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If the Devil ran the World…

That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maidservants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak." But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." The man asked him, "What is your name?" "Jacob," he answered. Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome. (Genesis 32: 22-28 NIV)

So, God decided that for reasons only He understands, the nation Israel would be directly created by Himself. It says so right there in the scripture above. This one act, has influenced the entire human history of the people of Israel. It has marked them as the chosen people of God. It has separated them from all other nations of the world. God also has placed Israel in a land surrounded by people openly hostile to them (has been for their entire existence), yet there they remain, despite the fact that almost the entire world has no love for them. Have you ever wondered why Israel is so reviled by almost everyone one from the Arabs to the Europeans to the UN?

God has a sworn enemy (Satan). He detests God. He detests everything about God. As such it stands to reason he also detests the chosen people of God…the nation Israel. I submit that every hostile act against Israel comes directly through the devil: every rebuke of them in the UN, every sneer about them in the halls of power from Europe to the Far East, every negative comment in the talking point of liberals, comes directly from Satan – the great puppet master. Think about it. If one detested Israel, what would one most want to see happen? How about getting a world power to try to exterminate them, while getting an apathetic world to look the other way (Hitler and the Holocaust). How about inciting hatred for them by virtually every country that surrounds them? How about getting most of the world media to report them consistently in a negative light? How about getting “reasonable” world leaders to suggest that they shrink the size of their borders so that they can “live in peace”? Simply put, it’s not like the devil can show himself tangibly and smack Israel around. So, he gets those who are powerless against his influences to do his work.

Why does this matter? Well, it simply symbolizes the incredible influence that the devil (God’s enemy) has on the world and the people of the world today…Once you were dead, doomed forever because of your many sins. You used to live just like the rest of the world, full of sin, obeying Satan, the mighty prince of the power of the air. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passions and desires of our evil nature. We were born with an evil nature, and we were under God's anger just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so very much, that even while we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's special favor that you have been saved!) (Ephesians 2:1-5 NLT) God’s special favor however still remains with Israel. It is His special favor that allows Israel to survive every inevitable attack that has come her way in 6000+ years of existence. His special favor as referenced in the scripture above, also gives life to every believer in Jesus Christ, and it is this belief in Jesus Christ that God is waiting on from His people Israel…"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God's messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn't let me. And now look, your house is left to you, empty and desolate. For I tell you this, you will never see me again until you say, `Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord!" (Matthew 23:37-39 NLT)

Why do evangelical Christians support Israel so steadfastly? Because it indicative of our worship of Jesus. Despite her temporary rejection of Jesus Christ, Israel still belongs to God, just as Christians belong to God. As Christians…we could do no less.
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