Table of Contents
In my last post on antisemitism, we examined the deception of the “Church Fathers” and how antisemitism, like a cancerous cell, will grow and metastasize if not removed. In this post, we will explore 10 deadly effects of antisemitism found in the Bible.
I also explained that antisemitism is prejudice against or hatred of the Jewish people. It is a form of bigotry and racism. We also saw how the early “Church Fathers,” such as St. John Chrysostom (344–407 A.D.) and Justin Martyr (100–165 A.D.), were two of the many who were responsible for spreading the hatred of the Jewish people.
And yet, as we will see, the “Church Fathers” were not the first to spew hatred toward God’s covenant people.
It All Began in the Garden of Eden – c. 4000 B.C.
The very first precursor to the long history of hatred toward those created in God’s image began in the Garden of Eden.
Genesis 3:1 tells us: Now the serpent [nāḥāš]was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”
Then, in Genesis 3:14-15, we read God’s curse on the nāḥāš. “Because you have done this…I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed [Jesus]; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”
Revelation 12:9, 20:2, and 2 Corinthians 11:3, 14 reveal that the serpent was Satan. Therefore, we understand that Genesis 3:15 was referring to Jesus’ eventual birth and His victory over Satan.
After all, Satan had plans, big plans as scripture reveals in (Isaiah 14:13-14). Therefore, from this point on, his number one goal and purpose was to find the Seed and eliminate Him before He could bruise his head.
Deadly Effects of Antisemitism in the Old Testament
Throughout the Old Testament, we see the hatred Satan has for all mankind. How was he going to find THE ONE SEED out of a sea of humanity? Until God cut a covenant with Abram after the Tower of Babel, he didn’t have a clue where to begin.
The Flood – c. 2349-2348 B.C.
(Genesis 6-9:17) However, Satan did not let that stop him. He finally came up with an idea and thought it was brilliant. If he corrupted the human DNA, THE SEED could not be born. Problem solved. We see in Genesis 6:1 how he did it.
“Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, 2 that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose.“
Satan may have sighed a breath of relief. He thought the problem was solved. However, God had a plan that Satan didn’t count on. Noah.
God sent a flood to clean up the mess Satan instigated, and only Noah, his wife, his three sons, and their wives were spared because: 8 Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. 9 Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God.
Hold on, Angels cannot Procreate
But wait, doesn’t Jesus say Angels can’t have sexual relations? Good question for another post. However, the short answer is NO, he did not. This idea comes from people pointing out the encounter between the Sadducees, who did not believe in resurrection, and Jesus. Read Matthew 22:23-30.
Jesus told them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven.”
In heaven, angels do not marry. Learn more by watching Dr. Michael Heiser’s fascinating series on Angels here.
For a behind-the-scenes understanding of the Genesis 6 account, read Last Clash of the Titans by Derek Gilbert and Reversing Hermon: Enoch, the Watchers, and the Forgotten Mission of Jesus Christ by Dr. Michael Heiser.
God Cut a Covenant with Abram – c. 1921-1897 B.C.
Satan, defeated again, continued to look for another opportunity. It came when God cut a covenant with Abram.
The demonic realm is always listening and they heard God tell Abram In Genesis 15:7-20: 7 “I am the Lord, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit It”…13Then He said to Abram: “Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years…16 But in the fourth generation they shall return here.
I can see the minions fighting over who gets to deliver the news to Satan. The field of possibilities for whom the Seed is has narrowed. The following is an overview of some ways his hatred for Israel and the coming Seed (Jesus of Nazareth) was made manifest.
Egypt – c.1571-1491 B.C.
Satan encourages a new Pharaoh to curb Israel’s population growth. Abortion, it seems, is always the answer. There really isn’t anything new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9).
At first, Pharaoh ordered the Hebrew midwives to kill all male babies during delivery while letting the girls live. However, they disobeyed. Then, Pharaoh issued a decree stating: “Every Hebrew boy born must be thrown into the Nile, but let every girl live”. (Exodus 1:15-22).
Can’t you just imagine Satan and his demonic realm throwing a celebration? He thought for sure he had solved his problem. However, Psalm 2:1-5 tells us God laughs at the plans of nations.
GOD had other plans. Moses.
The Deadly Effects of Haman’s Antisemitism – c. 518-509 B.C.
In the book of Esther, we see where Satan tries once again to wipe out the Jewish people using Haman, a high-ranking official, as his proxy. Haman sought to destroy all the people of Mordecai, all because Mordecai refused to bow to him. Therefore, Haman, influenced by the demonic realm, convinced King Ahasuerus to allow the Jewish people throughout the Persian Empire to be slaughtered in a single day. However, God intervened through Queen Esther, and Haman’s plot was foiled.
You may enjoy reading this encouraging article: God’s Great Reversal: The Story of Esther
The Deadly Effects of Antisemitism in the New Testament
The Deadly Effects of King Herod – c. 5-4 B.C.
Matthew 2:16 is where we find Satan’s next attempt to destroy male babies in hopes of destroying the Seed that would bruise his head. Again, he failed, praise God!
We read: “Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. But an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.”
The Wilderness Temptation – c. 25-26 A.D.
After being baptized, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and nights, He was hungry. Naturally, that is when Satan shows up. After three unsuccessful tries, Satan decides to try something else (Matthew 4:1-11).
The Deadly Effects of Antisemitism Against Jesus – c. 26-33 A.D.
In a Substack article by Jameson Steward, he states, “At least eight times in the Gospel accounts, people tried to seize Jesus and kill Him because of something He did or said.
I have listed a few below. You can read his article here.
- Because Jesus spoke the truth, people in His hometown tried to throw him off a cliff (Luke 4:16-30).
- Because Jesus spoke the truth and revealed that He is the I AM (John 8:48–59) and
- Jesus referred to Himself as being God; they wanted Him dead (John 10:31–39).
- The Pharisees couldn’t handle the truth that Jesus was who He claimed when He raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11:45–57).
The Deadly Effects of Judas Iscariot – c. 33 A.D.
We read in John 13:21-30 that when all of Satan’s other attempts failed, He played his trump card and personally entered Judas Iscariot (John 13:27) to betray Jesus. Once Jesus was crucified, the demonic realm danced with glee, thinking they had won! That was until the stone was rolled away!
In Closing
These are only 10 of the many instances throughout God’s Word where Satan influenced the targeting of God’s Covenant people, Israel. As you can see, hatred of the Jewish people is nothing new. In my next post, we will continue to explore the deadly effects of antisemitism in the bible after the resurrection of the Savior, Jesus Christ. I hope you will join me.
Maranatha! I am, as always, Passionately Loving Jesus, the Anchor of my soul. Are you a follower of Christ? If not, don’t wait any longer.
Helpful Books & Articles
For a behind-the-scenes understanding of Genesis 6, read:
- Last Clash of the Titans by Derek Gilbert
- Reversing Hermon: Enoch, the Watchers, and the Forgotten Mission of Jesus Christ by Dr. Michael Heiser.
How Has the Devil Attempted to Thwart God’s Plan of the Ages?
What is the Abrahamic Covenant?– GotQuestions.org
God’s Great Reversal: The Story of Esther
