. Israel’s efforts to spare Palestinian civilian lives during war surpass any other army in the world. So it is utterly immoral to equate Israel’s collateral damage of civilian deaths in Gaza with Hamas’ sadistic targeting of defenceless civilians in southern Israel.

However, we must not treat this conflict as if it were ‘any other war’. Regardless of Israel’s response to Messiah Yeshua/Jesus, they remain chosen and loved by God, with irrevocable ‘gifts and calling’ (Rom 11:28-29). The entire Bible is centred around this one ethnic group, so how can we ignore their ongoing identification with God as a major factor in this war? I propose to explore this significance in three areas: the underlying excuse for attacking Israel at home and abroad, the tactics of Israel’s enemy, and the proper reaction of Christians toward the Jewish people.

First, the Bible speaks clearly about the ‘gift’ of the land. When pro-Palestinians echo the demands of Hamas that ‘… Palestine will be free’, they are tacitly approving the designation of Israel as an illegitimate coloniser of indigenous Palestinian land. So Christians need to become better informed about modern international law. In 1922, the community of nations unanimously recognised Jews to be indigenous alongside Arabs. They legally granted the land ‘from the river to the sea’ to the Jewish people as a national home in 1922, next door to an Arab state in (Trans)Jordan, implementing Churchill’s original two-state solution for all ‘Palestine’. Neither was expected to expel its ethnic minorities, however sadly from 1948 onwards there were equivalent numbers of Arabs and Jews who did flee, as often happens.

The history and legality of the State of Israel did not begin in 1948. But neither did it begin in 1922 or 1917. The Bible records that Israel inherited from father Abraham God’s ‘gift’ of the land as an eternal covenant (Gen 15:17-21; 17:7-8; etc.; Exod 6:5-8; 32:13). Even within their future ‘new covenant’, God again promised to ‘plant them in this land with all My heart and with all My soul’ (Jer 31:31-37; 32:36-42). The condition of possessing this inherited land that was ‘given for all time’ was that Israel keep God’s commandments (Deut 4:40), hence Israel’s repeated exiles from the land. But as Paul affirmed, Israel’s ‘gifts’ are not revoked despite sin or exile (Rom 9:4; 11:28-29). We also note that the land was never Israel’s exclusive possession. The law repeatedly affirms that ethnic minorities have equal legal status (Exod 12:43-49; Lev 24:10-22; Num 15:11-16, 29-31), provided they too worship Israel’s God (Jer 12:14-17).

Surprisingly, the prophet Ezekiel discerned that God would regather the Jewish people to the land even before their repentance and spiritual transformation, to prove His own unmerited faithfulness (Ezek 20:39-44; 36:16-32). And the prophet Isaiah made Israel’s hope dependent upon the nations. When nations have been drawn to Israel’s Messiah, they will then assist the Jewish people to return to their ancestral land (Isa 11:10-12; 49:5-7, 22-23; 60:4-9).

Therefore, Jesus Himself testified to an ongoing longing to regather Jerusalem’s exiled ‘children’ from the Diaspora (Matt 23:37-39; see Isa 49:14-22), such as Greek-speaking Jewish pilgrims (John 7:35-36; 12:20-32). He understood His mission as being the son of David who would gather both Judah and the ‘lost’ northern tribes of Israel, to be one flock with one shepherd (John 10:15; 11:51-52; echoing Ezek 37:21-24, also Isa 56:6-8). He also prophesied that at some point after the Roman exile, when salvation has been offered to all nations, Jerusalem would again be restored to Jewish sovereignty or ‘kingship’ (Luke 21:24; Acts 1:6-8). When He returns to reign on earth, His Jewish apostles will then govern the twelve tribes of Israel, and likewise His servants from the nations will inherit ‘kingship’ over their nations (Matt 19:28; 25:31-40; Rev 2:26-27; 7:3-10).

The entire Bible, from beginning to end, testifies that God will surely bring His Jewish people back into their land from the ends of the earth. And this promise will be accomplished only by Israel’s Messiah Jesus (Rom 15:8; 2Cor 1:20), through those nations who rally to His standard. This clear biblical teaching was celebrated and pursued by mainstream evangelical Christianity in Britain for 300 years, recognised by scholars as a primary influence on our 1917 Balfour Declaration. This included some of our greatest spiritual forebears such as Watts and the Wesleys, Simeon and Spurgeon, Müller and M’Cheyne, and even leading intellects like Milton, Locke and Newton.

Biblical literacy has plummeted in the British church during the last century, so it is little wonder that the convictions of our esteemed ancestors are so rarely reflected today. Had they been alive now, they would be eagerly awaiting and interceding for the imminent spiritual outpouring upon the regathered Jewish nation, prophesied in Ezekiel 36 and 37.

Second, the Bible alerts us to the tactics of Israel’s enemy. Israel’s primary opponent throughout history has been Satan, the Father of Lies (John 8:44) and the Accuser of the Brethren (Rev 12:7-12; Luke 10:17-20), whose greatest challenger is Israel’s angelic prince Michael (Dan 10:20-21; 12:1). Satan hates the Messiah who will destroy him, and therefore he hates the nation of Israel who gave birth to Messiah (Rev 12:1-6, 13-17; Gen 37:9-10).

Antisemitism is the most persistent racial hatred in humanity’s history. It arises not only from the unjustified jealousy of nations towards the one chosen to bless them (Gen 18:17-33; 27:29; Isa 19:24-25), but also simply because darkness hates and fears the light (Isa 60:1-3, 14). The Jewish people still carry God’s special revelation and glory (Rom 3:1-2; 9:4-5), so Satan is determined to slander and slaughter the nation who mediates God’s blessing on earth (Est 3:8-9; Rom 11:12, 15; 15:8-12).

All of Scripture bears witness to the common human failures of the Jewish people, but Satan goes further, stirring up the world he controls in unending false accusations out of all proportion to Israel’s faults. In the current war, Israel is unfairly blamed for every death in Gaza, whether combatants, human shields of Hamas, or victims of Gazan terror rockets, even for simply retaliating to Hamas’ sickening aggression. And on our streets and social media, selective sympathy for only these specific Palestinians (abused for decades by their own people) often masks violent spiritual hatred of the one and only Jewish state.

Sometimes criticism is justified, yet when Satan prosecuted the leader of the Jewish nation in Zechariah 3:1-7, the pre-incarnate Angel of the LORD rebuked the accuser by interceding for the guilty on the basis of God’s election. He still does the same for us (Rom 8:34), so let us not be found imitating Satan’s work when it comes to Israel.

Third, the Bible defines right attitudes and actions towards Jewish people. Just as children are to honour their parents and wives their husbands for God’s sake (Eph 6:1-4; 5:22-33), without necessarily implying that the authority figure is morally superior (1Pet 3:5-6), so also the nations should honour the Jewish people as God’s chosen leader nation (Rom 1:16; 2:9-11; 11:28-29).

The centurions and the Canaanite woman who demonstrated proper humility as non-Jews, received blessings associated with ‘salvation’ which Jesus said ‘is from the Jews’ (Luke 7:2-10; Acts 10:1-6; Matt 15:21-28; John 4:22; see Isa 35:4-6). He also taught that He will judge nations based on how we have treated ‘the least of these brothers of Mine’ (Matt 25:40), which must at least include Jesus’ ethnic kinsmen.

So Paul warned non-Jewish believers against arrogance and ignorance about God’s ongoing and especially end-time purposes for His ‘beloved’ Israel, even in their unbelief (Rom 11:17-28). Instead, he taught that we who have shared in their spiritual blessings ought to minister to them in practical ways (Rom 15:26-27).

In these troubled times for Jewish people worldwide, the least we can do is stand up publicly against all who hate and slander them, for Jesus’ sake.

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An edited version of this article has been published by Premier Christianity magazine on 30 Nov 2023:
https://www.premierchristianity.com/opinion/israel-gaza-war-dont-ignore-what-the-bible-actually-says/16802.article

Photo by Timon Studler on Unsplash.

A Biblical View of the War in Israel – seminar

This seminar was presented at Cornerstone Church in Oxford, UK, on 25 November 2023. The handouts are available as (A4) images below, to help viewers follow along with the two sessions. These can be watched online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZm7Ysvk9qo (Session One) and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvf6DtW3KlY (Session Two).

In the current conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, the primary motivation for Hamas’ hatred is Islamic doctrine that rejects any restored independence for Jews in the land of Israel. So if we truly want to seek peace, Christians must first address our own traditional ‘replacement theology’ that rejects any ongoing divine purpose for the land or people of Israel. Session One of the seminar goes into more detail, and further recommended reading is listed at the bottom of this post.

Web links to purchase the resources mentioned:
1. https://www.cfi.org.uk/sanremo-100
(also available as a free e-book: https://lnf.org.uk/sanremo/LNF-ECOPY/index.html)
2. https://www.cfi.org.uk/a-history-of-christian-zionism
3. https://grovebooks.co.uk/products/e-187-british-christian-history-and-the-jewish-people-recovering-an-ancient-spiritual-legacy

Other recommended reading, on the topic of Session One:

Beginners level:
David Evans, Christians & Israel: The Heart of the Matter – A concise guide (Eastbourne: Tahilla Press, 2010).
127pp. + appendices.
Short chapters on ‘The “Either/Or” Mentality of the Church’, ‘Has God Finished with Israel?’, ‘The Rejection of Jesus’, ‘Exile and Return’, ‘Israel and Palestine’, ‘Britain and Israel’, and ‘Not Israel For Israel’s Sake’.

Intermediate level:
David W. Torrance & George Taylor, Israel, God’s Servant: God’s Key to the Redemption of the World (Edinburgh: Handsel Press / London: Paternoster, 2007).
Back cover: ‘What is the place of the nation of Israel within God’s ongoing purpose to redeem all creation? How should we understand the theological relationship between Israel, humanity, Christ and the Church? What are the reasons for Anti-Semitism? How can we make sense of the political turmoil that has centered [sic] round the State of Israel since its foundation in 1948? This book aims to present an informed and Reformed, Christ-centred answer to these questions. It seeks to acknowledge Israel’s faults whilst at the same time affirming her essential place in God’s eternal covenant of grace.’

Advanced level:
Stanley E. Porter & Alan E. Kurschner (eds.), The Future Restoration of Israel: A Response to Supersessionism (McMaster Biblical Studies Series, 10; Eugene, OR: Pickwick, 2023).
Back cover: ‘This volume is the most extensive of its kind as a major set of collected essays from a wide range of scholars on the question of the promises of God to Israel. These essays put forward the position that unconditional promises were given to Israel, which have not been fulfilled in the church or any other entity. At the consummation, there will be a continuing role for the Jews, realized through their national and territorial hope of a restored-redeemed Israel. This volume contains an eclectic group of contributors who have reached this position from various approaches to interpretation. The essays exhibit both positive argumentation and engagement with supersessionist literature.’

The media hasn’t explained what motivates Hamas. The answer is religion

The trauma inflicted by hand in Israel and by bombs in Gaza naturally stirs sorrow in us.  Scripture tells us to ‘Weep with those who weep’ (Rom 12:15), and Jesus modelled this for us.  He wept with the grieving sisters of His friend Lazarus, but also as He looked ahead to the terrible destruction the Romans would wreak upon Jerusalem (John 11:35; Luke 19:41-44; 23:27-31).  He wept over the inevitable suffering incurred by the city’s leaders who chose to be His enemies.

Golda Meir, Prime Minister of Israel during the surprise Yom Kippur War exactly 50 years ago, expressed similar sentiments: ‘When peace comes, we will perhaps in time be able to forgive the Arabs for killing our sons, but it will be harder for us to forgive them for having forced us to kill their sons.’

Solomon taught that ‘A poor man who oppresses the lowly is a driving rain which leaves no food’ (Prov 28:3).  Indeed, since they were elected in 2007, Hamas has taken the millions of euros given in aid to their people, and spent it not on food but on weapons and terror tunnels, and on palatial homes in the prestigious Rimal neighbourhood of Gaza.  Keeping Palestinians in poverty appeals more to the pity of the foreign press, and local critics of their corruption are quickly silenced.

Even worse, Hamas has remade Gaza into a giant human shield.  It deliberately stores weapons caches beneath UNRWA schools and mosques, transports them in ambulances, and fires rockets at Israeli villages from rooftops of civilian apartment blocks, so that Israel’s necessary counter-attacks will appear inexcusable.  In fact, Israel cares more for the Palestinian people than their own leaders do, warning them by text message and other means to get out of harm’s way, every time a strike is planned.

But why does Hamas hate Israel so much?  Israeli villages near Gaza witnessed their extreme brutality and inhumanity inflicted on babies and mothers, festival-goers and elderly women waiting at bus-stops, not to mention the torture of hostages.  Is all of this just a natural reaction to their (great-)grandparents losing their homes during Israel’s (defensive) war of independence 75 years ago?  Or perhaps to being strait-jacketed inside Gaza for 17 years to limit terrorist attacks, in what they call ‘the world’s largest open-air prison’?  In fact, in 2019 Israel re-opened entry for migrant workers, up to 45,000 a day since Covid.

Hamas’ Head of Political and International Relations, Dr Basem Naim, told Sky News on 9 October that ‘We didn’t kill any civilians.’  He justified this bizarre denial by redefining all occupants of the villages and towns around Gaza, young and old alike, as ‘settlers’ guilty of ‘occupation’ and of ‘humiliation and insulting Muslims around the world’ by entering Muslim holy places.  He said that their attack was on behalf of Palestinians in Gaza, the ‘West Bank’ and Jerusalem (whose greatest mosque is Al-Aqsa), which explains why they proudly named it ‘Operation Al-Aqsa Flood’.  All of these details point unmistakably to religious motives, to a spiritual root of this conflict.

Hamas is a branch of the infamous Muslim Brotherhood, a radical Islamic movement that has imposed strict sharia law and Islamist education throughout Gaza during its 16 years in power.  Its official charter defines its goal as ‘to raise the banner of Allah over every inch of Palestine’ (Article 6) by ‘obliterating’ Israel (Preamble).  Fully in accord with conservative Islamic theology, Article 11 explains that ‘the land of Palestine is an Islamic Waqf [holy possession] consecrated for future Muslim generations until Judgement Day.  No one [i.e. moderate Palestinian leaders] can renounce it or any part, or abandon it or any part of it.’  Thus all two-state negotiation is futile and contrary to Islam, because ‘There is no solution for the Palestinian problem except through Jihad’ (Article 13).  Explaining what this entails, their charter quotes a widespread Hadith attributed to Muhammed: ‘The Day of Judgement will not come about until Muslims fight Jews and kill them. When the Jew will hide behind rocks and trees, the rocks and trees will cry out: “O Muslim, there is a Jew hiding behind me, come and kill him”’ (Article 7).

In essence, Muslim theology divides the world into ‘Dar al-Islam’ (Muslim territory) and ‘Dar al-Harb’ (literally, territory of war).  Once a territory is conquered by Islam, it cannot revert.  So Israel’s existence will never be acceptable to orthodox Islam, regardless of the equally legitimate right of Jews to indigenous self-rule within their ancestral homeland, approved unanimously by the League of Nations in the British Mandate of 1922 and affirmed by the United Nations in 1947.  Instead, every Jew must be expelled or subjugated to Muslim rule, which is ‘an individual duty for every Muslim’ (Hamas Charter, Article 14).

This vicious attack was designed to terrorise Jewish Israelis, and mobilise all Muslims in the land to rise up in wholesale ethnic cleansing.  The ultimate conflict rages over which ‘God’ reigns over Jerusalem, enthroned on the ‘Temple Mount’ or ‘Al-Aqsa’ respectively.

From the opposing perspective, the gift of the land to Israel’s patriarchs in Genesis (13:15; 17:8; 26:4; 28:13) was reinforced by all the biblical prophets, who promised an end-time Jewish return from worldwide exile (e.g. Isa 53–54; Ezek 36–37).  Jesus Himself ‘longed’ to accomplish this (Matt 23:37-39; Luke 21:24; John 10:16; 11:51-52), and the promised ‘land of Israel’ is among the ‘gifts’ Paul defines as ‘irrevocable’ (Matt 2:20; Rom 9:4; 11:28-29).

Neither the Jewish nor the Muslim attachment to the land can be severed theologically, either by politics or by war, however brutal and devastating.  If so, the only hope for peace is the message of the Jewish Messiah, the weeping King of Jerusalem (Matt 5:35), whose self-sacrificial leadership will break down every dividing wall of hostility (Eph 2:14-18) and heal the land.

[Published also in edited form by Premier Christianity: https://www.premierchristianity.com/opinion/the-media-hasnt-explained-what-motivates-hamas-the-answer-is-religion/16499.article]

[photo credit: Wissam Nassar for NY Times, 3 Sept 2014]