At this point, it is difficult to hide the disappointment with President Trump when it comes to the war with Iran and his waning support for Israel. More on the disappointment later but first let’s get to the meat of the issue.
Standing with Israel is not a suggestion made in the Bible. It is an either/or proposition laid out by God. When He called Abraham out of Ur of the Chaldees, He was clear about specific promises, blessings and curses. We reference this passage often, but here it is:
12 Now the Lord had said to Abram:
“Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.
2 I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
~Genesis 12:1-3
There He promised land and descendants to Abraham (repeated consistently over the next several chapters), then He promised to bless him so that he and his descendants would bless all the families of the earth. He also made the distinction of blessings and curses, and who would receive them. Those who bless Israel will be blessed, those who curse Israel will be cursed. (The either/or proposition.)
Beyond that, Joel 3:2 warns that God will enter into judgment with all nations on account of Israel and His people.
Bottom line: it is God’s command, not just to us as believers, but also to nations, to treat Israel properly. It DOES NOT mean we agree and give a stamp of approval to everything Israel does, but it does mean we must take heed to stand with Israel when others seek to destroy them, and when their very existence is at stake. (The stated goal of Iran and its proxies is to wipe Israel from the face of the earth.) Standing with Israel is a BIG deal.
One man who knows that very well is US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee. A strong believer (and an ordained Christian minister), Huckabee knows well how to represent America’s interests to Israel, and Israel’s interests to America. He knows God’s Word and it drives his decisions and influence as an ambassador.
So, when President Trump made the statement, “If there wasn’t me, there would be no Israel right now,” (and repeated it yesterday at the G7 summit), Ambassador Huckabee had a response:
Amen, Mr Ambassador! Indeed, without Israel, there would not be an America! It is upon a distinct Judeo-Christian foundation that America was founded! Several months ago, at the Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast, Huckabee made it abundantly clear why Israel is so important to America. (Particularly 5:12 forward.)
Those who believe and trust in God’s Word, must agree with its message, or fail to live in accordance with the principles it bears. One cannot say they love God, yet deny the promises, blessings and curses God Himself proclaimed.
Now, back to the first paragraph and the disappointment with President Trump. This is a personal issue, so I will address it personally. In this, I am not speaking for any other ministry, organization, or individual, but simply of my personal thoughts and opinions. You do not have to agree, and in fact, I encourage you to come to your own position regarding our President.
Some say I have turned my back on President Trump. Others accuse me of loving Israel more than America. Neither is true. Every human should be proud of the nation into which they were born. I am a true, “red, white and blue patriot” that loves America and am proud to call it home. I am also a Bible-believing, God-fearing Christian who loves the Word of God. I am far from perfect, but my heart’s desire is to love what God loves and hate what God hates. God loves Israel.
As for turning my back on President Trump, the reality is I have never been a “committed disciple” of his. Yes, I appreciate his commitment to America’s greatness, I agree with him on most policies and issues, and I am extremely grateful for what he has done on behalf of Israel in the past. At the same time, I believe he carries himself in an ungodly way, speaks vulgarities that are unbecoming a president (thus, a turn off for me), and despite his previous support of Israel, recent comments and actions toward Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu represent a significant departure from Scripture. I will continue to support conservative policies, but if choosing between standing with President Trump or standing with the Word of God, it is a no brainer for me. I will stand with God’s Word.
I am willing to set aside the Iran deal until we hear specifically what it says. So much has been made up or leaked from both sides and it is impossible to truly know what the agreement contains. However, simply based on Trump’s verbal (and verifiable) comments suggesting Israel needs to withdraw from Lebanon, coupled with Iran’s proclamation they will not sign the agreement if they don’t, I see a huge confrontation coming. Iran is overtly driving a wedge between Israel and America. Trump is desperate for a deal and Iran knows it. If Trump stands with Israel, Iran won’t sign the deal. Remarks from President Trump at the G7 Summit yesterday were very clear: Israel needs to back off in Lebanon.
Be reminded that Israel did not start the war, and their war is not against the people of Lebanon, but with Hezbollah who has taken over Lebanon. Hezbollah has fired rockets consistently into Israel years and years (as has Iran, Hamas and other terror proxies). Since October 7, 2023, hardly a day has gone by that Hezbollah has not fired rockets or made major attempts to kidnap or kill Israelis. What would the US (or any other country) do if an enemy incessantly fired rockets into civilian areas or tried to kidnap its citizens? NO COUNTRY would put up with that. Why should Israel?
Here is the fact: If Hezbollah (or Hamas or Iran…) put down their weapons against Israel, there would be no more war. If Israel put down their weapons, there would be no more Israel.
Friends, I am not anti-America or anti-Trump. I am all for God’s Word, and if the two should clash, my choice is obvious. What about you?
Looking for the Blessed Hope 