*American Exceptionalism and Israel
Why does America support Israel so strongly. Why does Washington block every UN resolution aimed at Israel and why does it provide the Jewish state with countless billions in military aid every year. The anti Semites among us would have us believe that it is because the Jews control American Foreign policy. Others might argue more reasonably that the pro Israel lobby is the most powerful lobby group in DC. Some might also say that America wants the strongest nation in the region to be an American ally and that US support of Israel is based on a global military strategy. I don't buy into any of these view personally. I believe that American Exceptionalism best explains it. American Exceptionalism.
What on earth is "American Exceptionalism?" It sounds arrogant, and I suppose it is, particularly when combined with the notion of the Jews as the chosen people but I do believe that this concept explains the unwavering support that the US has offered Israel for many decades. Proponents of American Exceptionalism believe that the USA occupies a unique role in world history. They believe that its capitalist system and its intolerance of government intervention in the economy has resulted in the largest most powerful economy the world has ever seen. This individualistic system has also led to the most powerful military in all of history. It is not just the capitalist system that is supposed to have brought America to this point. It was the first country that was created not out of ethnicity but because its constitutional republicanism meant that sovereignty belonged to the people, not to a hereditary ruling class. And the American experience of westward expansion throughout the 19th century has apparently helped create a national character which fits into this self help ethos. The result of all this is that the USA is the only nation willing and capable of confronting the threats facing the world. This was certainly true during the cold War. America was the only nation willing to do whatever it took to stop Soviet expansion. They eventually succeed in wrestling the USSR to the ground. Proponents of American Exceptionalism believe that a similar situation exists today as regards the clash that we are seeing between East and West.
Let's look at the war on terror. The dominant thinking in Europe appears to be that if our Foreign Policies are kinder to the Arab World then they will stop disliking us. Perhaps ? But the Americans don't see it that way. They have examined the nature of the threat and are not willing to hide from it. So goes the theory anyway. Just to clarify I have not quite bought into American Exceptionalism. I'm not quite sure whether America does in fact have a unique history and destiny in the world or is this just right wing America engaging in hard core nationalist rhetoric. Truthfully, I haven't quite decided yet. But the belief does exist and I do think it explains US support of Israel.
American Exceptionalism and Israel.
Believers in American Exceptionalism are of the opinion that America is in a unique position to confront International Terrorism and proponents of the Islamic way who favour expansion. They believe that political Islam is fundamentally undemocratic (a theory which I do endorse wholeheartedly) and therefor those who wish to expand it should be confronted and ultimately prevented from doing so. Just like the Cold War, America is stepping up to this task. Israel is the ultimate symbol of the clash that exists between the democratic west and the Islamic East. Others describe it as the front line in the war on terror. Many Americans believe that if Israel were to fall it would only be the beginning. Spain would be next to succumb to the green wave followed by much of Europe. Its sound crazy I know but when you read the contents of Jihadist websites such as Liam Egan's MPAC.ie you become aware that this is the objective more than you might think. This I believe is the principal reason America continues to weigh in behind Israel. It is not out of obligation, alliance or lobby. It is because America believes in Israel.
This Irishman sees things pretty well, I think! But there's more:
Without looking at what the Bible says about Israel, you can't see the entire picture. Remember? Regardless of the loudest among us, the vast majority of Americans still believe in the Bible - and in the fact that this nation was originally founded on Biblical principle. It still matters...
So... Exactly what IS the big deal about Israel? Biblically?
**We must remember that Israel, the nation, is very special to God. Deuteronomy 7:6-8 tells us: 6 “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. 7 It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, 8 but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt."
God's eternal purpose is to bless the world through Israel. He has most assuredly done so already in the sending of His Son, Jesus, the Christ. John 4:22 reads, "You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews." In spite of the fact that today Israel is a secular, unbelieving nation, the only thing we have today - that's even worth having - has come to us through the Jewish nation of Israel! We are certainly in debt to Israel on that account. But there's more to come. Isaiah 27:6 promises: "In days to come Jacob will take root, Israel will bud and blossom and fill all the world with fruit."
A further reason Christians must support the nation of Israel is because of the Abrahamic Covenant. Genesis 12:2-3 , "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." (also Genesis 27:29; Numbers 24:9).
Take special note of the underlined words in the above Bible quote. In part, America is what she is today - enjoys the blessings she has today - because of her consistent support for the nation of Israel! It has been said that "No nation in the history of the world has a better record of treating individual Jews with respect than does America. The same can be said for our befriending Israel as a nation. America has committed many sins for which we may well deserve judgment, but as a nation, we have been a consistent friend of the Jews and the nation of Israel, as well as a benefactor." Examples of this: 1948 - President Harry Truman helped persuade the UN to recognize Israel as a nation. Since then, the United States has contributed billions of dollars in aid to Israel.
When we see the "big picture” with a biblical worldview, it becomes clear that America's support of Israel is crucial. While we cannot support everything Israel does as a nation, we must - at the very least - assuredly, and consistently, support Israel’s right to exist.
God ALWAYS honors His Word. He ALWAYS does what He says He will do. His promises and covenants with Israel will be carried out. "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap." (Galatians 6:7) God's plan for Israel is still in place. It has not been revoked! Woe to the man or the nation who sets himself against that plan!
"I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse."
THIS is the Word of GOD.
And that, folks, settles it! As my daddy used to say, "You can take THAT to the bank! The Bible says it, and that settles it ... whether we choose to believe it or not!"
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Just a pilgrim on the journey...tryin' to keep smack-dab in the middle of the road!
... praying you'll know HIS blessing on YOUR journey this day!
* gubu-world.blogspot.com/2010/06/american-exceptionalism-and-israel
** gotquestions.org
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