O.S. Hawkins, chancellor of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, returned to Israel in August as he has at least once annually for the past 50 years, excluding 2020 due to the COVID pandemic, this time to speak at a banquet where his friend and fellow Southwesterner Mike Huckabee was honored for his appointment as United States Ambassador to Israel.
“I believe God has been preparing Mike Huckabee his entire life for this strategic assignment in representing our country in the only democracy in the Middle East,” Hawkins said. “Huckabee is the incarnation of Isaiah’s proclamation, ‘For Zion’s sake I will not be silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet (Isaiah 62:1).’”
Hawkins and his wife, Susie, helped host the event for Huckabee at the Great Synagogue of Jerusalem, where Hawkins, Harvard law professor Allan Dershowitz, and Huckabee spoke. The event was organized by Hawkins and several others in Israel, he said.
Hawkins recalled a quip from Huckabee’s remarks at the event: “Well, the Israelis asked President Trump to send a Maccabee for the Ambassador, but he sent a Huckabee!” referring to the Maccabean revolt in the second century before the birth of Christ.
Huckabee, who was a Master of Divinity student at Southwestern from 1976 to 1977 and a Baptist pastor for 12 years before becoming the governor of Arkansas, recently celebrated 100 days as the ambassador.
The U.S. Embassy in Israel recently released a video of Huckabee reflecting on his first 100 days serving as ambassador. He highlighted achievements such as Operation Midnight Hammer in Iran and the return of an American hostage.
“Ambassador Huckabee talked about how Israel is not just a friend and ally, but a partner in our fight against radical Islamic terrorism,” Hawkins said.
In his presentation, Hawkins spoke of reasons why evangelicals support Israel, saying four reasons are rooted in the areas of historical certainties, political concerns, theological considerations, and biblical convictions.
“Evangelical support of Israel is not going away—not now—not ever,” he said in a recently published article from which his speech was adapted, he said. “Evangelicals worship a Jewish Messiah, and we cannot love Him without loving the Jewish people. Evangelicals read a Bible that is a Jewish book, and we cannot love it without loving the Jewish people.”
Hawkins also invited Lone Soldiers, men and women who leave their own home countries to join the Israeli Defense Forces, to the dinner to show further support. The event also took time to remember individuals still being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza.
Hawkins and his wife were recognized for their work for the Lone Soldiers with the gift of a mezuzah, a Jewish item commonly fixed to the doorpost of the home containing a scroll, made from an Iranian ballistic missile that had fallen outside of Jerusalem, having been stopped by the Iron Dome defenses that shield the city. Similar mezuzahs were also presented to Ambassador Huckabee and President Trump.
Hawkins and his wife were also recognized at the Great Synagogue with their names engraved on the wall of a foyer in the building, joining W.A. and Betty Criswell and John and Diana Hagee for their work for the State of Israel and the Jewish people.
Over the years, Hawkins said he has built up a relationship with the Great Synagogue and its leaders, including the Grand Rabbi Korff. Hawkins and Korff plan to co-author a book on interpretations of major biblical themes and texts, challenging each other from their different theological views.
