Whose Land Is It Anyway?
A R I E L L A C A S E Y
I switch back and forth in my view as to whether Israel is actually winning the war and achieving its goal of creating a safe haven for Jews to live for future generations. Sadly, I suspect that an unspoken international agenda has been a major catalyst for the war, and that many powerful politicians worldwide are interested in creating a footstool in Israel for their own personal aims. The second thought, in particular, is very troubling: alliances among our sworn enemies seem to be coalescing, while only a few countries remain who support Israel not just in speech but also in deed.
Safed, Israel, came under attack from a barrage of missiles fired by the Hezbollah terrorist organization in Lebanon.
Here, on the ground in Israel, it can all be a bit overwhelming. Planes ignite their afterburners right over our heads as they fly towards Lebanon and Syria, and missiles hit their targets in nearby Tzfat and Qiryat Shemona. Among all the confusion, those who believe in the Bible (or at least have an inkling of a God in Heaven) are asking how this all fits into the divine plan for Israel. Does YHWH not see? Has He removed His mighty hand and hidden His face? Is this war a punishment from Him for rejecting our covenant with Him, for focusing too much on external traditions rather than on recapturing the essence of the covenant?
Is this war a punishment from Him for rejecting our covenant with Him, for focusing too much on external traditions rather than on recapturing the essence of the covenant?
I don’t know the answers to all these questions, but I do know what I believe:
I believe that the Land of Israel belongs to the Creator of the Universe.
I believe that He will protect His people, the people of the Eternal Covenant – when we obey the covenant in the land.
I believe that YHWH is still intimately involved in all the goings-on, even when we don’t immediately see his hand or understand his reasons.
And I believe that, in the long run, at the end of the battle, all will be made clear and that nobody – not the powerful politicians of the world, not the U.N. or UNWRA, not anybody – will stand in the way of what the Creator of Heaven and Earth wants for his holy land.
I do not doubt that it will get ugly – very ugly. But this will force each of us to ask ourselves some very important questions, whether we like it or not.
Can we recommit ourselves to the covenant that we, the People of Israel, made so long ago with our Creator?
Can we stop following the inferior doctrines of mere men?
Can we use the current events to cling closer to Hashem through these unsure times?
Can we muster enough faith to stand strong, even while towers fall around us and blood flows in the streets?
Ezekiel chapter 39 warns of a great destruction for our people and our land. But he also tells us that following it, there will come a day when we will declare total victory:
“‘On that day I will give Gog a place to be buried in Israel, in the valley of those who travel east of the Sea. It will block the way of travelers, because Gog and all his hordes will be buried there. So it will be called the Valley of the Multitudes of Gog. For seven months the House of Israel will be burying them in order to cleanse the land. All the people of the land will bury them, and the day I display my glory will be a memorable day for them’, declares my Lord, YHWH.”
People often tell me that the Land of Israel belongs to us Jews. Not so fast. It belongs to the Covenant-Maker, and in the time of His choosing, He will clean it up, providing for those who keep His covenant a safe place to live, from where they can (finally) be a light unto the nations.
People often tell me that the Land of Israel belongs to us Jews. Not so fast. It belongs to the Covenant-Maker, and in the time of His choosing, He will clean it up, providing for those who keep His covenant a safe place to live, from where they can (finally) be a light unto the nations.
With this in mind, let’s think carefully about how we, moving forward into the future, should strive to keep the eternal covenant with Him; for certainly, if the events of October have taught us nothing else, they have taught us that some serious changes in our approach are warranted. Does YHWH really want us to repeat the same prayers over and over? Isn’t it more important to pour out our hearts to Him? Can we develop a pure heart, and renew a steadfast spirit within ourselves (Psalms 51:10), or will we just continue to cover over the essence of who we are and what dwells in our hearts with external, repetitive ritual? I know these are difficult (and perhaps controversial) questions, but Hashem is watching and He is making His list to see who, in our new post-October-7th reality, deserves to be part of His Covenant, forever.
While, of course, we should support the war effort by every means possible, at the same time, in parallel, we need to launch a personal war – that of renewing the Covenant with our Creator, developing a personal relationship with him, and making sure that we are ready to be among those who win the right to live eternally in the Land.
Yours for a final victory, both personal and for Am Yisrael,
Ariella
Ariella Casey is originally from the United States and lives in the Golan Heights where she writes prolifically on the topics of politics and religion in Israel. She publishes the blog Take Hold the Tzitzit.
Ariella Casey may be contacted at juliehetterle@gmail.com.
