Welcome back, dear friends!  We have seen that, in recent history, God has chosen to allow Israel to stand against incredible odds…and come out victorious.  This week’s excursion takes us back in history to examine God’s promises and God’s ways with His favored nation.  Boatloads of evidence exist, pointing to His intervention on their behalf in the past, and plenty more evidence is prophesied in the future!  So, with our boat loaded, let’s cruise through history past and future, and eventually consider the question, “Will Israel stand alone?”

 

Let’s start by reviewing God’s promise to Israel.  Read Ezekiel 36:22-38.  According to verses 22-23, what is God’s reasoning for renewing Israel?

 

Despite profaning His name, God remains faithful to Israel!  In verses 24-30, there are many things God says He will do for His chosen people.  Can you find at least 10 “I will’s” in that passage?  What does this tell you about God’s commitment to Israel?

 

According to verse 31, what will be Israel’s response?  Based on verses 33-36, what did God say the land of Israel would be like after the re-birth?  Certainly, Israel is no longer a desolation!

 

Summarize God’s promises given in verses 37-38.

 

Indeed, the Lord promised to make an incredibly desolate place beautiful again.  He also promised to fill it with “flocks of men,” who will know that He is the Lord.  Consider those prophecies for a moment.  The Jezreel Valley of Israel is a lush farm land that produces the most vibrant fruit and vegetables in the world.   The tiny land of Israel also exports more flowers than any other country in the world.  (See pictures below of beautiful flowers and vibrant produce.)

   

Yet, the Negev desert in Southern Israel remains primarily desolate (though work continues to make it prosperous).  Likewise, though millions of Jews have flocked to their homeland, it has only been in recent years that Israel’s population of Jews has exceeded New York’s Jewish population.  Finally, though many are very devout in their worship of God, the Jewish people as a whole have yet to know Jesus as Messiah.

 

Here, we see prophecy partially fulfilled.  However, 2 Peter 3:9 reminds us that The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.  The apostle Peter, in this passage regarding preparation of the end times, declares the Lord to be right on time!  We can trust that God will indeed be right on time with what concerns us, and that He will definitely be right on time with what concerns His chosen people!  His prophecy will be fully fulfilled in His time!

 

The promises of God are true and trustworthy!  If God ceases to keep His promises to His chosen people, what hope would we have?  Aren’t you glad that God and His Word are absolutely, 100% trustworthy?

 

Good work today, mates!  We’ll set sail on a new venture tomorrow, so be sure to join us!