Posted on 08/17/2009 9:23:55 AM PDT by Ari Bussel
Tending Someone Else’s Garden by Norma Zager
“This land is mine. God gave this land to me…” Theme from Exodus
These words of the theme from the movie Exodus bring a tear to the eye of any Zionist. Ironic they were written by a Christian. Penned by American icon Pat Boone, they have become the battle cry for Israel’s right to survive.
Boone’s deeply heartfelt belief in the Bible and the words contained in both Testaments provide true insights into the Christian commitment to Israel as the homeland of the Jewish people. “God gave this land to me” connotes the Christian conviction in God’s promise to the Jewish people. I find it shocking so many Jews do not share this belief, all-too-willing to hand over the keys to the kingdom to their enemies.
The settlements in Judea and Samaria have become the eye at the center of the hurricane raging over Israel’s soul. Settlements are the icing on the cake of hatred and propaganda baked daily in Islam’s kitchen. The hypocrisy of the United States attitude toward Judea and Samaria would be laughable were it not so egregiously bias.
The Administration’s demand to halt expansion in these areas is one for the books. In a country where a newly elected president jeopardized the economic future of generations to ensure Americans remained in their homes, it is ironic he be so determined to rob Israelis of theirs.
This is so far beyond chutzpah; it exceeds the light years between Earth and Mars.
I apologize for dredging up ancient history, but I cannot resist this one. Although the U.S. did pay $24 for Manhattan Island, we got some terrific deal. At least they paid in beads. Other tribal lands were simply taken by force or treaty. Can one spell hypocrite?
In a recent meeting with Democratic Congressmen, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Avigdor Liberman addressed a dialogue on Palestinian issues. He said:
“The current situation—in which no one authority represents all of the Palestinians; in which there is 'Hamastan' in Gaza and 'Fatahland' in Judea and Samaria; together with the platform presented at the Fatah party’s 6th General Assembly – buries any possibility to reach a comprehensive settlement with the Palestinians in the next few years. The uncompromising, extremist positions of the Palestinians concerning Jerusalem, the 'right of return' and the Jewish settlements create an unbridgeable gap between us.”
Lieberman explained the importance of Israel’s policy reflecting what is and not what may or may not be feasible in the future:
“… continuing the dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians, improving security arrangements, and continuing to improve the Palestinians’ economic situation. That is the most that can be achieved in the next few years. Any other ostentatious goal, such as forcing an agreement in a set period of time, will end again in failure, disappointment, frustration, and conflict as well. We must concentrate as much as possible on the interim stage and not produce ultimatums. This is a realistic policy; all the rest is 'spin', public relations and a misunderstanding of the processes going on in the present stage,” he concluded.
The current Administration sees history through a prism of left wing ideology – in word (e.g.usage of Czars) and action. Consistent proof that past attempts at a peaceful resolution have failed miserably seems to escape its notice. Could the intentions of Islam to destroy Israel be any clearer? It is not peace at what cost. It is NO peace at any cost.
The Administration’s efforts are about Israel’s right to define its own destiny. President Obama’s desire to be King of the World could not be more obvious than when he attempts to dictate Israeli policy to appease the Muslim world and barely condemns Iran or North Korea’s murderous agendas.
Acorn, the right arm of the left, is an agency created solely to ensure by whatever means, legal or otherwise, every American owns property. It mattered little if they could afford the costs of home ownership. God Bless the USA.
If it bankrupted America to keep these people in their homes, so be it. It is well worth the cost, at least as far as this Administration is concerned.
Israeli settlers are not asking the U.S. to pay for their homes. They are not asking anyone to do anything shady like, say, collect signatures from dead people or from fictional characters like Mickey Mouse. They are just living their lives, raising their families, creating an oasis in the desert, as Israelis have done since they were allowed access to their own land.
How can it be okay for the United States government to destroy our country to ensure families remain in their houses, and not be okay for Israelis? Do I smell the stench of a ripe double standard here? Is someone sticking their nose in business where they do not belong? Do I smell the stench of Louis Farrakhan in this recipe?
Perhaps if Israelis created an Acorn Middle East branch, they would be entitled to the same courtesies as those who bought houses they could not afford, signed papers without reading them and were used and swindled by greedy banks and realtors.
But this is not the Israeli way. Jewish housewives and mothers pick up guns to defend their homes, serve in the military and often lead in the battle to defend the Jewish Homeland. Israeli Jews serve God and then devote their lives to their country and their families. Their only expectation from others is to be able to live in peace, not to have a Palestinian come with an axe and murder their 13 year old kids. They know how to share the land and live together, despite the propaganda that denies the existence of such positive partnerships.
Those who preach contradictions as the current Administration by “ordering” Israelis to stop building and growing as a nation, speak from both sides of their mouths. So how can one ever discern which side speaks the truth?
I noticed when the President visited Israel, he wrote a prayer to insert into the Wailing Wall, as is the custom of Jewish people. I also found it interesting he had trouble getting the paper to stay within the Wall’s small crevice. It took a couple of tries on his part for the Wall to accept his prayer.
Perhaps someone was trying to tell us something? Hmmm, this gives new credence to all those stories about the power of the “Wall” we have heard for centuries.
Whether we agree or disagree with the President’s beliefs and agenda, he will serve his term. Then the American people will decide whether or not they care to entertain him in the White House for another four. Thankfully, that is how it is done here.
Israel and America have always been kindred spirits in democracy, their citizens living and working to enjoy the fruits of their labors. They have enhanced the world with their achievements and advances. Shared the knowledge that although the world may be overrun with fascist, oppressive rulers and fanatics, sanity and reason will prevail when democratic society is left to its own devices. The blossoming communities created in Judea and Samaria enhanced civilization. The U.S. should get back to the business of allowing its citizens to do the same without interference.
It is impossible to tend one’s own garden when you are busy planting weeds in someone else’s. Americans are capable of defining their own destiny; the people of Israel deserve no less.
### In the series “Postcards from Israel,” Ari Bussel and Norma Zager invite readers throughout the world to join them as they present reports from Israel as seen by two sets of eyes: Bussel’s on the ground, Zager’s counter-point from home. Israel and the United States are inter-related - the two countries we hold dearest to our hearts - and so is this “point - counter-point” presentation that has, since 2008, become part of our lives. Feel free to share with others.
© Postcards from Home, August, 2009 Contact: aribussel@gmail.com
Sadly, not even all Christian denominations get the same message about the Holy Land. Some represent prophetic talk about Israel’s far future as only figurative of Christians — they say that the literal Jews not just go on the back burner for an age, they go away entirely. It is not surprising that most of those are at best cool to Zionism. Others take the talk of St. Paul more literally and acknowledge not just a guaranteed future for the literal Jews, but a glorious future.
Obama is a leftist and a Wrightist. These “Christians” who are busy cursing America have twisted the bible to be chiefly about the black man. Given that, I wonder what tack Zero would take if Israel proposed to fill the disputed areas with Ethiopean Jews.
Those were different times. We overpaid for Manhattan at that time, and other lands weren't "taken". It wasn't theirs to begin with. there were no golden native cities, no constitution, no law, currency, national flags, coinage, borders. They were merely small tribes of nomadic savages who drifted across the land, killing and being killed. Recent liberalism has blurred the truth and created a myth that never existed. Treaties GAVE them land for free.
What’s the ethical thing for a power bent on colonization to do when entering a land peopled, as you put it, with nomads? Even though the nomads had no philosophical structure to support the idea of fixed lands with borders and definite owners (which is probably what brought them to the empty lands of America, wandering over what used to be a land bridge where the Bering Strait now is), we didn’t always live up to Christian principle ourselves.
bump
All those left will be reconciled to Christ On his day.
None question that all will end up believing. The point is whether a people entity that can literally trace its genealogy to the historic Jews will come to assume a historical chief world power by God’s promise. I see no reason to answer this question with anything but “yes.”
Did they? No. So it worked both ways didn't it.
"(which is probably what brought them to the empty lands of America, wandering over what used to be a land bridge where the Bering Strait now is),"
What makes you so sure it was empty, and that is the only route taken? And they all hail from a common ancestral tribe? Plus there is strong evidence vikings arrived on the eastern shores and the north through Hudson bay via the McKenzie river, and traveled south along the Nelson first.
Ah, the Bible says that doesn’t matter. To whom much is given, much is expected.
Well, I don't believe the bible says they will assume world power on this earth, but I have no reason to doubt that Christians today ARE descendants from those scattered tribes, and make no mistake, ALL tribes were scattered, the last were scattered by the Romans after Christs crucifixion.
Israel represents the Lords final battleground with Satan's corruption in the last days more than anything else. It represents the throne of God. All will be destroyed at this time.
"Now heaven, celebrate her downfall, and all you saints, apostles and prophets: God has given judgment for you against her. Then a powerful angel picked up a boulder like a great millstone, and as he hurled it into the sea, he said, 'That is how the great city of Babylon is going to be hurled down, never to be seen again." (Rv.18:20-21).
"After this I seemed to hear the great sound of a huge crowd in heaven, singing, 'Alleluia! Victory and glory and power to our God! He judges fairly, he punishes justly, and he has condemned the famous prostitute who corrupted the earth with her fornication; he has avenged his servants that she killed'.
Then a voice came from the throne; it said, 'praise our God, you servants of his and all who, great or small, revere him'. And I seemed to hear the voices of a huge crowd, like the sound of the ocean or the great roar of thunder, answering, 'Alleluia!
The reign of the Lord our God Almighty has begun; let us be glad and joyful and give praise to God, because this is the time for the marriage of the Lamb. His bride is ready, and she has been able to dress herself in dazzling white linen, because her linen is made of the good deeds of the saints.'
The angel said, 'Write this: Happy are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb', and he added, 'All the things you have written are true messages from God'.
Then I knelt at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, 'Don't do that: I am a servant just like you and all your brothers who are witnesses to Jesus. It is God that you must worship." (Rv.19:1-10).
"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; the first heaven and the first earth had disappeared now, and there was no longer any sea.
I saw the holy city, and the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, as beautiful as a bride all dressed for her husband.p Then I heard a loud voice call from the throne, 'You see this city? Here God lives among men. He will make his home among them; they shall be his people, and he, himself will be their God...There will be no more death, and no more mourning or sadness. The world of the past has gone.'
Then the One sitting on the throne spoke: 'Now I am making the whole of creation new' he said. 'Write this: that what I am saying is sure and will come true.' And then he said, 'It is already done." (Rv.21:4-5).
On the old earth that is.
The ultimate eternity is not “this world.” Sin won’t have been banished yet upon Israel’s literal ascension to power. Bible history shows that attempt upon attempt by heathens to “scatter” the Jewish lineage into oblivion fails. Why should the Roman conquests have been any different. It just sent them into hiding in more friendly surrounds, still stubbornly worshiping one God the way they knew prior to Christian revelation.
There is no Israel ascension to world power, at least, any more than it is now. It's at it's peak. It's all downhill from here, and much devastation. Only a remnant survives to to last day. This "gathering of nations" is metaphorical, symbolizing the armies of the world (Babylon)
Do you think that many didn't eventually end up in the land of the gentiles, and convert to Christianity?
The tribes that were scattered earlier obviously did- after Christianity spread throughout the "gentile" lands they were scattered to. It isn't to difficult to imagine some held onto the old Jewish religion as well, although not adopting the Talmadic reformation until it reached them. hundredss of years later.
brought to them by remnants of the last tribe that is.
There were Jews in the region prior to this to be sure, but those that came from Europe and wherever were not just remnants of the last tribe.
Also, it seems many of the last tribe scattered went into the middle east, not Europe, considering the large number of Jewish settlements that were there all across the ME and into the Arabian peninsula before Mohammad came along and started slaughtering them all, and driving them out.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.