The Suffering Servant

Will anti-Zionist, anti-Semites blame God forthat every nation on earth will suffer when the
encouraging and enabling the Jewish "monopoly"nuclear bombs begin to drop? Yes. However,
on suffering? After all, aren't those who refuse topresently, other nations are expendable on
forget the horrors of the Holocaust and warn ofaccount of Israel, if necessary. "For I am the
man's inhumanity to man, following a biblicalLORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Savior:
precedent?Didn't the Hebrew God enshrine Israel'sI gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba
suffering by creating a holy day tofor thee. Since thou wast precious in my sight,
commemorate their deliverance from Egyptianthou hast been honorable, and I have loved thee:
bondage? Didn't the God of the Hebrews seartherefore will I give men for thee (individuals), and
Israel's suffering into mankind's memory bypeople (nations) for thy life" (Isaiah 43:3-4). And,
instituting Passover, a religious festival Godagain, "For I am with thee, says the LORD, to
commands all nations to observe? Didn't thesave thee: though I will make a full end of all
Egyptians enslave other peoples, as well? Yet whonations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I
hears about them, except perhaps in a passingnot make a full end of thee..." (Jeremiah
comment?Didn't the God of Israel dedicate a30:11).Jesus, as an individual, and Israel nationally,
WHOLE BOOK to a Jewish tragedy that wasand the Church spiritually, represent God's Son on
averted? Doesn't the Book of Esther warnearth. We are "the Suffering Servant" that the
anti-Semites to this day that "he that touchesworld isn't worthy of (Isaiah 53; Hebrews
you touches the apple of His eye?"(Zechariah 2:8).11:35-38). We are the "Royal Priesthood"
Of what other nation has such been said? Weren'tcompared to other nations and people (Exodus
other peoples threatened throughout history and19:6; 1 Peter 2:9).Does that mean that we're
yet the Bible doesn't make mention of them?Andwithout sin, and that the other nations are more
is it some part of a "Jewish conspiracy" for therighteous or justified in persecuting us? No! God
whole world to mourn the murder of Jesus Christwarns against that dangerous delusion: "I was
by the Romans (yet the Italians aren't branded towroth with my people, I have polluted mine
this day as "Christ-killers")? Didn't the Romansinheritance, and given them into thine hand: thou
torture and crucify thousands of individuals? Aredidst shew them no mercy; upon the ancient hast
Christians the biggest cry-babies? Has Jesus' deaththou very heavily laid thy yoke" (Isaiah 47:6), and
been exaggerated and milked for all it's worth by"All that found them that devoured them: and
Christians fixated with His suffering andtheir adversaries said, We offend not, because
self-sacrifice? I'm speaking foolishly (like thosethey have sinned against the LORD..." (Jeremiah
who think the Jews have exaggerated their50:7), and "I am very sore displeased with the
misery) to make a point.It's not politically-correct,heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little
however, the plain truth is that not all lives aredispleased, and they helped forward the affliction"
equal. Ancient Israel recognized that the life of the(Zechariah 1:15). I discuss this in my book, Beyond
king, the nation's leader, was far more importantBabylon: Europe's Rise and Fall, within the chapter
than that of his soldiers (1 Samuel 18:3; 2 Samuel"Europe's Fate."Sometimes God utilizes our
21:17).Some people and nations have a greaterenemies to help bring us back to our spiritual
influence and impact upon history. It's not becausesenses, and then He judges those haughty
of Israel's inherent goodness or superiority (we'veindividuals and nations and reminds them that
been warned about believing that), but because ofthey're only mortal (Isaiah 10:12; Jeremiah 51:35).
God's overall plan and purpose.At this time, inAt other times, Israel suffered unjustly in Egypt,
God's plan of salvation, the lives of Jews andJudah faced extermination for refusing to
Israelites are incomparable to any other, even asassimilate (Esther 3:8) and the early Christians
true Christians (in whom God's Spirit dwells) areAquila and Priscilla were wrongly persecuted for
greater and different than other humans who aresimply being Jews and were required by law to
only ordinary (1 Corinthians 2:9-16). That's why itleave Rome (Acts 18:2).God exposes the twisted
is written, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is themindset of those anti-Semites who wrongly feel
death of His saints" (Psalms 116:15; Numbersthat Israel and Judah have too much power and
23:10). Isn't God concerned with the death ofinfluence and control over their lives and nations,
everyone?The big difference between Jesus andand are threatening to revolt against their
Israel (physical & spiritual) versus other individuals"oppressors," yet will find themselves fighting a
and nations, is simply that we are GOD'S SON!loosing battle against God! (Psalms 2; Revelation
(Hosea 11:1; Amos 3:2). The Bible only mentions17:14).Individuals and nations must come to know
other nations insomuch as they come in contactand recognize whom God has chosen (an Elect,
with Israel. The Bible is an ethnocentric book; it'snot an elite) for His PURPOSE of ultimately saving
all about a FOCUS ON THE FAMILY onevery individual and nation (Isaiah 49:22-23;
Jacob-Israel!God doesn't record the suffering ofRevelation 3:9).So despite anti-Zionist,
others at this time, because as far as the plan ofanti-Semites, the damnable heresies of
salvation goes, genocides in Africa or Asia arereplacement theology and genealogy, personal and
inconsequential! And those innocent victims whonational sins, "all Israel shall be saved: as it is
suffered and died during Hitler's War against thewritten, There shall come out of Zion the
Jews (first and foremost), were basically collateralDeliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from
damage! That's not how mankind would view it,Jacob" (Romans 11:26). Israel will prevail and
but it is how God sees things (Isaiah 55:8-9). I'mbecome God's light to all nations, blessing others
not attempting to minimize their loss, I'm justas they've been blessed!David Ben-Ariel is a
seeking to put things in a biblical perspective,Christian-Zionist writer in Ohio and author of
however unpopular.I'm not magnifying Israel'sBeyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall. With a
suffering at the expense of others, I'm justfocus on the Middle East and Jerusalem, his
emphasizing it as the Bible would. Even the cominganalytical articles help others improve their
Great Tribulation is referred to as "the Time ofunderstanding of that troubled region. Check out
Jacob's Trouble" (Jeremiah 30:7). Isn't God awareBeyond Babylon.