Genesis 17:1-8      Whose Land?

Rev. David Holwick

First Baptist Church

Ledgewood, New Jersey                            

December 29, 2002

Genesis 17:1-8


WHOSE LAND?



   SERMON SUMMARY: This sermon was received much better than I expected.

       Many told me afterwards they wondered what the Bible had to say

       on this issue.  It might be more effectively presented as a Bible

       study rather than a sermon.



  I. No peace in Bethlehem this Christmas.

      A. No tree in Manger Square.  Israeli military occupation.

          1) Yet another suicide attack on settlement in West Bank.


      B. Unusual topic for me.

          1) It is not a personal religious issue like we often focus on,

                but it is significant in the greater scheme of things.

          2) A month or so ago, a member asked me about it.


      C. Evangelicals in the spotlight.

          1) Star Ledger newspaper: Evangelicals are key supporters of Israel.

              a) Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell are prominent examples.

              b) Evangelical organizations are pumping millions of

                    dollars into Israel's settlements.

                 Richard Land, a leading Southern Baptist, says,

                    "The Bible Belt is Israel's safety belt."      #17219

                 Evangelicals are more supportive of Israel than Jews.

          2) Interest in Second Coming drives our views.


II. Background in the Bible.

      A. Should the Old Testament be taken literally?

          1) Generations of Christians "spiritualized" the O.T.

              a) Most believed Israel was completely superseded by

                    the Christian Church in God's plan.

          2) Darby and others in 1800s looked for literal fulfillment

                of prophecies, especially return of Jews to Israel.

              a) Only a few thousand lived there at the time.

              b) His attitude was the prophecies of the first coming

                    were literally fulfilled, so we should expect the

                       same for the Second Coming.

              c) He made a sharp distinction between Israel and the

                    Church. The birth of modern Dispensationalism.

          3) Events of 1948 and birth of Israel seemed to vindicate them.


      B. Applying prophecy interpretations to our own day.

          1) Typical evangelical understanding:

              a) Israel's rebirth signals beginning of End Times.

              b) Antichrist will make a 7-year treaty with Israel.

              c) Rebuilt temple will be desecrated by him.

                  1> There is no Temple today, but a mosque is on site.

              d) Israel is protected during Tribulation.

              e) Israel is evangelized and majority converts to Jesus.

          2) Common applications:

              a) Israel is God's country, and can do no wrong.

              b) Jews should be favored, because those who bless them

                  will be blessed by God.         Gen 12:3; Zechariah 8:3

              c) Opponents of Israel are enemies of God.


      C. Dangers of this approach.

          1) Not all the prophecies for the first coming of Jesus were

                literally fulfilled.

              a) Some are "spiritualized" by New Testament itself.

              b) Some New Testament verses indicate the Church replaces,

                    or supersedes, Israel.                 Galatians 6:16

          2) It ignores Palestinians who are Christian.

              a) They are the most ancient church.

              b) They are being squeezed out of existence; many leaving.

          3) It ignores important justice issues which Americans (and

                Baptists) hold dear.  Even Muslims have rights.


III. A quick political history of Palestine.

      A. Jews have always been in Israel, at least in limited numbers.

          1) Terrible wars and deportations scattered most of them

                around the world.

          2) A few were able to stick it out.


      B. Moslems have been in Palestine for 1300 years.

          1) They came at the head of a powerful army but the conquest

                was rapid and relatively bloodless.

          2) Palestinians are mostly Muslim, but some are Christian.


      C. Zionist movement of 1800s encouraged Jews to return to the land.

          1) Secular and cultural emphasis, not religious in orientation.

              a) Many were atheists.

              b) Kibbutz movement was started by Zionists.

          2) Muslims resisted and there was much tension, some killing.


      D. After WWII and Holocaust, millions of Jews fled to Israel.

          1) Britain had a mandate from League of Nations to manage it.

          2) They proposed creation of Jewish state there.

              a) Palestine was not a country, but part of Jordan.

              b) Jews and Muslims were intermixed.

          3) At creation of the Jewish state of Israel, Muslims rose up.

              a) Arab nations coordinated attacks.

              b) Jews defeated them, repeatedly.


      E. In 1967 war, Jews occupied land that was majority Muslim.

          1) Creation of settlements was intended to "create facts" and

                increase Jewish control over area.

              a) United States has consistently opposed settlements.

              b) Some Israelis use a religious justification - God gave

                    us the Promised Land, and his promises don't end.

                  1> But bear in mind that the Promised Land includes

                        areas now in Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan,

                           Saudi Arabia and even Iraq!          Gen 15:18

                  2> The current Israel is a secular state, not a

                        Biblical theocracy.

          2) Palestinians now have a national aspiration.

              a) They have gone about it wrong, but they have forged

                    a new identity.

              b) Everyone, including most Israelis, expect them to have

                    their own state soon.


IV. The dilemma of occupation.

      A. Israel is Jewish and democratic.

          1) It is styled as a Jewish state.

              a) A board of rabbis determines important social policies.

              b) Any Jew, in any country, can have automatic citizenship

                    by simply moving there.

              c) It has Muslim and Christian citizens with full rights

                    but they are a definite minority.

          2) Annexing the West Bank would eventually make the Jews a

                minority.

              a) As a democracy, they would have to share power.

              b) They would cease to be a Jewish state, or they would

                    cease to be a democracy.


      B. If they don't want to share power, they must cut selves off

            from Muslims.


  V. God's plan for Israel.

      A. Israel is not a divine state.

          1) David's kingdom was, Sharon's is not.

          2) We must be careful to make that distinction


      B. God still has a plan for the Jewish people.

          1) The Church does not completely supersede it.

          2) But the future of the Jews involves Jesus.     Romans 11:25f

              a) Eventual salvation of Jews is heart of book of Romans.

              b) This conversion will usher in the End Times and reign

                    of Jesus in his millennium.

                  1> It is interesting how the book of Revelation melds

                        Jewish and Christian imagery.

              c) God's "chosen people" will be everyone who chooses God.

          3) We do not have to help fulfill God's plan, except through

                sharing the gospel.

              a) Self-fulfilling prophecies can be dangerous, especially

                    from a political angle.

              b) Should we encourage an antichrist because he fulfills

                    prophecy?


      C. God loves the Palestinians.

          1) They have chosen a violent path.

              a) Others have as well - one of Israel's prime ministers,

                    Menachem Began, participated in terrorist bombings.

              b) We must also remember that America's birth was forged

                    in violence.

          2) Muslim Palestinians are more open to the gospel than ever

                before.  (report by Southern Baptist missionary)


      D. Democracy matters.

          1) Baptists cherish religious freedom and democracy.

              a) Faith cannot be imposed on people.

              b) They should be free to choose and practice their own

                    religion, even if they are wrong.

              c) They should also be able to choose their own government.

          2) Being too one-sided will endanger our own national security.


VI. Becoming a child of Abraham,

      A. Everybody wants a piece of Abraham.

          1) Jews, Christians and Muslims all claim him as their own.


      B. Not by nationality, but faith.                    Galatians 3:29

          1) Salvation is not an inheritance but a spiritual choice.

          2) Abraham chose to believe God and follow him.

          3) We are his heirs if we make the same choice.



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SOURCES FOR ILLUSTRATIONS USED IN THIS SERMON:


#17219  "Evangelicals' Support Of Israel Rooted In Scripture," by Dwayne

           Hastings, Baptist Press, http://www.baptistpress.org/,

           May 8, 2002.


Used but not directly quoted:


#17141  "History A Common Weapon In Israel's Politics," by Mark

           Wingfield, Associated Baptist Press, April 25, 2002.


#17142  "Theology Drives United States Policy On Israel," by Mark

           Wingfield, Associated Baptist Press, April 25, 2002.


#17143  "Another Christian View Of Israel Sees Church As New People of

           God," by Mark Wingfield, Associated Baptist Press, April 25,

           2002.


These and 23,000 others are part of a database that can be downloaded,

absolutely free, at http://www.holwick.com/database.html

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