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.
. . But, if the latter verses of Chapter 28 of
Deuteronomy refer to the diaspora, then what of
Chapter 30? As mentioned earlier, in this chapter
God also speaks of a regathering, an end to the
diaspora. Ever since the middle of the 19th century,
thanks to the enlightened efforts of evangelical
Christians, particularly in Britain, Jewish people
were beginning to be attracted to Jesus, their
Messiah. About the same time, Zionism was born
and Jews were returning in numbers to their ancient
land. Could this all be connected? Scripture seems
to think so as a reading of the first few verses
testify, "When all these blessings and curses
I have set before you come upon you and you take
them to heart wherever the Lord your God disperses
you among the nations, and when you and your children
return to the Lord your God and obey him with
all your heart and with all your soul according
to everything I command you today …" Were these
conditions being met, even if in a small way?
God seemed to think so for, as the verses continue,
"… then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes
and have compassion on you and gather you again
from all the nations where he scattered you".
Scripture was clearly indicating an end of this
exile. It continues. "Even if you have been banished
to the most distant land under the heavens, from
there the Lord your God will gather you and bring
you back. He will bring you to the land that belonged
to your fathers, and you will take possession
of it". Jews were returning from as far afield
as China, Australia, Brazil, all of them 'most
distant lands'.
Then came 1967 and the restoration of Jerusalem
to Jewish hands. Was it a co-incidence that, at
that time, there was an explosion of Jewish people
becoming believers in Jesus the Messiah, particularly
in the USA. The momentum has continued ever since
and we are now in a situation of having more Jewish
believers in Jesus worldwide that at any time
in history since the early days of the Church.
Jewish people were becoming blessed the world
over - returning to the land for some, returning
to Jesus for others. Some were even doubly blessed,
with both. But, of course, it has not been an
easy journey. There are forces out there for whom
these double blessings are a curse. World opinion,
Islam and Arab nations are all in opposition,
but it is Satan who is most grieved. He has very
special reasons for wanting the destruction of
the Jewish people and for certainly not wanting
them in their Land and embracing their Messiah.
Antisemitism, wherever it may be found, was his
invention and it hadn't worked. Jews had survived,
as God had always promised. And they were back
in their Land, according to God's covenant with
Abraham.
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When
we look at the current unfolding crisis in
the Middle East, we are mistaken if we see
it just as another Bosnia or Northern Ireland.
It is not a local disagreement, it is a crisis
of world proportions. It's not just a 'Jew
and Arab' thing and 'why can't they learn
to live together'? It's not an 'evil Zionist
empire disregarding the rights of the Palestinians'
thing. It's not even a 'heartless Arab terrorists
killing innocent Israelis' thing. It is a
spiritual battle, not a physical battle. It's
God telling us that Israel is His land and
the Jews are His legal tenants and Satan saying
otherwise and using all within his arsenal
to fight with, whether false religion, materialism
or nationalism. |
But,
above all, he uses confusion. Don't you find it
strange that the really important things are so
confusing. The Book of Revelation is the only Bible
book that tells us that we're going to be blessed
by reading it (Rev 1:3), yet it's the one we find
the most confusing, so we tend not to re ad it.
In the same way, the Middle East situation is a
confusing one, so we tend to ignore it or be content
to have a superficial understanding, usually based
on whatever has been fed to us by the media. It
is every Christian's duty, in these perilous times,
to take the time to grasp the important issues,
because one day you may be held to task over your
opinion. You owe it to your God, who has given you
life in this world and the next, to understand what's
really going on in Israel.
A grave danger is to be side-tracked by human issues.
Yes, the Palestinians have had a hard deal, though
not just at the hands of Israelis. Yes, they have
suffered to an extent under Israeli rule, just as
they suffered in Jordan and Lebanon. Prejudices
are a fact of fallen humanity - ask a black man
in the USA, or an aborigine in Australia. These
are issues of human rights and inequality. But all
these concerns pale into insignificance when divine
issues come into play. One of the hardest concepts
for us to accept is that of election, how God makes
His sovereign choices. God chose the Jews to inherit
the Land and it's not up to us to take issue with
Him over this choice. Romans 9:15 says, "I will
have mercy on whom I have mercy and I will have
compassion on whom I have compassion". He makes
His choices and doesn't feel the need to explain
them or justify them to us. God chose the Jews to
provide us with the Bible and the messianic line
leading to Jesus. He chose them to suffer, for His
own reasons - we don't see people arguing with that
fact. But He also chose them to inherit the Land
of Israel, unconditionally and forever. We have
to learn to accept that fact.
And then there is Jerusalem. Zechariah 12 provides
us with an intriguing and alarmingly accurate modern
commentary. Verse 2 proclaims, "I am going to make
Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples
reeling. Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem".
This is happening now, we are living in those times
predicted over 2000 years ago. Recently the United
Nations made a resolution about Jerusalem whereby
"the decision of Israel to impose its laws, jurisdiction,
and administration on the Holy City of Jerusalem
was illegal and, therefore, null and void". Not
a single nation supported Israel in this resolution
- with 145 in favour of it and 5 abstentions. But,
be warned, where the will of the nations are in
opposition to the word of God, there can only be
one winner. Returning to the next verse in Zechariah
12, "On that day, when all the nations of the earth
are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem
an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try
to move it will injure themselves."
The Land of Israel belongs to God, it is His land.
The city of Jerusalem also belongs to God, it is
His city. In Psalm 132:13 we read, "For the Lord
has chosen Zion (Jerusalem), he has desired it for
his dwelling". Can you think of any other city,
anywhere in the world, that could attract such attention?
Jerusalem is unique. A century ago it was a wasted,
ruined city, yet now it is the focus of world attention.
Any explanation other than the 'spiritual' one is
folly. We are entering dangerous times, prophetic
times. We must learn to read the 'signs of the times'
because there is much deception around. Above all
we must hold onto God's word regarding that parcel
of land in the Middle East that can rightly be called
"God's own country". Don't listen to the World and
its rantings and don't get sucked into politics,
it is just a distraction. Hold fast to the truth
and pray for the peace of Jerusalem. As for the
future, it is already being written as you read
this. |
