Israel – Rejoice, Ignore or Condemn?

REJOICING OR CONDEMNING?

“Weeeeeeee’re back!”

Remember this greeting from the TV series “Coach” when unwelcomed friends came to visit?

Sometimes I feel like shouting that to the nations of the world regarding Israel, but realize they will not listen. They are too busy shouting condemnations at us for “occupying” the land.

I also want to shout it to the Church who should know and understand the miracle of Israel that is taking place at such a time as this. Sadly some of the Church, rather than rejoicing in the fulfillment of God’s Word, are joining the voices of condemnation.

This morning I read Psalm 14 and was arrested by the final verse.

“O that the salvation of Israel (would come) out of Zion! When the Lord brings back the captivity of His people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad.”

This Psalm is attributed to David and thus written before the kingdom was split and hundreds of years before the captivity of Israel or Judah. Truly therefore, these words were and remain prophetic.

One day Israel would be brought back to the Land and she and the nations of the world would KNOW that there is a God and would REJOICE. (Ezekiel chapters 20 and 36)

Excitingly, this prophesy is being fulfilled today, but not all of it.

Salvation has come out of Zion. [The Hebrew word for salvation is Yeshua, or in Greek, Jesus.]

The captives are being brought back. [Israel became a nation by the vote of the UN in 1948, but the return of the Jewish people began in earnest by the end of the 19th century.]

BUT there is little rejoicing.

Why?

Certainly I can understand why the nations of the world do not rejoice, but I cannot understand why the Church is not rejoicing. Is it because they cannot or will not see?

  • Is it because the Church doesn’t see what is happening? If not, why not?
  • Is it because the Church doesn’t know God’s word? If not, why not?
  • Is it because the Church fears man rather than God? If so, why?
  • Is it because of an unrecognized or unconfessed seed of anti-antisemitism? If so, why?
  • Has humanism and politically correctness invaded the church? If so, why?

I suggest all of these reasons keep many in the church blind. God forbid that those who love the God of Israel and her Messiah would deliberately choose not to see the miracle that is Israel.

As you consider just some of these promises God made to the Jewish people, remember that His purpose is to GLORIFY HIS NAME. Remember that the issue, the witness, the miracle of Israel is NOT about the Jewish people or the Arab people, but about God, most especially about His faithfulness and His sovereignty.

Please consider:

  • God made a seemingly impossible promise to Abraham and yet Abraham believed He would perform what He had promised and it was accounted to him as righteousness.
  • God made a seeming impossible promise to Mary and yet she believed and was blessed.
  • God has made seeming impossible promises to you and regardless of your faith, He performed all that He had promised.

So why is it so hard for people to believe God’s promises to Israel? Why is not, why cannot the Church see and rejoice as He is bringing those promises to fulfillment in His way and in His time?

In 1998 I clearly heard the call of God to move to Israel – to leave all that was familiar and pick up the unique and difficult mantle of becoming an Israeli citizen.

There are many in the Church who have left home and family to live among other cultures and nations. Over the years they probably feel their adopted country is “home.” These precious souls deserve great honor.

Yet the call of the God to the Jewish people to Israel is unique. It is not necessarily a call to minister and to live among the local people for the sake of the Gospel. The call is 150% about the glory of God. The call is about being a witness, not only to the people, but to the Church and to the heavenly powers and principalities. Thus the mantle of being an Israeli citizen is a target for every demonic, anti-Christ spirit and assignment against the Word of God.

In conclusion, let us remember that God said He would bring the Jewish people back into this particular piece of real estate and the nations would see it and rejoice.

Israel exists as a Jewish nation simply because God said so. No man, no nation, no earthly or heavenly power is strong enough to thwart this plan of God.

Open your eyes:

  • Do you see God’s hand moving across the earth bringing His children home?
  • Do you see reason to rejoice in the miracle that is Israel?
  • Do you see the attacks of the enemy to divert and distort God’s word?
  • Do you see the need for these people to also see and to know God?

Beloved, what do you see?

More importantly, will you rejoice with and for God?

 

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