The heavy lift of Israel
Jerusalem, the burdensome stone
If you ever had any doubts that the scriptures are authentic, true and still relevant for today, look no further than the prophetic passage of Zechariah 12:3 which played out right before our eyes at this past weekend’s AmericaFest 2025 gathering, sponsored by Turning Point USA.
It was at that event that we got a real glimpse of how things will go in the conservative political movement which, in recent days, has been splintered over the Jewish state of Israel.
In one camp, you have political commentator Ben Shapiro, who is an unapologetic staunch ally of Israel, smart enough to know that much of the Israel vilification has spilled over to Jewish people in general, regardless of their geographical residence.
Shapiro knows that, for many in the conservative movement, the America First agenda is their justification to cut off financial support for the Jewish state without sounding anti-Israel, sadly, something that many of them have become following October 7th.
Astutely aware that a great shift has taken place, Shapiro, in his half-hour address before the AmericaFest crowd, minced no words as he called out several popular contemporaries who have led the conservative movement in a decisively anti-Israel direction, under the guise of “merely asking questions.”
That brings us to the second camp, which holds such notables as political commentators Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens and Megyn Kelly – mentioning each of them by name. Referring to their very subtle tactics of advancing possible conspiratorial theories, neither fact-based nor backed by any tangible evidence, Shapiro says they succeed in getting the clicks and the coveted notoriety but much at the expense of Israel’s reputation, by way of malicious inference.
All of this has been an unexpected and very troubling development within the conservative movement, which has largely been a very cohesive bloc. Their pro-Israel positions were a defining characteristic of the group that traditionally championed faith, family and country, in that order.
Inspired and motivated by their mostly Judeo-Christian beliefs, these people knew that support for Israel was a biblical line never to be crossed, because doing so would incur the wrath which comes from the One who established the Jewish homeland and has preserved it since its modern-day inception, even against countless enemies and fierce wars, all in the hope of putting an end to its existence.
It wasn’t until one political figure came up with the America First agenda, endeavoring to prioritize the interests of the U.S., that some people got confused, either unwittingly or deliberately, turning it more into an America Only concept – with Israel becoming either irrelevant or a drain on American resources.
As a result, the second camp was born – making their best argument as to why Israel should be quickly dropped from U.S. considerations, since it is not in their best interest to continue investing in it.
But while they miss the most compelling reason - that Israel is on the front lines of fighting global terrorism, which they would otherwise have to tackle, the whole issue of Israel, has, without a doubt, become a great divide in the conservative movement.
That was displayed by the bitter fight, on both sides of the aisle, at a venue which should have reflected a spirit of unity against the forces of those who are against traditional and respected biblical precepts.
As each speaker countered the other, it was clear that the audience would be forced to take sides, because the viewpoints expressed were so oppositional.
So, it’s all come down to the words spoken 2500 years ago by the prophet Zechariah, “It will come about on that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will injure themselves severely.” (Zech. 12:3)
That day has caught up with us as Jerusalem (representing Israel) is the principal impediment, standing in the way of a major political movement which might have otherwise been a timely catalyst for reviving godly values which have been systematically undermined by a Marxist, anti-God thrust, threatening to destroy all that has made America great for the past 250 years.
That crucial choice, to support Israel or turn against her, must be made by each individual, because it’s one or the other. In fact, Turning Point, which has seemingly been caught in the crosshairs, by inviting two speakers with diametrically opposing viewpoints, will also have to make a choice, because to continue to host both is not a sustaining possibility.
Turning Point will have to either cut Shapiro or Carlson, in the end, as well as anyone who would continue to vocally support the person that was let go. Failure to do so will result in a split within the organization, hard feelings and a constituency which is left confused and torn apart.
It’s like two parents who continue to fight bitterly in front of their children. Everyone suffers, and peace cannot flourish while a raging battle is ongoing.
To be sure, this fight is not about competing personalities. It is so much bigger than that, because it involves the nation which God, Himself established and continues to protect!
Viewing that issue from a position which would imperil Israel and the Jewish people, cannot turn out well for anyone, and that is why the choice comes down to whether or not Israel is considered as God’s personal property.
If you listen to Tucker Carlson and Matt Walsh, who recently agreed on Tucker’s podcast that Israel is unimportant to each of them, you come to realize that there is a major spiritual component and lack of understanding as it concerns the pivotal role which Israel plays in these perilous days, spoken of as the “end times.”
Neither of these men are looking through a scriptural lens which stated that all the nations of the world would come against the Jewish homeland. (Zech. 12:3b) And although it seemed incomprehensible that America would be numbered along with the others, we are already seeing the signs of how it could happen, given the power and influence of podcasters whose impassioned arguments could easily sway many.
Yes, Israel has truly become that burdensome stone which no one can lift, and that’s because it wasn’t meant to be lifted. Only God has that kind of strength, and He’s not about to use it to remove the impediment which is the testing ground as to where each one stands!
A former Jerusalem elementary and middle-school principal who made Aliyah in 1993 and became a member of Kibbutz Reim but now lives in the center of the country with her husband. She is the author of Mistake-Proof Parenting, based on the principles from the book of Proverbs - available on Amazon.
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