Days of Repentance

Almost a month since Iran sent a barrage of ballistic missiles Israel finally responded on Saturday 26th October (Friday Israel time) with a series of targeted aerial bombings against strategic military targets including weapons manufacturing facilities and missile defence systems across the country.

Operation Days of Repentance came at the conclusion of the Jewish holy days of Rosh HaShana, Yom Kippur, Sukkot and Simcha Torah.

Judaism teaches that the ten days between Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur “serve as a period of intense introspection and self-evaluation. It is taught that during this time, God inscribes the fate of each individual for the upcoming year, taking into account their actions, intentions, and repentance. The focus of these days is on teshuvah, which means repentance or returning to a righteous path. Individuals engage in deep reflection, seek forgiveness from those they may have wronged, and perform acts of charity and kindness. It is a time to repair broken relationships, reconcile with others, and strive for personal growth.” (Ref)

Jewish commentators have highlighted that the name of the operation honours the remembrance of October 7 and “reflects Israel’s resolve to protect its people against persistent threats while invoking a culturally significant period of introspection and return.” (Ref)

Put simply, Israel believes that failing to act in response to Iran is a moral failing and dishonours the nation. In many ways, it appears that as a nation, or at least among the leadership there was also introspection for the failings on October 7 and repentance for those failings has strengthened their resolve.

““Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert what is right?” (Job 8:3, NASB95)

This idea is consistent with what we know of God from the Bible. God’s justice is inextricably linked to His character and to remain silent or not act against evil would violate who He is.

As Christians we must be careful when evaluating the events taking place in Israel and as Israel applies justice to their (and God’s) enemies. Sadly many believers hold a view that all war is inconsistent with the values we hold. It’s as if they see war as some sort of failure to forgive. Surely this was not in the minds of those who found themselves fighting in both world wars. They saw the enemy that would either defeat them or hopefully they would defeat, and thankfully the latter was the case, our freedom depended on it.

In the minds of many christians something has gone astray in their thinking concerning justice for the nation of Israel. Justice for the 1200 souls murdered on October 7 by an evil, sadistic enemy that has at the top of their agenda, annihilation of the Jews. But Israel’s enemies are OUR enemies, something that should be very apparent to us, yet for way too many, it isn’t.

What has gone wrong here?

Many people today live in a world of virtual reality, a fantasy world, a world that is rationally distanced from the facts of life and the realities of war. For many Believers, it seems all the biblical warnings of last days deceptions, distractions, and delusions have fallen on deaf ears and pulpits have fallen silent on such subjects.

Nowhere is this more evident than when it comes to what we should believe about Israel and the jewish people. Believers should be praising God for the miracles He is doing to defend Israel. They should be rejoicing in every victory that is won by the nation who is acting justly for it’s people. They should be supporting the Jewish people everywhere as they face ongoing hatred not seen since the 1930’s. They should be exposing the lies of the world’s media that constantly distorts the truth with condemnatory narratives while Israel is defending herself. They should be speaking out against the United Nations and all the nations that persistently pour hatred on Israel while giving sympathy and support for terrorists.

Finally, Christians often show contempt towards Israel for their disobedience to God and rejection of Jesus. They apply a sort of historical retribution upon the Jews demanding a standard for which Israel is not prophetically ready for. Israel is living according to the timeline God has purposed and success in this war is not conditional to their full repentance, that is for the future.

These are the days of repentance.

It is in this context that many christians should be challenged to repent. Repentance is to turn from what we are doing that is wrong and go the other way. This begins in the mind and flows down to our feet. Repenting is to examine our beliefs and consider whether they truly align with the Bible. Whether they are consistent with who God is and what he requires from our lives.

“He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8, NASB95)

Only with repentance can come the fulfilment of the threefold command of Micah 6, “doing justice, loving kindness and walking humbly with God”.

May this application include our attitude and actions towards Israel and the Jewish people everywhere.