What Does Israel Really Mean?
Posted By Joe on March 30, 2009
Have you ever stopped to really think about Israel? Have you ever pondered the significance of the existence of the nation of Israel and the Jewish people? What does Israel really mean? How aware are you of some basic facts of Israel?
There is a really great site called Middle East Facts. They have a list of 20 Truths about Israel. I'd like to share some of them below.
- Nationhood and Jerusalem - Israel became a nation in 1312 B.C.E. (B.C.), two thousand years before the rise of Islam. (Note: this is when God led them out of Egypt.)
- Since the Jewish conquest in 1272 B.C.E. (B.C.) the Jews have had dominion over the land for one thousand years with a continuous presence in the land for the past 3,300 years.
- For over 3,300 years, Jerusalem has been the Jewish capital. Jerusalem has never been the capital of any Arab or Muslim entity. Even when the Jordanians occupied Jerusalem, they never sought to make it their capital, and Arab leaders did not come to visit.
- Jerusalem is mentioned over 700 times in Tanach, the Jewish Holy Scriptures. Jerusalem is not mentioned once in the Koran. There are vague references to Jerusalem in the Hadiths--stories about Mohammed--that he stopped his night journey (which the Koran explains took place in a dream!) at the "farther mosque" (or "distant place"). Muslims explain that this means "at the edge of the Temple mount", although no direct reference to Jerusalem or the Temple Mount is made.
- King David established the city of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Mohammed never came to Jerusalem.
- Jews pray facing Jerusalem. Some Muslims (i.e. those between Israel and Saudi Arabia) pray with their backs toward Jerusalem.
Some other observations:
- Israel has not had a temple to worship in since 70 A.D. when the Romans destroyed the temple in Jerusalem.
- In spite of persecutions throughout the ages--the most horrific and recent being the Holocaust--the Jews are still with us today and flourishing.
- The Israeli-Arab conflict is a real estate dispute. The Jews are not occupying anything near what God promised them, at this point in history.
- Biblical prophecy--thoroughly documented and occurring within a generation ago--was fulfilled in 1948 when Israel became a nation again. My parents were teenagers when the historical event took place.
A list that always fascinated me were the nations that considered Israel an enemy. Where are they today?
- The Egyptian Empire
- The Amalekites
- The Assyrian Empire
- The Hittite Empire
- The Chaldean Empire
- The Philistines
- The Babylonian Empire
- The Persian Empire
- The Greek Empire
- The Roman Empire
- The Byzantine Empire
- The Ottoman Turkish Empire
- The Soviet Empire
- The Nazi Empire
Is that not significant? Little Israel still thriving. The mighty empires in history, gone!
What does Israel really mean...?
"And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." --Genesis 12:3.
I think you'd be a fool to not see how "all the families of the earth" have been blessed through Israel. The ultimate fulfillment of this passage is Jesus. In Him and through Him we are blessed! In your quiet time this week, pray for Israel and bless Israel. Think of the impact of that nation and why they are the apple of God's eye!
May He Increase!
About the author
The real importance of this land is that it bore the footprints of our God as He walked among us. It bore the weight of the best man who ever lived as He hung on an executioner's cross. It gave us witnesses who reported His resurrection from from the dead three days later. Then the cumulative evidence of this land asks us , "What are you going to do with Him?"
Each of us needs to answer this question. The witnesses of this land invite us to come closer. The gospel writer Luke brings us close enough to overhear a conversation that occurred as the long-awaited Messiah hung dying between two criminals being executed at His side. While one of these men mocked Jesus because He was dying as they were, the other was more thoughtful and introspective. The second criminal said to the first, "We receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong." Then he turned to Jesus and said, "Remember me when You come into Your Kingdom." Jesus said, "Today you will be with Me in Paradise". By a simple act of trust, a condemned, dying criminal received heaven's pardon and everlasting life.
All of the chapters of Israel's history point to the death and resurrection of the One who made that promise to a dying man. As the Messiah of Israel was dying, He used a condemned criminal to show all of us how we too can be with Him forever. His words were for all of us. He will bring to His eternal home all who say from their hearts, "I've done wrong. I believe You died for my sins. I accept You as my Savior and entrust myself to You."
Those who make this decision understand why Israel cannot be ignored. It's no wonder that, whether loved or hated, Israel is a magnet. This land is the stage for the greatest story ever told. It is a national museum of history and theology. It is one great archaeological dig for the land of the Bible. This is the battlefield for our souls, our hearts, and our minds!!!!!
Amen!
Thank you, Pastor Ike!
Wonderful comments. You reminded me of the post I did a few weeks back: Paradise Found
Have a great week!!
Sorry to disappoint you Joe but that is from Mart De Haan's book, "Been Thinking About". I'm just the average "Joe" when it comes to putting thoughts together. Just a play on words.....hope you enjoy my sense of humor!!!!! I love ya brother!!
Ike,
I love your sense of humor. I'm so blessed to have you contribute so much to this blog. You are blessing many others as well.
Joe,
Great post. I tried bringing up the existence of Israel with an atheist a while back and he was unimpressed, which proved to me that he doesn't think much. The list of empires that have sought the destruction of God's people is impressive in its scope and in its failure.
Brother Jeff,
Agreed. I don't understand how anyone can look at Israel and not see something under the covers at work. Seriously. The more I think of that little nation and the hell that has come against it, it's clear that it's God's hand at work. There is no other explanation.
Thanks for coming over!
I love this post. Israel is one of my favorite topics.
Thanks Amanda!
I'm with you. I just picked up yet another book today: "The American Apocalypse" I think. Just started it and it starts out by talking how our fate as a nation is tied to Israel's. I'll probably write a word or two about the book as I dig into it further.
Just wanted to point out that you misspelled led -- led out.
Thanks for your site. Don't need to post this.
Joetta,
Thanks so much for catching that. I like having an editor! That's one of the weaknesses of spell checkers. "Lead" was spelled correctly but the usage was wrong. Sometimes I'm writing my thoughts so fast the brain picks the wrong word.
Thanks again,
Joe.
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