Israel's biggest problem - the God of Israel

Altneuland First Edition cover
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The Promise
Would it not be nice to have a blank check from your God - this is your Land, I have given it to you, go and possess it using whatever methods are needed! If God would also promise "I am with you, I will fight with you and give you victory and make you the greatest among the nations" it would not hurt! Not only for nationalistic and religious people but for all Israel such a blank check would be quite inspiring and motivating in taking the Holy Land back to its righteous owners after such a long absence of the landlord.

There is such a divine sentiment in the winds of today's Near East and heightened Messianic expectations in the air. The struggle of the Jewish state for her destiny is absorbing the attention of the entire world.

Rabbi Moshe Ben Mainonides
Who denies the Land denies God.
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There have been and there are learned respected rabbis who read the promises and commandments in the Torah, know their interpretations in the Talmud and every nuance in the writings of the greatest of Israel. They teach the sacred traditions to the children of modern day Exodus and Joshua.

There are politicians in the Knesset today who have the divine promises at their hearts and who are inspired by the prophets of the past in making the decisions today. The nation is divided between religious and secular camps that argue about most of the things most of the time but the process of conquest goes on regardless. International interventions only add fuel to the fire.

Western Wall and al-Aqsa Mosque - tough nut in modern politics
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Religion has carried the Jewish people through all these millennia and Judaism is among the oldest surviving religions among humanity. The Bible is inspiring and guiding young generations of Israel showing steady way forward and purpose in the midst of the confusing multitudes of opinions in today's world. One day the Temple of Jerusalem shall stand again, as the secular prophet Theodor Herzl, the founder of modern Zionism, saw gasping his breath in Das Altneuland (1902). It is a truly noble cause to restore Judaism into its fullness with the Temple.

So where is the problem?

The problem is that the God of Israel is real. He is the only real God there is.
 
Land and behaviour
It is true that Torah contains the promise of the Land given by the Lord to father Abraham sojourning in the Land of Canaan. The command to take possession of the Land was given to Moses and Joshua and the Land was taken even we do not know all the details of how.

But the Promise and the Commandment (mitzva) are not all the Bible says about this matter. The fierce eyes of the God of Israel penetrate deep into the soul of His people and He does not like everything what He sees there from where deeds originally come.

One of the ways in which the Bible emphasizes the direct connection between the behaviour of the people of God and their security and prosperity in the Land is to describe how angered God allowed the enemies of Israel to become powerful.

In his anger against Israel the LORD handed them over to raiders who plundered them. He sold them to their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist.
Judges 2:14 NIV

That is a rather scary God with temper.

Examples from Biblical history
The generation that left Egypt in the midst of such miracles perished entirely in Sinai Desert and was not seen worthy to enter the Promised Land. Are you sure this generation with so much blood in hands is worthy of building the Temple?

The first King of Israel, Saul, was considered not fit to rule and God allowed him to be killed on the mountains of Gilboa in a desperate battle with the Philistines.Who is the King of Israel?

The legendary King David was seen by prophet Nathan committing horrific crime against a hero warrior Uriah. Watch the freedom of press - it hurts but does a good healthy job for the nation!

And the list goes on, from king to king, from judge to judge, from religious leaders to the simplest among the people, things get worse and worse in the eyes of the Holy of Israel.

In Deuteronomy 28 this fearsome God of Israel is in real bad mood and says through Moses something very nasty "I will enjoy doing bad to you". (Deut 28:63) That might be funny if we do not remember that every single one of those horrific threats has become true "and you become mad at what you see". (Deut 28:34) This is not an easy God to be chosen by.

After the return from Exile the people of Israel had learned some lessons and no more idols are found in archaeological excavations in Jerusalem that was filled with Ashtarte figurines before the Babylonians came. Words were not enough and prophet Jeremiah was thrown into prison hole as a traitor of the national cause. But his words became true and his persecutors perished.

No one can read the descriptions of the High Priests battling for power after the Maccabean wars without thinking "are these High Priests?" In horror we read also today about the wicked deeds of Alexander Janneus (King Yannai in Talmud) the founder of Masada. Being the people of the only real God there is does not automatically guarantee righteousness and justice. Beware of religious people!

At one point God Himself was walking on the streets of Jerusalem and we all know what happened to Him.


Sorry, but there is no blank check
The writings in the Bible are so enormously powerful because they are so truthful. The Jewish Scriptures contain such a penetrating and honest description of the people of God that no other ancient religious book about the rulers and their people comes even near. Truth.

The biggest problem of Israel today is the God of Israel. For that is where the bucket ends and the Land makes this relationship so acute.

His promises are wonderful, His rule of the history majestic, His judgements are deep indeed and His whip is more fearsome than any other whip in the Universe.