On the recent Hamas/Israel conflict

You will have heard that Hamas recently fired a missile into Israel, causing damage to a civilian house and some minor injuries. Israel retaliated in her usual fashion with significant air strikes into Gaza. Fortunately, due to advance warning and precision strikes, there was no loss of life. This has been followed by a show of force at the border involving heavy artillery. It seems that neither side want an escalation at this time. In Israel’s case, this is considered to be political because of upcoming elections; not a good time for Israel to suffer any loss of life in combat.
Many are critical of what is considered to be Israel’s over reaction to any action against her, with some wondering if these really are God’s chosen people who are the subject of God’s promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Ezekiel 36:22-38 speaks of Israel’s restoration. The first says “Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name’s sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.”
Note: “I do not do this for your sakes”.
Before the Israelites entered the Promised Land, Moses said to them “Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” [Deu 9:5].
Note: “Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart,”
Different times; similar sentiments.
Many times Israel have not kept God’s ordinances and commandments. However, we need to remember that at the End Times, God will keep His promise and His people will be restored. At which time God says:
“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
“And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
“And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.”
[Ezekiel 36:26-28, KJV]