“I will bring…….(Amos 9:14)
Most nations are formed as the result of discoveries made from explorations, or land seized by war and conflict. But that is not true for one nation – one special nation. The nation of Israel is different. Israel was not discovered by a lone explorer. The nation of Israel was and always has been the special possession of God. And it is the nation he has given to his chosen people. This week Israel will celebrate the 73rd anniversary of what I like to call, its rebirth. It is a celebration in remembrance of when Israel once again became the nation of God’s blessing.
The man God chose to bring this about in 1948, was our American president Harry Truman. Less than thirty days after Truman became president, the Second World War ended in Europe. The entire continent was filled with those who had been displaced by that war, especially the Jewish refugees, many who had been held prisoners in refugee camps. Truman had deep sympathies for the Jewish people. He was also a student of the bible. Under his leadership, on November 29, 1947, in Lake Success, New York, the United Nations General Assembly took up the vote to unanimously pass the resolution to confirm Israel as a nation once again. A joyous day for the Jewish people.
But there is more to the story. For also on that very day, November 29, 1947, for the first time the recently discovered Dead Sea Scrolls were unrolled and their words came to light. Coincidence? There is no coincidence with God. Both God’s word and his nation that was lost for two thousand years were restored at the same time. The sovereign plan of our God.
Israel declared its’ independence on May 14, 1948, but celebrated on May 15th, the Sabbath day. Now here is where it gets even more interesting. From ancient times there was a different word from God (or we would call them verse) that was appointed to be read in each synagogue throughout the world on the Sabbath day. May 15, 1948 was no different. The word from the ancient Hebrew text that had for centuries been designated to be read on that special day in 1948, came from the Book of Amos. It is from the 9th chapter, and it is God proclaiming the following: “I will bring my exiled people of Israel back from distant lands, and they will rebuild their ruined cities and live in them again…..I will firmly plant them there in their own land. They will never again be uprooted from the land I have given them.”
The perfection of God’s Israel being reborn as His chosen nation. The perfection of God’s ancient scriptures proclaiming it on the exact day it was to be fulfilled. How perfect is our God! How we are assured we can trust Him for everything!
Happy Rebirthday, Israel!
Darlene