“Israel’s and America‘s blind eye to the scourge of indiscriminate vengeance is abhorrent.”
John Johnson II, 12/27/23
By John Johnson II
Biblical history dating back to 1450 BC and World history have revealed that all great kingdoms and empires have fallen. Biblical history described their great nations, as kingdoms or empires. World history chose to call their nations empires as well. Biblical and World history were extremely bloody periods.
Eight Kingdoms, beginning with Egypt, Israel, Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome were eventually conquered successively in the order listed except Egypt. World history recounts the fall of four major empires: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome, which are also in Bible history. World history revealed during the 20th century seven great empires collapsed starting with China thru soviet Russia. Their collapse resulted from economic instability, social unrest, political corruption, and military overstretch.
Though Biblical history speaks about God’s Kingdom, it also provides a powerful story about how God chose Abraham because of his faithfulness to become the leader of a new nation in the land of Canaan (Abraham 2:9, See also Genesis 17:4-9). For his obedience, Abraham received the Abrahamic covenant that his “seed” would inherit the land (Abraham 2:11).
Once Abraham became the leader, Deuteronomy 7:6, revealed that God chose the people of Israel to be deemed the chosen people. They were chosen to worship only God and to fulfill the mission of proclaiming God’s truth among all the nations of the world (Eph. 1:4).
A reading of First John 4:7, tells that God’s love is unconditional; therefore, you cannot earn love. Though God’s love is unconditional, obedience of God’s commandments is absolute. Proverbs 6:16 identifies the seven abominations God’s hates. In Leviticus 26:14-16 GNT, God said, If you do not obey my commands, you will face punishment of disaster, incurable diseases, and fevers that’ll make you blind.
Hebrews 12:6 (AMP), Reads, For the Lord disciplines and correct those He loves, punishes every son whom He received and welcomes to His heart.
Yet chosen by God, the Bible recorded that the Israelites seven times in over three hundred years sank into a spiral of disobedience and judgment. Deuteronomy 30:15-20, revealed that the Israelites didn’t obey. Instead of doing what was right in the eyes of the Lord, Israelites acted according to their own preferences.
Deuteronomy 28:15-29, states, “But it shall happen, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God and observe God’s commandments and statutes: “Cursed shall you be in the city, and the country.”
Biblical history though focuses on Abraham and the blessing of his seeds and God’s unconditional love, there’s a powerful message that stands out. It clearly revealed that just as God punished the Israelites, his chosen people, all who are disobedient and disobeys God’s commandments will too face punishment.
Remember, the Book of Judges’ message. God will not allow sin to go unpunished. Psalm 146, Isaiah 59:9-19, and Act 9:1-20, points out that the idiom ‘to turn a blind eye’ often describes official response to sexual abuses, human rights violations, scandals, and war.
Unfortunately, these situations allow the needs of the world’s poorest people to go unnoticed by those with the power to relieve their sufferings. Does this message not speak clearly to
Israel and America about the war in Palestine? If God punished Israel for disobedience, why shouldn’t America use measures to halt Israel’s indiscriminate vengeance? America hasn’t ever demonstrated atonement for the near genocide of Native Indians or enslaving Black people for 246 years.
Romans 12: 19-21 New International Version (NIV) reads, “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it’s so recorded: “It is mine to avenge, I will repay,” says the Lord. If your enemy is hungry, feed him and if he is thirsty give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not allow evil to overcome you, rather overcome evil with good.
The impact of turning a blind eye can be devastating. CNN reported that US intelligence had information about a potential attack on Iseral by Hamas as earliest as September 28, Oct. 5 and 6. Why were young Israelis allowed to attend an unprotected event this close to Hamas terrorists? Who’s to blame and punish besides Hamas?
It’s also acknowledged that it wasn’t clear if the US shared this information with Israel. Despite this lack of sharing, Iseral over a year had a 48-page report detailing Hamas plan to attack. Ignoring the report and its analysis labeling it as faulty was incomprehensible.
Again, Israel Leaders having ignored a credible report by one of its own agents were culpably negligent. This resulted in horrific murders of over a thousand Israelis and the kidnapping of hundreds by Hamas. Israel’s failure to prevent this attack, resulted with an avoidable scourge of military vengeance. Israel’s attacks have wrongly killed thousands of innocent Palestinian in their attempts to avenge Hamas horrific murders. God’s chosen people must avoid committing war crimes, which are acts of terrorists.
The information presented above is meant to chronicle God’s unconditional love for the seed of Abraham, the chosen people of Israel. However, it’s vital to know that God didn’t hesitate to punish the chosen people for their disobedience and blind eye. Yet it’s also equally important to know that even though God punished the Israelis, the covenant established with Abraham. Is everlasting.
YOU BE THE JUDGE!
