Borders
“‘You are to distribute this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. You are to allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the foreigners residing among you and who have children. You are to consider them as native-born Israelites; along with you they are to be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel. In whatever tribe a foreigner resides, there you are to give them their inheritance,’ declares the Sovereign LORD.”
Today’s Text: Ezekiel 47:13-23 (Living Life Daily Devotional)
The area within the red border is roughly the vision of the boundaries of Israel given to Ezekiel. The topic of Israel as a sovereign nation is politically charged. In a way, as soon as God established Israel as a nation, it always has been. And so at the risk of making some people uncomfortable (and maybe even angry?), I believe that God will fulfill His promise to Israel as given in that vision. But I’m not trying to be political. I’m just being biblical.
For sure, I don’t know enough about all that is going on with respect to Israel to be able to make an objective, reasonable, and intelligent comment positive or negative. I mean, I hear things and think, “That’s horrible” or “That makes sense.” But I think that about both pro-Israel and anti-Israel positions.
And people might be angry at me for my non-position too. But again, it’s not a “non-position,” but rather a biblical position.
It makes perfect sense to me that all the horrors of war revolving around Israel (whether they are the culprits or the victims) are due to the curse of sin in this world. Therefore, every thought I have will be filtered through the word of God.
Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you.
— Psalm 143:2
And the word of God also tells us (in the passage above and throughout the Scriptures—from Genesis to Revelation) that God’s plan to bless Israel is not simply for the sake of Israel, but for the sake of blessing the whole world.
And so, the next thing I say may also anger some people. The government’s crackdown on immigrants does not reflect biblical values. And again, not being political here—just biblical.
Father, I long for the day when all war and all hatred, anger, and sin will come to an end. Come, Lord Jesus! In the meantime, help to to see this world from the perspective of Your word. For those things that are too great for me to understand, guide me with Your Spirit. And “Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you.” In Jesus’s name. Amen.
