"THE CAUSE OF ISRAELI - ARAB TURMOIL"

by

Gerald K. Duckett

In Psalm 83 it is clearly stated that there will be a build-up of hostilities against the nation of Israel by the other Middle Eastern countries that totally surround her. We see that happening on a rather consistent basis in the latest occurrences of aggression against the Holy Land.

What is the real reason for all the turmoil and hostility toward Israel? Perhaps many theories could be advanced as explaining Mid-East conditions.

  1. The productivity of the State is no doubt coveted by surrounding economics.
  2. There is evidence of large oil deposits underneath the Land. As we now realize, oil is the one natural resource that is indispensable in today’s world. It is also the most needful product in running a war! It is said that a soldier runs on his stomach, but it is even more true that war machines are run on oil.
  3. There is the extreme wealth of the Land. Few people realize the immensity of the riches of Israel represented by raw materials. Some years ago, the discovery was made that the water of the Dead Sea contain very valuable mineral salts, potash and bromine, all of which are in great demand in the modern world. Potash is a fertilizer that enriches poor soil and makes it more productive. It is said that there is enough potash in the Dead Sea to supply the needs of the entire world for the next 2000 years! And bromine is a widely used ingredient in medicine, photography, dyeing and in the making of anti-knock compounds for gasoline. The mineral wealth in the Dead Sea is estimated to be FOUR TIMES the combined wealth of the United States! Israel may be considered as the "pot of gold" by the other nations of the Mid-East and the world.

But, the problem in Israel is not so simple as mere wealth and riches. The root of the turmoil lies in the far distant past. It can be traced back as far as Abraham, the father of the nation. It is set forth in the book of Genesis.

It is the problem of the right of occupancy of the Land itself that has caused the long standing hatred to be inflamed between the Jews and Arabs.

In Genesis 15:18-21 God made an unconditional covenant with Abraham promising to him and his seed inheritance of the greater portion of the Middle East.

"Unto thy seed have I given this land,
from the river of Egypt unto the great river,
the river Euphrates."

He also gives to them the lands occupied at that time by ten other tribes. In actuality, it is a land whose boundaries are relatively clearly defined. The promise would give to Abraham not only the small portion which Israel calls her own today, but nearly FIVE TIMES more than their present occupation. This promise is known as the Abrahamic Covenant. On the basis of this covenant, Israel’s former Prime Minister, Menachem Begin, took his stand not to yield up any of the land then under Israeli domination.

Now Abraham had another son by the handmaid of Sarai whose name was Ishmael. Ishmael’s mother was an Egyptian (Genesis 16:1). Ishmael was not the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham that he should bring forth a son in his old age (Genesis 15:2-6). To Ishmael, God also gave the promise saying, "I will make him a great nation" (Genesis 17:20).

The difficulty lies in this that while the Israelites were given a well-defined land, the Arab tribes (the sons of Ishmael) were not. The feeling of the Arab states is all the Middle East belongs to them while the Jews tenaciously cling to that small bit of land they have been able to obtain since May 15, 1948. And so, the wars and hatred continue over who has the right to occupy the Holy Land.

It must be said that Israel does not want to occupy the entire Middle East, as do the Arab nations. They simply want to live peacefully and peaceably on the plot of ground given to them by Divine decree and unconditional covenant.

Will the wars and turmoil ever cease in Israel over this question of the Land? Will they ever enjoy the entirety of their inheritance as promised by God in the Abrahamic Covenant?

  1. Yes, the wars, hatred and turmoil will cease and she will have peace (Isaiah 2:1-5).
  2. Yes, she will have her promised land (Deuteronomy 30:3-5).

Her future is set. Her desire will come. The Messiah, who came once, will come again; and believing Israel’s sorrow will be past.

END