As every year since 1948, Israel this week celebrates Independence Day for the 75th time. A major part of the day is remembering our fallen soldiers and the high price we have to pay to live in our own sovereign country, a free and independent Jewish state.

And even though our land was promised by God, we still needed to conquer it. From a biblical point of view, this was a liberation of the Promised Land. In the eyes of the Palestinians, however, it was an illegal conquest.

Israel has lost 23,816 sons and daughters, mothers and fathers in wars since the restoration of the Land to the Jewish people. Blood had to be shed in order to redeem the Land, and every single day another Israeli sacrifices his or her life in perpetuating the fulfillment of God’s promise.

Independence days in the Bible

Independence Day celebrations are nothing new. Already in biblical times the people of Israel celebrated their first Independence Day after Joshua successfully conquered the Promised Land. In his case, too, it was a liberation,...

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