Israel recently celebrated its 70th year of being a nation. Although I’m not Israeli or Jewish, that occasion is significant to me because it proves that God is faithful and keeps His promises. Here are just some scriptures concerning Israel, and these remind me that I can fully trust and rely on God:
“The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; but because the Lord loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” -Deuteronomy 7:7-8 (NKJV)
- God chose the Jews because they were the least in number (and maybe the most unpopular, unwanted, and unliked). The next time you’re feeling down, just remember that. God not only notices the insignificant, He loves, delivers, and redeems them.
“And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: ‘Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?'” -Esther 4:13-14 (NKJV)
- I aspire to have faith like Mordecai did. The decree had gone out to kill all the Jews in the land, but Mordecai was completely confident that even if Esther didn’t use her platform and favor with the king, that God would still deliver the Jews one way or another.
“I will make a covenant of peace with them, and cause wild beasts to cease from the land; and they will dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. I will make them and the places all around My hill a blessing; and I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing. Then the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase. They shall be safe in their land; and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I have broken the bands of their yoke and delivered them from the hand of those who enslaved them. And they shall no longer be a prey for the nations, nor shall beasts of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and no one shall make them afraid. I will raise up for them a garden of renown, and they shall no longer be consumed with hunger in the land, nor bear the shame of the Gentiles anymore. Thus they shall know that I, the Lord their God, am with them, and they, the house of Israel, are My people,” says the Lord God. “You are My flock, the flock of My pasture; you are men, and I am your God,” says the Lord God.” -Ezekiel 34:25-31 (NKJV)
- I particularly like the part that says “no one shall make them afraid.” God is on our side, and if He is for us, who can be against us?
Our Assignment:
“I will bless those who bless you [the nation of Israel], and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” -Genesis 12:3 (NKJV)
- I certainly want to be blessed instead of cursed, so I choose to bless Israel. Some practical ways to support Israel are to vote for politicians/policies who/that support Israel, purchase Israeli products (which you can easily find on your search engine of choice), and most importantly, pray. Israel and its people matter to God, and I hope they matter to you too.
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, prosperity within your palaces.’ For the sake of my brethren and companions, I will now say, ‘Peace be within you.’ Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek your good.” -Psalm 122:6-9 (NKJV)
My Quiet Strength 