Hello again, dear friends! I am so blessed that you have chosen to accompany me on this journey! I hope you have been encouraged by the evidence of God’s faithfulness presented this week. At times things look very bleak in our world, and we know things will only get worse as Jesus’ return draws near. However, through it all, we serve a God whose love and compassion for His people and for us are far beyond imagination. Today’s focus will be on God’s heart toward Israel. He loves His land and He loves His people, so let’s uncover some nuggets from God’s Word.
God’s Protection of Israel – Read Psalm 121.
We can certainly make the argument that there is personal application to be made, but who is the focus of this Psalm, according to verse 4? In what ways does God promise to protect Israel?
God’s Jealousy for Israel – Read Zechariah 2:1-13.
According to v 5, what will God be for His holy city, Jerusalem? In verse 6, what is God’s instruction to the enemy of Israel? What is His promise to His people in verses 10 and 12? Finally, how does God describe His tenderness toward Israel in verse 8?
What do you believe it means when God says, “…for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye”?
God’s Tender Mercy toward Israel – Read Isaiah 49:13-16.
Though Israel may feel forsaken, the God of Israel never forgets His people! He uses the compassion of a mother with a nursing child to describe His compassion for Israel. Then He goes even further. According to verse 16, what has God done in His remembrance of Israel?
Indeed, the Lord has inscribed Zion (another word for Jerusalem) on the palm of His hands. Again, we can make the personal application as “grafted in” children of God, to understand that He has grafted our names on the palm of His hands. However, He specifically speaks to Zion in this passage, promising that He holds them so dearly that they are inscribed on His hands! He will never, ever forget Israel!
Throughout time, people and nations have turned against Israel in her time of need. That has never been more true than today. We have seen how the tiny nation of Israel is surrounded by neighbors who hate her. Turkey, an ally of Israel in the past, is quickly turning its back, as is most of Europe. Even the United States is turning a blind eye to Israel’s need. Who will be left to stand with Israel? Will Israel stand alone?
Amir Tsarfati is Israeli. Tapped at a young age to become an officer in the Israeli Defense Forces, Tsarfati faithfully carried out his duties and, after full-time military service, while still in his early-20’s, Amir became Deputy Governor of Jericho. He held that position at the time Jericho was handed over to the Palestinians. As of this writing, he is still a Captain in the Israeli Army Reserves, and is intimately familiar with Israel’s history and current events. A believer in Jesus Christ the Messiah, Amir now travels all over the world answering the question, “Will Israel Stand Alone?”
In his message, Amir answers 5 questions. Let’s spend the rest of our time today delving into those 5 questions and their answers.
- Will Israel ever stand alone?
The Bible is clear in its teaching, so let’s follow Amir to Psalm 124. What do verses 2-3 tell us?
Notice that the passage does not say, “If the US had not been on our side,” or “If Europe had not been on our side.” Rather, is says, “If the Lord had not been on our side…” If not for the Lord, and the Lord alone, Israel would already have been swallowed up!
The land of Israel is surrounded by 250 million Arabs, most of whom wish Israel was not there! Whether or not any other earthly nation or people stood with Israel, the Lord has always been on her side.
But why? Because they are perfect people? Because they have accomplished something that makes them special? Absolutely not!
Take a peek at Psalm 106. In this psalm of repentance, the Israelites are reflecting upon how sinful they had been as a nation, yet how faithful God was to look upon them and hear their cries. According to verse 45, what is God’s heart toward His people?
God never tires of forgiving His people! Israel may find herself alone horizontally, but never vertically!
- Why is Israel feeling alone?
Israelis see the handwriting on the wall. America, long known as Israel’s strongest and most dependable ally, is very quickly and dramatically turning its back on Israel.
Israel does not believe they are important to America from a Biblical perspective, particularly when American presidents and other high-ranking officials spend their time attempting to appease Israel’s enemies. In fact, the US government is drawing our nation closer to the Muslim world. By definition, that draws us away from Israel!
Several polls provide extensive evidence that the US is drifting away from the Bible and is immersed in a huge spiritual battle. The more the balance shifts away from God’s Word, the more our nation drifts away from its commitment to Israel.
Indeed, Israel is feeling alone…and for very good reason!
- Who is Israel’s biggest enemy?
The Palestinian Authority? Gaza? Syria? The West Bank? Hezbollah? Hamas? Any of these entities would be a formidable enemy to Israel. However, without doubt, Iran is Israel’s greatest enemy, with Russia a not-so- distant second. Keep these two countries handy in your memory bank. We’ll come back to them next week.
Iranian leaders throughout history have uttered tremendously threatening remarks about the annihilation of Israel, including the threat that “Israel must be wiped off the map.”
You see, Iranian leadership firmly believes they have been called by Allah to hasten the coming of the Mahdi, the Muslim Messiah, by bringing about chaos, and ridding the world of infidels. Thus, they are very committed to wiping Israel off the map.
Iran is absolutely obsessed with that idea. So much so that there are well over 20 known nuclear sites in Iran, creating the weapons to accomplish that mission. For example, the Esfahan Nuclear Research Center and Nuclear Uranium Conversion Facility takes uranium that is quarried and converts it into weapon-grade rich uranium. Similar facilities, and others that play critical parts in production of nuclear bombs, are located throughout Iran.
However, Iran’s program is very deceptive, as the world is told that nuclear power is being developed for peaceful purposes, such as energy. Huge quantities of low grade uranium are allowed to be inspected, to provide the front that the uranium is the quality used for energy, not for weapons. However, low grade uranium in sufficient supply, given Iran’s facilities, can be converted into weapon-grade uranium in a short time.
If Iran does not already have nuclear weapons ready for use, it is only a matter of very short time. Thus, Israel is facing very difficult decisions about whether or not to “strike first” before Iran unleashes nuclear weapons upon Israel.
- Can Israel make it without the United States?
So, what is Israel to do with the mounting threat from the Persian Empire? Given the geopolitical climate of today, it is not likely that the US will support Israel in any sort of military action against Iran. So, the question is: Can Israel make it without the United States?
The answer is short and sweet: If Israel is to protect her interests, she should plan to do so without the help of America. And with God on her side, she will undoubtedly prevail!
- What’s next in prophecy?
That’s a loaded question which we are attempting to answer in this study. However, as Amir Tsarfati makes known to people all over the world as he speaks, God’s Word promises that Israel will prosper, enemies will attack, and the Lord God will be victorious! Next week we’ll study the Northern Invasion, and we’ll learn that enemies are coming soon to plunder. They will have plenty to plunder, but will have much larger problems ultimately, as they learn they are taking up arms against the Lord of Hosts! Stay tuned for that!
Perhaps you have gained new depth of understanding God’s special protection and provision over those with whom He cut covenant through Abraham. His promises are forever and ever, and we can rest assured that, though everyone else on earth may leave Israel standing alone, God will never abandon His people and will never break His covenant!
Please pray for the covenant people, and for the peace of Jerusalem!
Looking for the Blessed Hope 