Recall this climactic scene from "Fiddler On the
Roof." Tevye the poor Russian Jew, ahs just concluded arrangements for the wedding of
his daughter. Filled with joy at the prospect, he suddenly is confronted by the Russian
Constable, who informs him there will shortly be a destructive demonstration in the
Village.
Tevye begins to quake with rage. As is his habit, he
talks with God: "Dear God, did you have to send me news like that, today of all days?
It’s true that we are the chosen people. But once in a while can’t you choose
someone else?"
One may react with laughter to such a clever line.
Or, one may pause for a moment to consider the far reaching significance of these words.
Indeed, who has sympathized with Judaism and not asked himself this implied question,
"WHAT HAS ISRAEL BEEN CHOSEN FOR?"
As one gazes over the pages of history, it would
appear that Israel has been chosen for persecution, discrimination and exile. IS THIS THE
DESTINY FOR WHICH ISRAEL HAS BEEN REBORN?
We as NON- PROSELYTIZING Christian Bible Students are
friends of Jewry, and believe in but ONE GOD, the great "I AM," who will shortly
fulfill the Abrahamic promise- "And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be
blessed." - Genesis 22:18
It is our firm conviction that this promise is on the
very brink of fulfillment! It will be the nation of Israel, with her resurrected prophets
of old, who will be the earthly seed or instrumentality to fulfill this immutable promise
of God.
As we trace the prophecies of Israel’s rebirth
and destiny, we find that Israel became a nation not by mere chance, but by the direct
overruling providences of God.
Jeremiah 16:13 prophesied of the diaspora of Israel
which happened in A.D.70 to 135.
All Scriptures are from Leeser’s Translation
"Therefore will I hurl you out of this land into
the land of which ye had no knowledge, neither ye nor your fathers."
But then in Jeremiah 16:14- 15 God prophesied of
the return of favor to Israel by their being restored back to the land from which they
were driven out for nearly nineteen centuries:
"Therefore, behold, days are coming, saith
the Lord, when it shall not be said any more, As the Lord liveth, who hath brought up the
children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;"
"But, as the Lord liveth, who hath brought up
the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the countries whither he
had driven them: and I will cause them to return unto their land which I have given unto
their father."
After Israel’s promised regathering, however,
all is not tranquil. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Zechariah all refer to continued
strife, leading to a final attack on Israel. It will be in the midst of this battle that
God will intervene for Israel and destroy all her enemies. (Zechariah 12:9; 14:1- 3;
Ezekiel 38, 39)
Following this last conflict, will come the long
awaited desire of Israel and of all people- the blessing of all the families of the earth.
This promise will result in a grand reconciliation between God and men. All mankind will
gradually be resurrected from the tomb and be given an opportunity to come into harmony
with God.
"And the Lord of hosts will make unto all the
nations on this mountain a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat
things full of marrow, ..."
"He will destroy death to eternity; and the Lord
Eternal will wipe away the tear from off all faces; and the shame of his people will he
remove from off all the earth; for the Lord hath spoken it."
"And men will say on that day, Lo, this is our
God, for whom we have waited that he would help us; this is the Lord for whom we have
waited, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation." - # Isaiah 25:6- 9
Israel is currently being transformed from a
parched wilderness into prolific farmland. It is just the beginning of the time Isaiah
describes in the 35th Chapter:
"The wilderness and the dry land shall be
glad there- at; and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the lily."
"Then shall the lame leap as an hart, and the
tongue of the dumb shall sing ..."
"And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and
come to Zion with song, with everlasting joy upon their head; gladness and joy they
obtain, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." - Isaiah 35:2, 5, 6, 10
It will be in this kingdom of God that those who
become Israelites indeed, will play a prominent part in the fulfillment of the Abrahamic
promise.
Isaiah 1:26 tells the prophets of old will be
resurrected first:
"And I will restore thy judges as at the first,
and they counselors as at the beginning; after that shalt thou be called, The city of
righteousness, the town that is faithful."
Then Isaiah 2:3- 4 shows us how Jerusalem will be
the capital of the world:
"And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and
let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may
teach us of his ways, and we may walk in his paths; for out of Zion shall go forth the
law, and the word of the Lord out of Jerusalem."
"And he will judge among the nations, and decide
for many people; and they shall beat their swords into plough- shares, and their spears
into pruningknives: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, and they shall not
learn any more war."
The Scriptures go on with hope filled promises of
God’s blessing to Israel, and through her to all the world. We will quote but a few:
"But be ye glad and rejoice unto all eternity
in what I create; for, behold, I will create Jerusalem for rejoicing, and her people for
gladness." - Isaiah 65:18
"In the future shall Jacob yet take root; Israel
shall bud and blossom, and shall fill the face of the world with fruit." - Isaiah
27:6
"And many people and strong nations shall come
to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord."
"Thus hath said the Lord of hosts, In those days
(it shall happen), that ten men out of all the languages of the nations shall take hold-
yea, they shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, Let us go with you;
for we have heard that God is with you." - Zechariah 8:22- 23
All this will come about through a covenant that
God establishes with Israel, as described in Jeremiah 31:30- 33. Under this covenant
arrangement, all mankind will have the privilege of receiving God’s blessings. With
Jerusalem the seat of government, Israel will teach and instruct all nations and peoples.
Eventually all who will be rightly exercised will become Israelites themselves. Having
God’s law written in their hearts, they will go on to live everlastingly in
God’s kingdom of perfection.
WHEN WILL ALL THIS OCCUR? Centuries away? No! All
this will come about in this our generation. For other prophecies go on to show that the
generation which sees Israel become a nation will not pass off the scene before God’s
Kingdom is set up in full power and glory.
All this has no doubt led to some questioning, just
what is our specific purpose in desiring to proclaim this message, if it is not one of
converting Israel to Christianity.
First of all, we believe God would be pleased for us
to do So in harmony with Isaiah 40:1- 2 - where God admonishes us to give comfort to His
people.
In addition, it is our desire that perhaps we could
be an instrument to encourage a greater study, hope and faith in God’s promises that
are given to Israel in His Word. For the Scriptures indicate that not all who are born
Israelites will automatically be recipients of God’s blessings. Only those who will
have faith in God and will strive to develop a character pleasing to Him will be
"Israelites indeed." There will be used to help fulfill one of the greatest
promises given to men- that of "blessing all the families of the earth."
Thus it is comforting to know that the events
happening in Israel at present, and which will occur in the near future are by the
overruling providences of God. It will be these experiences that will help to develp and
prepare God’s chosen People for the work of that Kingdom. - Ezekiel 5:15; 20:33- 38;
39:21- 22; Hoseas 5:15; Jeremiah 33:6- 9
What a grand and glorious privilege thus awaits
Israelites who will cling to the promises of God as HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE!
