As Israel today faces another barrage of rocket attacks, I am reminded by Scripture that God holds all nations accountable for their treatment of Israel.
In the prophetic book of Isaiah, God warns Israel that their disobedience will result in punishment at the hand if Assyria.
Isaiah 7:17 The Lord will bring on you, your people, and your father’s family a time unlike any since Ephraim departed from Judah—the king of Assyria!
As recorded in 2 Kings, these things would eventually come to pass under Shalmaneser king of Assyria during the reign of Hezekiah, king of Judah.
2 Kings 18:11 The king of Assyria deported Israel to Assyria and settled them in Halah, in Gozan on the Habor River and in towns of the Medes. 12 This happened because they had not obeyed the Lord their God, but had violated his covenant—all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded. They neither listened to the commands nor carried them out.
Despite being a divinely appointed instrument of judgement, Isaiah issues a stern reprimand against Assyria and her king. For their arrogance and aggression toward God’s chosen people, they will be held accountable.
Isaiah 10:5 Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger and the staff in whose hands is My indignation, 6 I send it against a godless nation and commission it against the people of My fury to capture spoils and to seize plunder, and to trample them down like mud in the streets… 12 So it will be that when the Lord has completed all His work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, He will say, “I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the arrogant pride of his eyes.”
As antisemitism seems to be on an alarming rise in the United States and across the globe, the nations of the world would do well to remember the covenant God made with Abraham and His unwavering love of Israel. In like manner, the apostle Paul reminds us that God reserves judgement for those who treat Israel otherwise.
Romans 11:13 But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles… 17 do not be arrogant toward the branches [Israel]; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root [the promise to Abraham], but the root supports you… 20 [therefore] Do not be conceited, but fear; 21 for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either.
The Scriptures tells us there will come a day when the nations take up arms against Israel and seek to destroy them. Therefore, let us heed the words of Zechariah and Paul lest we too be found hostile toward the descendants of Abraham with whom God finds favor (Romans 11:28).
Zechariah 14:12 Now this will be the plague with which the Lord will strike all the peoples who have gone to war against Jerusalem; their flesh will rot while they stand on their feet, and their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongue will rot in their mouth. 13 And it will come about on that day that a great panic from the Lord will fall on them; and they will seize one another’s hand, and the hand of one will be raised against the hand of another… 16 Then it will come about that any who are left of all the nations that came against Jerusalem will go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of armies, and to celebrate the Feast of Booths. 17 And it will be that whichever of the families of the earth does not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of armies, there will be no rain on them.
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