For its survival Israel turns, not to God, but to Europe.
This was the thrust of the top story in The Jerusalem Post Sunday: that Israel’s Foreign Ministry has taken a strategic decision to establish strong relations with the European Union and thereby develop a “third pillar” to help ensure the survival of the Jewish state.
Where secular Israelis have traditionally seen their country’s security supported by the twin pillars of a strong IDF and an unbreakable diplomatic relationship with the United States, the thinking is now that, with the fast-growing EU intent on contending with America for the position of superpower #1, it is important to plug Israel into the Continent too.
In exchange, Israel is allowing Europe to play a greater role in Israeli diplomatic and economic processes.
Historically, and to the present day, European countries have been almost exclusively pro-Arab and anti-Israel. After centuries of saturating antisemitism the soil of Europe is still permeated with prejudice - undiluted by either the pre-Holocaust Enlightenment or the post-Holocaust and post-communist transition to a more modern, politically-”corrected” society.
Still, secular-humanist politicians in Israel have grasped at the straws offered by “friendly” heads of European states like former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
These leaders certainly have been and are more friendly in their attitude towards Israel than many others have been.
BUT, they all support and wish to fully participate in the international effort to rob the Jews of the land of their fathers and create thereon a Palestinian state.
The United States, long considered Israel’s only remaining friend, is leading the charge in this so-called land-for-peace process that gambles with Israel’s very existence.
As for the famous IDF: unequalled on the modern field of battle, it is nevertheless still reeling in disarray since its failure two years ago to achieve its goals against a small Lebanese terrorist organization - the Hizb’allah.
While modern-day Israel, which celebrates its 60th Independence Day this year, is very much a secular state, and therefore unsurprisingly persists in seeking out “pragmatic” and “realistic” political solutions, its roots go back thousands of years into biblical days.
Many Jews, and hundreds of millions of Christians, saw the nation’s 1948 rebirth as nothing less than a divinely-orchestrated miracle, and believe that if Israel would only turn in a heartfelt (and not traditionally religious) way to back God, embracing Him and calling for His help, that her security would be guaranteed.
According to the Bible, Israel’s God banished the Jews from their homeland nearly 2000 years ago because of the nation’s sins. But even as He foretold their exile, He promised He would eventually restore them to their land.
In the same Holy Book, God repeatedly is heard urging Israel to turn back to Him and place her trust in Him as her sole pillar of support.
“Oh, that My people would listen to Me, that Israel would walk in My ways! I would soon subdue their enemies, and turn My hand against their adversaries….” (Psalm 81:13-14)
O Israel, hope in the LORD; for with the LORD there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption. And He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities. (Psalm 130:7-8)
In that day you shall not be shamed for any
of your deeds in which you transgress against Me; for then I will take away
from your midst
those who rejoice in your pride, and you shall no longer be haughty in My holy
mountain. I will leave in your midst a meek and humble people, and they shall
trust in the name of the LORD. (Zephaniah 3:11-12)
When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you. But the wind will carry them all away, a breath will take them. But he who puts his trust in Me shall possess the land, and shall inherit My holy mountain.” (Isaiah 57:13)
Do not put your trust in princes, nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help. His spirit departs, he returns to his earth; in that very day his plans perish. Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God, (Psalm 146:3-5)
Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds His people from this time forth and forever. (Psalm 125:1-2)
It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes. All nations surrounded me, but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them. They surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me; but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them. They surrounded me like bees; they were quenched like a fire of thorns; for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them. You [nations] pushed me violently, that I might fall, but the LORD helped me. The LORD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation. (Psalm 118:8-14)
There are a great many more of these magnificent promises. For too many Jews, however, they are just meaningless words. Those who reject the God who kept them and brought them back home, and those who remain ignorant of His love and sense of justice, look for their survival and flourishing on the flimsy reed of goodwill and trade with the rest of the modern political world.
It is a reed that will pierce their hand.