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War against Israel Is War against God 

February 1, 2017

The Bible speaks of a day when the nations of the world will come against Jerusalem and Israel. Ezekiel 38 foretells of the Gog and Magog war; Zechariah prophesies the nations will come against Jerusalem (ch. 12); in chapter 3, Joel declares that God will judge the nations who come to divide up the land of Israel. God does not agree with war against Israel (either physical or diplomatic war)! He will fight on Israel’s behalf.

The UN vote against Israel on December 23rd was an act against God’s plan for Israel. It was followed by the Paris Peace Conference on January 15, 2017. The UN continues to bring resolutions against the only democratic state in the Middle East. Many in Israel were shocked to hear that 70 nations were involved at the Paris event. The number 70 is significant because in Genesis 10, Noah’s grandchildren are listed and the total number is 70. In Jewish thought, the number 70 represents all the nations of the world. So, the world came to Paris to talk about dealing with the “Israel problem.” They came to discuss how to impose terms for peace upon Israel.

At Bridges for Peace we seriously embrace the call to be a “Holy Nation,” (1 Pet. 2:9). Regardless of the actions of the nations of this world, we will continue to stand with Israel and the God of Israel. As world events unfold, including future actions by the UN or the nations, we don’t have to agree or compromise. As Joshua entreated the people of Israel, “…as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Josh. 24:15). It is clear from God’s Word that He does not agree with the current world governments. He will come against nations who attack Israel and when that day comes I want to be counted on His side.

Just over 70 years ago World War II finally came to an end; a war which decimated the Jewish people. The Nazis murdered six million Jews. It was called a world war and although not all the nations killed the Jewish people, very few came to their assistance. Many more Jews could have been saved if a Holy Nation had arisen to stand with Israel and the God of Israel. Today, the world’s memory of that time has started to dull, but Israel’s memory has not.

One of the ways Bridges for Peace shows our unconditional love to the Jewish people is by helping Holocaust survivors. It is winter in Israel so recently we distributed blankets. One of our staff members after helping to hand out these blankets shared the following thoughts.

Symbols of Comfort, Protection and Love

A blanket—to some it is a mere piece of fabric that keeps one warm. To others it is so much more. Many people have an emotional connection from childhood to a warm fuzzy blanket. It symbolizes comfort, protection, love and so much more than mere warmth.

Bridges for Peace recently had the privilege of handing out these tokens of love and comfort to more than a hundred Holocaust survivors living in the city of Jerusalem. Many of these frail folk have severely traumatic childhood memories, fleeing as young children from places like Leningrad and Donetsk in the former Soviet Union. One spoke of hiding for weeks at a time in a single room with eight other families during terrible weather conditions.

In their later years when they managed to make aliyah (immigrate) to Israel, they came with just the clothes on their backs and nothing else. Their stories are filled with struggles; nothing ever came easily to these people—finding their feet in a new country, learning a new language and trying to cope with the ever increasing cost of living in Israel.

The Holocaust survivors we went to visit are in their eighties and nineties now and are settled into state retirement hostels where they are lovingly cared for by the staff. To receive a warm blanket from caring Christians is not just a mere gift to them; it is a token of comfort and love. Even though they have had terrible experiences in their youth, now in their old age there are Christians all over the world that are willing to bless and support them. This righteous action speaks so much louder than words.

We Will Stand with Israel

It is now more than 70 years since the Holocaust, but the war against the Jewish people, the war against Israel and the war against God has not abated. We see it in diplomatic actions at the UN, at the Paris Peace event, in the streets of Israel as people at bus stops are mowed down by terrorists, in terror arson and in the rhetoric of Islamic extremists. Now is the time to show the Jewish people that Christians will continue to stand with them, on every side. We will speak out on their behalf; we will help Holocaust survivors and victims of arson terror; we will feed the hungry; and we will care for children. We will choose to stand with the God of Israel and those He has sworn to defend. “He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep” (Ps. 121:4).

Please send a generous gift today to help us continue to show God’s love in Israel.

Blessings from Israel,
Rebecca J. Brimmer
International President and CEO

Photo Credit: Michio Nagata/bridgesforpeace.com