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“But if you turn away from following me, you or your children, and do not observe my mitzvot and regulations which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods, worshipping them; then I will cut off Israel from the land I have given them. This house, which I consecrated for my name, I will eject from my sight; and Isra’el will become an example to avoid and an object of scorn among all peoples.”– 1 Kings 9:6-9
When the Lord visited Solomon in a dream a second time, there are two key points we can extract from that momentous event.
First, Solomon shouldn’t get a big head and assume that Israel’s prosperity and status as the envy of the world meant that all was well between Israel and the Lord.
The main point the Lord needed to impress upon Solomon was that Israel’s blessings were contingent on Israel’s obedience to His Torah.
Second, we are reminded that a nation’s fate from the Lord’s perspective is determined by the leadership of that nation.
So, biblically speaking, what kind of leader is ideal?
Of course, Yeshua as the Shepherd-king is the perfect model.
I’m talking about one who has a servant’s heart and leads for the benefit of the people.
Joseph in relation to Pharaoh is another good model to consider.
Joseph always knew he was a leader operating under Pharaoh and doing his will.
Yeshua also held the same understanding with regard to his Father in heaven.
He understood that he hadn’t replaced his Father, but came to do his Father’s Will.
Yeshua preached perfect obedience and surrender to the Father.
This “God the Son” nonsense doesn’t exist anywhere in the Bible, whether “Old” or New Testament.
Anyway, I think I’m getting into an anti-trinitarian rant here, and that’s not my intention for this post.
My point is that the Lord holds a nation’s leadership responsible for the fate of any given nation.
That’s why it’s so important for us to choose leaders who we know will lead their nation down Godly paths, using Scripture as their guide.
Otherwise, we end up with crazy countries like North Korea.
Ya feel me, homie?
It doesn’t matter if we’re talking about Israel, Japan, England, the United States, or whatever.
A nation’s fate rests on its leadership.
On that note, I’d like to close by asking you a question.
From a Torah perspective, what do you think of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu?
I know he is not a perfect leader.
Heck, who is a perfect leader?
The question is based on Torah: do you think he is more aligned or less aligned?
Let me know in the comments, please.
I really want to know.
The Bible is very clear that when the leader sins, the country suffers.
As for Bibi, I think he is somewhere in the middle, not hot or cold, because he wants to destroy the enemies of Israel but he is allowing the ignorant and Israel-hating world powers to influence his decisions.
Israel has been attacked since 1948 over and over, and in each case God gave us victory, but we still have suffered losses (Oct 7th was the worse, yet) and I believe that is because we are not doing what we were supposed to have done way back when in Joshua’s time- eliminate the evil.
The biblical analogy of a little chametz goes through the entire batch of dough holds true for what has happened in Israel since Joshua’s time.
Israel needs to trust in God and not the UN or America, and go kick tuchas in Iran, once and for all.
America, in the 1950’s (at England’s urging), overthrew the legitimate government in Iran and placed the Shah in charge to control their oil, and look how that turned out!
I believe Israel would get rid of the untra-orthodox despotic religious leadership and allow the Iranians to form their own government, with the knowledge that if they ever do anything against Israel again, they will become part of Israel.
They should also take a lesson from General Sherman of the American Civil War, and march through Gaza as he marched through the Southern States.
It’s time to clean house! And if we do that, trusting in God, we WILL be successful.
Steven,
Love the chametz analogy. Israel’s been dealing with the leftover chametz from Joshua’s day ever since.
Regarding Bibi, I’d say his actions are more aligned with Torah. I don’t necessarily see him glancing over his shoulder at the UN or Washington every time he makes a decision. I get the impression he doesn’t give two hoots about what Trump, China, or anyone, for that matter, thinks.
And that’s exactly how it should be.
Psalm 20:7 says some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of Adonai our God.
When I was in Jerusalem, I saw T-shirts being sold all over the place with the slogan:
“Don’t worry America, Israel is behind you.”
I think that really is the mentality, or should be if it isn’t.
Shabbat Shalom and G’mar chatimah tovah!
Rich
2 years ago I found your site and started reading your previous posts starting with Gen 1:1- I just caught up to your current posts this week
Thank you for your diligence and insight- I’ve been a Christian for 30 years and have sought to walk in obedience to God- your posts have caused me to re-examine many of my beliefs and practices and adjust them to better align with scripture (Torah)
Blessings to you!
Hi Derrick,
I’m honored to hear that my posts have helped you better understand the Word of Adonai.
It’s warm feedback like this that encourages me and keeps me going.
May I ask whereabouts in the world you are located?
Wishing you many blessings this week.
Chicago
Cool. I’m from Minnesota, but living in Tokyo, Japan now (my father’s home country).
Wishing you many blessings.