President Obama's 'take' on Israel

     Later in the interview with the New York Times, Mr. Friedman asked the president if he was worried about Israel.  The president’s response:

     “It is amazing to see what Israel has become over the last several decades.  To have scratched out of rock this incredibly vibrant, incredibly successful, wealthy and powerful country is a testament to the ingenuity, energy and vision of the Jewish people.”

     If President Obama’s perception of foreign policy relative to Israel is based only on the ‘last several decades’ he is totally ignoring the big picture.

     Israel’s past and future history has already been written.  There is no room for compromising God’s plan based on ‘logic’ or political correctness.  God’s preordained odyssey for Israel began 4,000 years ago and is immutable.

     It began with a man who lived on the other side of the Euphrates River in a land presently known as Iraq.  He was told to leave the gods of that land and travel to a new land which God would show him.  Recall that famous calling:

     “Get out of your country…I will make you a great nation…and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”  Genesis 12:2-3

     Synonyms for the Hebrew word ‘families’ include tribes, race, and people.  In other words, when God scattered the nations after their attempt to build Babel, He declared that peoples from every race and tribe would be blessed through the man called from ancient Iraq, i.e. Abraham.

     And then recall God defined the boundaries of the land He would give Abraham for the new nation.

     “To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates…”  Genesis 15:18

     Inhabitants of the land, who would subsequently be removed, included the Canaanites who were offspring of Ham who was a son of Noah.

     God would bless Israel by making them His chosen nation.  He would reveal to this new nation His standard of righteousness and justice.  They were to learn His commandments and teach them to all generations.

     He then told them some of His provisions.

     “So it shall be, when the LORD your God brings you into the land of which He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you large and beautiful cities which you did not build, houses full of all good things, which you did not fill, hewn-out wells which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant – when you have eaten and are full – then beware, lest you forget the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.”  Deuteronomy 6:10-12

     Therefore, Israel did not ‘scratch out of rock’ what they have, and their wealth and riches did not begin ‘over the last several decades’.

     God’s promise for Israel’s blessings through Abraham and his descendants is absolutely immutable and everlasting.  God would provide to His chosen people all that they could ever need, and much more.  Another very significant truth is that Abraham’s descendants who would perpetuate the promise were Isaac and Jacob.

     Abraham’s son Ishmael through Sarah’s maid Hagar did not receive the promise.  The Bible describes Ishmael as a ‘wild man’ who would ‘be against every man, and every man’s hand against him’.

    Recall that Ishmael scoffed at Isaac and then he and his mother were sent away to the East.

     God warned the Israelites not to forget his commandments and judgments, i.e. not to willfully neglect them or they would experience grave consequences.  Israel has disobeyed God’s commandments throughout their entire history; however, God’s covenant with Abraham was forever and will be totally fulfilled upon the return of their Messiah, i.e. the Seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

     In other words Israel is on a pre-written journey foreordained for them by their God.  Any attempt to change or rewrite God’s plan for Israel is more than foolish.

     Our president’s assessment of Israel’s present success, or his vision for Israel’s future, is naïve at best, or an attempt to play God at worst. 

     America’s best foreign policy regarding Israel would be to align our efforts with God’s existing, immutable plan for them.

Is Compromise a Biblical Strategy?

     President Obama believes that compromise is the key ingredient to achieving peace in the Middle Peace.  He used the word five times in his recent interview with the New York Times.

     During that interview he offered compromise not only as a global solution but also as the near term solution to the chaos in Iraq.  The president said:

     “But for a society to function long term, the people themselves have to make decisions about how they are going  to live together, how they are going to accommodate each other’s interests, how they are going to compromise.”

     Once again, the Scriptures address the issue of compromise.  For example after God promised the land of Canaan to the fledging nation of Israel, did he instruct Joshua to negotiate with the land’s inhabitants?  Do men determine national boundaries or does God?  Moses spoke very succinctly on the issue.

     “Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth…When the Most High divided their inheritance to the nations, when He separated the sons of Adam, He set the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the children of Israel.”  Deuteronomy 32:1, 8

     Moses was addressing the inhabitants of the entire earth and by using the word ‘when’ he proclaimed that God had already determined the boundaries of all nations.  The Apostle Paul reaffirmed Moses’ declaration that God had pre-set the boundaries of the nations.  Nothing has changed, except that man has steadily distanced himself from God’s words.

     Joshua’s taking possession of the land of Canaan is explained in two stages, i.e. the southern conquest and the northern conquest.  Concerning the southern conquest of Canaan:

     “So Joshua conquered all the land; the mountain country and the South…and all their kings; he left none remaining but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded.”  Joshua 10:40

     No negations.  Joshua conquered all the land of southern Canaan and destroyed all the kings whom he had displaced; all according to God’s instructions.

     Then the conquest of the northern part of Canaan is described in great detail. When the kings of the northern portion of Canaan heard of the conquest of the south they joined together to fight Israel.

     “So they went out, they and all their armies with them, as many people as the sand that is on the seashore in multitude, with very many horses and chariots…to fight against Israel.”  Joshua 11:4-5

     But God reassured Joshua that the defeat of those kings was certain.

     “But the LORD said to Joshua, ‘Do not be afraid because of them for tomorrow about this time I will deliver all of them slain before Israel…”  Joshua 11:6

     “So all the cites of those kings, and all their kings, Joshua took with the edge of the sword…and all the spoil of these cities and the livestock, the children of Israel took as booty…he (Joshua) left nothing undone of all that the LORD had commanded Moses.”  Joshua 11:12, 14-15

     Near the end of the Book of Joshua, the taking of the land is summarized.

     “So the LORD gave to Israel all the land of which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they took possession of it and dwelt in it... the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand.”  Joshua 21:43-44

     But perhaps the following verse puts Israel’s conquests in proper perspective.  It should be the benchmark for today’s foreign policy decisions and actions.

     “Not a word failed of any good thing which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel.  All came to pass.  Joshua 11:45

     President Obama’s Bible clearly outlines God’s plan for the future.  He names those nations to be involved and the future of Israel.

     The question is then; does the president use his Bible as the guide to dealing with the present problem in Iraq?  His words describe his solution.

     “You’re going to have to show us that you are willing and ready to try and maintain a unified Iraqi government that is based on compromise.”

     Remember, Iraq is the ancient land of Shinar which includes the land between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.

    

The Maximalist and the Spoiler

     President Obama used the word ‘maximalist’ four times in his recent interview with the New York Times. Recall the definition for maximalist is one who holds extreme (political) views and is not willing to compromise. 

     Even though the interview centered on foreign policy the president did insert his ‘take’ on the far right of the Republican Party by stating they had extinguished many potential compromises by their maximalist positions.

     He then returned to foreign policy and described the stance of the Islamic Shias inside Iraq as a maximalist position that is doomed to fail.  “And that’s, by the way, a broader lesson for every country: You want 100 percent, and the notion that the winner really does take all, all the spoils.  Sooner or later that government’s going to break down.”

     Therefore, the president believes that a nation which employs a maximalist position with a right to take spoils will surely fail.

     The Bible does in fact speak of a nation whose leader does not tolerate compromise and furthermore endorses the taking of spoils from their enemies.  Everyone can decide for themselves if that nation is about to fail because of their positions.

     While King Asa ruled Judah between 911 – 870 BC Judah was invaded by a host of Ethiopians from Egypt with an army of a million men plus three hundred chariots.  Asa cried out to the LORD saying, “O LORD, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You!”

     “So the LORD struck the Ethiopians before Asa and Judah, and the Ethiopians fled.  And Asa and the people who were with him pursued them to Gerar.  So the Ethiopians were overthrown, and they could not recover, for they were broken before the LORD and His army.  And they (Israelites) carried away very much spoil…and they plundered all the cities, for there was exceedingly much spoil in them.  They also attacked the livestock enclosures, and carried off sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem.”  2 Chronicles 14:12-15

     So they returned to Jerusalem after God gave them a tremendous victory.  There were no peace talks and no hint of compromise.  What did the Israelites do with the spoil?

     “So they gathered together at Jerusalem…and they offered to the LORD…seven hundred bulls and seven thousand sheep from the spoil they had brought.”  2 Chronicles 15:10-11

     Asa subsequently died and his son Jehoshaphat reigned in his place.  During Jehoshaphat’s reign a great multitude from Syria was preparing to attack Judah.  Jehoshaphat and all the people turned to their God.  They fasted and waited for a word from the LORD.

     Shortly thereafter the word of the LORD came to the Prophet Jahaziel.

     “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat!  Thus says the LORD to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s… tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you.’”  2 Chronicles 20:15, 17b

     Once again God gave them great victory over their enemies and provided much spoil.

     “When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away their spoil, they found among them an abundance of valuables on the dead bodies, and precious jewelry, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away; and they were three days gathering the spoil because there was so much…then the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around.”  2 Chronicles 20:25, 30

     It is interesting that the same player nations during the reigns of Asa and his son Jehoshaphat 850 years before the birth of Christ are the same nations in the headlines today causing havoc; and the conflict against God’s chosen nation is also the same.

     And while both Asa and Jehoshaphat turned to God for deliverance from their enemies, today the president of the United States, a great nation called to befriend Israel, doesn’t even mention God, let alone turn to Him for guidance.

         Thus while the president’s ideology of no ‘victor/no vanquished’ has been debunked, the concepts of maximalists and spoilers for a nation ‘under God’ which the president disdains is confirmed by Scripture.

    

No Victor/No Vanquished

     As previously mentioned one of president Obama’s foreign policy ideals is that there should be no winners or losers in international conflicts.

     According to his ‘take’ on the present Middle East chaos he will involve the United States only “to the extent that the different communities there agree to an inclusive politics of no victor/nor vanquished.”  In other words he believes that all players are equal, and peace can be achieved if everyone will just get along with his neighbor.

     Regarding the challenges with Putin and Ukraine, President Obama stated that “President Vladimir Putin of Russia could invade Ukraine at any time, and, if he does, trying to find our way back to a cooperative functioning relationship with Russia during the remainder of my term will be much more difficult.”

     By rationalizing the likely catastrophic results of Russia invading another sovereign nation with force, president Obama has revealed his instinctive tendency to strive for political compromise, i.e. to get back to a ‘cooperative functioning’ relationship with Russia, especially while he is still in office. 

     He also applies the no victor/no vanquished philosophy to Israel and the Palestinians. 

     The epitome of naiveté is to think that man can achieve peace among the nations.

     “For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then suddenly destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman…” 1 Thessalonians 5:3

     President Obama’s no victor/no vanquished philosophy is not found in the Bible.  The prophet Ezekiel addressed the issue when writing about many of the same players presently involved in the Middle East unrest.

     “…Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Behold I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal.  I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army…Persia (Iran), Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer and all its troops, the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops – many people are with you.’”  Ezekiel 38:3-6

     The above nations are Middle Eastern or northern African countries.  Notice that God will draw them into Israel for a great battle. 

     “Behold the day of the LORD is coming…for I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem…Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations…”  Zechariah 14:1-3

     Then the question arises, will there be a victor when God draws those nations into Israel for the great battle, or will they all be treated equally and all get along?

     “You shall fall (be slain) upon the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops and the peoples who are with; I will give you to birds of prey of every sort and to the beasts of the field to be devoured.  You shall fall on the open field…Then the nations shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.”  Ezekiel 39:4-5, 7b

     There is not much compromise involved in the Battle described above.  There is a clear cut Victor, and He is the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.

     The Apostle John in the Book of Revelation further describes the great battle between the nations of the Fertile Crescent and Israel.

     “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse.  And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war…Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations.  And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron…”  Revelation 19:1, 15

     The above certainly runs contrary to president Obama’s vision for solving the Middle East question.  Here it states that Christ will ‘make war’.  Then He will strike the nations and rule them ‘with a rod of iron’.  Again Christ is the absolute victor.

     After the great battle the anti-Christ and false prophet will be cast alive into the lake of fire.  And the fate of those that followed them?

     “And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse.  And all the birds were filled with their flesh.”  Revelation 19:21

    

     So much for no victor/no vanquished.