The God of Israel is their Strength
“But you, O Israel, My servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham My friend, I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, ‘You are My servant’; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish.” (Isaiah 41:8-11)
If you follow the news about Israel and the Jewish people, fear can strike your heart. Almost exclusively negative, everyone is pointing the finger of blame at Israel.
Hatred against Israel is hatred against the God of Israel, says Psalm 83:1-5 “O God, do not keep silent; be not quiet, O God, be not still. See how Your enemies are astir, how Your foes rear their heads. With cunning they conspire against Your people; they plot against those You cherish. ‘Come,’ they say, ‘let us destroy them as a nation, that the name of Israel be remembered no more.’ With one mind they plot together; they form an alliance against You.”
Trampled on for centuries, the Jewish people have been beaten, plundered, ridiculed, driven to the margins of society or crammed into ghettos, boycotted, and falsely accused, hunted down, driven away, and systematically murdered. For no other reason than being Jewish.
Ultimately their only true friend is their Heavenly Father, the Lord God of Israel. As Psalm 68 says, it is the God of Israel who gives strength; from Him comes the strength of the people [Israel].
Today Jews are boycotted in the fields of sports, from academic institutions like schools and universities, from participation in the Eurovision Song Festival and sports events like the Vuelta in Spain. ‘Pro-Palestine’ demonstrators all around the world intimidate the general public, Church-going-people, governments, and Parliamentarians. They are inspired by a demonic, unbridled Jew-hatred and they want to wipe Israel from the map of the Middle East. Their goal is to establish an Islamic State of Palestine in its place, with Jerusalem, the third holy city of Islam after Mecca and Medina as its capital, between the River Jordan and the Mediterranean Sea. “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free” is their politico-religious slogan.
The United Nations adopts an endless series of anti- Israel resolutions, almost unanimously declaring statehood of ‘Palestine’ upon the land that the Lord God promised to the people of Israel. All these plans for division of the Promised Land will invoke His fierce anger upon the nations of the world, says Joel 3:1-2:“In those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem [which is happening right before our very eyes already for over 100 years] I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will put them on trial for what they did to My inheritance, My people Israel, because they scattered My people among the nations and divided up My land.”
So Where Are the Jewish People to Find Help? Who Can Give Them Strength?
Ultimately their only true friend is their Heavenly Father, the Lord God of Israel. As Psalm 68 says, it is the God of Israel who gives strength; from Him comes the strength of the people [Israel]. He is bringing His people Israel back to His land of Israel (Leviticus 25:23), “with all My heart and soul” (Jeremiah 32:41). “The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace.” (Psalm 29:11).
The God of Israel is their strength. Israel can trust in Him. May they pray, as David did:
“Praise be to You, O Lord, God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is Yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; You are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from You; You are the ruler of all things. In Your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give You thanks and praise Your glorious Name. Glory and wealth are from You; You are the ruler of all things. In Your hands are power and might; You determine the destiny of the nations.” (1 Chronicles 29:10-13).
