CELEBRATE ISRAEL – 5th MAY, 2022 / 4th Iyar 5782
Historic Land of Connection
Israel, although small geographically, is a land huge in historic significance. Biblical history revolves around it. The Bible, however, is not only a history book; it was primarily given by God to teach us about Himself and how we best should live as His children. This indicates that, in the view of the God of Israel, our very lives as His people are somehow connected with His Land – this little land of Israel. 
Situated as it is on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea between the land masses of Turkey and Russia to the north, the stretches of Arabia, Iraq and Iran (ancient Assyria and Persia) to the east, and Egypt and Africa to the south, historically Israel was a corridor linking them all. Trade routes ran through the land serving travelers in every direction. Three of the main routes were the Coastal Highway, which ran through the Jezreel Valley and the plains of lower Galilee, the King’s Highway that provided a route to desert caravans to the east of the Jordan river, and the Damascus Road leading to Babylon and Persia. These highways provided convenient access to invading armies and were often scenes of military conflict.
Due to its strategic geographic importance, many strong nations battled over this little corridor of land. The Assyrians invaded and occupied Israel from 740 BC and repopulated the region of Samaria with foreigners from Mesopotamia, who became known as the Samaritans. The Babylonians again invaded to quell insurrection and destroyed Jerusalem and the First Temple in 604 BC. The Jewish population was exiled to Babylon, leaving only the poorest families behind in Israel. Persia subsequently took over the whole area and the Babylonian exile lasted almost 300 years until the Persian Empire fell to the Greek leader Alexander the Great in 332 BC. During the time of Darius’ rule, many Jews were allowed to return to Jerusalem, led by Ezra, Nehemiah and Zerubavel, in order to rebuild the Temple. The large number who chose to remain in Babylon, including the now aged prophet Daniel, became a flourishing and influential community.
In Israel, the imported Greek culture slowly took hold in the form of Hellenism. It dominated commerce and trade in the area, as well as the newly introduced sporting and cultural events, and in order to participate the Jews had to speak Greek. Many Jews forsook the ways of their God, became assimilated into the culture and adopted the popular Hellenistic lifestyle.
Rome, in 200 BC, with its vastly superior fleet and large, well disciplined army, took control of the region as the Roman Empire expanded over most of the then known world. It was at this stage of history that Jesus (Hebrew – Yeshua) was born in King David’s birthplace of Bethlehem in Judea and then lived most of his life in the Galilee village of Nazareth. The Jewish historian, Josephus, tells us that Galilee in Yeshua’s time was “encircled by foreigners and filled with able-bodied men [who resented the heavy taxation imposed by the Roman occupiers under Caesar] prepared to fight rather than to submit.” [1] There was a fervent messianic hope that Ha’Mashiach, the Anointed One, would be sent by God to redeem Israel from the heavy Roman burden. 
…And many peoples shall come, and say:
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the Torah, and the Word of the LORD from Jerusalem. (Isaiah 2:3)
Undergirding the Word was the promise of YHVH: “I will return to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city and the mountain of the Lord of Hosts, the Holy Mountain” (Zechariah 8:3).
In the year 70 CE, Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed by the Romans. Again, the majority of the Jews were exiled and the land slowly became desolate until 1948 when, in a marvelous intervention and outworking of God, the modern State of Israel was born. During that interim period of almost 2000 years the land, then named Palestina by the Romans, was invaded and trodden down by Byzantines, Arabs, Kurds, Mongols, Mamalukes, Tartars and Turks – as well as by the Crusaders from the West. Throughout the string of invasions Jews continued to dwell in the land. At the time of the first Crusade, for example, there existed sizeable agricultural Jewish populations in the Galilee. There also were important Jewish communities in Jerusalem and other cities such as Hebron, Akko, Haifa, Jaffa, Ramlah, Ashkelon and Gaza.
In the Diaspora, whether prospering in peace or being mercilessly hounded and persecuted, the longing for Zion never abated. Many times a day, and at weddings and funerals, Jews prayed, as they continue to do, toward and for Jerusalem. On Shabbat, before the Ark is opened in every synagogue, these words are prayed:
Merciful Father, deal kindly with Zion, rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Truly in Thee alone we trust; high and exalted King and God, eternal God.
Throughout the centuries there are records of those who with undying hope and great tenacity made their way back to Eretz Yisrael. Many who attempted failed and died en route. Those who succeeded, accepted with love the difficulties and tribulations of life in Palestine in those days. Their dedication no doubt paved the way for all the pioneers who followed, including during the modern restoration of Israel as a national homeland. The unwavering love and connection with the Land that carries Jerusalem at its heart is reflected in these words of the poet, Yehudah Halevi, who lived in Spain during the twelfth century:
Would that I have wings that I could wend my way to thee, O Jerusalem, from afar!
I will make my own broken heart find its way amidst your broken ruins.
I will fall upon my face to the ground, for I take much delight in your stones and show favor to your very dust.
The air of your land is the very life of our soul.
The Restoration
The major political turning point occurred on November 2, 1917, when the British government issued the Balfour Declaration, which stated that: “His Majesty’ s Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people.” As a result Great Britain was given the Mandate over Palestine by the League of Nations (the forerunner of the United Nations) in 1922 in which they were charged “…to secure the cooperation of all Jews who are willing to assist in the establishment of a Jewish National Home” in Palestine (Article 4).
In 1947, a special United Nations committee proposed that the Mandate be terminated and Palestine divided into two sovereign states, one Jewish and one Arab. This Partition Plan was adopted by the General Assembly by a vote of 33 to 13, on November 29, 1947. 
The Arab state was named Transjordan and the Jewish state, Israel. David Ben Gurion was placed at the head of the provisional government which, on May 14th, 1948, proclaimed the establishment of the reborn state of Israel.
The fact that we who are now living are witnesses to the miracle of the restoration of the Promised Land to God’s people carries with it a wonder and a responsibility – a “creative challenge…demanding new action, new thinking.” [2] The full depths of the spiritual meaning and implications may escape us, as it did the early pioneers who might not fully have imagined how their backbreaking work of removing the stones, draining the swamps and suffering malaria would impact the generations to come.
“When the LORD brought the exiles back to Zion, we were like those who dreamed!” (Psalm 126:1)
Nevertheless, we can do our part, however small it may seem, in upholding and proclaiming in faith the Word and promises of God regarding Israel. We can “set our sights” on Israel; live there if we can, stand with her wholeheartedly in support and prayer if we cannot. In the words of Abraham Joshua Heschel:
To be involved with the life of Israel is to be in labor. What is the meaning of the State of Israel? Its sheer being is the message. [It] is a rehearsal, a test, a challenge to all of us. …Nonparticipation in the drama, is a source of embarrassment. Israel…is a call to every one of us as an individual, a call which one cannot answer vicariously.It is, at the same time, a message of meaning…a hope for a new appreciation of being human. [It] is to participate in the process of continuous redemption…[to ensure] that awareness of God penetrates human understanding. …This is the challenge we face. The Bible is the challenge and the way. [3]
These sentiments are powerfully echoed by his daughter Shoshanna:
The presence of Israel has tremendous spiritual and historical significance for the whole world. Israel is God’s stake in human history, …the dawn and the dusk, the challenge and the test. Israel calls for a renewal of trust in the Lord of history. [4]
The murderous threats against this small nation, that has miraculously remained standing through the continuous attacks on every front by the enemy since its inception, are as virulent and relentless as ever. They have, in fact, escalated and become even more blatant and outspoken. Anti-Semitism has morphed into Anti-Zionism, an attack against both Christians and Jews who believe in the Bible’s authenticity as the eternal Word of God and in its proclamations regarding the Land of Promise.
What does it mean to be a biblical Zionist? Pastor David Decker answers from a Christian viewpoint:
“Zionism is simply the belief that the Jewish people should return to live in their ancient homeland [according to] hundreds of Scriptures in our Bible.” He adds: “The whole modern Zionist enterprise, even ‘just’ the physical part, is Divinely blessed and inspired. In my own humble opinion Israel is already the greatest place to live on earth! [However] the real greatness of Israel lies in her spiritual potential…to build the Holy Temple and to become the prophesied Light to the Nations.” [5]
In almost all Bible-believing circles there is a growing anticipation of the imminent arrival of Messiah to the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. Only God Himself knows the details of the ‘bigger picture’ of His plan. In the meantime, we can stand together in support of Israel and aspire faithfully to do all our Father gives us to do, with joy in all He has already accomplished and in great hope for the promises still to be fulfilled. 
Keren Hannah
Footnotes:
1. James M. Monson with Steven P. Lancaster, Regions on the Run, Biblical Backgrounds, Inc. 2009, 30.
2. Abraham Joshua Heschel, Israel: An Echo of Eternity, Jewish Lights Publishing, 1995, 224.
3. Ibid., 224-225.
4. Ibid, Introduction, 136-137.
5. Pastor David N. Decker, Revival from Zion!, M.A.D.P.-Tarshish Ltd., Jerusalem, Israel, 2004, 29-32.
