I live in a rural Alaskan community, accessible only by air, a long way away from the current debate raging around the world communities right now - the separation fence. The events that necessitate this fence, however, impact lives as far away as mine in a multitude of ways. As an outside observer to this debate, I would like to suggest that this is not the first time in history that this debate has occurred. The Bible records these events in the book of Nehemiah.
First of all, I would like to start out by stating that due to the continued Intifada, the blatant refusal of the Palestinian Authority to make even the slightest effort to curb terrorism, as both of their recent prime ministers have publicly stated, and the refusal of the various groups like Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the PLO itself to acknowledge Israel?s right to exist, the separation fence must be built.
In Biblical times, a city without a wall was an open invitation for invasion. The wall was a symbol of safety and protection. To the hostile neighbor, it was a deterrent to invasion, and an obstacle that prevented the easy kill. The bigger the wall, the safer the people felt, and the longer the people could hold out in case of invasion. The same is true for the people of Israel today. The separation fence is a symbol of safety and protection for the people of Israel, and an obstacle to those who would undermine peace by any possible means. Recently, two would-be terrorists arrested in the north of Israel admitted that the reason that they had chosen to enter there was that the separation fence was not yet constructed.
I find it interesting that the world is so upset over Israel defending her citizens. Those who scream the loudest about the fence?s construction are also those who stand to lose the most by its erection, just as in the days of Nehemiah.
Nehemiah was greatly disturbed over the condition of Jerusalem. His sorrow was so great that he could not hide it before the king - a potentially deadly situation. The king noticed Nehemiah?s sorrow, and also noticed that it was a sorrow of the heart. After discovering the cause of this sorrow, he allowed Nehemiah to go to Jerusalem and repair the wall around the city. Shortly after he arrived, Nehemiah secretly surveyed the destruction that the Babylonians had left some 70+ years before.
Up until Nehemiah?s arrival in Jerusalem, those living there had been subject to those who oppressed them. They were defenseless against those who terrorized them. Now a leader appears, a man whom the favor of G-d rested upon, and the oppressors are afraid that the easy target will soon disappear. And this is where the Jewish people find themselves again.
Nehemiah 2:10 (NIV) tells us that Sanballat and Tobiah were ??very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites.? It was not in their interest that Jerusalem be rebuilt because then the Jewish people would have a defense against their oppression. The same is true today. There are many who are, to say the least, ?disturbed? that someone is promoting the safety and welfare of Jerusalem again.
When Sanballat and Tobiah found out about Nehemiah?s rebuilding of the wall, they began to intimate that Nehemiah?s true goals were much larger than his publicly stated intentions. They accused him of rebellion, sedition and ambitions towards the crown. Again, we have a parallel today. Israel?s stated goals and intentions are doubted, and the accusations go along the same line? rebellion, apartheid and territorial acquisition. Opponents of the fence claim this as a violation of international law. They claim that protecting suburban developments of Jerusalem is land-grabbing, empire building.
And so, Sanballat and Tobiah lobbied before the King based on these false accusations that the building of the wall must be stopped. And they succeeded in stopping the construction for a period of time. Again, the same is happening today, before our eyes. The lobby to stop construction, again based on false accusation, this time is to the U.N., is now moving to the world court in the Hague.
Sanballat and Tobiah then began a letter writing campaign to Nehemiah, attempting to lure him to his death. Nehemiah wisely declined them repeatedly. He then successfully petitioned the king and was allowed to finish the construction of the wall. The entire time construction was underway, there was the constant threat of attack. The workers were ordered to work armed at all times, ready to respond immediately to any threat. Terrorism and threats increased during this time, and the same might be said today. The war of words has not changed.
Since the War of Independence in 1948, there has been a consistent threat of annihilation, an unbridled hatred of all things Israel by the Arab nations. The strategy has not changed in over 50 years. Kill, terrorize, discourage, demoralize and destroy. Drive Israel into the sea. The attempts to destroy the people are the same ones that Nehemiah faced 2,400 years ago.
Today, in this hour, a one in the mold of Nehemiah has risen and declared that the wall will be built, no matter the cost, that the people might live in safety.
As G-d told Joshua many generations earlier, ?Be strong and courageous?? The Sanaballats and Tobiahs of today are screaming the same threats and opposing the construction of the wall in the same way, because the people behind the wall will be a people living in safety, and they don?t want that. The wall will bring a measure of peace. The time has come to rebuild the wall.
First of all, I would like to start out by stating that due to the continued Intifada, the blatant refusal of the Palestinian Authority to make even the slightest effort to curb terrorism, as both of their recent prime ministers have publicly stated, and the refusal of the various groups like Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the PLO itself to acknowledge Israel?s right to exist, the separation fence must be built.
In Biblical times, a city without a wall was an open invitation for invasion. The wall was a symbol of safety and protection. To the hostile neighbor, it was a deterrent to invasion, and an obstacle that prevented the easy kill. The bigger the wall, the safer the people felt, and the longer the people could hold out in case of invasion. The same is true for the people of Israel today. The separation fence is a symbol of safety and protection for the people of Israel, and an obstacle to those who would undermine peace by any possible means. Recently, two would-be terrorists arrested in the north of Israel admitted that the reason that they had chosen to enter there was that the separation fence was not yet constructed.
I find it interesting that the world is so upset over Israel defending her citizens. Those who scream the loudest about the fence?s construction are also those who stand to lose the most by its erection, just as in the days of Nehemiah.
Nehemiah was greatly disturbed over the condition of Jerusalem. His sorrow was so great that he could not hide it before the king - a potentially deadly situation. The king noticed Nehemiah?s sorrow, and also noticed that it was a sorrow of the heart. After discovering the cause of this sorrow, he allowed Nehemiah to go to Jerusalem and repair the wall around the city. Shortly after he arrived, Nehemiah secretly surveyed the destruction that the Babylonians had left some 70+ years before.
Up until Nehemiah?s arrival in Jerusalem, those living there had been subject to those who oppressed them. They were defenseless against those who terrorized them. Now a leader appears, a man whom the favor of G-d rested upon, and the oppressors are afraid that the easy target will soon disappear. And this is where the Jewish people find themselves again.
Nehemiah 2:10 (NIV) tells us that Sanballat and Tobiah were ??very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites.? It was not in their interest that Jerusalem be rebuilt because then the Jewish people would have a defense against their oppression. The same is true today. There are many who are, to say the least, ?disturbed? that someone is promoting the safety and welfare of Jerusalem again.
When Sanballat and Tobiah found out about Nehemiah?s rebuilding of the wall, they began to intimate that Nehemiah?s true goals were much larger than his publicly stated intentions. They accused him of rebellion, sedition and ambitions towards the crown. Again, we have a parallel today. Israel?s stated goals and intentions are doubted, and the accusations go along the same line? rebellion, apartheid and territorial acquisition. Opponents of the fence claim this as a violation of international law. They claim that protecting suburban developments of Jerusalem is land-grabbing, empire building.
And so, Sanballat and Tobiah lobbied before the King based on these false accusations that the building of the wall must be stopped. And they succeeded in stopping the construction for a period of time. Again, the same is happening today, before our eyes. The lobby to stop construction, again based on false accusation, this time is to the U.N., is now moving to the world court in the Hague.
Sanballat and Tobiah then began a letter writing campaign to Nehemiah, attempting to lure him to his death. Nehemiah wisely declined them repeatedly. He then successfully petitioned the king and was allowed to finish the construction of the wall. The entire time construction was underway, there was the constant threat of attack. The workers were ordered to work armed at all times, ready to respond immediately to any threat. Terrorism and threats increased during this time, and the same might be said today. The war of words has not changed.
Since the War of Independence in 1948, there has been a consistent threat of annihilation, an unbridled hatred of all things Israel by the Arab nations. The strategy has not changed in over 50 years. Kill, terrorize, discourage, demoralize and destroy. Drive Israel into the sea. The attempts to destroy the people are the same ones that Nehemiah faced 2,400 years ago.
Today, in this hour, a one in the mold of Nehemiah has risen and declared that the wall will be built, no matter the cost, that the people might live in safety.
As G-d told Joshua many generations earlier, ?Be strong and courageous?? The Sanaballats and Tobiahs of today are screaming the same threats and opposing the construction of the wall in the same way, because the people behind the wall will be a people living in safety, and they don?t want that. The wall will bring a measure of peace. The time has come to rebuild the wall.