By Joseph Farah, WorldNetDaily.com
Israelis are feeling uneasy these days as their leaders continue to negotiate away the land their sons and fathers and brothers fought so courageously to defend from enemies in four major wars and several minor ones.
Jews around the world are wondering if their tiny state can possibly survive the onslaught of endless terrorism and continuing threats from neighboring states arming themselves with weapons of mass destruction.
Friends of Israel, especially evangelical Christians in the U.S., are perplexed by the insistence of their leaders that Israel should accommodate its sworn enemies – states and terrorist organizations determined to finish the job Adolf Hitler started.
I, too, am troubled by these developments. I wonder sometimes what became of Israel’s leadership. Why is there no backbone? Where is their faith? Why don’t they defend their people? Why do they follow a seemingly suicidal course of appeasement?
Yet, having said that, I believe I can promise you the nation of Israel is not going to perish.
Even if the leaders of the Jewish state continue to be Israel’s own worst enemies, God is going to preserve Israel.
How do I know this?
Throughout the Tanach (what Christians refer to as “the Old Testament”), God frequently describes Himself as the One who led the children of Israel out of Egypt. It is one of the names of God. The Exodus story represents one of God’s greatest miracles – so great that He adopts it as His own personal identifier.
Here is just a sampling of those key verses:
- “I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.” Exodus 20:2
- “And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them: I am the LORD their God.” Exodus 29:46
- “For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.” Leviticus 11:45
- “I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt.” Leviticus 19:36
- “Neither shall ye profane my holy name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I am the LORD which hallow you, That brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the LORD.” Leviticus 22:32-33
- “I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the LORD your God.” Numbers 15:41
- “I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.” Deuteronomy 5:6
Who is God? He is the one who led the children of Israel out of Egypt. That’s how he defined Himself from the time of Moses and the Exodus. However, a prophecy in the book of Jeremiah (23:7-8) suggests God would come to be known in the latter days by an even greater miracle than the Exodus.
What would that be?
“Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that they shall no more say, The LORD liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;
“But, The LORD liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.”
It is to be the regathering of the children of Israel – a miracle that took place in the 20th century – that would overshadow even the miracle of the Exodus.
Israel’s fate is not, therefore, in the hands of its enemies. Israel’s fate is in the hands of God.
Israel was scattered and regathered more than once. But it will not be scattered, again. In God’s economy, it represents the center of the world – the apple of His eye. Because of its disobedience, its lack of trust and faith in Him, it will experience extremely difficult tribulations. But it will not vanish. It will not perish. It will not be dispersed, again.
That’s a promise, not from me, but from God – the God who led the children of Israel out of Egypt and who regathered them from all over the world so they could dwell in their own land.
Joseph Farah is founder, editor and CEO of WND and a nationally syndicated columnist. His latest book is “Stop The Presses: The Inside Story of the New Media Revolution.”