Torch, Fall 1980

·- 1- The Predicament The ability and possibility of the Jew's enjoying peace, blessing, and tranquility in the land God uncon– ditionally promised to them was con– tingent upon their obedience. Deuteronomy 28:1-14 relates in detail the blessings God will bestow on them, "... if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his com– mandments which I command thee this day. .." (28:1). Then from 28:15 through the remainder of the chapter God records the Pre– dicament: the sorrow, misery, de– feat, and slavery that will mark their trail in all parts of the earth if they disobey. Verse 66 seems to sum it up: "And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life." So it has been down through all these years even until now. Many feel that the Predicament of Israel in our day is as precarious as it ever has been: surrounded by rich and powerful Arab nations pledged to the final destruction of the Jewish State; hated and despised by the Soviet Union. One wonders about Israel's future after the American presidential election is past. The noted writer, William Safire, reports in the Cleveland Plain Dealer, 6/ 22/ 80, "Observe the great deception at work. Publicly President Carter ritually declares he opposes the creation of a Palestinian State. But privately, Zbigiew Brzezinski's staffers at the White House assure Arabs and Euro– peans that after the American elec– tions-when the President no longer has to worry about the reaction from American supporters of Israel-'self– determination' will be insisted upon even if it means the creation of a radical State within artillery range of Tel Aviv." The problems, pressures, and predicament of Israel shall continue until the zenith of the judgment in the great tribulation. It will be so great that it is described prophetically by the Lord Jesus in Matthew 24:21 , "For then shall be (the) great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be." The Preservation Throughout the Scriptures there are great words of comfort ascribed to the Jew and to his Holy City, Jerusalem. There are promises of recovery, of Preservation, of final and ultimate restoration. From the ashes of ruin will spring the new !ife of rejuvenation . The Prophet Zephaniah predicted , "Sing, O daughter of Zion, shout, 0 Israel, and be glad and rejoice with all the heart 0 daughter of Jerusalem. The Lord hath taken away thy judgments, He hath cast out thine enemy;the King of Israel, even the Lord, is in the midst of thee; thou shalt not see evil any more" (Zephaniah 3: 14-15). How is this going to be? Who can bring to nought Israel's mighty enemies? Who can bring to pass the Jewish nation's ultimate joy , prosperity? Who can accomplish what is pictured by Zephaniah 3:20: ".. . for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth . .." Will it be the U.N., the Arab world, or Russia? Is this the desire and plan of the United States? Isaiah, the prophet, rings out in unmistakable words nearly 750 years before Christ, "THE ZEAL OF THE LORD OF HOSTS WILL PERFORM THIS" (Isaiah 9:7). It is God's protection, God's provision, and God's Preserva– tion at the time of Israel's deepest need and indescribable calamity. All of this is by direct intervention as described prophetically in Revela– tion 12. The woman in verse 6 (Israel) who brought forth a man child (Jesus) who is to rule all nations with a rod of iron "... fled into the wilderness where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and three score days." In a definite place, for a definite length of time the Lord will protect and provide for His chosen people. The picture is repeated in Revela– tion 12:13, 14. Satan is seen perse– cuting the woman (Israel), ". .. and the woman was given two great wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time and ' times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent." Thus we see God's PLAN FOR HIS PEOPLE. It has been unraveling through history for centuries. Each new page evidences new fulfillment of prophecy. God's people, the Jews, are now back again as a nation in the very place the Lord promised to them. Not all of the land is yet in their possession, but it surely will be, as cer– tain as God's covenants are valid. When the picture is completed, the Lord's purposes for Israel will be ful– filled and brought to fruition. No longer will Israel be the "wandering Jew." No longer will she be persecuted, no longer in dire, heart-breaking predica– ments. Her protection will be the glorious presence of her Messiah, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, Rev. Hugh T. Hall is a Bible Conference speaker, and husband of a professor at Cedarville. 11