"...the Lord your God will bring you back from captivity, and have compassion on you, and gather you again from all the nations where the Lord your God has scattered you. If any of you are driven out to the farthest parts under heaven, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there he will bring you." Deuteronomy 30:3-4 The Jewish people were taken from their land twice. The first time they were conquered by Babylon and brought there in captivity. God had sent them many prophets who pleaded with them to stop rebelling against their God, but they came under the influence of the traditions and observances of the nations around them, and they slipped into increasing sin and rebellion until they came to the point of no return, and the Lord caused them to be taken captive and the city of Jerusalem destroyed. They remained in Babylon for 70 years as the Lord had foretold in his Word. At the end of the 70 years, they returned to Israel, to the land of their fathers, rebuilt Jerusalem, and were once again blessed. The second time they came under the judgment of God they were not taken to a conquering country but they were scattered across the earth, to every country and to every nation, and there they stayed - not 70 years this time, but they remained scattered for 2,000 years. This second judgment of God came upon them in 70 AD. The Temple was destroyed, Jerusalem was destroyed, and they were dispersed throughout the world. For the 2,000 years that they were gone, the rains stopped in Israel and the land languished. In the 1800’s, the author Samuel Clemens visited Israel and later he described it: “…a silent mournful expanse… a desolation… We never saw a human being on the whole route… hardly a tree or shrub anywhere. Even the olive tree and the cactus, those fast friends of a worthless soil, had almost deserted the country.” But just as the Lord had foretold these captivities, he also foretold the end of the judgments. When the appointed time came, beginning in the 20th century God began calling the Jewish people back to the land of their fathers, and they have returned from every country on earth. Today Israel is a thriving country, far more developed and prosperous than the countries around her which have been there all this time. In fact, Israel has developed and prospered more in these 75 years than the nations around her have in thousands of years. The nation of Israel is a statement from God. He does the impossible. When they started returning, the south was just desert and the north was malaria-infested swamp-lands. Today the rains have resumed and the land has blossomed. The earth has become so rich that they export tulips to Holland! But in Ezekiel's "dry bones" prophecy the Lord foretold that they would be restored in two steps, the first being their physical return, and the second their spiritual restoration. The Lord is not about to let anyone share his glory in this undertaking. For the most part, the Jews in Israel today are secular. It's quite odd to see it because you'd think that after their history they'd be on their knees worshiping God. Some do, but for the most part they are secular. Their eyes are still blind and no one can take credit for the work of restoration that God himself has done. I remember hearing prime minister Rabin speak at a religious gathering, and he extolled the greatness of the Israeli armed forces. In all his boasting, he never once mentioned God. This was at a religious gathering - and I was appalled. Shortly after that, he was assassinated. Only then did I realize the spiritual emptiness of Israel at this point. And this has been the case with many of the great men in Israel, because God has made it obvious that it is HE who is doing this work of restoration, and he alone, and it's not because of their goodness, but in honor of the covenant he made with their fathers. Before the spiritual restoration comes, Israel has yet to go through another terrible time during which they will be brought low, and in their pain they will finally cry out to God - and the Messiah will finally come and finish the work. There will be no question who has performed this great restoration. They will be humbled, and brought to repentance through many tears. When they realize who the Messiah is, they will be shocked: "And one shall say unto him, "What are these wounds in your hands?'" Zechariah 13:6 Imagine their astonishment when they realize that the Messiah is the One who came to them 2,000 years ago, the One they rejected. They will be so astounded that they will go into deep mourning for having rejected him. "...then they will look on me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for him as one grieves for a firstborn. In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem..." Zechariah 12:10-11 If ever I doubted my faith, the story of Israel alone would restore it because it is a miracle story from beginning to end. God foretold all of the above, and it has come to pass exactly as he has said. During the 2,000 year dispersion, unlike any other conquered people the Jewish people were not assimilated into the countries where they were. They have remained a set-apart people all this time, and they have been returning to the land of their fathers exactly as foretold. The language of Israel today is once again Hebrew, their language which was lost to them in their dispersion. How amazing is that! French Jews now speaking Hebrew in the land of Israel, Greek Jews now speaking Hebrew, Iraqi Jews now speaking Hebrew! One can only observe it with awe. As we look at what's taking place in the world today we surely can see that all is ready for the final act. We have witnessed the convergence of all the prophecies coming together. We have seen the blood moons - all on Biblical feast days, the solar eclipses, CERN which is setting up horrors unimaginable, and the looming Great Tribulation, through which the Jews will be humbled, and the world will come into the most terrible time that it has ever known. It is now ready. We see it with mouths agape and wonder as what was prophesied so long ago is about to begin. As Jesus foretold: "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be." Matthew 24:21 If you have not been born again, seek the Lord now while there is yet time. Don't put it off and think you'll do it later, there might not be another time. Don't be fooled by religion. If you're religious, that won't save you. Jesus said you MUST be born again, and the only way that will happen is when you bow yourself before the Lord Jesus Christ in total heart-felt repentance. Born Again – What Does That Mean?
“I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the insults of the people of Ammon, with which they have reproached my people, and made arrogant threats AGAINST THEIR BORDERS." Zephaniah 2:8 Moab and Ammon are among the Jordanian "Palestinians" of today. The capital of today's Jordan is Amman, hence "Ammon." Most people are aware of the continuous threats made by the Palestinians and their sponsor, Iran, against Israel. They insist that Israel return to "the pre-1967 borders." In 1967 the hatred of the Muslim nations came to a head in the six-day war in which the God of Israel intervened. The result was that Israel regained a lot of her covenant land, and after 2,000 years Jerusalem was finally returned to them, in the EVERLASTING COVENANT God made with them. "And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an EVERLASTING COVENANT, to be God to you and your descendants after you. Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an EVERLASTING possession; and I will be their God.” Genesis 17:7-8 It is totally unreasonable to demand that Israel return to the pre-1967 borders for two reasons: 1. It is the God of Israel who restored to the Jewish people land that belongs to them by the ancient "everlasting covenant" he made with them. In future wars they will regain even more of their land, not by their strength but by the provision of almighty God. 2. The pre-1967 borders are indefensible. Parts of Israel would become less than 20 miles wide. The Golan Heights rise high over the Sea of Galilee, from which Syria could easily attack them. And Jerusalem - is non-negotiable. It's been the capital of Israel for 3,000 years and has never been the capital of any Arab nation or people - ever! But it's not that the enemy wants her land, they have more than enough land. No, they want the annihilation of Israel. They loudly and boastfully assert that they are going to drive her into the sea. When they go for it though, THEY will be destroyed. vs 9: "'Therefore, as I live,' says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, 'Surely Moab shall be like Sodom, and the people of Ammon like Gomorrah - overrun with weeds and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation. The remainder of my people shall plunder them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them.'” Great desolation is coming to the the countries of Islam," not because lovers of Israel desire it, but because the Word of God declares it. The confederation of the Arab countries in the region intends to overwhelm Israel and finally be done with her. They have a terrible surprise coming. When they shout "Allahu ackbar," meaning "Allah is the greatest one," they have no idea that there is one greater - much greater - and that is the God of Israel. They will be finding that out in the near future. vs 10: "This they shall have for their pride, because they have reproached and made arrogant threats against the people of the Lord of hosts." It looks bleak right now but Israel has a bright future as her God makes known to all just who he is. vs 11: "The Lord will be awesome to them, for he will reduce to nothing all the gods of the earth." "Allah" will be no more! He will be "reduced to nothing." The God of Israel will bring Allah's end. Then all the survivors, indeed all the world, will understand and they will turn to the God of Israel. "People shall worship him, each one from his place, indeed all the shores of the nations." More: God's Covenant With Israel
When Israel was confronted by a giant...
“Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying,
‘What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine
and takes away the reproach from Israel?
For who is this uncircumcised Philistine,
that he should defy the armies of the living God?’”
1st Samuel 17:26
Goliath, from one of the races of giants, shouted out to Israel daily for 40 days, taunting them with what he intended to do to them, and Israel was terrified. Goliath was a truly formidable foe.
The Scriptures show in many places that the word “giant” is not an exaggeration. Goliath was more than 9 feet tall. Imagine David who at the time was a youth, going against this giant. Picture it. A youth – against a fully-armored man more than 9 feet tall!
David insisted in going up against Goliath, so King Saul put armor on him for the fight, but little David couldn’t walk in it because it was too heavy, so he took it off and went out unprotected. There was something David knew about his God; he knew he wasn’t going against Goliath in his own strength; the only reason he was confident against this giant was his faith that God himself would grant him the victory. And when God grants the victory, even the most horrific of giants has no chance.
vs 45:
“Then David said to the Philistine,
‘You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin.
But I come to you in the name of the Lord of Hosts,
the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.'”
How does this apply to today? Israel today is surrounded by giants. There’s fully-armed Hezbollah on her north western border, then Turkey to the north, then Syria on her north-eastern border. Down along her eastern border is Jordan and Saudi Arabia. To her south is Hamas embedded in Gaza, and further south is Egypt. To her west is the sea. But the true giant today, at this place in history, is Iran who has nuclear weapons and who is the one behind these terrorist groups.
Just as today, morning and evening, Goliath shouted insults to Israel and boasted in his ability to destroy them. And today, the Muslims boast daily, “Death to Israel!” shouting how they are going to wipe Israel off the face of the earth. And truly, it looks like Israel doesn’t have a chance against these giants. Israel is currently confronting the enemies in a seven-front war who shout daily what they're going to do to Israel.
But these enemy nations surrounding Israel don’t realize who they’re up against. Look at tiny Israel - the entire country is the size of New Jersey. You could put 48 Israels into the state of Texas! The picture looks grim. Israel is only 77 years old and is surrounded by well-established Muslim nations hell-bent on her destruction. She is so outnumbered that her demise looks inevitable. Anyone looking at this picture would conclude that there is absolutely no way to prevent Israel’s annihilation.
There’s a huge surprise coming. This Goliath is going to fall. They will meet their defeat when they meet the GOD of Israel who has promised Israel’s survival. God says that the land of Israel is HIS land, so in coming against Israel, they are coming against Israel’s God.
Israel became a nation in May of 1948. The very next day she was attacked by FIVE surrounding Muslim nations. Who were the Israelis at that time? They were few in number, and many were survivors of the Holocaust. They had very little armaments. They were sitting ducks, easy pickings for the surrounding countries. But …Israel won. How on earth???
Again in 1967 the Goliaths attacked. And again …not only did Israel win, but she vastly increased her territory …and THE CITY OF JERUSALEM fell into the hands of Israel, fulfilling prophecies thousands of years old. There is no way humanly possible for Israel to have survived the attacks of these Goliaths, but the God of Israel granted the victory.
When I hear the daily taunts and boastings of the countries surrounding Israel, I laugh as I shudder. I shudder because I’m human and I’m seeing an impossible situation. But I laugh because I know Israel’s God. Before this story is over, the God of Israel is going to show the world who he is. There is no nation, no power, no so-called god, no devil from hell who can prevent the victory that is going to take place by the hand of Israel’s God.
Soon God will take care of the so-called “Palestinians” who boast daily how they will drive Israel into the sea. They have brought terror to Israel for many, many years, but their doom is at hand, and they will stand before Israel’s God. And soon the greatest threat of all, the mullahs of Iran, will be humbled - not by Israel's might or power, but by the God of Israel and they will meet ...their end.
MORE:
God's Covenant With Israel