Wholeness Through Pieces?
The celebrated 20th century author George Orwell highlighted the ability of totalitarian states to misuse language in order to subdue populations and curtail freedom. His satirical novel 1984 gave us the classic slogans War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, and Ignorance is Strength, and concepts like Big Brother, doublethink, and thoughtcrime.
“Peace” Process Doublethink
Today, the Mideast “peace” process continues as a bit of doublethink. The very word peace – shalom is not just about rest and an even-tempered atmosphere. The Hebrew meaning has to do with wholeness, nothing lacking, complete.How is it that the political forces of this world seem determined to bring shalom-wholeness-by dividing the land of Israel? Am I alone in finding this ironic?Western leaders don’t appear to be reading their Bibles. Scripture is very clear: The creator of Heaven and Earth will judge all nations who divide the Land of Israel.In Joel 3:2, the Lord says: “I will gather all the nations…Then I will enter into judgment with them on behalf of my people and My inheritance, Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; and they have divided up my land.”Many negotiators call for Israel to withdraw to pre-1967 borders. Israelis muse that perhaps they mean 1967 BC borders-during Abraham’s time which might be ok. We Jews never miss an opportunity for some gallows humor. The irony continues.In living memory, many world leaders and certainly every American president have stepped into the strange “messianic” shoes that cause them to think: “Perhaps I, yes I, will be the one who brings world peace by solving the puzzle of the Middle East. I will be known as the hero who, against all odds, brought the Jews and Arabs together. Thank you, thank you, ladies and gentlemen.”However, if Israel gives up significant territory in the Golan Heights in Judea and Samaria (the Heartland of Israel that the media call the “West Bank”) in order to create a sovereign “Palestinian” state, tiny Israel will return to indefensible borders.In addition to that fist shaking in God’s face, many nations also call for Jerusalem to be divided!During this season of Resurrection celebration, we thank God for His Messiah and the salvation provided at the Cross. He has provided wholeness-real shalom for all who believe in His Son’s sacrifice.He has also brought Israel as a nation back from the dead the Diaspora and breathed new life into it. Let’s pray for Israel’s physical and spiritual development to continue and not take steps backward by politically undoing what the Lord has done.Blog first published on levitt.com