I am sitting on a train pondering. Pondering a presentation I’ve just seen from an Israeli archaeologist with the City of David—a site currently under excavation in Ancient Jerusalem.
Over the course of 30 minutes, we were shown remarkably preserved artifacts discovered recently. Among the colorful slide images, we saw a clay tablet referring to the House of David more than a hundred years after his death. We saw steps from the Pool of Siloam …seals referring to kings and conflicts mentioned in Jeremiah 34-38.
As a follower of Jesus and a lover of His Word, this visual evidence of Israel’s history was engaging and affirming. Yet a closing story from the speaker jerked me back to reality. He mentioned that he teaches courses on Israeli archaeology and history at the university level. The courses are open to people off all faiths in Israel. Curiously, among his students have been a few Muslims. He shared that despite months of field study, hands-on exploration…reams of indisputable facts, it’s not unusual for a Muslim student to simply wave it all off—refusing to acknowledge Israel’s right to the Land. The facts are there. History is there…but none of it seems to matter.
All of this is disturbing enough, but then I ask, what am I personally doing to affirm the nation of Israel? Does the existence of this tiny nation really matter to me? If so, what evidence is there to back my claim? In Genesis 12:3 God clearly says, “I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
Maybe like me, you have bemoaned the eroding support of America for Israel. But what have we done about it? Have we spoken up? Where are the Christian voices speaking out in defense of Israel? God’s promise in Genesis 12:3 is one we cannot escape: “I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."