Thought for Today
Genesis 12:1 Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you.
Exodus 3:17 I declare that I will bring you up out of the misery of Egypt, to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey.'
Matthew 2:6 'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.'"
Matthew 27:45 From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.
“The Land of Israel (Hebrew: אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, Modern: Éretz Yisra'él, Tiberian: ʾEreṣ Yīsrāʾēl, land of Jacob, later known as Israel) is the traditional Jewish name for an area of the Southern Levant. Related biblical, religious, and historical English terms include the Land of Canaan, the Promised Land, the Holy Land, and Palestine.” (en.wikipedia.org)
Using my computer’s search engine, I calculate that Israel is approximately 0.01394% of our planet’s landmass area. That is a relatively small percentage of our planet’s surface, yet for millennia, this land has had a disproportionate impact on our world.
The world’s 3 largest monotheistic religions place special attention on Israel and especially Jerusalem. Judaism, Christianity and Islam all consider this holy ground. Because I do love numbers, more than 58% of the people in the world consider 0.01394% of our planet’s landmass to be holy ground.
Why? Why does this small area have such a disproportionate impact on the minds and hearts of so many? Especially since this area is not an area rich in minerals. It is an area with little or no petroleum reserves. Portions of this land are suitable for agriculture . . . when it is not bloodied in warfare. The Sea of Galilee has been a rich source of fish for most of its existence and the Mediterranean coast provides access to saltwater fish. There are ports along that coast that enable seaborne trade. But there is little about the geography, geology or fertility of this land that would explain its place in the world’s attention.
For most of the history of the area’s habitation, it has been a battleground. Originally inhabited by nomadic tribesmen, it was long the area where early empires clashed and fought. Armies of Egypt, Assyria, Babylon and Persia fought epic battles in and over this small land. Later Crusaders fought Moslems. Even later, Germans fought British and American armies. Now, there is once again armed conflict in this holy land.
Jews believe God promised this land to Abraham and his descendants and thus to them through Isaac. Moslems believe God promised this land to Abraham and his descendants and thus to them through Isaac’s older half-brother. Christians hold this land holy because we believe this is the land of God’s Son, Jesus, the Christ. Yet bombs and rockets rain down on this land today.
I find this all to be especially troubling today. For Christians, this is the time of Lent. Tomorrow is Palm/Passion Sunday. Tomorrow we will remember Jesus’ triumphant entry into the same Jerusalem where today those missiles and bombs rain down. We will remember the shouts of "John 12:13 Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord-- the King of Israel!" This Palm/Passion Sunday, we will also remember the lament of the prophet Jeremiah, “6:14 They have treated the wound of my people carelessly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace.”
Jesus went to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. That Jewish holiday remembering exodus from Israel will begin next week. I fear those bombs, rockets and missiles will still be raining down during Passover.
My mind and my heart are sad that this land, this Éretz Yisra'él, this land held holy by 3 religions is still not yet a land of peace. Long after the prophet Jeremiah said, “there is no peace.” “The phrase ‘Why can’t we all just get along?’ was famously said by Rodney King during the 1992 Los Angeles riots.” (Copilot Search) Sadly, the question still stands today.
Stay safe, love your neighbor as yourself, trust God,
Pastor Ray