The Miracle of Israel

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Isaiah 41:14

Despised though you are, O Israel, don't be afraid, for I will help you. I am the LORD, your Redeemer.

NLT

The continued existence of the Nation of Israel is a miracle of God.  This fact demonstrates that God remains true to his promises and that no matter how dire the circumstances become or how often we disobey God, He remains true to the promises He makes to His people.  In fact, the rock of the stability of the promises of God contained in His Word, the Bible, are the only thing of stability we have to hold on to in this chaotic world. 

As I have written earlier, the world’s hatred of Israel began with God’s promise of a savior in Genesis 3:15.  Once it became clear that this promised savior or Messiah would be Jewish (Genesis 12:3) Satan embarked on a strategy to eliminate the Jewish race.  The first attempt came while the Jews were in Egypt. 

The Pharaoh that allowed the Jews to come to Egypt in order to escape the ravages of famine had died and a ruthless pharaoh with no love for the Jews replaced him.  This pharaoh feared the Jews might become so numerous in the land that they may someday turn on the Egyptians and join their enemies.  To solve this dilemma, pharaoh concocts a two-fold scheme by first subjecting the Jews to brutal slavery.  He then issues an edict ordering all male Hebrew children thrown into the Nile to drown (Exodus 1).  However, once again, God intervenes and He spares one male child, Moses who later leads the Jews out of Egypt after a series of plagues from God force Pharaoh to let them go. 

Once again, however, the Jews are threatened with extinction during the time of Esther.  Esther, one of the Jewish exiles has become Queen.  At the same time, Haman formulates a plot to eliminate the Jews.  However, God intervenes once again by miraculously granting Esther favor with the king allowing Esther to unveil Haman’s plot thereby saving the Nation of Israel (Esther 1-10).

Even after the birth of Jesus, Satan once again tries to eliminate the Messiah promised in Genesis 3:15 when Herod orders the murder of all children 2 years old and younger born in Bethlehem.  However, we once again see God miraculously delivering Jesus by coming to Joseph in a dream and telling him to go to Egypt, thus escaping Herod’s genocide (Matthew 2:13). 

These examples clearly show us that the hand of God was truly on ancient Israel.  However, has God replaced Israel with the Church?  The answer is no for as I have written in my previous postings, we have already seen how to believe in replacement theology is to believe God can go back on His promises.  We can also see examples of God’s miraculous intervention in modern Israel as well.

On May 14, 1948, the British Mandate over Palestine expired.  On that same day the Jewish People’s Council gathered at the Tel Aviv Museum and approved a proclamation establishing the State of Israel.  (1)   In one day, the land of Israel returned to the Jewish people in fulfillment of Isaiah 66:1-8.  However, even though the single day transference was peaceful, the peace would be short lived. 

The day after the establishment of the State of Israel, five Arab Nations, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq invaded the nation.  (2)  The army of Israel was outnumbered 60 to 1 and yet with the help of God, who never slumbers, prevailed (Psalm 121:4).  (3)

Again in 1967, in what history refers to as the Six Day War, Egypt, Jordan, and Syria once again attacked Israel.  However, this time Israel was prepared and in a preemptive strike within 24 hours, completely destroyed the Egyptian Air Force.  When in Israel in 2008, my guide, who fought in the Six Day War told of how the war was essentially over in six hours.  The remainder of the six days was spent in clean up. 

The only way a small and greatly outnumbered nation like Israel can achieve military victories like this is through the intervention of a merciful and gracious God.   A merciful God who even though the Jews rejected His son, still remains true to his promises.  This should give us all hope for we too can depend on the promises of God, no matter how grievous our sins are. 

The most significant result of the Israeli victory in the Six Day War was that the Old City of Jerusalem returned to Jewish control.  This is a fulfillment of Luke 21:24 and signaled a transition period in biblical history, a transition away from the time of the Gentiles and back to Israel. 

This, however, does not mean Gentiles are no longer part of God’s plan for just as God remains true to His promises to Israel, he will remain true to his promises to His Church.  In fact, not only did the Jews reestablish control of Jerusalem but also in 1967, the Holy Spirit began to pour out on the Church in what many have called the Jesus movement.  (3)   This movement remains strong today and many churches, including the one my family and me attend, came out of this movement and continue to thrive. 

Rabbi Jonathan Bernis, in his book ‘A Rabbi Looks at the Last Days’ cites the biblical transition from the time of the Gentiles to Israel as the sixth reason we know the last days are upon us.  (3)   The question we must each ask ourselves is, are we ready. 

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 tells of a future event where many will mysteriously disappear.  Most of us remember the turmoil the United States and the world fell into after the attacks on 9/11.  Imagine the turmoil when thousands, possibly millions disappear.  In fact soon after this event, the world will fall into a time of great tribulation or trouble. 

However, those that disappear will be in the presence of the Lord and escape this chaotic time on the earth.  In other words, a smart person wants to be among those that disappear.  To be among that group, please pray with me,

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, was buried, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

If you prayed that prayer, you are now counted among those that will escape the time of great tribulation on the earth and instead spend that time with the Lord.  However, God does not want us to keep this a secret and wants us to share it with others.  In fact, the most unselfish act a person can do is share the Gospel and take someone with them when the Lord comes for his people. 

Next Saturday we will begin looking at what we can each do to usher in God’s Kingdom. 

1. Israel Ministry of Froeign Affairs. Declaration of Establishment of State of Israel. www.mfa.gov.il. [Online] Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, May 14, 1948. [Cited: June 23, 2015.] http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/foreignpolicy/peace/guide/pages/declaration%20of%20establishment%20of%20state%20of%20israel.aspx.

2. Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Israel's War of Independence (1947-1949). www.mfa.gov.il. [Online] Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. [Cited: June 23, 2015.] http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/aboutisrael/history/pages/israels%20war%20of%20independence%20-%201947%20-%201949.aspx.

3. Bernis, Jonathan. A Rabbi Looks at the Last Days. Bloomington MN 55438 : Chosen Books, 2013.