The wonder of Israel's rebirth

 Is 66:8

Who has ever heard of such things? Who has ever seen things like this? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion in labor than she gives birth to her children.

When Isaiah penned these words from the Lord, I am sure that he wondered greatly about its meaning! This prophecy was fulfilled in recent history.

The Belfour Declaration in 1917 paved the way for the United Nations to adopt Resolution 181 on November 29, 1947, officially declaring Israel as the homeland of the Jews. (Provision was made for the division of the land between the Arabs and the Jews, a solution plan which the Arabs rejected).  On May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion proclaimed the State of Israel, thereby establishing the first Jewish state in 2 000 years. The State of Israel officially came into being upon termination of the British mandate in Palestine that same evening at midnight – and a country was born in a day!

There is another wonder associated with this day in history. Since the 6^th century, the rabbis from the Babylonian exile had divided the Torah (first five books of the Bible) and later the Haftarah (the books of the Prophets) into sections to be read publicly in synagogues, the aim being that they take one calendar year to read through.

The day following the proclamation of the State of Israel was a Sabbath, and the reading from the prophets for that day was Amos 9:11-15, of which verses 11, 13 and 14 are given here:

In that day I will restore David’s fallen shelter— I will repair its broken walls and restore its ruins— and will rebuild it as it used to be,

I will bring my exiled people of Israel back from distant lands, and they will rebuild their ruined cities and live in them again. They will plant vineyards and gardens; they will eat their crops and drink their wine.

I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them,” says the LORD your God.

These words echoed throughout the world from synagogues on the first day of modern Israel’s existence – only God could have orchestrated this!

Points to ponder:  Let these events from the history of Israel greatly increase your faith in the God Who keeps His promises, and Who knows every little detail of your life!

 Hatikvah