The Palestinian Issue?
Listening to Mike Huckabee on Fox News this morning I was pleased to hear him say that considering any claims by the Palestinians upon any land within the borders of Israel was not a political, social or even an economic issue. One can look at all of he political decisions such the Balfour Letter, UN decisions or even Harry Truman officially recognizing Israel as a nation stateon behalf of the United States without understanding the truth of the issue. One must realize that this is a theological question that can only be resolved based upon acceptance or rejection of a 3,000 year old land awarded to the Jews through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob by God, or was the land grant given to Ishmael (the half brother of Isaac).
The Jews, of course, claim the land through Isaac but the Palestinians claim the same land through Ishmael. The Bible states, unequivocally, that Isaac was the recipient of the land covenant, and I accept that as the absolute truth. The Palestinians, however, claim that their prophet, Mohammed, tells them that the covenant was given to Ishmael, Mohammed’s direct ancestor. I believe that his claims to be highly unlikely. Historically, Ishmael is the ancestral origin of the Arab nations while Jacob’s brother Essau is the ancestor of the Edomites, the tribal origin of todays Palestinians.
The Edomites established their own nation of Edom, a mountain area southeast of Israel, the site of the city of Petra that was carved out of the valley walls. Incidentally, the city was used a a backdrop for the third Indian Jones movie. It’s an impressive sight.
Based upon the Bible, you can no more separate the Jews from Israel or allow another nation to live within this holy covenant, than you can live without breathing. The Bible says it can’t happen. If anyone disagrees with the Jew’s claim upon Israel then they are trying to alter God’s word. History will prove them wrong, it’s that simple.
There no acceptable solutions that can be imposed by man. Only the second coming of Jesus Christ can bring peace to the Middle East. The Jews will not surrender their land and the Palestinians and the Arab nations will accept nothing less.
All that said, here is the question I would like to ask each individual. Do you look forward to the coming of Christ or do you disbelieve in His second coming. Belief in Jesus Christ as your savior is the most important personal question in all of history. Scripture says that at an unexpected moment, Christ will call all believers up to Heaven leaving all non-believers behind to go through seven years of tribulation before He returns to earth to set up His thousand kingdom. Where will you be when after that call?
