Reviews and Views

Question: What is the answer to Jerusalem and Israel?

This is an excerpt from Joel Rosenberg’s Flash Traffic at http://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com

The Hebrew Prophets such as Ezekiel, Daniel, Isaiah, Jeremiah and Joel tell us again and again that Israel will be all alone in the last days of history.  All the nations will eventually turn against her.  All the nations will work to divide the Land of Israel.  Jerusalem, too, will be divided.  The New Testament reconfirms this.  Indeed, the Scriptures indicate that the only hope for Israel is for her to turn fully and completely to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  As the “time of Jacob’s troubles” approaches — as the Day of the Lord approaches — the Bible tells us that the nations will betray the Jewish people.  Only the Lord will be faithful.  The question is, when the dark times come will Israelis turn their hearts to the Lord?

The Hebrew Prophet Joel warned us that the Lord is going to judge “all the nations” because “they have divided up My Land.” (Joel 3:2)  Yet Joel doesn’t call Israel to political activism, to international diplomacy, to military adventurism, or any other human endeavor.  The Lord says through the Prophet Joel, “‘Yet even now, return to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, weeping and mourning; and rend your heart and not your garments’…Now, return to the Lord your God for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in loving kindness and relenting of evil.” (Joel 2:12-13)  And if Israel does this, Joel tells us:  “Then the Lord will be zealous for His land and will have pity on His people.” (Joel 2:18, 27)

The Prime Minister’s speech to Congress was excellent in many ways.  He rightly described the “epic battle” underway in the epicenter.  He described a great shaking going on in the Middle East.  He rightly warned that Iran and her nuclear program is the greatest threat, that Hamas is the new al Qaeda, and that in all of the Arab world, only Israeli Arabs have true safety, security, and fully protected human and civil rights.  However, it should be noted that Netanyahu never cited the Bible, never called on the name of the Lord, and never called the Jewish people to trust fully and completely in the God of Israel, but rather promised to divide the land of Israel as a concession to the Palestinians, even while promising never to divide Jerusalem.  These were mistakes.  He wasn’t the first Israeli Prime Minister to make them.  But he is making them nonetheless.  He was right to thank the U.S. for all our help and support of Israel over the years, and he was right to seek continued help and support from the American people and government.  But neither he nor Israel should become dependent upon American help because the Bible tells us it won’t be there for long.

The Bible is clear:  only the Lord will save Israel.  It is time for Israelis to consider this very carefully.  For time is short.  “The Day of the Lord is coming; surely it is near.” (Joel 2:1).

Bill Wyler:  This same could be said for America; calling on the name of the Lord God for our own redemption and help in times of trouble.

May 26, 2011 Posted by Bill Wyler | Religion, Security & Safety | Leave a comment