The importance for Christians to understand Israeli values

In my last article entitled, “Israel’s Hostage Deal – Good or Bad,” I endeavored to explain what would cause Israelis to accept a flawed deal releasing our hostages, knowing, in advance, the deadly risks it presents for all of us as we, in exchange, let terrorist prisoners, with blood on their hands, go free, endangering the general public.

Emphasizing the high value we place on life, our own existence, in many ways, has become untenable, as we continue to eat good meals, live in the comfort of our own homes and enjoy the freedoms we cherish. Meanwhile, our brothers and sisters, have been languishing in the pit of hell for 15 months, condemned to die if we would forego yet another deal, bad as it is.

Some of the feedback I received expressed disgust, shock and disapproval that Israel would enter into such an agreement, forgetting our history as we put our people at risk.

But, it’s important to comprehend both the complex psyche and background of the people, who God calls His Chosen, because without that understanding, it’s easy to judge in accordance to human logic which is sometimes superseded by other factors. 

One of our primary values is a biblical charge, recorded in the Torah (the first five books of Moses). Deuteronomy 30:19 which specifically tells us to “choose life.” The preservation of life stems from the sanctity of life and the idea that God is the sole giver and taker of life, as stated by Job, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away – blessed be the name of the Lord.” Job 1:21

It is the reason that, just hours before the ceasefire, a well-coordinated effort was carried out between our Shin Bet security forces, the Mossad and Shayetet 13 (Israel’s equivalent of Navy Seals) in the form of a highly dangerous mission, likely under the cover of night, to bring back the remains of Staff Sgt. Oron Shaul, one of several soldiers who, in July, 2014, “entered the Shejaia neighborhood near Gaza City in an armored personnel carrier with six other soldiers. Everyone inside was killed when it was struck by a Kornet anti-missile.”  

Through intelligence, retrieved by captured Hamas prisoners, we were able to determine the exact whereabouts of Shaul’s remains and return him home for a proper burial. This, too, is a biblical charge, patterned after the account of Genesis 50, when Jacob requested that his burial be in the Canaan, rather than Egypt, which was not the Promised Land. It is also the reason that we have agreed to release 1,000 live prisoners in exchange for many dead Israelis.  

Additionally, there is a moral contract made between the IDF and the parents of those who serve, promising to return their children, dead or alive, back to their land. That commitment also extends to every Israeli citizen, which we vow to never abandon.

These principles are sacred to the Jewish people, because they are held as the divine instruction by which we were called to live, based on the scriptures. 

The euphoria which we witnessed yesterday, throughout Israel, may seem like an overreaction, given that only three young women were released - the first fruits of 30 more to follow who are believed to be alive. Joyful cries, shouts of jubilation, tears of gratitude, street dancing and even prayers of thanksgiving to God abounded everywhere.  

That is a picture of the whole “House of Israel,” as we are still called, putting aside political and ideological differences, to celebrate the gift of life, represented by three who miraculously survived the worst ravages known to mankind.

Yes, we are a peculiar people, as stated in the scriptures several times. It is that unique calling which has facilitated our resilience while many civilizations did their utmost to destroy us and erase our memory from the earth. It is because we were able to overcome those evil plans, remaining intact as a people, throughout millennia, that we are willing to risk our own safety to preserve one another.  

Maybe that’s why our motto, “Am Israel Chai,” (the people of Israel live) emphasizes the collective rather than the individual. It is one of our defining characteristics as a nation, remaining a clan, as we live together and perish together, as in the days of the Holocaust and many other tragic events throughout our history.

It’s important to remember that the scriptures, followed by today’s Christians, were handed down to them by the Jews. We are told to love our neighbor as ourself, and nothing could speak louder than that as we make the worst deal possible, for the sake of 33 individuals, attempting to preserve their precious lives.

That concept is, perhaps, best known to Christians in the scripture, “Greater love has no man than this – that he lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

In this case, we are more than friends. We are family with the same blood, coursing through our veins. We are the remnant of the six million, whose feet never stood on the ground of their beloved homeland, and we owe them the sacred obligation of preserving life when it is in our power to do so. This deal, as bad as it is, remains the last hope to guarantee those poor souls another chance to breathe the air, feel the wind and bask in the sunshine. Because if any more time passes, we all know that they, as Staff Sgt. Oren Shaul, will return in body bags.

For the many Christians, who love and support Israel through their prayers and repeated visits, it is important to understand the values and unique history which drive us to choose life and make the decisions we do, based on our oneness as a people, despite the many rifts among us.

Lastly, for those whose concern comes from a place of worrying that the release of these savage terrorists will result in more death and carnage, we accept that as a possibility. But we also know that Israel and the Jewish people are covered with eternal promises made by God Almighty, who has assured us that although, “He forsook us for a brief moment, he has gathered us with great compassion.” Isaiah 54:7

It is that same faithful God who will protect us, even in the midst of a bad deal!