Watchman Report: The Amazing Witness of Israel.

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The Amazing Witness of Israel

Introduction: A Modern Miracle

Welcome to the Watchman Report, where we bring clarity to trending news stories from a biblical perspective, highlighting the scriptural principles relating to the moral, social, and prophetic issues breaking on the world stage. In this issue, we examine the amazing witness of God’s chosen people, Israel.

One of the greatest miracles in history took place just over 75 years ago. Consider this: the world’s most powerful ancient nations—the Philistines, Edomites, Assyrians, and Babylonians—have all lost their land and identity, disappearing into the pages of history. But not the Jews. Despite centuries of conquest, oppression, and persecution, they stand today amongst modern nations as a remarkable phenomenon and a living witness, just as God promised in the Bible.

The Ancient Promise to Abraham

Israel is a small country in the Middle East, located on the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea and bordered by Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria—nations historically hostile towards the Jewish people. The complex history of the Jews can be traced back to Abraham, the father of the Jews through his son Isaac (and of the Arabs through his son Ishmael). Abraham originally lived in Ur but was called by God to journey to a land He would show him. In faith and obedience, Abraham travelled to the land of Canaan, known today as Israel.

As a reward, God promised Abraham and his son Isaac that the land they travelled through would be the inheritance of his family for future generations, forever. It was God who gave the name Israel to Abraham’s grandson, Jacob. However, Abraham’s descendants became enslaved in Egypt for hundreds of years before God freed them through miraculous events and brought them back to Canaan, where they settled and established themselves as a nation.

The Warning of Scattering

For almost a thousand years, under kings like David and Solomon, Israel became a wealthy and mighty regional power, its people enjoying peace and prosperity. Yet God had cautioned the Israelites when they left Egypt: if they did not keep His commandments, obey His laws, and trust and serve Him, He would allow them to be scattered throughout the earth.

This warning is recorded in Deuteronomy 28:64-66, where God told Israel through Moses: “the Lord shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other… And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the Lord shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind: And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life.”

Disobedience and Exile

Sadly, despite this warning, the children of Israel forgot the God who had delivered them. They disobeyed His laws and behaved wickedly. Just as forewarned, other nations—the Babylonians, Assyrians, Persians, and Romans—conquered them, destroyed their cities, took them captive, and scattered them across their empires. The nation of Israel ceased to exist, wiped from the map, its people dispersed and oppressed.

Persecution and Survival Through History

Yet the Jewish people were not integrated or absorbed into the nations where they were scattered. Instead, they thrived, stood out, and consequently became hated and tormented. This persecution began in ancient Egypt when a pharaoh, fearing their growing power, ordered all Jewish baby boys to be thrown into the River Nile.

This hostility continued throughout their dispersion. Nation after nation attempted to exterminate them: a plot was formed during the Persian Empire to murder the entire Jewish race and seize their property—an ambition taken up in recent history by Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler. During World War Two, over six million Jews were massacred in the Holocaust. The Jewish people have been despised in every century, but during and after World War Two, hatred escalated, and their very survival was threatened.

The Holocaust and National Rebirth

Incredibly, just three years after the Holocaust, Israel arose from the ashes. The Jewish people were drawn back together and re-established as a sovereign nation in their ancient homeland. Even more astounding is that they faced another serious threat of annihilation immediately upon their rebirth. When they declared independence on 14 May 1948, they were instantly attacked by five invading Arab armies, surrounded by enemies determined to “drive the Jews into the sea.” The Secretary-General of the Arab League declared it would be “a war of extermination and a momentous massacre.”

The War for Independence

Standing against the superior, well-armed Arab forces was the fledgling Israeli military. Many defenders were penniless, broken Holocaust survivors, recently arrived from Europe and thrown straight into battle—some without shoes, training, or even a common language. Israel had only recently accomplished the unprecedented feat of reviving the Hebrew language after 2,000 years of disuse. Furthermore, an international arms embargo left the new state ill-equipped and overwhelmingly vulnerable. Commentators and experts declared Israel’s survival would be short-lived.

A Miraculous Victory

Yet, within ten months, Israel had not only convincingly resisted the aggressors but expanded its borders, forcing the Arab nations to seek an armistice. At the time of their greatest weakness, perilously close to extinction, the Jewish people emerged stronger, united, and reborn as the nation of Israel in their own land, with their language restored.

Modern Conflicts and Survival

In more recent times, Israel has again been under attack, fighting for stability and security as animosity grows. Its survival is unquestionably miraculous. But it is more than an improbable phenomenon; the existence of Israel today is Bible prophecy fulfilled and a witness to the reality and presence of God.

Bible Prophecy Fulfilled

Through the prophet Jeremiah, some 2,600 years ago, God declared: “Fear thou not, O my servant Jacob… neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid” (Jeremiah 30:10). It is no coincidence that Israel was saved from the brink of destruction and regathered. God is in control of their destiny. Their survival is not because they are greater, wiser, or stronger, but because they have been chosen by God as His people and as proof of His existence: “Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God” (Isaiah 43:12).

Israel as God's Witness

Israel is a miracle in the true sense of the word. Its existence is inexplicable and extraordinary, possible only because God ensures it. He has watched over and directed world events to ensure that, unlike other nations condemned to history, His people Israel—His witness—will continue.

The Promise of Future Fulfilment

The Bible, written long before Israel’s rebirth, consistently prophesied both their scattering and regathering. As Ezekiel 37:21-22 states: “Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen… and will bring them into their own land: And I will make them one nation in the land… and one king shall be king to them all.” The complete fulfilment of this prophecy requires Israel to be ruled over by one king. That future king is referred to throughout the Bible—a topic for another discussion.

Conclusion

For now, that king is yet to appear. Yet, who could question the certainty of his coming in the face of the unprecedented and amazing witness of the nation of Israel?

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