ISRAEL: The Irony of Claiming the Biblical Promise While Practicing Modern Statehood

 

What is a State?

Before we speak of irony, we need clarity. Many people — unless they have studied politics — may not know that the idea of the “modern state” is fairly new in human history.

For most of human history, societies were organized through tribes, clans, kingdoms, empires, and religious communities. Borders were fluid, loyalties shifted, and people identified themselves by kinship, faith, or language — not by the rigid notion of a state.

This changed in 1648 with the Peace of Westphalia, which gave birth to the modern state system. A state became defined by fixed territorial borders, centralized authority in the form of a government and bureaucracy, sovereignty free from outside interference in internal affairs, and international recognition by other states.

When the State of Israel was declared in 1948, it was created as such a modern, Westphalian state. It functions like any other: it has borders (though disputed), a parliament, a prime minister, armies, passports, and treaties. This is important to stress because the Bible never spoke of a “state” in the modern sense. It spoke of a people, a covenant, a law, and a land.

The Bible vs. The Modern State of Israel

If we take the argument of those who say the Bible promises the Jews a homeland, we must also look honestly at what that biblical vision entailed.

In the biblical model, Israel was a theocracy. God was King and the Torah served as the constitution. Leaders were prophets, judges, and later kings — but all were under divine authority, not popular elections. The laws were covenantal, mixing ritual, moral, civil, and economic commands into a single, indivisible framework. Punishments were harsh and uncompromising: stoning for adultery or Sabbath-breaking, restitution for theft, even exile for disobedience. Most importantly, the land itself was conditional on obedience; the people were to remain only if they kept the covenant, but if they broke it, they were to be exiled, as laid out in Deuteronomy 28–30.

In contrast, the modern State of Israel functions as a democracy. Authority comes from elections, not from divine mandate. Its laws are drawn largely from English Common Law and modern civil codes, not from the Torah. Punishments are modern too: prison, fines, and rehabilitation, rather than stoning or servitude. Land and sovereignty today are grounded not in covenant but in UN resolutions, wars, and diplomacy.

From my point of view, the biblical promise is not a land title deed in the modern sense. It is a symbolic, conditional covenant tied to obedience and justice. But here, I am taking their point of view for the sake of consistency.

The Irony

Here lies the irony: you cannot take the land as a biblical promise and reject the law that comes with it. You cannot take the cake and eat it too.

Take, for example, the case of stealing. Under the Torah, a thief was required to repay double, or more, and if unable to pay, could be sold into servitude to make restitution. In modern Israel, the punishment is imprisonment, usually up to three years.

Similarly, in the case of adultery, the Torah prescribes that both guilty parties be stoned to death, whereas in Israel today adultery is not even a criminal offense — it is only a civil matter considered during divorce.

Sabbath-breaking or idolatry in the Torah carried the death penalty, yet in Israel today freedom of religion is constitutionally protected, and secular lifestyles flourish.

Finally, the Torah explicitly commands, “Love the stranger, for you were strangers in Egypt” (Leviticus 19:34), but in practice, Palestinians and other minorities often face exclusion and restrictions.

The irony is stark. The biblical covenant is a full package: land, law, justice, punishment, and ethics. To claim only the land while ignoring the law is selective, inconsistent, and, frankly, dishonest.

Consistency and Honesty

If you wish to follow man’s law — English Common Law, international law, and the Westphalian model of states — then be consistent. Respect UN resolutions and the international agreements that gave Israel legitimacy in 1948.

If you wish to follow God’s law — the Torah and the covenant — then do not pick and choose. Be prepared to also embrace the biblical punishments, the Jubilee year debt cancellations, and the full theocratic structure. One cannot take the biblical promise of land while rejecting the biblical framework of law and justice. To do so is to claim divine authority for power while ignoring divine responsibility for justice.

A Call for Integrity

This is not written to insult or to mock, but to appeal to integrity and consistency.

The modern State of Israel cannot have it both ways. It must be honest. Either it stands as a modern Westphalian state, accountable to man’s law and the international community. Or it embraces the biblical theocracy, with all its laws and punishments. To cherry-pick the land promise while ignoring the law is the deepest irony of all.

And the Torah itself warns against such double standards:

“Do not have two differing weights in your bag — one heavy, one light. Do not have two differing measures in your house — one large, one small. You must have accurate and honest weights and measures… For the Lord your God detests anyone who deals dishonestly.” (Deuteronomy 25:13–16)

“You must not do as they do in Egypt, where you used to live, and you must not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you. Do not follow their practices. You must obey My laws and be careful to follow My decrees. I am the Lord your God.” (Leviticus 18:3–4)

Peace.
Anas Zubedy
Penang

 

LOOKING FOR GEN Z 2.0

 

…and the Gen X and Y Leaders Who Must Guide Them

Every generation comes with its strengths, weaknesses, and habits. Today, much has been said about Gen Z — that they are entitled, distracted, quick to move on, and hard to manage. But we must be careful. It is too easy to point fingers and blame our young. If Gen Z is impatient, who raised them on instant gratification? If Gen Z struggles with resilience, who created the environment that shielded them from difficulties?

In truth, Gen Z is our reflection. Their habits and attitudes are the fruits of what parents, teachers, leaders, managers, and society at large have sown. They are our children, our colleagues, and the future of our nation. Their success is not only theirs — it is ours. Their failure is not only theirs — it is ours too.

The Current Challenge

Across workplaces, managers often tell me the same things: Gen Z tends to get bored quickly, they want promotions too fast, they prefer flexible arrangements, and they are glued to their phones. Many feel these young people lack loyalty, staying only a short time before moving on. At the same time, Gen Z is the most educated, connected, and socially aware generation in history. They care deeply about issues that matter, from the environment to social justice. They are creative, tech-savvy, and bold.

In Malaysia, however, we face a pressing concern. Too many of our young are underemployed or unemployed. Some are caught in the gig economy without a long-term career path. Others graduate with degrees but struggle to find jobs that match their qualifications. We cannot afford for our Gen Z to drift. They make up more than a third of our population. If they are not productive citizens, Malaysia cannot move forward.

Introducing Gen Z 2.0

This is why I propose the idea of Gen Z 2.0.

Gen Z 2.0 are those who rise above the noise. They are self-aware, disciplined, and resilient. They know their strengths, talents, and creativity, but they also acknowledge their weaknesses and bad habits — and work on them. They balance productivity at work with growth in their personal lives. They manage their digital life with discipline, practice financial responsibility, and see social issues not only as topics to post about but as challenges to contribute to meaningfully.

Gen Z 2.0 is not another generation. It is the better version of Gen Z — the young people who choose to upgrade themselves.

A Collective Responsibility – Preparing Good Seeds

But Gen Z cannot do this alone. Gen Z 2.0 is not simply a matter of their own willpower. It is a collective responsibility. Parents, educators, managers, leaders, Gen X, Gen Y, and even Baby Boomers — we all play a role.

Here, I like to use the metaphor of the seed. A seed has potential, but it will remain just a seed if left in a bottle. It needs the right soil, the right water, the right sunlight. Likewise, our young need the right environment, the right guidance, and the right leadership to grow. As the Malay proverb goes: “Benih yang baik, jatuh ke laut menjadi pulau.” A good seed, even if it falls into the sea, will become an island.

Our task is to ensure our Gen Z are prepared as good seeds — seeds that, when planted in any environment, can grow, thrive, and contribute. This preparation is not theirs alone; it is ours. Their character, their resilience, and their productivity are reflections of how we nurture them today.

Preparing Gen X and Y as Bridge Leaders

This is why it is not enough to only ask Gen Z to upgrade into Gen Z 2.0. Their seniors — the Gen X and Y who lead and manage them — must also upgrade. They must become Bridge Leaders.

Bridge Leaders do not command and control; they coach and guide. They do not dismiss Gen Z’s ideas; they channel them. They give short, frequent feedback instead of waiting for annual reviews. They are humble enough to learn through reverse mentorship — picking up digital skills from their juniors. And most importantly, they translate the organization’s mission and goals into values that Gen Z understands and finds meaningful.

Without these changes, even the best Gen Z 2.0 will remain underutilized. With them, we can build workplaces where creativity meets discipline, where youthful energy is guided by experience, and where generations complement one another instead of clashing.

A Malaysian Imperative

For Malaysia, this is not optional. It is a national imperative. With our economy facing global competition, with education and healthcare costs rising, and with unity more important than ever, we need our Gen Z to become productive citizens. We need them to succeed — at work, at home, and in society. Their success will drive our economy, strengthen our families, and unite our diverse nation.

If we fail to guide them, we risk creating a lost generation. But if we succeed, our Gen Z — as good seeds — will grow into strong trees, bearing fruit for themselves, their families, and the nation. And wherever they are planted, they will thrive, just as a good seed becomes an island even when it falls into the sea.

A Call to Action

At zubedy (m) sdn bhd, we are working towards this goal. Just as we once introduced the idea of Gen Y 2.0, we are now upgrading our Managing Across Generations Workshop to help both the young and their leaders rise to the challenge. Gen Z must be helped to become Gen Z 2.0. Gen X and Y must be equipped to become Bridge Leaders. Together, with Baby Boomers still playing their role, we can nurture a culture where every generation contributes to a meaningful Malaysia.

Gen Z 2.0 is not just their responsibility. It is our responsibility. And when they succeed, the whole world succeeds.

Let us add value.

Anas Zubedy,

Managing Director,

zubedy (m) sdn bhd