Israel's Short Bed And Narrow Blanket

In a vivid figure of speech the prophet Isaiah described the dilemma of the scornful men at that time ruling Jerusalem:

For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it; and the cover narrower than that he can wrap himself in it (Is. 28:20).

How effectively this pictures a Situation of unease, discomfort and restlessness!

The rulers of that day said: "We have made a covenant with death, and with hell we are at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us; for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves". Jehovah replied to this haughty self-confidence: "Behold I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a precious corner stone of sure foundation:

he that believeth shall not make haste", or "will never be dismayed"

NIV (Is. 28:16).

That precious corner stone of sure foundation was the Lord Jesus Christ

(1 Pet. 2:6), rejected by the rulers of Israel in the days of His flesh. But "the Stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner. This is the Lord's doing: it is marvellous in our eyes" (Ps. 118:22,23; Mat. 21:42). Nor has the attitude of modern Israel's leaders changed in regard to the divinely chosen precious Corner Stone. All God's purposes are based on that foundation stone. Yet sadly Israel today struggles to conduct her affairs and maintain her place among the nations in reliance on her own resources and prowess, without recognition of the Stone which God has made head of the corner. It is not surprising therefore that for Israel the bed is too short to stretch Out on, the blanket too narrow to wrap around. 1989 has been a restless year of political strains, world criticism and Arab unrest.

World criticism centred on Israel's handling of the Arab intifadeh or uprising. Strong measures to maintain law and order were regarded by some countries as unduly oppressive, without serious attempt to meet Palestinian aspirations. Under pressure to make some constructive move, Prime Minister Shamir proposed a plan which offered Palestinians the chance to elect

representatives who would negotiate with Israel a transitional period of self-rule. But Palestinian representatives could only come from Israeli occupied areas, and the Palestine Liberation Organisation would have no part in the negotiations. The plan was agreed by most of the Israeli Cabinet in May and very coolly received by the Palestinians.

Within two months, however, Shamir publicly announced that his plan involved certain conditions, including the exclusion of 140,000 Arabs in Eastern Jerusalem, from taking part in the proposed ballot, and a stipulation that balloting could not take place until the Arab uprising had ceased. Shamir had been forced to announce these conditions by extremists in his own Likud Party who did not want the plan to succeed.

The day after Shamir's announcement tragedy struck Israel - a revengeful act of terrorism more costly in lives than any such incident for more than ten years. An Arab fundamentalist from Gaza, whose family had been wounded by Israeli soldiers, wrenched the steering wheel of a bus from its driver on the Tel Aviv to Jerusalem highway. The bus plunged down a 500 feet ravine, killing twelve Israelis and two Canadian tourists, and wounding twenty-seven others, including seven Americans.

Inevitably such incidents strengthen the hands of hardliners in Israel, who advocate firm suppression of the Arab uprising, more Israeli settlements in occupied areas and no territorial concessions. The Likud Party represents these elements, and gained significant ground during the six months following the 1988 elections. It then shared about equal votes with its main rival, the Labour Party, but a mid-1989 poll showed 32% for Likud and only 18% for Labour. This trend has been reflected also in the more militant mood among Israeli settlers in the occupied territories. In some cases they have resorted to armed conflict with Arab intimidators.

No end to the restless unease is in sight. Nor is this likely until the Stone of sure foundation is accepted by Israel's builders. Then "thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tent that shall not be removed

there the LORD will be with us in majesty, a place of broad rivers and streams ... for ... the LORD is our King; He will save us" (Is. 33:20-22).

unknown | Nov 1989
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