The Right to Exist and the Right to Steal

As a Christian with an American heritage, I accept the proposition of our national founders that all rights come from God alone--not from governments of men. Governments can only grant privileges, and by the same token, they can take away those privileges. But rights come from God, and it is the duty of governments to recognize all rights. This is the primary manner in which governments recognize God as their sovereign.

With the recent Hamas victory in the Palestinian elections, we are now hearing a great hue and cry over Israel's "right to exist." This is because Hamas as a military "terrorist" group has always refused to recognize that right.

First, I agree that the nation of Israel has a "right to exist." But not for the same reaons that most people acknowledge that right. Even Hamas and Iran itself acknowledges Israel's right to exist. That is not the problem. The problem is whether Zionists have the right to steal land from Palestinians and set up a "Jewish State." The Iranian president himself acknowledged recently that he would support a Jewish state in Switzerland. That is because any government or individual has the right to give away his own land--but not to give away someone else's land.

And so this buzz-phrase, "the right to exist" is really a smoke screen that hides the real conflict. They should be questioning Israel's right to steal. The conflict is this: Do Jews have the right to come to Palestine and take Palestinian land that has often been in their families for many centuries?

Second, did the Giver of all Rights (God) grant Jews the right to steal someone else's land? If you read carefully, you will see that the Zionists claim their "rights" based first upon Britain's Balfour Agreement in 1917, and secondly by the U.N.'s Palestinian Resolution on Nov. 29, 1947. But these were instituted by men's governments, and therefore are just "privileges," not rights.

To me, the real question is whether or not God has given the Israeli state a right to exist. The answer is YES, not because the Jews are true Israelites, but because they are representing Esau who was given this right many years ago. My reasons for this are stated fully in my book, "The Struggle for the Birthright." In essence, Esau's descendents formed the nation of Edom, or Idumea, and this nation ceased to exist in 126 B.C. when they were conquered by John Hyrcanus of Judea. Judea forced them to convert to Judaism, according to every history book and encyclopedia every written.

Thus, Esau-Edom was incorporated into Jewry in 126 B.C. The implications of this are enormous, because the Bible prophesies much about Edom in the latter days. Who are they? They have been followers of Judaism for the past 2100 years.

Isaac was the first to recognize Esau's divine right (Gen. 27:40), shortly after Jacob lied to his father and stole the blessing from Esau, saying, "When you [Esau] will have the dominion, you will break his [Jacob's] yoke from off your neck."

Throughout the centuries in biblical history, Esau was determined to get back the land that he lost when Jacob stole the birthright. This desire is mentioned in Ezekiel 35:10 and 36:2-5.

Finally, God brings up the subject in Malachi 1:1-4. Verse 4 describes Esau's Zionistic outlook, saying, "Edom says, 'We are impoverished [deprived of our land], but WE WILL RETURN and build the desolate places.' Thus says the Lord of hosts, 'THEY SHALL BUILD, BUT I WILL THROW DOWN,' and they shall call them The 'Border of Wickedness' and 'The people whom the Lord has indignation forever'."

Because of the laws of tribulation in Lev. 26 and Deut. 28, God dispersed this rebellious coalition of Judah-Edom in the first century A.D. Lev. 26:40-43 makes it clear that they would not be allowed to return until they acknowledged their sin. Thus, they could not return to Palestine under the banner of Judah. They did, however, have a legal loophole, which they exploited. They were allowed to return as Edomites, because God had to give Esau his due. God will not allowe injustice toward Esau, because the law allows no partiality of justice.

So does "Israel" have the right to exist? Yes, it does. Until God has completed His obligation toward Esau. And then, that same God has a right to remove its existence at His appointed time. You see, rights are not truly "inherent," as people are often told. Nothing is inherent, because God always holds sovereignty. Men do not have the right to grant or take away right, but God does--by right of creation.

If Hamas knew and believed the Bible and its prophecies, they would see that they are currently fighting God by refusing to grant Esau his right to exist. Hamas ought to recognize Edom's right to exist and submit to the plan of God, knowing that He is a just God and will work all things out in the end.

God knows that the Palestinians also have a right to exist--even though Golda Meir once asked, "What Palestinians?" as if they did not exist. Give it some time, and God will work all things out. Men only make things worse by disagreeing with the divine Plan.