Three thousand years ago, Jehovah commanded Samuel, the prophet, to command Saul to obliterate the Amalekites — one of the civilizations inhabiting Palestine when the children of Israel moved into the land from Egypt. Saul almost did it — killing all the men, women, and children and destroying most of the animals — except he returned from the conquest with the king of the Amalekites and their best animals to be used for sacrifice in the temple. Because he did not absolutely obliterate the Amalekites, Saul lost the kingship for Israel.
Today, modern Israel continues following Jehovah’s command, as they once again try to absolutely obliterate the current inhabitants of Palestine. As we watch Israel’s wanton destruction of men, women, and children inhabiting land their families have handed down for generations, and the absolute annihilation of their cities, villages, homes, and farms/orchards, we can get an idea of how it was 3,000 years ago.
But what I find curious, indeed, is that there are so many “Christians” who condone this wanton destruction. When Jesus was walking among the Jews 2,000 years ago, he neither supported nor fought against the current leadership of Israel and Rome, although he often showed disdain for the individual vipers ruling the Jewish people from within. Jesus taught people to love one another; to turn the other cheek; to treat each other as they wanted to be treated.
Is there really anybody who sees the modern establishment of Israel as something that Jesus would support? Do Christians really support the one-sided government established in Israel that totally ignores the rights of the inhabitants of its non-Jewish citizens — including the right to walk between their olive trees and their homes or even to continue to live? Do Christians really think it’s OK for Israel to push prior inhabitants of Palestine out of their homes and livelihoods, take away all their rights, force them to live in “temporary homeless settlements” with no hope of anything other than perpetual poverty, and then destroy those “conclaves” because they don’t like it when the people they have treated so badly rebel?
I don’t believe Jesus had anything to do with the establishment of the current state of Israel. I don’t think he would support any of the monstrosities carried out by Jehovah’s “chosen people.” I believe that any “Christian” who supports the utter destruction of the inhabitants of Gaza and the West Bank is, in their heart, yelling, “Give us Barabbas!”
I also believe that, given the destruction and terror resulting from the establishment of the modern state of Israel, it is but another example of someone saying, “I have been doing that which has been done in other times/places.”
Dave McNeill, South Jordan
