Why the Texas GOP Platform Supports Israel
And why Islam Generally Does Not
By
James Scott Trimm
The Texas Republican Platform says concerning Israel:
207. Israel: We are grateful that the US Embassy in Israel has been moved to Jerusalem. We believe that Jerusalem should remain Israel’s undivided capital, accessible to people of all faiths. The United States should continue to support Israel militarily, financially, and technologically. We oppose any pressuring of Israel to make concessions they believe would jeopardize their security. We strongly oppose the anti-Semitic Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, on all levels, including and especially on college campuses, at the United Nations, and by anti-West non-governmental organizations. We believe there should not be a Palestinian state within the historical borders of Israel. Our policy is inspired by God’s biblical promise to bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse Israel, and we further invite other nations and organizations to enjoy the benefits of that promise.
208. Israel’s Sovereignty: We further insist upon Israel’s right to exist, its right to secure borders, and its right to the land secured by practicing self-defense from aggressive enemies. We strongly encourage other nations of the world to respect Israel’s sovereignty, right of self-determination, and right of self-defense.
Let us explore the foundation of these planks. The Platform specifically says:
Our policy is inspired by God’s biblical promise to bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse Israel, and we further invite other nations and organizations to enjoy the benefits of that promise.
(Plank 207)
The Plank is specifically referring to a phrase found in Genesis 12:1-3
[1] Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
[2] And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
[3] And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
(Gen. 12:1-3 KJV)
However here the Bible comes into direct conflict with Islam. Islam teaches that Ishmael was heir to Abraham's blessing. As we read in the Quran:
54. Also mention in the Book (the story of) Isma'il: He was (strictly) true to what he promised, and he was an apostle (and) a prophet.
55. He used to enjoin on his people Prayer and Charity, and he was most acceptable in the sight of his Lord.
(Quran Surah 19:54)
Islam identifies Ishamel as ancestor of the Arabs and specifically as the ancestor of Muhammed. In fact Islam maintains that it was Ishmael not Isaac that was to be offered up by Abraham in the event we see recorded in Genesis 22.
However the Bible clearly teaches that it was Isaac and not Ishmael who waas the sole heir to Abraham's promise:
19 And God said: Nay, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. And I will establish My covenant with him, for an everlasting covenant for his seed after him.
(Gen. 17:19)
[10] Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.
[11] And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son.
[12] And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
[13] And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.
(Genesis 21:10-13)
17 I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. There shall step forth a star out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite through the corners of Moab, and break down all the sons of Sheth.
(Num. 24:17)
This blessing passed from Isaac to Jacob, but not to Jacob's brother Esau:
[26] And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son.
[27] And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed:
[28] Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine:
[29] Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.
(Gen. 27:26-29 KJV)
The blessing was evident when the Jewish people went out from Egypt:
[20] Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.
[21] Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him.
[22] But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.
(Ex. 23:20-23 KJV)
And when Balak, the king of Moab, hired Balaam to curse Israel, Balaam was unable to do so. He tried three times.
[5] And the LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak.
[6] And he returned unto him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt sacrifice, he, and all the princes of Moab.
[7] And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel.
[8] How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied?
[9] For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.
[10] Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!
[11] And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether.
[12] And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD hath put in my mouth?
(Numbers 23:5-12 KJV)
Balam tried again with a similar result:
[16] And the LORD met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Go again unto Balak, and say thus.
[17] And when he came to him, behold, he stood by his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said unto him, What hath the LORD spoken?
[18] And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor:
[19] God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
[20] Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.
[21] He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them.
[22] God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.
[23] Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!
[24] Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain.
[25] And Balak said unto Balaam, Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all.
(Numbers 23:16-25 KJV)
And he tried a third dime to curse Isarel:
[1] And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
[2] And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.
[3] And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:
[4] He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:
[5] How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!
[6] As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.
[7] He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.
[8] God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows.
[9] He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.
[10] And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.
(Numbers 24:1-10)
Being that it is Hannukah, I will add that centuries later when Heliodorus failed in his effort to raid the Temple Treasurty, he reported back to the Greco-Syrian king
"He who has his dwelling in heaven watches over that place himself and brings it aid, and he strikes and destroys those who do it injury." (2Maccabees 3:39)
This is why the Texas Republican platform declares its support for Israel with Jerusalem as its undivided capital and opposes the creation of a Palestinian state within the historic borders of Israel. This position is inspired by "inspired by God’s biblical promise" to the seed of Abraham through Isaac and through Jacob. But this plank is based on a Biblical promise which was made to the seed of Isaac, and not to the seed of Ishmael. It is no wonder that this platform plank does not sit well with many Muslims. It is a promise of blessings on Israel's allies and a curse upon Israel's enemies.
I ask you all to stand with Israel, and stand with our pro-Israel platform, and not join with those who are abandoning it in order to reach out and appeal to a largely anti-Israel Islamic community.
