Ezekiel 36:21-23 gives us a perspective on the Middle East conflict that is very rarely highlighted. Namely, that God has a vested interest in Israel being united in his own land. It is about the credibility of God’s Name. Through what happens, God will confirm His sovereignty over the land of Israel and over The Nations.
The Prophet describes it like this: God chose Israel and gave them unconditional promises of blessing and prosperity in the Land He led them into after the desert wandering. How can it be, then, in light of the realities, that most of their existence has been outside the country? Ever since the northern kingdom of Israel in 722 and the southern kingdom of Judah in 605 to 586 were carried away, Israel has not lived safely in the Land.
When the various peoples worshipped their gods, it was of course to get something back from the gods: peace and security or success on the battlefield. This is also what God promised Israel when he brought them into the land of promise. Here they would be able to live in safety. But there was one prerequisite: they had to follow his laws and regulations. They didn’t. The land became unclean because of the sins of the people, and God allowed them to be taken captive and carried away.
But then the rumors began to circulate, and the names of both Israel and the God of Israel were destroyed among the nations. Something must be wrong with these people? They are a wicked and useless people! That has been the explanation for anti-Semitism.
God surely rejected his people Israel and chose another, namely, the church. That has been the explanation of replacement theology.
Something must be wrong with your God? He is dead and unable to defend his own people! That has been the explanation of atheism.
From Israel’s perspective, the expulsion from the land was a threat to the fulfilment of the land promises. From a divine perspective, the expulsion led to the profaning of God’s holy Name among the peoples to whom Israel had been driven away.
Therefore Ezekiel says: It is not for your sake that I do this, O house of Israel, but for my holy name’s sake. Before the restoration of the nation of Israel can take place, the problem of God being profaned by them must be solved: the nations will know that I am the Lord,’ says the Lord God, ‘when I am sanctified in your midst before their eyes.
And how will that happen? The answer is found in Ezekiel 36:24: For I will take you from among the nations, and gather you from all the nations, and I will bring you to your own land. Your own country!
That is God’s perspective on Israel in our day and in the days ahead. When Israel has returned to its land today, God has a vested interest in it.
Is it any wonder that there is so much resistance?