The Enemies of Israel are the Enemies of God! (22 July, 2014, 24 Tammuz, 5774)
A Warning to the Enemies of the Israelite Nations especially (in our time) those of Judah.
Duration: 13.52 minutes. To Read Article Please Scroll Down.
The enemies of Israel are the enemies of God!
We were reminded of this fact by Rabbi Yehonatan Davidy. In civilian life Yehonatan has his family and works as a Rabbi and educator. In wartime Yehonatan (like many other Israeli male citizens) serves in the IDF and assists in the command of an infantry unit.
Operation Protective Edge is an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) offensive in the Palestinian Gaza Strip, that was launched on 8 July 2014. It was only on Saturday, July 19, however that Israeli ground forces in expanded strength entered Gaza. This was the Shabbat on which the Torah Portion known as "Matot" (Numbers 30:2-32:42) was read out in the synagogues as part of the regular annual Torah-reading cycle. This portion mentions the war of the Israelites against Midian. The present-day Arabs are descended from a central core of mixed Ishmaelites and Midianites (see Maimonides, Laws of Circumcision, and Abarbanel) into which others were grafted.
In this portion we read how the Israelites were commanded to wage war against Midian. The Midianites and Moabites had prostituted their daughters to seduce Israelite males and then induce them to worship idols. As a result a plague had started that threatened to wipe out the Israelite nation. Pinchas (Pineas) by killing a prominent perpetrator (a Prince of Simeon, Numbers 25;14) and his paramour (a Midianite princess) in the act of their coupling had stopped the plague. Now the Israelites were being called upon to make the Midianites pay for their lack of trepidation in bringing Israel down.
Numbers 30[31]
1 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
2 Avenge the Israelites on the Midianites; afterwards you shall be gathered to your people.
3 So Moses said to the people, Arm some of your number for the war, so that they may go against Midian, to execute the LORD's vengeance on Midian.
Moses spoke above first of the need to AVENGE the Israelites against Midian and then of "the LORD's vengeance on Midian".
Rashi comments: Since they came against Israel it is considered as if they came against the Almighty!
The Enemies of Israel are the Enemies of God!
This principle is repeated elsewhere in the Bible.
I-Samuel 17 tells us how the Philistine champion Goliath had challenged the Israelites to send someone out to fight him. Due to his gigantic size and known prowess no-one had dared. Meanwhile David had been minding the family sheep on behalf of his brothers who were all away at war. His father sent him to bring them victuals and replenishments. David came on the field just as Goliath was repeating his daily challenge. David began a public and vexingly involved inquiry into the matter.
1-Samuel-17
http://britam.org/samuel-17.html
[1-Samuel 17:26] AND DAVID SPAKE TO THE MEN THAT STOOD BY HIM, SAYING, WHAT SHALL BE DONE TO THE MAN THAT KILLETH THIS PHILISTINE, AND TAKETH AWAY THE REPROACH FROM ISRAEL? FOR WHO IS THIS UNCIRCUMCISED PHILISTINE, THAT HE SHOULD DEFY THE ARMIES OF THE LIVING GOD?
David as we can see from the Book of Psalms had internalized his closeness to God to such a degree that God was the only thing he feared. David did not distinguish between the honor of the People of Israel and the honor of the God of Israel. Whoever offended one offended the other.
Goliath had shamed the forces of Israel and in doing so had blasphemed against the God of Israel. David wished to go out and take his chances on behalf of the national honor and the glory of the Almighty.
As a result of the questioning of David he was brought before King Saul. David then offered to go out and take on the giant himself. Saul was persuaded and David was sent forth.
[1-Samuel 17:45] THEN SAID DAVID TO THE PHILISTINE, THOU COMEST TO ME WITH A SWORD, AND WITH A SPEAR, AND WITH A SHIELD: BUT I COME TO THEE IN THE NAME OF THE LORD OF HOSTS, THE GOD OF THE ARMIES OF ISRAEL, WHOM THOU HAST DEFIED.
After an exchange of mutual compliments the two combatants approached each other. David ran forward and launched a pebble from his sling into the forehead of Goliath. This brought him to the ground. David took the sword of Goliath out of its sheath and sundered head from shoulders.
The God of Israel is the Almighty and He is represented in this world by the Israelite people including both Judah and Joseph.
The Enemies of Israel are the Enemies of God!
This is the message to Israel and one of the tasks of Israelites:
"...You are My BATTLE AXE and weapon of war. For with you I will break the nations in pieces; with you I will destroy kingdoms (Jeremiah 51: 20).
cf.
Sifri (Midrash):
# And it came to pass, when the ark went forward, that Moses said, Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee # (Numbers 10:35).
Who are HIS enemies? These are the enemies of Israel. Whoever hates Israel hates HE who spoke and created the world.
Who ever touches you touches the apple of HIS eye? (Zechariah 2;8).
[This verse is actually understandable as meaning touching His eye, i.e. the eye of God.]
They that hate thee have lifted up their head. They have taken crafty counsels against thy people. They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance! (Psalms 83:2-4).
This message is repeated time and time again throughout the Bible.
The Enemies of Israel are the Enemies of God!
The Enemies of Israel go against God Almighty!
The Almighty will treat them accordingly. This principle is repeated throughout the Bible as shown through a few examples in the present talk. By Israel we mean in this case especially the Jews and Israelis who are identified by heathen nations as representative of Biblical principles. They resent this. Other Israelites nations from the Ten tribes (such as the USA and UK) are also resented for similar reasons. 