Israel–God’s Treasured Possession

December 11, 2005

As I reflected on His great love for us, I was impressed, yet again, with how much He loves His people Israel. The Bible, God’s love letter to mankind, is full of expressions of love for His people Israel. A few Scriptures come to mind almost immediately.

“He has remembered His love and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God” (Psalm 98:3, NIV).

“For the Lord has chosen Jacob to be His own, Israel to be His treasured possession” (Psalm 135:4, NIV).

God’s Great Promises to Abraham and His Descendants

When you love someone, you delight in pleasing him or her. As I read the Bible and see the way God woos His people Israel and promises to bless her, I sense an intensity of love that comes from the depths of God’s being.

“But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the descendants of Abraham My friend. You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest regions, and said to you, ‘You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away: Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand’” (Isaiah 41:8–10, NKJV).

Waiting for the Promise

For over 2,000 years, the Jewish people were in exile, longing to see the fulfillment of God’s promises. Every afternoon in their prayers, they prayed, “Set thy dwelling again in the midst of Jerusalem, Thy city as Thou has spoken, and establish soon therein the throne of David. Build up Zion speedily in our days for all time. Blessed art Thou, Lord who rebuildest Jerusalem.” Every Passover, they said, “Next Year in Jerusalem.” They never forgot their God and His promise to return them to Eretz Yisrael (Land of Israel). Yet, the promised fulfillment seemed to elude them.

“But Zion said, ‘The Lord has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me.’ ‘Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands; your walls are ever before Me’” (Isaiah 49:14-16, NIV).

Then, just over a hundred years ago, God began to stir; and many promises began to be fulfilled. Since that time, the State of Israel has been established, millions of Jewish people have returned to Israel, and the Land is being restored.

It Is a Process

We are blessed and encouraged to see the way God is faithfully fulfilling His promises to Israel. What a wonderful God He is! Israel is, without question, a miracle nation. We see the hand of God at work all around us. Yet, at the same time, the forces of evil want to foil the plans of God. Terror attacks, wars, and economic uncertainty abound. The people wonder why, as they suffer the pain of great loss, as so many loved ones are wounded or killed. They are weary of war and want to live in peace, but it is ever elusive. So God, ever the lover, has sent others to stand beside them and encourage them. Bridges for Peace and our 75 Christian staff members, most of them volunteers from the nations, are part of God’s team of encouragers.

“Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are fearful-hearted, ‘Be strong, do not fear! Behold your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; He will come and save you’” (Isaiah 35:3-4, NKJV).

We have the awesome privilege to be part of what God is doing now and in the days to come. God is moving on the hearts of many Christians around the world to support, comfort, and encourage the Jewish people as He returns them to Israel, restores the land, and redeems His people.

There Is More to Come

God isn’t finished. He is in the midst of a masterpiece. Only He knows exactly how the tapestry will be woven together. The days will come when: “…The eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. The parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water…with reeds and rushes. A highway shall be there, and a road, and it shall be called the Highway of Holiness…But the redeemed shall walk there, and the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy upon their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Isaiah 35:5–10, NKJV).

As I write these words, my spirit leaps within me. At Bridges for Peace, we feel so privileged to be participants in the fulfillment of Bible prophecy. I hope as you read this, your heart also is moved, and you will decide to partner with God and us. Your financial support makes it possible for us to encourage the needy with food from our Israel food bank, repair homes for the elderly and new immigrants, help Jewish people come home to Israel from the nations of their dispersion, and more. See the attached list for the many ways you can bless the nation of Israel and show them that they are God’s treasured possession and He has not forgotten them.

In His Service, from Jerusalem,

Rebecca J. Brimmer International President and CEO

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