Whether one sides with the rabbis or the prime minister, no one today can truly discern exactly how "the Hand of God" is working in Israel's behalf.
By EARL COXearl cox(photo credit: )
When Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met with US President George Bush and representatives of 40 nations last November for the highly promoted Middle East Peace Conference in Annapolis with the intent of launching a Palestinian state, a series of four or five earthquakes struck back home in Israel.
Several Israeli rabbis were quick to declare that the tremors had to be an expression of "the Hand of God." It had to be an indication that God was not pleased with the intention of giving away God-given Jewish land to the Arabs, they inferred. Prime Minister Olmert responded by declaring that, on the contrary, he saw "the Hand of God" in the fact that so many of the world's leaders now strongly favored turning over the land to the Arabs and proceeding with the "two-state solution" to the Israeli-Arab
conflict.
Obviously, "the Hand of God" can have different interpretations, according to one's pre-disposition. Whether one sides with the rabbis or the prime minister, no one today can truly discern exactly how "the Hand of God" is working in Israel's behalf. However, we can take a quick tour through Israel's Biblical history and see that "the Hand of God" did indeed exercise its almighty power in behalf of the people and nation of Israel over and over again.
It started back in the Torah book of Genesis. In chapters 12 and 17 God Himself chose Abraham and made a promise to him that his seed would become a great nation. God also promised that He would give Abraham's seed all the land of Canaan as an everlasting possession. So "the Hand of God" established the Jewish nation and appointed the Jewish nation's homeland.
Then in Exodus the Torah tells us emphatically that "the Hand of God" brought the children of Israel out of bondage in Egypt, led them through the wilderness, and brought them to the Promised Land. In Joshua we learn how "the Hand of God" drove the heathen nations out of Canaan, so the children of Israel could have their very own land and country.
The Bible explains that "the Hand of God" wrought all this, so that all of the children of Israel and all the other nations of the world would know that He is the God of Israel, and that the children of Israel are His special people. The Psalmist David repeatedly recounts in his many poetic psalms how "the Hand of God" worked in behalf of His people, Israel, so that they and their enemies would all know not only that He is God, but also that He is the God of Israel. Then the prophet Ezekiel and others prophetically related how "the Hand of God" would regather the Jewish people from the corners of the earth, where they had been scattered among heathen nations, and return them to their own ancient homeland. Why? Again the prophets explain, so that all the world would see "the Hand of God" at work, and know that He is the God of Israel.
Of course, God did not stop there. After He regathered the Jewish people to their ancient homeland, He also restored their ancient nationhood in 1948. And at that time "the Hand of God" again exercised its power to preserve the re-born nation through the War of Independence.
Divine intervention is the only answer for Israel's miraculous military victory and survival against such incredible odds. Then came 1967 and the amazing Six-Day War. No one can disagree that "the Hand of God" was again responsible for such miraculous success.
Even TIME magazine related incidents where Israel's enemies saw angelic creatures come to the aid of Israeli fighters, both in the Sinai and in the Golan Heights. All this, simply to stress that we believe "the Hand of God" is still working in behalf of Israel today. We believe that the God of Israel is still the Sovereign in control of Israel's affairs today.
There is no other answer to Israel's remarkable preservation, development, and prosperity. Based on historical evidence, it is obvious that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob will continue to control and guide the affairs and destiny of the nation, as He works to fulfill His prophetic plans for Israel's future.
Earl Cox, International Christian Broadcaster, known as 'the voice of Israel to the world.' He is also the founder of Israel AlwaysPrevious entries:
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