The unification of China, Japan, Italy, and Germany. 

The establishment of every country and nation has always come at the cost of much bloodshed. We should always seek peace between nations and peoples, but establishing and preserving that peace sometimes requires bloodshed. It is not only nations. Many lives have been sacrificed for greater causes. The sacrifice to protect a stranger or loved one from an assailant—the sacrifice to rescue another from imminent danger or death. The history of the world is replete with countless bloody examples. How does one reconcile this history and determine whether a cause is noble or simply a result of mankind’s selfish ambition?

The LORD did not set his heart on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other nations, for you were the smallest of all nations! Rather, it was simply that the LORD loves you, and he was keeping the oath he had sworn to your ancestors. That is why the LORD rescued you with such a strong hand from your slavery and from the oppressive hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Understand, therefore, that the LORD your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands. But he does not hesitate to punish and destroy those who reject him.

Deuteronomy 7:7-10 (NLT)

In the history of the world, there is one nation that differs from others. Israel. This is the clearest statement of why God established the nation of Israel. It was not because of man’s selfish ambitions. It was not to overthrow a tyrannical warlord. It was not because of the inherent nobility of the Israelites. It was because God chose them. God loved the Israelites and chose them to bless the world through their example. However, Israel sinned and rebelled and was unfaithful to God. Their punishment was the destruction of their Kingdom and being led away to captivity. God demonstrated His love and mercy to Israel by preserving the Jewish people for thousands of years and in 1948, God’s sovereign Hand guided the world’s leaders to recreate the nation of Israel. It was unprecedented. No one believed it could ever happen. God did and He directed His prophets to write about and record it in the Bible. 

The shedding of blood is sometimes necessary to establish a nation or kingdom. God sacrificed His own Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the Cross and be resurrected three days later so that all who believe in Him may gain salvation and eternal life. God’s Kingdom is established on Earth. Someday, Jesus Christ will return and be acknowledged by all as King of Kings and Lord and Lords.

Amen!

Love and trust in the Lord; seek His will in your life.