One of my favorite tours here in Israel is the stunning descent that leads from Jerusalem (Judea) to the Jordan Valley. The desert shows its beauty to the fullest extent over here. Just beyond Jericho we turn left and take the ‘90’ to drive through the valley. Usually this is a quiet road because we are in the so-called ‘West Bank’. Halfway we take another turn left and find ourselves in Samaria, the heartland of Israel.

Here we can fully enjoy the gorgeous mountain landscape. Winding roads and olive trees with their characteristic greenish grey color adorn the hills.

Sometimes a village appears in the distance. Now and then a shepherd crosses our path on his donkey tending his sheep. It would not have been much different about 2000 years ago.

The silence is a relief coming from the hectic city of Jerusalem.

You cannot imagine that the whole world, in particular the Arab world, is so upset over this piece of land. The ‘West Bank’ as it is named.

This quiet part of Israel is embedded between the western shore of the Jordan River and the Mediterranean. The English meant to give this piece of Israel to the Arabs. The Arabs did not even ask for it. The Arabs never asked for land during the preceding thousands of years either. Rulers came and went, but the Arabs who lived in the land did not really care. They traveled from one part of the land to another in search for fertile ground. Geographical and political boundaries were not an issue.

All that changed when the Jews returned to their former cherished Promised Land. We know the consequences: war, terror, destruction…and the world was watching on the sideline and the world still watches on the sideline. But even more painful is the fact that many Christians are watching with the rest of the world. And they are silent. Even though the Bible is very clear to whom this beautiful ‘heartland’ belongs.

Ezekiel 36 speaks about the “mountains of Israel”. In a whole chapter furious, but also terrific words are spoken of restoration of these “mountains of Israel”. You might wonder where these mountains are… The mountains of Israel surround the towns of Shechem (Nablus), Shiloh, Bethel (Ramallah), Ai, Bethany, Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Hebron. Indeed, these are one by one well-known biblical Jewish cities. When you include the old-Jewish town of Jericho, you could draw a line and connect all towns. You guessed it…the contours of the so-called “West Bank” appear in a neat ellipse or oval. You should try it out. The Bible calls this area Samaria and Judea.

Now when you read the words from Ezekiel 36 again, you will fully understand.

I will pick out a few verses:

…”Because the enemy has spoken against you, ‘Aha!’ and, ‘The everlasting heights have become our possession,” (vs. 2)

or a little further in the chapter:

…”Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, "Surely in the fire of My jealousy I have spoken against the rest of the nations, and against all Edom, who appropriated My land for themselves as a possession with wholehearted joy {and} with scorn of soul, to drive it out for a prey." (vs. 5)

God does not waste any time:

…"Thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Behold, I have spoken in My jealousy and in My wrath because you have endured the insults of the nations.’ (vs. 6).

Don’t forget that God is speaking to the “mountains of Israel” in these verses. God shows his fury at the ‘foreign nations’ who took these mountains into their possession. So it’s a world in reverse. It’s not the Jews who occupy the mountains, but their Arab neighbors who took these mountains. But that will change.

Read Ezekiel 36 again:

…"Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, ‘I have sworn that surely the nations which are around you will themselves endure their insults. 8 ‘But you, O mountains of Israel, you will put forth your branches and bear your fruit for My people Israel; for they will soon come. (vss 7,8).

And in the end:

…”Yes, I will cause men–My people Israel–to walk on you and possess you, so that you will become their inheritance and never again bereave them of children.’ (vs 12)

Right now, because the confusion is growing, we have to urge one another to study the prophecies. Blow the dust off the First (Old) Testament and be silent no longer.

See you on the walls of Jerusalem!