The Middle East War – Part 1
Good day to each of you reading this column as I pose the following question to you—What is the difference between the Jews and the Palestinians?
This question came about by my wife and I did not know the answer, so I went to the Bible and the computer and have found the following to share with you.
For those of you who already knew the answer, great as you will be able to let others know who did not know. I hope you take the time to read this column for it might help open things that you might not be aware of and add to your enlightenment.
Before we begin, I like to add some humor and wish to thank Parade (parade.com) for some great jokes:
Marriage is when a man and woman become as one. The trouble starts when they try to decide which one.
What is the penalty for bigamy? Two mothers-in-law.
Marriage is full of surprises but it’s mostly just asking each other, “Do you have to do that right now?”
“The secret of a happy marriage remains a secret.” — Henny Youngman
And, the five most essential words for a healthy, vital relationship are “I apologize” and “You are right.”
As I have said before, humor is the best medicine, especially with all the stress we deal with on a daily basis.
So, here’s the question—What is the difference between the Israelis and the Palestinians and why are they fighting?
Here are few questions and answers from Wikipedia:
Are Palestinians the original biblical Jews?
- The Palestinians are the Arabs who live (or used to live) in the same land that the Zionist Jews now live in. They are primarily descendants of Ishmael, who is the first physical son of Abraham. It was Hagar, a handmaid of Abraham’s wife Sarah, who gave birth to the child.
Does Palestine belong to the Jews or the Arabs?
- When Jews began to immigrate to Palestine in large numbers in 1882, fewer than 250,000 Arabs lived there, and the majority of them had arrived in recent decades. Palestine was never an exclusively Arab country, although Arabic gradually became the language of most the population after the Muslim invasions of the seventh century.
Are all people from Israel considered Jewish?
- The modern State of Israel is the only country where Jews form a majority of the population. It defines itself as a Jewish and democratic state in the Basic Laws, Human Dignity and Liberty in particular, which is based on the Declaration of Independence.
We trace the biblical journey back to Ishmael for he was born from Hagar, the maid servant to Abraham and Sarah and half-brother to Issac.
Now Abraham was 99 years old when the Lord appeared to him and said he would confirm his covenant between them, that Abraham would greatly increase your number of people, make Abraham a father of many nations, establish an everlasting covenant between the Lord and Abraham, an everlasting covenant between Abraham descendants and the Lord for generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you and the whole land of Canaan as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you, and I will be your God. Genesis 17: 3-8 (NIV) paraphrased.
Where is Canaan? The land known as Canaan was situated in the territory of the southern Levant, which today encompasses Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, and the southern portions of Syria and Lebanon. According to Penn Museum.
Which brings us to the next question, was Abraham a Jew? Here is an article from the Medium:
Abraham Was Not a Jew, And Neither Was Jacob
Contrary to what many Bible teachers teach and most Christians misunderstood, Abraham was a Hebrew but not a Jew. Jacob was Israel and a Hebrew but not a Jew. Abraham or Abram (his birth name) was called a Hebrew for he was a Hebrew (Genesis 14:13).
Abraham was a Hebrew but not a Jew. Jacob was Israel and a Hebrew but not a Jew.
Who are the Hebrews? Abram was a Hebrew because he came from the lineage of Heber (or Eber), whose name when translated to English means “the region beyond” or as Joshua noted, “the other side” (Joshua 24:2).
Why is this important? I fully agree with the author on why this is so important for he says that often in my contact with other Christians, I’m asked this question, “Was Abraham a Jew?” or “Was Jacob a Jew? I observe that many of the saints of the Lord are not clear about this. They generally think that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were Jews. Sadly, even some Theologians and Bible teachers today teach so.
Some even refer to those who are not Christians as Gentiles. Perhaps, some of the church pastors and elders may assume the same thought. That is incorrect.
Since this is not clearly taught even in most churches today, I hope to unscroll the scriptures and shed more light on this topic. Take the time to read this article to the end, study the Scripture references and prove to yourself, whether these things are so, so you can answer with biblical truth those who ask.
As Paul, the apostle wrote in his first epistle to the Thessalonians, “Despise not prophesyings (speaking for God). Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” (1 Thess. 5:20–21)
So far, we have established that Abraham & Issac were Hebrews and that Abraham and Sarah would bear a child named Issac in their late ages of 90 plus years.
Here’s a question for you—Was Ishmael a Jew or a Hebrew or of some other decent?
Ishmael was also born from Abraham and Hagar the Egyptian, the maid servant for Abraham and Sarah laughed at God doubting that God could not provide them a child at their age.
What happened to Ishmael and who are Ishmael offspring? Genesis 21:20 says that God was with Ishmael as he grew up for, he lived in the desert, became an archer and married a woman from Egypt.
We pick up where Ishmael was Issac’s half brother and where we introduce Esau whose brother Jacob and parents, Issac and Rebekah.
The significance is that Esau married two foreign girls who were a source of grief to Issac and Rebekah (Genesis 26:34) and to please his parents, Esau marries into Ishmael’s family. (Genesis 28:9)
Please understand this is not an attack of the Jew versus the Israelite versus the Hebrew, but an education of knowing who these men were and who they were not.
So, where do the Israelites fit in? Jacob was the 3rd link in God’s plan to star a nation from Abraham. Jacob, which means “he grasps the heel” (figuratively, he deceives)” for Jacob grabbed Esau’s heel when he was born along in later life grabbing his birthright and blessing.
Jacob was in “hot water” with his brother trying to kill him, fleeing to another country, being manipulated and deceived by marrying one woman he did not love so he could marry Rachel, having twelve sons and one daughter and learning the lesson of all things per God’s timing and that with sin one must be fully accountable.
Jacob, by the Jordan River, wrestled with God all night where his name was changed to Israel because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome. Genesis 32:28. Note: The NIV says in verse 28 that Jacob’s new name was a symbol of how God changed his life. Jacob’s character had changed from being an ambitious deceiver to Israel, the one who struggles with God and overcomes.
Turn to Genesis 35: 9-13 (NIV),
9 After Jacob returned from Paddan Aram, God appeared to him again and blessed him. 10 God said to him, “Your name is Jacob, but you will no longer be called Jacob; your name will be Israel.” So he named him Israel.
11 And God said to him, “I am God Almighty; be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will be among your descendants. 12 The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I also give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you.” 13 Then God went up from him at the place where he had talked with him.
We have established that Jacob’s name was now Israel, that his family had 12 sons and one daughter, became the 12 Israelite tribes who began their journey to the land that God gave them.
Please take notice in verse 11 that God does not single out one nation to be fruitful and increase in number but a community of nations. The Ferrar Fenton version says an “Assembly of Nations.”
Just a thought, I believe that Jesus sent his disciples, pastors, and those such as the Israelites, the Christians and those who believe in John 14:6 to spread the gospel throughout the world and not just the Middle East.
As you read this first part of the Middle East crisis, let’s use the Bible as the source of how things began before we skip to the present.
Part 2 is ready to be published and take heed for the Bible says in John 14:1: (KJV) Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Yes, trouble is all around, but fear not, I am with you always!
May you Bless God in all that you say and do!
Jeff
