If you were to gather everything which has been written about Israel in the last month by Christians, Jews, Muslims, Athiests and political leaders and commentators, you would have a wide and confusing variety of views which would be impossible to reconcile. Within the Christian Church there is a blind support of Israel by many people, perhaps thinking they must support Israel because of our deep shared roots in the Bible. I believe a lot of America’s support comes from this support of Biblical Israel and sadly, many people believe the modern state of Israel is the same as Biblical Israel. That is simply not the case.
Biblical Israel and modern-day Israel are distinct entities with different characteristics. They are not the same. So please, when you read the Bible, don’t see today’s Israel in the Middle East as the biblical one.
I could explain in detail some scriptures that people often use to defend today’s secular Israel as the same as the biblical one – but that is for another time. Today, let me just highlight some important differences:
Biblical Israel, as described in the Old Testament, was a theocratic monarchy with a covenant relationship with God, centred on the Torah and its laws.
Modern Israel, on the other hand, is a secular parliamentary democracy, although it acknowledges its Jewish heritage and makes provisions for Jewish citizenship.
The modern state does not claim a direct covenant with God and operates under a different legal and governmental framework. Here’s a more detailed comparison:
Biblical Israel:
Theocracy: Governed by God’s law (Torah) and ruled by kings, judges, and prophets.
Covenant Relationship: Believed to be in a special covenant with God.
Focus on Religious Observance: Emphasised strict adherence to religious laws and practices.
Tribal Structure: Originally organized into tribes with a degree of independence.
Territory: The biblical land of Israel encompassed a larger area than the modern state, including parts of modern-day Jordan and other regions.
Religious Identity: Primarily defined by religious affiliation and practice.
Modern Israel:
Secular Democracy: Operates as a parliamentary democracy with a constitution and elected officials.
No Formal Covenant: While acknowledging its Jewish heritage, the state does not operate under a formal religious covenant with God.
Diverse Population: Includes Jewish citizens from various backgrounds, as well as Arab citizens and other minorities.
Focus on Security and Development: Prioritizes national security, economic development, and technological advancement.
Territorial Boundaries: The modern state’s borders are defined by political agreements and conflicts, differing from the historical extent of biblical Israel.
National Identity: Identity is primarily defined by citizenship, nationality, and cultural heritage.
In essence, while modern Israel draws inspiration and legitimacy from the historical and religious narrative of biblical Israel, it is a modern nation-state with its own unique characteristics and challenges, distinct from its ancient counterpart.
I offer no commentary or opinion in this Blog about how Christians should approach modern Israel and the current Middel East conflict – I simply wanted to clarify the distinct difference between the Israel we know a lot about from the Bible and the State of Israel today. They may be linked, but they are most definitely not the same.