Offer Gratitude, Not Hatred

For believers in Jesus, Hanukkah is a sobering reminder of the evil force of antisemitism in the world. As believers, we should emulate God’s love for His chosen people by standing against antisemitism. (For an explanation of Hanukkah read this.)

I am shocked at the degree to which hatred has spread throughout our world today toward the Jewish people and the nation of Israel. Demonstrators chant “Free Palestine” and “From the river to the sea”. But when interviewed, less than half even knew what their chant meant. (Wall Street Journal)

“This terrifying pattern of antisemitic attacks has been relentless since the Israel-Hamas war began on Oct. 7, with no signs of diminishing,” Jonathan Greenblatt, the CEO of the ADL, said in a statement. “The lid to the sewers is off, and Jewish communities all across the country are being inundated with hate.

CBS News

God had a plan to bless the world through the Jews.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 NIV

He sent His son, Jesus, to save the world. No wonder Satan hates and wants to destroy the Jewish people.

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.

² “I will make you into a great nation,
    and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
    and you will be a blessing.
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.” Genesis 12:1-3 NIV (emphasis mine)

These words popped out to me today:

“and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

The Jewish people continue to bless the world even today. Although Jews are a small percentage of the population (0.2%), they have made an astounding number of contributions in the fields of medicine, science, art, and music for which everyone should be grateful.

Here are just a few:

• Jonas Salk (creator of the first polio vaccine)
• Albert Sabin (oral polio vaccine)
• Galileo (pioneered the use of the telescope for observing the night sky. His discoveries undermined traditional ideas about a perfect and unchanging cosmos with the Earth at its center.)
• Elie Wiesel (political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor. He authored 57 books)
• Albert Einstein
• Jerry Lewis (who raised more than $2 billion dollars for his Muscular Dystrophy Association Charity, Jerry’s Kids)
•  Isaac Singer (inventor of the sewing machine)

(This list could go on and on, but I’ll stop here for the sake of brevity.)

The pro-Hamas demonstrators, when interviewed, showed little to no knowledge of the history of Judaism or the establishment of the Jewish state.

Ignorance allows dictators and terrorists to pursue their objectives while a properly informed public preserves and protects what is important to a free and civilized society.

If you believe such things are important, offer some gratitude, not hostility, to the Jews.”

Cal Thomas, Gratitude and Ingratitude: Jews have contributed greatly to our world

And now, let’s look at another part of the passage:

“I will bless those who bless you,
    and whoever curses you I will curse;”

God said that.

I want to thank Steve Brewer, The Brew is Amusing, for inspiring me to write. Steve is one of my go-to sources for writing inspiration.

Photo by Gary Sankary on Unsplash