Courage comes in many forms. Standing with Israel in obedience to God’s Word requires courage in the days in which we are living. This week a street artist named Adrian chalked dozens of national flags onto the pavement in London’s Trafalgar Square. His motivation was in support of peace around the world. He didn’t single out any particular country, but an angry antisemite walking by did. The enraged man chose one flag out of many countries to wipe off the floor – the flag of Israel.
This is sadly an example of a manifestation of hatred towards Israel, but it nevertheless comes as a surprise that even a flag among flags could invoke such hate. A lady who was witnessing the commotion challenged the man directly saying, “I am Jewish, so what are you going to do with me.” This courageous challenge conveyed a very important link between hatred of Israel and hatred of Jews. In fact, it was a very poignant question. Would this man who ‘wiped out Israel’ wish to see the Jewish people wiped out too? Perhaps this question should be asked of hostile anti-Israel protesters more often.
The second act of courage involved a little girl who was also watching. She picked up the chalk and started to colour the ruined flag again. There is an innocent perspective held by little children that many adults can learn from. She saw that what the man did was unjust. And with a sincere heart, began to reconstruct what the antisemite tried to destroy. Sadly, we are living in a world where her generation are being fed lies about Israel. But we are praying that children like her will grow up to reverse the trend and be a courageous generation that has a heart of gold to comfort Israel out of love and a clear sense of what is right.
The third act of courage was demonstrated by Adrian, the street artist. After the angry man was apprehended by police, Adrian stopped the little girl and took her to one side, saying that they would draw an even bigger flag. There, in the centre of Trafalgar Square, Adrian chalked a large Israel flag in the shape of a heart. What a wonderful example for that little girl to see that hate towards Israel would not succeed. And what courage to not only reinstate what the hateful man tried to wipe out, but to make something even larger and more beautiful out of love and respect for Israel.
This is Israel’s story. A nation that evil men over millennia have tried to wipe off the face of the earth. They have attempted to destroy the Jewish nation, but have failed. Almighty God, in His faithfulness, restored the nation Israel to its land of inheritance. Singled out by God’s providence from among nations, one day every nation of the earth will see Israel and Jerusalem as the epicentre of the world. This chosen nation, favoured by God and called for divine purpose, will not be destroyed, but will overcome its enemies for all the world to see.
Pray that we will be people of courage.
“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”
Deuteronomy 31:6
This year, we want to do more to bless Israel and the Jewish people.
We know that as we bless Israel this year, God will bless us, just as He promised in Genesis 12:3, “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Now is the time to bless Israel and the Jewish people.
