Hosea 11:1-4 - When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. But the more I called Israel, the further they went from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images. It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them.

You know how atheists rarely venture outside of the Old Testament lest they run into teachings of Jesus that convict them of a deep need for forgiveness? And you know how atheists accuse Christians of cherry-picking verses to make our case? Do you think atheists ever do the same thing? For example, have you ever seen atheists ripping this verse?

Deuteronomy 27:19 - Cursed is the man who withholds justice from the alien, the fatherless or the widow. 

Immense riches are seldom possessed by leaders of countries or corporations without the oppression of their citizens, employees or investors. Immense riches are seldom gained without the willingness to rape and plunder the earth. Unlike their neighbours, and unlike our modern industrial societies, people in ancient Israel (those who atheists call dim-witted bronze-age goat herders) were to make sure they did nothing to take advantage of each other.

Peace, Mercy and Justice were then and are today to be the hallmark of God's people.

You know how atheists rarely venture outside of the Old Testament lest they run into teachings of Jesus that convict them of a deep need for forgiveness? And you know how atheists accuse Christians of cherry-picking verses to make our case? Do you think atheists ever do the same thing? Now atheists incorrectly associate Southern U.S. Slavery with the safety net slavery of early Israel. That is why you will never see or hear an atheist ranting about this?

“At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts. This is how it is to be done: Every creditor shall cancel any loan they have made to a fellow Israelite. They shall not require payment from anyone among their own people, because the Lord’s time for cancelling debts has been proclaimed. There need be no poor people among you, if only you fully obey the Lord your God and are careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need. Be careful not to harbour this wicked thought: “The seventh year, the year for cancelling debts, is near,” so that you do not show ill will toward the needy among your fellow Israelites and give them nothing. They may then appeal to the Lord against you, and you will be found guilty of sin. Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.”

Deuteronomy 15.

Immense riches are seldom possessed by leaders of countries or corporations without the oppression of their citizens, employees or investors. Immense riches are seldom gained without the willingness to rape and plunder the earth. Unlike their neighbours, and unlike our modern industrial societies, people in ancient Israel (those who atheists call dim-witted bronze-age goat herders) were to make sure they did nothing to take advantage of each other.

Peace, Mercy and Justice were then and are today to be the hallmark of God's people.

What Is This Thing Called Evil?

However you might define evil (I define it as anything that opposes God’s will) its persistent presence in humanity is forever pulling us toward self-destruction and destruction of the world itself.

We are the cause of evil (abusing our free-will), and Jesus is the cure.

Just as Israel is to play a role in the restoration of the cosmos, so too Jesus.

Just as Israel’s role in the restoration of the cosmos has led to its destruction, so too did Jesus' role lead to His physical destruction.

Just as Israel, as God’s chosen people was crushed, so too was Jesus.

The problem of evil results in the destruction of the world itself. There is nothing, absolutely nothing that we as human beings can do to restore this earth to health.

We are too greedy.

We are too self-centred.

We are too short-sighted.

In fact, we ourselves are so broken that we can’t even recognise that we no longer work as intended. Some, as with atheists, celebrate and revel in our brokenness.

Our cosmos, our earth our selves are irreparably damaged. We broke Creation by opposing our Creator.

We broke God’s Creation and only Creator God can restore it. 

satan’s hatred for Israel

I’ve long wondered if God loves Israel because it is the most persecuted people on earth. Or, are the Jewish people the most persecuted people on earth because God loves them.

Ever since coming into existence 4,000 years ago, hatred for Jews has caused nation after nation to attempt the destruction and annihilation of the Jewish people. While satan hates all of us, his hatred for the Jewish people knows no bounds.

It appears as though satan believes that if he destroys the Jewish people, he could somehow prevent his own destruction. After all, the Saviour of the world was to come through the Jewish people. To that end, satan has used everyone, including Christians in his plan to destroy the Jewish people. Irenaeus, Tertullian, Eusebius, Origin, Augustine, Ambrose of Milan, and of course Martin Luther all allowed theirs and all humanity’s inherent tendency toward hatred to be brought to bear against the Jewish people.

Of course anti-Semitism has existed from the days of Abraham.

How has satan gone about his plan to rid the world of a Saviour?

He incited Pharaoh to order the death of all Jewish newborn males.

He incited Egypt, Amaliekites, Amorites, Philistines, Canaanites, Midianites, Ammonites, Babylonians, and the Romans to destroy the Israelites.

He incited Herod to kill males born within a two year period of Jesus

It seems as though satan has always been left guessing as to God’s plan. Perhaps even to the true identity of this Saviour. “IF you are the Son of God . . .” was the frequent phrase during the temptation of Jesus. Through storms on the Sea of Galalie and attempts to kill Him through angry mobs, satan tried to eliminate Jesus before God’s plan could be carried out. Finally, at the crucifixion, satan thought he’d won, but God “made a spectacle of satan and his demon hoard” through Christ’s resurrection.

Not satisfied, in 70AD, satan incited Rome to kill 1.1 million Jews and brought into slavery another 97,000. In about 135 AD Rome killed another 500,000 Jews. Scattered throughout the world satan incited those operating under the banner of Christ Himself in the Spanish Inquisition, the pogroms in Russia and of course Hitler’s attempts to wipe out the Jewish people once and for all time. satan’s greatest effort will come in the near future in what is going to be called The Great Tribulation. At that time, two-thirds of the Jewish population will be killed along with one third of the rest of humanity. This last attempt, like all those before will end in failure for satan, while at the same time bringing greater and greater numbers of Gentiles and Jews into the Kingdom of God. 

So What's The Deal With Israel?

“Lord, are you at this time going to restore the nation of Israel?”

It sounds as though these guys don’t have a clue.

Here is Jesus, He’s died, He was buried, He rose from the dead, after His resurrection He interacted with hundreds of people for almost two months, and these guys are STILL focused on the nation of Israel.

As it turns out, they aren’t nearly as dull as they might sound. The fact is, Israel IS the main point of the story. From Genesis to Revelation, the rise and development of the nation of Israel is a huge, huge part of what the Bible is about. It’s a huge part of why God created humanity.

Of course the salvation of the elect is a big deal.

Of course the punishment of those who are guilty of disobedience is a big deal.

But Israel, the nation, the people, their role in the “life” of God the Son this is at least as important as what we naturally think about when we read the Gospels. 

You know how atheists rarely venture outside of the Old Testament lest they run into teachings of Jesus that convict them of a deep need for forgiveness? And you know how atheists accuse Christians of cherry-picking verses to make our case? Do you think atheists ever do the same thing? Now atheists incorrectly associate Southern U.S. Slavery with the safety net slavery of early Israel. That is why you will never see or hear an atheist ranting about this?

“If slaves should escape from their masters and take refuge with you, you must not hand them over to their masters.”

Deuteronomy 23:15.

Immense riches are seldom possessed by leaders of countries or corporations without the oppression of their citizens, employees or investors. Immense riches are seldom gained without the willingness to rape and plunder the earth. Unlike their neighbours, and unlike our modern industrial societies, people in ancient Israel (those who atheists call dim-witted bronze-age goat herders) were to make sure they did nothing to take advantage of each other.

Peace, Mercy and Justice were then and are today to be the hallmark of God's people.

You know how atheists rarely venture outside of the Old Testament lest they run into teachings of Jesus that convict them of a deep need for forgiveness? And you know how atheists accuse Christians of cherry-picking verses to make our case? Do you think atheists ever do the same thing? Like, have you ever seen them ranting about this?

“If a man has recently married, he must not be sent to war or have any other duty laid on him. For one year he is to be free to stay at home and bring happiness to the wife he has married.”

Deuteronomy 24:5

Not only was the family shown to be a high priority in regard to those serving in the armed forces. Exemptions also applied to those who had just built a new house or started a new business.

Immense riches are seldom possessed by leaders of countries or corporations without the oppression of their citizens, employees or investors. Immense riches are seldom gained without the willingness to rape and plunder the earth. Unlike their neighbours, and unlike our modern industrial societies, people in ancient Israel (those who atheists call dim-witted bronze-age goat herders) were to make sure they did nothing to take advantage of each other.

Peace, Mercy and Justice were then and are today to be the hallmark of God's people.

Atheists and Cherry Picking

You know how atheists never venture outside of the Old Testament lest they run into teachings of Jesus that convict them of wrong? And you know how atheists accuse Christians of cherry-picking verses to make our case? Do you think atheists ever do the same thing? Like, have you ever seen them ranting about this?

"When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God."

Leviticus 19:9-10

"When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow."

Deuteronomy 24:19

"If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not treat it like a business deal; charge no interest."

Exodus 22:25

Unlike their neighbours, unlike our modern industrial societies, people in ancient Israel (those who atheists call bronze-age goat herders) were to make sure they did nothing to take advantage of each other.

Peace, Mercy and Justice were then and are today to be the hallmark of God's people.

Atheists and Cherry Picking

You know how atheists never venture outside of the Old Testament lest they run into teachings of Jesus that convict them of wrong? And you know how atheists accuse Christians of cherry-picking verses to make our case? Do you think atheists ever do the same thing? Like, have you ever seen them ranting about this?

“They will be places of refuge from the avenger, so that anyone accused of murder may not die before they stand trial before the assembly.”

Numbers 35:12

“One witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offense they may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”

Deuteronomy 19:15

Unlike their neighbours, unlike our modern industrial societies, people in Israel (those atheists call bronze-age goat herders) were to make sure they did nothing to take advantage of each other.

Peace, Mercy and Justice were then and are today to be the hallmark of God's people.

Atheists and Cherry Picking

You know how atheists never venture outside of the Old Testament lest they run into teachings of Jesus that convict them of wrong? And you know how atheists accuse Christians of cherry-picking verses to make our case? Do you think atheists ever do the same thing? Like, have you ever seen them ranting about this?

“At the end of every seventh year you must cancel the debts of everyone who owes you money. Do not be mean-spirited and refuse someone a loan because the year for cancelling debts is close at hand. If you refuse to make the loan and the needy person cries out to the Lord, you will be considered guilty of sin."
Deuteronomy 15:1,9

Unlike their neighbours, unlike our modern industrial societies, people in Israel (those atheists call bronze-age goat herders) were to make sure they did nothing to take advantage of each other. 

Peace, Mercy and Justice were then and are today to be the hallmark of God's people.

It's All About Israel!

“Lord, are you at this time going to restore the nation of Israel?”

It sounds as though Jesus' disciples don’t have a clue. Here is Jesus, He’s died, He was buried, He rose from the dead, He interacted with hundreds of people for almost two months, and these guys are STILL focused on the nation of Israel.

What is wrong with them?

As a matter of fact, they aren’t nearly as dull as they might sound. 

The fact is, Israel IS the main point of the story. 

I often wonder if the Jews are God's chosen people because they are universally reviled, or are they universally reviled because they are God's chosen people. Given the enmity between our Creator and satan (and satan's work in the lives of people) I suspect it is the latter.

The rise and development of the nation of Israel is a huge, huge part of what the Bible is about. It’s a huge part of why God created humanity. Of course the salvation of the elect is a big deal. Of course the punishment of those who are guilty of disobedience is a big deal. But Israel, the nation, the people, their role in the “life” of God the Son, this is at least as important as what we naturally think about when we read the Gospels. 

Of Dogs and Parked Cars

You've probably heard the line, "Dogs don't bark at parked cars"?

Unaware that we live in a universe at war, atheists make no connection between those on the side of God and the attacks / temptations which those people must endure.

Both the Old and Newer Testament are to a large extent documents detailing that war. The war can be described as the relentless push against evil, against which even the gates of hell will not prevail. 

The battle is not against original sin but for original glory.

The birth of Jesus was in fact an invasion deep into enemy territory. Demons, sickness, death, violence, abuse, hypocrisy, the war involving Israel and the Church. These things are not peripheral to the world. The world is peripheral to the war involving Israel and the Church. satan has come to steal, kill and destroy. Those on the outside know nothing of temptation. In fact they experience so little temptation that they think they’re good people.

Just as dogs don’t bark at parked cars, satan has no need to disturb the comfortable delusion that atheists cling to. 

The corrupt self-loving thought, “I don't need God in order to be a good person,” doesn't even require a “woof.”

Homosexual Marriage Is Not Our Problem

Our Creator went to dramatic lengths to establish the Jewish nation as His people.

In that process, as described in the Old Testament, Israel was to be absolutely unique among the surrounding nations. As I stated in the post   http://thesauros-store.blogspot.ca/2012/06/why-do-you-ignore-gods-law.html  the ceremonial laws in totality and the judicial and moral laws in large part were to clearly separate and distinguish God's people in thought, word and deed from the behaviours of their surrounding neighbours.

Jesus the Christ went to dramatic lengths to establish we who are saved, as His people.

Unlike Old Testament Israel, we who are His people are to no longer avoid mingling with our pagan neighbours. We are instead to work diligently for the good of our secular world without becoming like the secular world. Rather than an individual nation being set apart for God, it is now our individual lives that have been consecrated and set apart for Christ. So what's this got to do with homosexuals marrying each other?

I read about a Pastor a few weeks back suggesting that the government of the United States “should be killing homosexuals, but it won't.” The implication being that if the government was obeying God it would force the inhabitants of the U.S.A. to obey Old Testament law – a law that was set forth specifically for God's chosen people. The question is, how could that Pastor make that kind of statement? Does he think that we're still living in Old Testament Israel? Jesus' Law Code (as pointed out in the post I referred you to above) is different from the Abraham and Mosaic Law Codes in very significant ways. It's understandable for atheists to not get that, but how can we who study God's Word miss that?

As Christians, the earth is not our home. As people who are part of God's family, we're strangers here. We're foreigners in a foreign land. So how did we ever come to a point where we actually believe that it is up to us, God's people, to tell other people, gentiles really, pagans and functional atheists in practice, how to live in their own country?

This world belongs to satan and his people, not to us. This world is their home, not ours.

So how did we come to believe that forcing pagans and atheists to obey Jesus' commands will make them right with Jesus? How did trying to make other people behave like followers of Jesus become our top priority? As I've said many times, if you are not in a healed and forgiven relationship with Jesus, then how you live is the least of your problems.

The Israelites were to remain utterly separate from the surrounding nations, both physically and behaviourally. We, as followers of Jesus are to be physically present in our surrounding culture, yet remain utterly separate in our obedience to our Lord and Saviour. In regard to this topic, Jesus has set forth very clear guidelines, for His people, for sexual intimacy; it is to be within the safety and protection of a male / female faithful and monogamous marriage. Period. Regardless of what our surrounding culture celebrates as wonderful, we who claim to be followers of Jesus, need to follow Him – Period.

Personally, I think that we get the kind of world we deserve. I think that any degree of sin makes our world a worse place in which to live and a high level of sin makes it worst of all. However, if those who live upon the earth want to engage in homosexual marriage or polyamorous relationships, or take us to the brink (or over) of world-wide financial collapse with their greed and corruption, what is that to me? My job is to live as a citizen of heaven. My job is to show by example that there is a different way to do life, a better way to do life. As to what the world calls “sexual freedom” or “diversity”? Been there. Done that. What they consider new and exciting is as old as humanity, and I judge it to be third rate at best compared to what I have now. If those apart from God don't want to enjoy the kind of marriage relationship that I have, it's their loss. If they don't want to experience the “fruit of the Spirit,” I can't help it. If they don't want the salvation that Jesus offers, it's not my job to coerce change in that area. It IS my job, however, to not make it more difficult for those who live upon the earth to hear their Creator when He calls them to salvation.

Actually, as is shown by the areas in the world where Christianity is experiencing its greatest growth, the darker the culture, the brighter the light of Jesus shines. Perhaps we need to slide back into spiritual darkness for a time.

Regardless:

. When I try to force non Christians, whether by law, or guilt or coercion, to live as a Christian is supposed to live, do I really think they'll say, “Sir what must I do to be saved?”

. When I try to copy or mimic the behaviours of my pagan neighbours in some convoluted attempt to make Jesus more appealing to them, do I really think they'll say, “Sir what must I do to be saved?”

So how did we come to a place where we think that it is our job to tell those in the secular world (those who live in another nation so to speak) how to think and act? Sure there was a time when those who live on the earth tried to emulate “Christian” morals. Fine. Good for them. Good for society. Good for the world. Sure there was a time when the lives of Christians was attractive to those stuck in slavery to sin. Who could blame them for wanting out? But we're well beyond that time and I think it is time for us to return to our roots.

“This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those in Babylon: “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the place in which you live. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” Jeremiah 29:4-7 (rod's paraphrase)

We Christians are today living in a virtual Babylon. Followers of Jesus do not need a Christian culture for us to live in peace or to find joy. And for what its worth, a lack of joy or peace is not what keeps people from heaven, so that is not the “bait” that we need to be offering people. It's un forgiven sin, not a lack of joy or peace, that keeps people from heaven. 

By trying to force secular people to obey God (in the hopes of accomplishing what - exactly?), we have wound up making it impossible for those people to hear their Creator's call.

It's when we live as Jesus commanded us to live, not to earn salvation but out of gratitude for the salvation granted to us, that we become an irresistible flavour, drawing people to Jesus. It's when we live in obedience to Jesus in the midst of a pagan world, that He is able to use us to show the lost how to reach a safe harbour for their souls. It's hearing the Gospel of Jesus, not being forced to live out “Christian” rules of behaviour, that brings people to salvation.

Homosexual marriage, or living comon-law, or any other behaviour that contravenes God's will for our lives is not the problem. Those things are merely symptoms of the problem.

I say let the people of the world live as they want, while we enjoy the freedom that comes with salvation.

“I’ve Never Heard Anything Like This!”

I was talking with a group of friends about the following verse. Here is a verse for which the back-story is the exile to Babylon of the Israelites:

“This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile, “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage . . . Seek the peace and prosperity (Shalom) of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers (has Shalom), you too will prosper.”

Did you get that? The Israelites had been taken away into captivity with hooks through their jaws. And God is saying to them, "Make sure that you bring peace to your captors." This in fact is the story of the whole Bible. Jesus, God’s representative came to bring peace to the world and we who are to be representatives of Jesus are to bring peace to our communities.

This is hard to write because we fail so miserably in the goals set before us, but there it is. We are not to retreat from the enemy territory into which God has brought us. Rather we are to engage the enemy and seek its prosperity. We are to feed the hungry, support the poor, do good to those in need. And it was at that point that the guy sitting next to me said, “I’ve been going to Church for 46 years and this is the first time I’ve heard anything like this.”

He didn’t like it one bit.

What I don’t get is why? How can this man or anyone else separate the Salvation Gospel from the Social Gospel. The love that comes to us through the Salvation Gospel should flow naturally into the Social Gospel. Those who can’t seem to live the one without rejecting the other have simply not understood the Kingdom that Jesus brought to earth in person and throughout the Old Testament which Jesus inspired. If you doubt what I say, type "Mercy" into your Bible search window.

In the Gospel message, found in both the Older and the Newer Testament, God’s Kingdom, both the now and the coming Kingdom, the message is one of rescue, deliverance, forgiveness and freedom; for all. We are not only those who receive God’s forgiveness and mercy and grace, but we are also agents who are to dispense God’s forgiveness and mercy and grace.

See you Monday

What is this Evil?

However you might define evil (I define it as anything that opposes God’s will) its persistent presence in humanity is forever pulling us toward self-destruction and destruction of the world itself.

We are the cause of evil, and Jesus is the cure.

. Just as Israel is to play a role in the restoration of the cosmos, so too Jesus.
. Just as Israel’s role in the restoration of the cosmos has led to its destruction, so too Jesus.
. Just as Israel, as God’s chosen people was crushed, so too Jesus.

The problem of evil results in the destruction of the world itself. There is nothing, absolutely nothing that we as human beings can do to restore this earth to health. Oh, sure, we have wonderful plans but our evil nature makes sure that we are never able to fully carry those plans to completion. Personal corruption and greed see to that. In fact, we ourselves are so broken that we can’t even recognise that we no longer work as intended. Some, as with atheists, celebrate and revel in our brokenness. They see the symptoms of our brokeness as progress.

Our cosmos, our earth our selves are irreparably damaged. We broke Creation by opposing our Creator, thereby inviting the entrance of evil into Creation.

We broke God’s Creation and only Creator God can restore it.

God’s Promises

While salvation or reconciliation with God has always been by grace through faith, the Bible teaches that the ultimate purpose of history is not the salvation of man. Rather the ultimate purpose of history is the glorification of God through the revelation and completion of His plan for the universe.

God has two distinct programs for history:
The first is for Israel.
The Second is for the Church, His believers.


God’s promise regarding Abraham:
. I will bless you
. I will make your name great
. I will give you descendants too many too count
. I will give your descendants the land of Canaan for everlasting possession
. I will bless those who bless your descendants and curse those who curse your descendants

God’s promise re Israel:
. I will bring Israel into existence as a nation
. I will give Israel great influence over other nations
. I will disperse you into other countries around the world because of disobedience
. I will bring you back from other countries around the world to reform your nation
. I will make tiny Israel like a stone around the neck of the other nations of the world.
. I will give Israel the land of Canaan forever

God’s universal promise:
. I will bless all the families of the earth through Abraham’s line of descent - the Messiah who has existed from eternity past, since before the universe began.

God began the nation of Israel more than 4,000 years ago through the call of Abraham. The nation of Israel was to fulfil three distinct roles:
. To be a nation of people who would worship Creator God. This would be a nation of people through whom God would reveal His divine plan to the world.
. To be a nation of people who would receive, record and spread God’s Word to the world.
. To be a nation of people through whom God would reconcile the whole world to Himself through the person of God the Son, who would be born into the Jewish race.

As prohesied, God brought the Israelites to Egypt to form them into a nation several million strong. In the wilderness God gave them the Law. Exiled for unbelief they were brought back to Palestine, as prophesied, for the arrival of Jesus. Shortly after the beginning of the Church Age (recorded in Acts), the Jews, as prophesied were scattered around the world and the nation of Israel dropped from view. However, the nation of Israel did not cease to exist from God’s plan. Again, as prophesied, almost 2,000 years later the nation of Israel was once again brought back into existence and Jews, as prophesied, came streaming home from around the world. At the Rapture the Church age will end. This event will usher in a time of distress upon the earth the likes of which has never been seen before. This time of tribulation will bring Israel to repentance for rejecting its Messiah. It will also be a time for judging Gentile Nations for their rebellion against God and for how they treated “the apple of God’s eye,” the Jewish people.

Hosea 11:1-4

When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. But the more I called Israel, the further they went from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images. It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them.

Israel is, for us, a normal and a special country. A normal country, because it is just like any other democracy. A special country, because the Jewish culture, which eventually became the Judeo-Christian culture of the dignity of man, is the conceptual foundation of democracy. This is why attacking Israel is tantamount to attacking Europe and the West. This is also why disputing Israel's legitimacy and its right to existence means questioning democracy.
Marcello Pera

I am duty-bound to defend freedom, culture, peaceful coexistence, the civic education of children, and all the principles that the Tablets of the Law have rendered universal. Principles which Islamic fundamentalism systematically destroys. This means that, since I am a Gentile, a journalist and a leftist, I have a triple moral commitment to Israel. Because, if Israel were to be vanquished, modernity, culture and freedom would also be crushed. Even though the world has failed to wake up to this fact, Israel's struggle is the world's struggle.
Pilar Rahola