God’s Chosen People; the Israelites are hated by many groups. Why?
God’s Chosen People; the Israelites are hated by many groups. Why?
The Israelites are a group of people who attract a lot of hate. Many would like to define the Jewish people as a hate group. I prefer to define them as God’s chosen people, currently living in rebellion toward God, who have endured intense hatred by others for thousands of years. They are a hate group in the eyes of many. More correctly, they are a group of people who have suffered at the hands of those who hate them. How one chooses to define them has a lot to say about one’s understanding of the bible. Today, the Jewish Nation is more capable of defending itself against those who hate them than at any time in their history. Only during the time of King David were they possibly more capable and feared by their enemies. This success in defending themselves leads to further hatred from others. People who hate the Israelites don’t feel they should defend themselves so effectively.
We often hear cries from opposing groups and nations saying they should respond less forcefully to those who attack them. Umm, this just seems so insane to me. People who sneak into Jewish homes and stab to death elderly couples and young children should be responded to how? Should more discussions and group sessions be scheduled to understand why brutal attackers feel the need to kill innocent children? No, that’s insane.
The current rebellion from God
The current state of the rebellion of the Israelites is primarily related to their refusal to obey and keep God’s commands as detailed in the Old Testament. Secondly, they are in rebellion because of their rejection of their Messiah Jesus Christ. They do not accept Jesus as their Messiah though he fulfilled numerous prophecies in their scriptures. Their rejection of him, their Messiah, will change in the future. Until then their rebellion toward God will continue.
This is not a good reason to hate the Israelites any more than one should choose to hate an atheist for rejecting the claims of the bible.
Some suggest hating them because the Jewish leaders were responsible for putting Christ on the cross. That is reason enough to hate the Israelites, it is argued. No, that is not a good reason at all.
God’s plan for man
Jesus came to earth, was born of a virgin, for the purpose of dying on the cross. It was destiny, a biblical prophecy. So it wouldn’t matter if God planned to have Jesus killed by a flock of out-of-control hummingbirds. 
It was God’s purpose to have his own chosen people, the Israelites, reject His Son and place him on the cross. It was God’s plan. We can’t blame the death of Jesus on the Jews.
It was the sin of humanity for which Christ had to die.
The Jewish people had, and still have, a very important role in the plan of God. I have a role. You have a role. Many nations have specific roles that will unfold. The prophecies have been written. The plan of God will unfold as God has foretold. Hatred of Jews for killing Jesus is stupid and not based on a proper understanding of the facts.
The Jewish religious leaders were selfish and influenced the common Israelites to encourage Pilate to have Jesus crucified. But, it was always part of God’s plan. Every man and every nation is accountable for their actions and will stand before God and give an answer for them. But the Israelites are just as worthy of our love and respect as any group of people.
The birth of a Nation
The Israelite Nation was birthed from the loins of Abraham.
Abraham’s first son was named Ishmael. This son was born out of a lack of faith. God promised Abraham he would have a son. His wife, Sarah, was advanced in years and no longer able to bear a child. Or so he thought. Abraham asked his wife Sarah if he could help the Lord with the problem. He suggested using Sarah’s handmaiden as a proxy wife to bear the son God had promised.
Bad idea that became much worse!
Ishmael became the offspring of the Arab people. He became the father of twelve princes and led a great nation, as God prophesied that he would. God also said something about him that leads us to today.
Genesis 16:11-12
“And the angel of the Lord said unto her, behold, you are with child, and shall bear a son, and shall call his name Ishmael because the Lord has heard your affliction. And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him.”
The Israelites today are surrounded by the descendants of Ishmael. The Arabs today should be seen as the fulfillment of the ‘wild man’ depiction the angel of the Lord predicted. The Arabs, in many lands and nations, are against every man and every man is against them. This is not an indictment against Islam though that is the chosen religion of most Arab people. That is another important topic that will be addressed many times on this site in the future. (here)
Children at War
The war between the Jews and Ishmaelite’s started at the birth of Isaac. Ishmael was thirteen years old when his younger brother was born.
Isaac was the next-born son of Abraham, but according to God, he was now the chosen seed. And actually he was always the chosen seed but Abraham made a huge mistake by trying to help God. We always make a mistake when we try to help God.
Isaac and the wild thing
After his huge mistake with Ishmael, Abraham chose to have a son the old-fashioned way. He did the wild thing with his wife instead of the handmaiden.
Good idea Abraham, very good.
Ishmael did not like the new son who now replaced him. God made clear to Abraham that Isaac was the promised seed. Ishmael would soon be removed from the family and sent to live elsewhere. It was God’s plan. The jealousy and rage that began at the birth of Isaac have not diminished over thousands of years.
Genesis 21:1-5
“And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him whom Sarah bore to him Isaac, and Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him, and Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born unto him.”
So in closing, the Israelites are a hate group if you consider them one of the most hated of groups. Do Israelites hate others? Of course, they are humans like the rest of us. They have endured a lot of hate and it is a natural human response to respond in kind.
An amazing thing will happen when they finally see Christ as their Messiah. Their heart will change when they recognize the unconditional love Jesus has for them even though they rejected him for two thousand years.
Don’t you love a good ending?
Let me know what you think.