Dear friends:

We all know that God gave Abraham and his descendents, through Isaac and Jacob, "the land," what we call the "holy land," or that presently occupied by Israel and the Palestinians, forever.

And we know that someday they will fully possess it, without dispute.  God said it.  The issue is settled.

But in the meantime, will it be in God's "permissive" will that a Palestinian state be established in it?  World politics and events seem to be pushing that possibility, which is center stage in the world news.

One might actually get that impression from Ezekiel chapter 35, which speaks of Mount Seir, which is Edom.  The Palestinians are modern-day Edomites.  That chapter describes a very unpleasant destiny for the Edomites.  Check it out.

In verses 10-11, listen to what God says to the Edomites: "Because you have said, 'These two nations and countries will be ours and we will take possession of them....'"

Commentator Matthew Henry says that  the "two nations" are, historically, Israel and Judah.  Some believe that because of divisive politics modern-day Israel will soon split into two nations, Israel and Judah, and the above passage may be biblical evidence of this.

However, if that does not happen, the two nations referred to here must be Israel and a new Palestinian state.

If so, the Palestinians are saying, "These two nations and countries will be ours and we will take possession of them."  That is exactly what they are now saying!  They want possession of the present Palestinian areas plus all the land of Israel!  They have publicly said that they want to see Israel disappear.  Their maps show all the land as "Palestine," minus Israel.

But God says,"As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I will treat you in accordance with the anger and jealousy you showed in your hatred of them and I will make myself known among them when I judge you... You boasted against me and spoke against me without restraint, and I heard it. This is what the Sovereign LORD says: While the whole earth rejoices, I will make you desolate. Because you rejoiced when the inheritance of the house of Israel became desolate, that is how I will treat you. You will be desolate, O Mount Seir, you and all of Edom. Then they will know that I am the LORD’” (vs.11, 13-15)

God says to the Edomites that He hears what is going on, and because of their hatred, He will make them desolate.

But God also says, "Because you rejoiced when the inheritance of the house of Israel became desolate, that is how I will treat you." If this passage applies to the end times, God is saying that Israel will also become desolate.  Not good news for Israel.  But this will probably happen during the Tribulation, or "time of Jacob's trouble."

Thankfully, the Messiah of Israel is coming to deliver them.

Jim