Lesson from Israel
Most people probably hate Israel. The Star of David is probably the most hated and most frequently torched flag around the world, right after American’s Star & Stripes. Apart from Iraq, Israel endures suicide bomb attack more than any country on earth. Israel also has a long history of violence and war. From King David to Ehud Olmer, from Egypt to Lebanon, from Munich to Haifa, from Nazi’s holocaust to sovreign nation of modern Israel, Israel always walk on the centre stage of world’s history either as good or bad guys. So what Israel really is? What drives these surviving ancient people?
According to the Bible, Israel is God’s chosen nation. That made them the 1st ever nation to walk on earth with God. Israel live with utmost obedient to their God. They turned away from their God, got punished, repented and becoming great nation once again. In their long history, Israel encountered many rivals such as Egypt, Babylonia, Persia, Philistine, Roman Empire, & Nazi Germany. In the record we all know that none of that rival civilisations still seas to exist today. Many come to crushed Israel, but they always failed. Israel, is still exist until today and they still embrace their unchanged ancient culture. Does this clearly tell us something?
I am not a Zionist. I am not pro-Israel. I am not a jew. The murder of innocent by Israeli guns cannot be justified by all mean. But many things had happen and a nation still standing but others, shaken and even plunged to destrcution.
If we have the courage to ‘abandon ourself’ and see the world from bird-eye point of view, perhaps there are 3 things we can learn from Israel as a nation.
Firstly, Israel stick with their God. Many of modern nation had forgotten about their history. Money and power had overthrown spirituality and tradition. Technology and economic improvement is being worshipped, while the idea of creation and creator had gone to library and became fairy tales. Religious tradition became taboo, and the concept of freedom had been overally misused and misinterpreted. Israel, in contrast, love to keep their tradition alive. The nation is clearly still under the love and protection of invisible power that kept them survive. Though the Israel betrays God for so many times, God’s love never changed. When God love Israel it means forever.
Secondly, Israel learn from history and they learn it seriously. We might probably recognise Israel for their ruthless determination in world politics. It seems like they will never let things go away from their hand and they like to push the watchful world to the edge. Many of Israel’s policies are seemingly “annoying” but most of them are efefctive. We can accused US support which helps Israel to survive, but most of the time, Israel love to take care of things by themselves. But it is all make sense if we look at the background of the establishment of The Jewish State many years ago. The Israel vowed to not let things like holocaust to ever happen again. They will do anything and everything to protect their existence eventhough sometimes, they will need to go through some hard times, swimming through in the water of ‘collateral damage’ and falsed policy consequences. When a nation struck with great crisis, that is the chance for them to revive and move to higher level. Except, when that nation refused to learn.
Thirdly, hardship is a must. The Israel (jewish) had endured so much persecution thorughout their history. There are moments where the fate of Israel seems to reach an end but God let them to fight back and survive. A good sword can only be forged through burning furnace. A good and strong nation must have born and learn from chaos and turmoils.
The bible mention that whoever believe in God, that person is the next Israel. So Israel is not really an exclusive country. We’re all have the same privilege to live and learn from highest authority and power. We’re all can find God and talk to Him. But the only question is: Do we want to learn?
