The Return of the Exiles
The Fellowship | March 9, 2018
He will raise a banner for the nations
and gather the exiles of Israel;
he will assemble the scattered people of Judah
from the four quarters of the earth. — Isaiah 11: 12
The year 2018 is important for Israel and the Jewish people as we celebrate the modern State of Israel’s 70th Birthday. You can be part of this momentous milestone with Rabbi Eckstein’s 70 devotions offered now through April 19, Israel’s Independence Day. These devotions are tied to our Keys to Israel – six fundamental principles underlying God’s covenantal relationship with His chosen people and His Holy Land using the acrostic I.S.R.A.E.L.
This devotion is part of ten devotions focusing on the letter “A” — Aliyah, or immigration to Israel —exploring the fulfillment today of biblical prophecy and God’s promise that He would bring back His children to their ancient homeland, Israel.
When Fredrick the Great asked his trusted advisor for the single, strongest piece of evidence that proved the existence of God, the advisor answered him: “The Jews, Sir, the Jews.”
How is it that the Jewish people are a living testimony to the existence of God?
The answer is that the Jewish people, according to all reason and logic, should no longer exist. It is statistically impossible for such a small nation, persecuted and kicked out of land after land, to still be around. Even more unbelievable is that fact that the Jews have returned to their homeland. There is no natural explanation for the existence of Israel today, only a supernatural one. There is only one possible explanation for the survival and revival of the Jews: God.
If the Jews exist today, it is only because God exists eternally.
If the Jews were a large and mighty nation, we may have been able to attribute their perseverance to their significant numbers or military prowess. If the Jews had remained safely in their homeland since its inception over three thousand years ago, we might have been able to credit their existence today with the stability that they enjoyed throughout history. However, the Jews have enjoyed none of these advantages. They have been a small nation, less than 1% of all humanity, with neither a military nor a homeland until recent times. Under these circumstances, no nation could possibly survive.
Even more startling is that the Bible predicted these dire circumstances: “The Lord will scatter you among the peoples, and only a few of you will survive . . .” (Deuteronomy 4:27). And the Bible also promised the miraculous return of the Jewish people: ” . . . he will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth.” Who could make such an outrageous claims other than the Master of the world? Only God could predict and arrange such events!
In his brilliant work, “My Beloved Knocks,” Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik (20th century New York) lists the “six knocks of God” on our doors in these times – the six modern miracles regarding the Jews, including the return to the land of Israel, the miracles of the Israeli army, and the establishment of the State of Israel. These supernatural events predicted in the Bible, says the Rabbi, are God knocking on our door beckoning us to wake up and let Him into our lives.
We are living in wondrous times. The promises of the Bible are being fulfilled today. Let us be inspired by the miracles unfolding before our very eyes. Let us reaffirm our faith and renew our commitments to God. God is eternally faithful; may we be faithful to Him for all eternity!
Join the celebration and get the entire Keys to I.S.R.A.E.L. curriculum for free — for you, your small group, or even your church.