Paul Luckraft reviews three more of CFI's helpful teaching booklets.

The following three booklets are all by Derek White, who helped found and direct Christian Friends of Israel.

Tabernacles and the Messiah's Coming (41 pages, available from CFI for £3)

This booklet and the one on Shavuot (see below) are described as Studies in the Feasts, and intended for individuals or groups to discover how the Jewish feasts were not just of great relevance to the Jewish people, but also how they should be memorials or landmarks to remind us of various aspects of our redemption.

There are six brief studies within this booklet plus several pages of references and endnotes. The aim is not to focus on practical suggestions for celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles within a non-Jewish setting (this can readily be found in other books) but to explain the biblical meaning and prophetic significance of the Feast.

The content of six studies should be followed in numerical order, although within each study there is a certain amount of flexibility. The first study is an introduction; then follow separate studies on the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement (two studies on this topic) and then Tabernacles itself. The final study tackles the spiritual application of the Feasts.

Each study begins with some Scripture readings and at various intervals within the study key questions are posed along the lines of 'What does this mean for the Church?' or 'What is God saying to us today through these feasts?' One important feature of these studies is to link the Feast of Tabernacles with the coming of the Messiah, both in terms of Jesus' first coming (his birth) and his return as a final fulfilment of the feast.

The result of working through this booklet should be a greater knowledge of how God's salvation plan has been revealed, and a better contextual understanding of Israel in relation to the Bible and of the Jewish people in relation to the Church. Overall this is a welcome contribution to the Hebraic roots movement.

The Jewishness of Jesus (22 pages, available from CFI for £2.50)

An appreciation of the Jewishness of Jesus is essential if we are to fully understand him and the full impact of his message. Since this booklet was first published there has been a lot of material produced to further this aim, a "tide of rediscovery" which has been exciting Christians with a "fresh awareness of who Jesus was and what he taught" (p1). It is perhaps best to see this booklet as a basic offering to those who need to set out on this journey of discovery. There is a useful page of sources and further reading at the end, but even this could be updated today.

White covers most of the standard topics: Jesus's family background and upbringing, the clothes he wore and the methods he used when he taught. There are also useful sections on his claim to be Messiah, his healing ministry and the relationship between Jesus and the Pharisees. Four pages are devoted to explaining that Jesus taught in Hebrew and showing that there is plenty of evidence to support the idea that underneath the Greek manuscripts "there appears to lie a Hebrew original" (p6). By quoting ancient writers from the second century onwards and by explaining certain Hebraic idioms, White builds up his case convincingly.

Overall, a straightforward introduction in a handy format, and one that should provoke interest and a desire to know more.

Shavuot and the Spirit (32 pages, available from CFI for £3)

This booklet contains five study sections together with some final pages of notes and references. The introduction explains that whereas most studies of this kind focus on the traditional Jewish customs of today, here, in addition to explaining a Jewish understanding of Shavuot, the aim is to "explore the Messianic fulfilment of the feast, namely the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in fulfilment of the promise of Jesus" (p1).

Session One takes us through the Old Testament background, asking what is the significance of this feast and how we should regard it. The relationship to Sinai and the Law is made clear. Next comes an exploration of the counting of the Omer in preparation for Shavuot, and considers the meaning of the two loaves of bread that were waved before the Lord.

Session Three gives a thorough examination of the New Testament fulfilment and is followed up in the next session by asking 'What is the outpouring of the Spirit?' The final session is largely for recapitulation and discussion, and allows time for study of the material provided in the notes, especially the important first note on Torah. It also provides an opportunity for planning a 'Counting of the Omer' night of study in preparation for Pentecost or for a group reading of the book of Ruth.

The information in this booklet should be of great interest to anyone wishing to explore the feasts and will especially be beneficial for group study.

CFI has a large range of booklets on a variety of subjects – click here to browse their selection.

This week's scriptures: Deuteronomy 32:1-52; 2 Samuel 22:1-51; Romans 10:14-11:12

This week's Torah portion coincides with the days leading up to the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) when Jews in our own day remember the days of the wilderness journey to the Promised Land.

The Books of Torah begin with the account of Creation and the Fall and include the history of Noah and Abraham - the beginning of God establishing and outworking his Covenant plan. This week's Torah portion brings us to the point when Moses was soon to die, handing over leadership responsibility to Joshua. Before doing so, Moses brought a prophetic Song to ancient Israel. In this Song he recalled what God had done and looked into the future.

Blessings and Warnings

We Christians have extracted some wonderful verses from this song to sing in our church services:

Ascribe greatness to our God the Rock, His work is perfect and all His ways are just. A God of truth and without injustice; righteous and upright is He. (Deut 32:3-4)

Do we sometimes, however, over-emphasise the blessings and ignore the difficulties? For Israel, Moses' song was also full of warnings. He prophesied accurately concerning the way the Children of Israel would constantly rebel against God and suffer the consequences. These are the hard truths to be remembered at Sukkot in the context of repentance and praising God for his greatness.

Accurate Prophecy

These are the Days of Awe for Israel. By the time we read the Torah portion this week, the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) will also have been celebrated in Israel (on Tishrei 10, Wednesday 12 October). This is considered to be the holiest day of the year when religious Jews put matters right with their family and friends and seek to put matters right with God.

Much has happened in Israel's history since the days of Moses. There have been good times, but also unbearable difficulties and pain. In the context of ascribing greatness to God, we must understand that Moses' prophecy (Song) was an accurate description of what it would take for God to shepherd his chosen people through the course of history, up to and including today and on into the future, when all Covenant purposes will be fulfilled.

The Song of Moses should be, for all of us, a cause for deep meditation, with the high notes of God's faithfulness harmonising with the bass notes of human experience.

Final Fulfilment

"For the joy set before him Jesus endured the cross" (Heb 12:2) comes to mind as a fitting truth to put alongside our Torah portion meditations this week, for here too are expressions of both the high notes and the bass notes of Covenant history. "It is finished" (John 19:30) resounded from the Cross, across all time and history. All the pain and suffering that were an inevitable consequence of the Fall, which the entire world has suffered and into which Israel was called to be the prominent example, were brought to a climax through the sacrifice of Jesus.

This is in fulfilment of the last words of Moses' Song (Deut 32:43), as he looked forward to the great day when the promise of redemption would be fulfilled:

Rejoice O Gentiles, with His people; for He will avenge the blood of His servants, and render vengeance to His adversaries; He will provide atonement for His land and His people.

If we choose this week in our congregations to sing the chorus "Ascribe greatness to our God the Rock", perhaps we should remember the full context.

Yet, we are not wrong to major on God's blessings if we live in faith in Jesus, taking all things in balance. One day the emphasis will not only be on the Song of Moses. When all is finally accomplished for our eternal life with our Great God, it will be in the full balance of the Song of Moses "and the Lamb" (Rev 15:3-4), when complete and final justice has been brought - not only to Israel but also to the entire world.

Author: Dr Clifford Denton

A UNESCO resolution was passed yesterday denying the Jewish claim to Temple Mount and the Western Wall.

The resolution, which passed with 24 votes in favour versus 6 against (with 26 abstentions), re-classifies Temple Mount in exclusively Muslim terms and fails to acknowledge its significance to Jews.

Whilst it acknowledges Jerusalem as significant to three monotheistic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam), the section on Temple Mount omits any reference to Judaism or Christianity and uses only Arabic place-names,¹ effectively re-writing several thousand years of history.

The resolution on 'Occupied Palestine' is in its second draft form (the first draft was voted on in April, with a similar result). Having now passed through the UNESCO committee stage, it will go to the Executive Board for approval next week. Unsurprisingly, it was tabled by several Arab states, including Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon and Sudan, no doubt acting on behalf of Hamas. Interestingly, several heavyweight nations with supposedly positive relations with Israel also voted for the resolution, including Russia and China.

International Condemnation

The resolution's blatant defiance of the historical and archaeological record and its clear anti-Israel (many have already said anti-Semitic) bias has caused quite a stir, both in Israel and internationally. This morning Israel froze all co-operation with UNESCO until further notice, with Education Minister Naftali Bennett arguing that the vote will only encourage further terror attacks on Jews.²

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also criticised the resolution, describing UNESCO as an "absurd theater" and saying "To say that Israel has no connection to the Temple Mount and the Western Wall is like saying that China has no connection to the Great Wall of China and that Egypt has no connection to the Pyramids".³ Israeli President Reuven Rivlin responded to the result: "No forum or body in the world can say that there is no connection between the Jewish people and the Land of Israel and to Jerusalem. A body that does so is simply humiliating itself."⁴

The Western Wall of Jerusalem remains one of the most hotly contested spaces in the world.Further afield, Bulgarian Director-General of UNESCO Irina Bokova has signalled her clear disapproval of the motion, saying that it threatens to undermine the organisation's activities,⁵ which are supposedly to work for global peace and security. Criticism has also come at UNESCO from lawmakers at all points on the political spectrum, as well as pro-Israel lobbying groups worldwide.

Anti-Semitic Agendas

In broader context, the resolution represents the next stage in the Arab bid to delegitimise Israel and erase her claim on the Land, from the top down, through a concerted effort within the UN. The text of the resolution repeatedly refers to Israel as 'the occupying Power' and nearly exhausts the thesaurus with its cries for Israel to relinquish her presence and authority in the West Bank: it 'deplores', 'condemns', 'decries', 'disapproves of' and 'deeply regrets' Israel's authority over the contested areas, condemning "continuous Israeli aggressions" and "provocative abuses", with no mention whatsoever of Palestinian terror activity.⁶

Linguistically, it builds on the vote in 2010 to refer to various holy Jewish sites in both Muslim and Hebrew terms (with the Muslim term coming first, of course), e.g. 'al-Haram al-Ibrahimi/Tomb of the Patriarchs' and 'Bilal bin Rabah Mosque/Rachel's Tomb' ,⁷ this time removing Hebrew terminology altogether.

The resolution on 'Occuped Palestine' is more than just a failure to acknowledge the Jewish claim on Temple Mount – it is a deliberate erasure of it, a bald-faced attempt to rewrite history in favour of contemporary Islamic agendas. It is the latest in a string of distorted, anti-Semitic judgments to emerge from the UN, adding to the international effort to demonise Israel's presence in the West Bank and her claim on Jerusalem.⁸

The resolution is the UN's latest bald-faced attempt to rewrite history against Israel and in favour of Islam.

Dangerous Games

But, thankfully, it is not all bad news. Aside from Russia, no European state voted for the resolution this time around, thanks to recent Israeli diplomatic efforts to improve relations with other Western countries. Israel's ambassador to UNESCO, Carmel Shama-Hacohen, has commented that the vote shows a loss of key Palestinian support ground in Europe (particularly significant is France's shift from leading the anti-Israel vote to abstention), compared to the vote on the resolution's first draft, in April of this year.⁹ It's not much, but it's a start – we are not yet at the stage of global war on Israel, as prophesied in Ezekiel 38.

God clearly states in Scripture that "I will bless those who bless [Israel], and whoever curses [Israel] I will curse". This promise has never been rescinded – it is as true today for modern individuals and nations as it was for ancient empires.

As Hatikvah's excellent documentary 'Abraham's Vision'¹⁰ helpfully unpacks, the Hebrew words for 'curse' differ in this verse. God promises to 'ârar' [bitterly curse] those who 'qâlal' [make light of, despise, treat with contempt] Israel. This includes the least form of mockery or denial.

Those who voted for the resolution are treading on dangerous ground, for "it is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Heb 10:31). Thankfully, Britain voted against it!¹¹ But we should not be rubbing our hands with glee at the prospect of the Arab nations eventually getting their just desserts – we should be praying that God brings them into a full knowledge of the truth, about him and his people – and we should be standing up for this truth ourselves.

Thanks to Israeli diplomatic efforts, no European state voted for the resolution.

The Way to True Peace

UNESCO's mission is to build peace "in the minds of men and women". As its behaviour stands in such stark contrast to this goal, we must learn that we cannot rely on international institutions of 'peace' and 'justice' to promote the truth worldwide. Only those whose minds are being renewed by The Truth himself - Jesus Messiah, who makes "one new man" out of Jew and Gentile (Eph 2:15), dissolving centuries of enmity - can show the world the pathway to true peace. And we don't have to be international diplomats or UN officials to do that – it starts where we are, with those immediately around us, today.

References

1 The Western Wall is mentioned only twice in the whole document, both times in quotation marks and after the Arabic name Al-Buraq, suggesting lesser legitimacy. The phrase 'Temple Mount' is missing from the entire document, replaced 15 times with the Islamic name Al-Ḥaram Al-Sharif.

2 Hoffman, G. Bennett suspends Israeli cooperation with UNESCO after Temple Mount vote. Jerusalem Post, 14 October 2016.

3 Ravid, B and Khouri, J. UNESCO backs motion nullifying Jewish ties to Temple Mount. Haaretz, 13 October 2016.

4 Ibid.

5 Sharon, I and Arhen, R. UNESCO chief pans her member states on anti-Israel Jerusalem resolution. Times of Israel, 14 October 2016.

6 The full text of the resolution can be read here.

7 See Wikipedia's page on UNESCO.

8 Since 2013, Israel has been condemned in 45 resolutions from the UN Human Rights Council (nearly half of all the country-specific resolutions it has ever passed). See here.

9 Ahren, R. Outrageous as it may be, UNESCO's Jerusalem vote has a silver lining. Times of Israel, 14 October 2016.

10 Previously published as 'Blessing, Curse or Coincidence? Vol 1', see here.

11 Other countries voting against were Estonia, Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands and the United States.

This week's scriptures: Deuteronomy 31:1-30; Isaiah 55:6-56:8; Romans 10:14-18.

This is a very special week. Last Sunday (2 October) at sundown was the start of the new year 5777 in the Jewish civil calendar - Rosh Hashanah (the Head of the Year), the first day of the month of Tishri. It begins ten Days of Repentance (known as the Days of Awe, Yomim noraim) in which God invites His people to seek His face - not just for knowledge or revelation, but for a cleansed relationship with their holy God.

Come to an Awesome God, to Enter His Service

It is accompanied by the sounding of a ram's horn, the shofar, for this day is called Yom Teru'ah – the Day of Blowing. In modern Hebrew, the word ha-tra'ah means 'the warning or alert', and is based on the same root as teru'ah. For observers of Rosh Hashanah, it is an urgent call to repent, to get right relationships with God and with our fellow man. Moses and Isaiah exhorted ancient Israel to forsake their evil ways and thoughts, and turn to God in repentance, as these days lead to atonement on Yom Kippur. He would then have mercy on them and freely pardon their sins (Isa 55:6-7).

It is an opportunity we also should not miss, to repent and turn from going our own way. Free pardon of sin, however, was and is only available through the suffering Servant, whom Isaiah revealed as the promised Messiah (Isa 53:2-12).

God is Awesome in His Actions

Often the Lord would bring His people to a place or time when He would have them move into a new area for Him, but would complete this work only if they heard His call and acted in faith. Our extended Torah portion this week describes how Moses brought God's people Israel to the River Jordan (in full flood at the time) and summoned all Israel to hear again the instructions (Torah) that God had given them. He told them, and Joshua who was to be their new leader, Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of the nations, for the Lord your God goes with you (Deut 31:6).

Moses then gave the Torah to the priests and the elders, and commanded them to read it at the end of every seventh (Sh'mittah) year, so they would learn to fear the Lord and obey His words. The priests carrying the Ark of the covenant were to walk in faith into the river. When they did this, the Lord stopped the flow of the Jordan and the people crossed over on dry ground (a reminder of the Red Sea crossing on dry ground during the Exodus from Egypt). What an awesome God we serve!

Do we also act in faith, and expect amazing things, when He calls us to move out into a new area of witness for our awesome Lord? This present time after the Brexit vote is one such call especially to repentance before Him. But God says to us: Be strong and courageous. He tells us (as He told Joshua), Do not be terrified or discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you (Josh 1:9). 365 times in Scripture, God says, "Do not fear" (one for each day!). God always keeps His promises - Psalm 107 is worth reading to see God's mercy and faithfulness.

Yet God also warned Moses of Israel's future idolatry and their breaking of His covenant. There would be disasters and difficulties because they would reject the Lord (Deut 31:16). This is as true for Britain today as for Israel.

God is Awesome in His Love for Mankind

Isaiah also looked forward to the future glory of Zion and the salvation offered to all people through their Messiah. Again, he encouraged the people concerning God's tender mercy and pardon for those who seek Him while He may be found and call on Him while He is near (Isa 55:7). Even in their wicked ways and broken covenant, His love and faithfulness is shown by His promise that His word will achieve His purpose (Isa 55:11), and again God presents a challenge to choose what pleases the Lord, expressed as keeping Shabbat (a sign of the covenant).

Indeed His love for all people is proclaimed by His word to include the Gentiles: "My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations" (Isa 56:7), including the Gentiles; and to His covenant people Israel, "I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring My salvation to the ends of the earth" (Isa 49:6). In spite of their breaking His covenant, His love will bring them into a renewed covenant in the Blood of Messiah: "I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols...and I will put My Spirit in you and move you to follow My decrees" (Ezek 36:25-27).

In the face of rejection and idolatry from those He calls 'My people', whom He had rescued and redeemed from slavery in Egypt, God would simply pardon their sin, and make a new covenant with them. But at such immeasurable cost - for He would give His only Son to bear their sin and die for them, and also for Gentiles, who were at that time His enemies (Rom 5:10, Col. 1:21), that they also might receive salvation through the Jew's Messiah. This is our awesome God. Who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders (Ex 15:11)?

God is Awesome in His Call to Active Service

To us also in these days of turmoil, He says, Be strong and courageous, for your God goes with you.

Can we grasp the assurance that this gives us? And be hungry for His word, and get to know His Son, Messiah Jesus, for He has promised never to leave us or forsake us (Heb 13:5). Vayelech is derived from the word Lech - Go! It's a call to be proactive. If we respond to His call in faith – put our feet into the flooding river – He will complete His work through us, for we can do nothing of ourselves (John 15:5). He has brought us to this place and time.

We need to hear, and act. Let us step out to proclaim the message of salvation to both Jew and Gentile. Paul shares four active steps: be the messenger (Isa 6:8), preach the message (2 Tim 4:2), so they hear and so believe (Rom 10:14-18). He recognises that not all will receive the good news, but faith comes by hearing the gospel (Rom 10:17). So this is our call – Lech! Go! and make disciples of all nations. For "I am with you always" (Matt 28:19).

Approaching Our Awesome God

The reading of Torah every seven years was to engender a reverent awe and fear of Almighty God. If God is for us who can be against us (Rom 8:31)? In these days of shaking (and it is God who is doing the shaking) we too need to know that we are receiving a Kingdom that cannot be shaken.

So let us be thankful, and worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire (Heb 12:28-29). Jesus Himself said, Repent, for the Kingdom of God is near (Matt 4:17). His return is near. Approaching this awesome holy God must be by repentance of any sin that separates us from His Presence. Each of us needs to recognise the many ways we have hurt others, and been hurt ourselves. Many live in unforgiveness, so let us at this time forgive, so we might be forgiven (Matt 6:14-15).

This week of Yomim noraim is God's chosen way of bringing us into His Presence to receive His call. We must work while it is day, for night is coming when no-one can work (John 9:4). Repentance is the key. Let us listen, take time to re-evaluate our relationship with the Lord, and then consecrate ourselves, seek His face, and be prepared to see His amazing work, as we respond in faith. His grace is sufficient for us. For He is an amazing and awesome God.

Shanah tovah – A good year to you!

Author: Greg Stevenson

Storm-force winds are about to break across Britain.

The opening salvo was fired this week with Labour lobbying 170 questions at the Government,¹ all designed to throw stumbling blocks into the path of negotiations to get Britain out of the European Union.

Yesterday the battlefield widened and moved from Westminster to the High Court in London, where businesswoman Gina Miller began her challenge to the Government's right to trigger Article 50 using the Royal Prerogative. This avoids a vote in Parliament, which the Government would probably lose as most MPs voted to remain in the EU. Conservative MP Bernard Jenkin, who is chair of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, said "Treaty matters have always been done by royal prerogative, and Article 50 is a treaty matter".

He added: "Among those involved in the court case are a great many people who want to frustrate the UK from leaving the European Union or maintain a half in, half out solution. I think they want to protract the agony and uncertainty when in fact what business wants is certainty and a clear direction."²

Warnings of Difficulty

Prophetic warnings had already alerted us to expect these manoeuvres from those who want to frustrate Britain's exit from the EU. "Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets" (Amos 3:7). These warnings have come from many prayer groups and ministries around the country. They acknowledge that God guided the Referendum vote on 23 June and that it was inevitable that the enemy would be angry and would do everything possible to obstruct the path of Brexit.

Warnings have already alerted us to expect manoeuvres from those who want to frustrate Britain's exit from the EU.

Businesswoman Gina Miller has launched a legal challenge to the Brexit process.The prophetic words we have been hearing, some of which we have published in recent weeks, warn that this will not be an easy time and there will be many alarms and excursions, especially regarding the economic health of the nation.

But the assurance has always been that as a nation we will come through this and see considerable prosperity in the future, provided we hold onto a steady path and our negotiators seek the ways of righteousness, truth and justice.

Need for Prayer

This is where Christians have a role to play in upholding in prayer all those who are involved in the negotiations. We do not expect all our negotiators, businessmen, lawyers and politicians to be committed Christians - although undoubtedly some will be, and we hope that God will use their words to steer a clear path of truth and to be the most influential. God does not save by numbers – in fact, he loves to use small numbers and those whom the world considers weak.

Paul actually boasted in his weakness; he said "I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Cor 12:10). This may seem a strange statement, but God had made him a promise: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor 12:9).
This is a paradox that only Christians can understand. It means that when we acknowledge our powerlessness and put our trust totally in God, he is then able to take full control and we don't mess things up by trying to do everything in our own strength.

It is particularly important to learn this spiritual lesson at this stage in our nation's history, because God has responded to the prayers of large numbers of his people as well as using the frustrations of many who don't know him to achieve the vote to leave the EU. God is now looking for those who do know him to strengthen the fearful and uphold those who are weak. He says "Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees! Make level paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed" (Heb 12:12-13).

Christians have a role to play in upholding in prayer all those who are involved in the negotiations.

Word AND Spirit

How do we grow in spiritual strength? The prophet Ezekiel was faced with a very difficult task when he was taken to Babylon as one of the captives, but called by God to exercise leadership and strengthen the people.

Figuratively he was told to eat a scroll of the word of the Lord (at least, I think it was figuratively - it may have been a real scroll of the Torah!). He says that it tasted as sweet as honey in his mouth and then God promised "I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them though they are a rebellious house" (Ezek 3:9). In order to minister effectively to his fellow captives from Jerusalem in Babylon, Ezekiel had not only to know the word of God, but to be filled with the power of the Spirit of God.

Many of the prophetic words we have been receiving from Christians in different parts of Britain speak of the great opportunity that is being presented to us at this time to witness to the nation. It is God's intention and desire to bless Britain – indeed, I believe that God wants to use Britain to demonstrate to the world the power and prosperity that comes to those who put their trust in him.

He can only do that through those who understand his purposes; who know his word and are filled with his Spirit. We may not all be directly involved in negotiating the Brexit process – but in taking the opportunities God is providing for witness, in strengthening feeble arms and weak knees and in faithfully interceding for our nation at this important time, we can all play a role. For those who are willing, I believe that God stands ready to equip, strengthen and lead, providing a sure footing at every step.

References

1 The 170 questions were laid out in a letter sent by shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry and shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer to Brexit Secretary David Davis, earlier this week.

2 Clifford, M. Theresa May has no legal power to start Brexit, High Court told. Sky News, 13 October 2016.

In the next part of our series on the message of the Old Testament prophets, Gary Clayton looks at the Prophet Jonah.

Jonah (the name means 'dove') son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath Hepher (2 Kings 14:25), was a native of Galilee. He lived, it is thought, around the time of Jeroboam II, during the seventh or mid-eighth century BC.

The Historical Background

Under Jeroboam II (793-753 BC) Israel and its capital, Samaria, flourished. The king "restored the boundaries of Israel from Lebo Hamath to the Sea of the Arabah" (2 Kings 14:25), recovering Israel's northern borders. Lucrative trade pacts were signed with the Phoenicians of Tyre and wealth flooded into the now prosperous kingdom.
The people, it was no doubt said, had never had it so good - though discrimination and injustice were rife. It was into this situation that the prophets Amos and Hosea were to speak.

Jonah, however, was given a different message. He was told to "go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it" (Jon 1:2). Founded by Nimrod the hunter (Gen 10:8-12), Nineveh became one of the richest and most powerful cities in the world.

From the eighth century BC to its destruction in 612 BC, it was the capital of the Assyrian empire, and was situated on the left bank of the River Tigris, just 280 miles north of Babylon.

Nineveh was a rich and powerful city – the stronghold of a warlike people who massacred and mutilated those they defeated.

Mosul, Iraq, is modern-day Nineveh.Protected by a wall seven and a half miles long and 100 feet high, Nineveh was defended by 1,500 towers, each of them 200 feet high. It was the stronghold of a warlike people who massacred and mutilated those they defeated, believing themselves to be engaged in a cosmic battle on behalf of Ashur, their god.

Already, by the time of Jonah, the Assyrians represented a formidable threat to Israel's security. Indeed, in 721 BC Sargon II occupied Samaria, deporting 27,210 Israelites to Assyria for slave-labour.

Jonah: A Good Example?

Despite God's commission, Jonah fled to Joppa (modern day Jaffa) instead. Whether he did so in a fit of pique or from fear, we do not know.

In many ways, however, one could regard Jonah as an example that many believers might do well to follow. He not only believed in God, but was willing to testify to his existence (Jon 1:9), regardless of the consequences (Jon 1:11,12). He also took time to listen to his Maker and obviously heard his voice clearly (Jon 1:1; 3:1; 4:4; 4:9-11).

Another point in Jonah's favour was his willingness to address God in prayer and communicate his concerns (Jon 2:1-9; 4:2-3; 4:8-9), as it says in 1 Peter 5:7, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." Like Nathanael in John 1:47, Jonah was a man without guile, "in whom there is nothing false". He 'tells it like it is.' Whether in anger, discomfort, frustration or distress, he brought his hurts before the Lord, just as Elijah and Moses had done centuries earlier.

Jonah was brave too, in his way (Jon 1:12), as well as honest (Jon 1:10). Indeed, he would make an almost entirely admirable character if, having received his instructions from God, he had responded by setting off in the right direction.

God Will Always Triumph

As it is, oblivious to the truth of Psalm 139:8-10, "If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast", he set sail for Tarshish (in what is now southern Spain) thinking that he could escape God. It was as far from Nineveh as one could possible get in the ancient world.

In many ways, Jonah was an example we would do well to follow.

God, however, had other ideas. Jonah may have been the right man for the right time, but he was certainly in the wrong place, thus prompting some Divine intervention in the form of adverse weather conditions.

Everyone (it would seem) was afraid - except Jonah (Jon 1:5-6) who, asleep and apparently oblivious to the sea raging around him, knew how best the storm might be stilled, albeit by somewhat dramatic means (Jon 1:15). At fault though he was, Jonah was willing to be thrown overboard, rather than allow those on the ship to perish (Jon 1:12).

Although Jonah refused to go to Nineveh, no doubt hoping that the Assyrians would die in their sins rather than repent and live (Jon 3:10), God had other ideas. Romans 8:28 tells us, "In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

As with Joseph's brothers in Genesis 50:20, what Jonah intended for 'harm', God planned for good, with Jonah's attempt at escaping from God resulting in the salvation of those heading for Tarshish (Jon 1:15,16). The book teaches us that we can run from God, but we cannot hide. Ultimately he will have his way, whether we co-operate or not.

A Light to the Gentiles

Jonah, however, had yet to learn that not only could merchants and seafarers turn to the Lord, but so could the violent and rapacious Assyrians (Jon 3:5-9). So it was that, having had his life miraculously preserved by the fish, Jonah ended up vomited onto dry land (Jon 2:10), though nowhere near Nineveh (Assyria is not on the coast).

What Jonah intended for harm, God planned for good, resulting in the salvation of those on board Jonah's ship.

The miraculous events of Jonah's ministry foreshadowed the death, resurrection and preaching of the Lord Jesus centuries later (Matt 12:39-41; 16:4; Luke 11:29-32). However reluctant, Jonah represents one of Scripture's earliest recorded instances of the Jews acting as a light to the Gentiles, bringing salvation and blessing.

A Second Chance

Once on dry land, the word of the Lord again came to Jonah. Not surprisingly, he obeyed. The calling and gifting may have been there from the start, but the initial motivation was clearly lacking. A storm at sea and a three-day sojourn in the belly of the fish, however, must have concentrated his mind wonderfully! So Jonah set off to land-locked Assyria, preaching repentance to a city of over 120,000 souls.

It has often been said that 'there is no such thing as an atheist in a foxhole'. Whether in time of flood, famine, earthquake or calamity, when disaster threatens, people cry to the Lord. In Psalm 107 we read, "Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress," while "those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs" (Jon 2:8).

The Ninevites, however, took God at his word, accepting Jonah's message and acting upon it (Jon 3:7-9). The result: repentance and revival.

A Fishy Tale – or Historical Fact?

Although it is not so unusual for fishermen to tell tall tales about 'the one that got away', in the book of Jonah we learn of a prophet and evangelist - a fisher of men, if you will - who got away, having been swallowed by a fish.

There are those, however, who dispute whether, shaken and possibly stirred, he actually physically emerged from a large fish, maintaining that the account is an elaborate allegory or fairy tale. Accounts of similar occurrences do, however, exist:

1. Apparently swallowed by a harpooned sperm whale in the vicinity of the Falkland Islands in 1891, James Bartley was said to have been found in the whale's stomach, unconscious, some three days after the creature had been caught, killed and cut open. The man, it is alleged, was successfully revived, though his skin had been bleached white by the whale's gastric juices. The case was recorded in the Princeton Theological Review of 1941, though some have questioned the story's veracity, their criticisms of that particular account themselves conflicting.
2. In The Harmony of Science and Scripture, Dr Harry Rimmer (DD, ScD) tells of personally meeting a sailor who was swallowed by a gigantic Rhincodon whale shark and was subsequently revived, though suffering from shock. Exhibited in a London museum at a shilling admission, the sailor was billed as 'The Jonah of the Twentieth Century'.
3. It is a fairly common experience today for fishermen, on cutting open a whale, to discover that it has swallowed a shark or large fish the size of a man.

According to The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (Paternoster Press), "It is possible to identify the revival at Nineveh with the religious reforms brought about by Adadnirari III circa 800 BC," noting that if Jonah had arrived in Nineveh during the reign of Assur-dan III, "he would have found the city psychologically prepared for a total catastrophe, since a plague had swept the city in 765, an eclipse of the sun had occurred in 763, and a second plague had followed in 759 BC."

God's timing is, of course, perfect. Whatever the historical circumstances, God knew that, were Jonah to preach to the Ninevites, they would fast, repent and be spared. As 2 Peter 3:9 reminds us, "The Lord...is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance," for he is "a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity" (Jon 4:2).

Jonah is one of Scripture's earliest examples of the Jews acting as a light to the Gentiles.

The Message of Jonah

In a perverse and sinful generation, however, there is a tendency for God's followers, like Jonah, to be more concerned with their own safety, comfort and reputation (Jon 1:3; 2:2; 4:1-3; 4:8-9) than with the salvation of those around them (Jon 4:10-11). Philippians 2:21 notes, "For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ."

The lesson Jonah needed to learn, having experienced God's loving care for him through the incident with the fish (Jon 1:17) and with the vine which sheltered him from the heat (Jon 4:6), was his need to forgive the Assyrians, as the Lord forgave him (Col 3:13). This is the message that lies at the heart of the gospel, the good news, for if we forgive people when they sin against us, our heavenly Father will also forgive us (Matt 6:14,15).

Moreover, in accepting God's forgiveness, we are to offer that forgiveness to others through the preaching of the word, in season and out of season, whether - like Jonah - we feel like it or not.

First published in Prophecy Today, Vol 11 No 5, September 1995. Revised October 2016.

Paul Luckraft reviews 'The Routledge Introductory Course in Biblical Hebrew' by Lily Kahn (2014, Routledge).

This is a good investment for the serious student of biblical Hebrew and for those wanting to get a flavour of what such study would entail.

It provides a comprehensive introduction to the language and texts of biblical Hebrew, covering all the topics usually found in a first-year university course, including the writing system, pointing rules, parsing, and strong and weak verb paradigms.

Structured Around Stories

As would be expected, the essentials of vocabulary and grammar are presented in detail throughout the 40 units. But where this course differs is that after the first two introductory units, each of the remaining units is structured round a brief story, which sets up the vocabulary and grammar points to be studied.

Each unit also contains supporting exercises to reinforce the main points, and ends with a specific biblical text, which gives the student a good sense of progress towards the main aim of being able to read the Tanakh.

This is a good investment for the serious student of biblical Hebrew - and for those just wanting to get a flavour of what such study would entail.

The stories are constructed to form a graded cycle, featuring characters and storylines similar to those found in the Hebrew Bible. After each story comes a section explaining the new grammatical points introduced, followed by a variety of exercises including gap-filling tasks, analysis of biblical words and translating English narrative passages into biblical Hebrew.

The biblical passages chosen to round off each unit are narratives rather than legal or poetic passages, and contain some of the most famous stories of the Hebrew Bible in roughly sequential order, starting with the creation story and progressing through to Esther and Daniel. These passages may be abridged (though never re-written), especially in the earlier units, in order to prevent the student being overwhelmed with too many new items at once.

Well-Organised and User-Friendly

Although designed as a one-year course, for many it will take longer - but that is not a negative point. It can be used for self-study at one's own pace or to encourage group study (maybe even just in pairs). The aim is that by the end, the student will "have been familiarised with all of the main points of Biblical Hebrew grammar, have been introduced to the most frequently appearing biblical vocabulary, and have acquired the skills necessary to read the Hebrew Bible independently as well as to progress to intermediate courses" (p.xvi).

Course units present the essentials of Hebrew vocabulary and grammar structured around Bible stories.

This is a well-organised and clearly-presented course, with a user-friendly text design in which the Hebrew script is slightly enlarged to make it stand out more easily. The book ends with an extensive grammar reference occupying 28 pages, two glossaries (Hebrew-English and English-Hebrew) and a short but useful index.

Companion Website

Another significant plus point is the free companion website, which not only makes the cost seem less steep but also provides the student with a wealth of extra learning opportunities. Here the student can find audio versions of all the stories and biblical texts, 'flashcards' to help test knowledge, a vocabulary guide listing words by parts of speech and much more.

Lily Kahn is Lecturer in Hebrew at UCL where this course has been trialled extensively. The Routledge Introductory Course in Biblical Hebrew (446 pages) is available to purchase from the publisher for £38.99.

This week's scriptures: Deuteronomy 29:10-30:20; Isaiah 61:10-63:9; Romans 10:1-12

God is unfailing in His love and covenant relationship with mankind, whom He created in His own image; and He has given us a heart to love (both Him, and people). We have been given 'eyes to see' and 'ears to hear' His word of truth and His instructions for life (Torah). But the nature of love is not to force or coerce, but to give the option of choice, even to reject His love.

The Choice That Love Offers

Before God allowed His people Israel to enter the land that He promised them, He brought them to a place of choice as He renewed the covenant He made with them at Horeb. To underline the solemnity of this choice, He had all Israel stand in His Presence to hear His words. He adjured them not to turn away from Him to worship the gods of the pagan nations, and specified the poison of idolatry and rejection of the Lord (Deut 29:18).

He gave the example of a man who invokes the covenant blessing on himself, but thinks, I will be safe even though I persist in going my own way (Heb. 'walking in the stubbornness of my own heart'). Such rejection would bring disaster, and God's wrath would burn against him (Deut 29:20). This serious warning to those who would abandon the covenant (Deut 29:25) of the Lord who brought them out of slavery in Egypt, was echoed by the Apostle Peter to those who deny Jesus, who paid the ransom to bring them out of slavery to sin (2 Peter 2:1).

Repentance is the Benchmark of Our Walk with the Lord

Moses summarises Torah by calling heaven and earth as a witness to their choice: life or death, blessing or curse, and he exhorts them to choose life in obedience to the covenant (Deut 30:19). Seven times in Deuteronomy 30 Moses uses the word shuv (repent, or return), and encourages the people to turn back to the Lord when they go astray.

May we also in these days of change and shaking love the Lord our God, listen to His voice, confess our faults to Him, and through His forgiveness hold fast to Him (Deut 30:20). The word dav'kah (translated 'hold fast'), means to adhere, cling to, catch hold of by pursuit – a lovely picture of how we might express our love for the One who is our life. For He desires to dwell with us each day by living close to Him. How do we respond?

Repentance begins with a change of heart (Deut 30:1) and this must lead to a change in conduct – to cease going our own way (Isa 53:6) and return to the way of hearing and obeying (Sh'ma). To such repentance God will respond and turn to the penitent, thus restoring relationship. The final days of Elul before the Days of Awe (Yamim noraim) are a time to examine our heart and deeds and to confess our sin. God's word to all at this time is, "Return to Me and I will return to you" (Mal 3:7).

Just as human hands circumcise the physical foreskin, eight days after birth, as a sign of God's covenant with Israel, so circumcision of the heart made without hands (Col 2:11) is the removal of a spiritual impediment that is designed to transform all people, Jew and Gentile, by His Spirit. It is a sign of the new birth into the renewed covenant in Messiah (Rom 2:29). Nicodemus, a teacher of Torah, didn't fully understand this (Jn 3:9-10) but Torah points to a God who will change us from within. In this new life in Messiah, it is keeping God's commandments that is the sign of this new covenant transformation (1 Cor 7:19) and of our love for Jesus. It is the fruit of repentance.

God's Desire for Salvation and Restoration

In Isaiah's day, even following destruction by Babylon, he looked forward to the time when the Lord would make righteousness and praise spring up in Israel before all nations (Isa 61:11). Zion will be called Hephzibah (My delight is in her) and the land Beulah ('married' - to His people), because He is true to His covenant promise. They will be a Holy People, saved by and separated to the Lord (Isa 62:12).

So He calls both to His people returned from the exile, and now to Gentile believers grafted into His Israel to 'Build up the highway! Remove the stones!' and to 'Raise a banner for the nations', that He will bring His people home. Such is His covenant-keeping nature. But He warns that nations who hate Israel will meet the wrath of God in judgment (Isa 63:2, 6). Paul, also proclaims his desire for Israel's salvation and describes the righteousness that is by faith, and the word of faith that proclaims: Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead. For by belief in Him we are justified and through confession we are saved (Rom 10:6-10).

The Nature of God's Love - and Our Response

The nature of love, seen so well in Jesus, is to teach by example but to give the option of choice. We can respond by choosing to open our hearts in love and thanks, or to close our hearts (to God and to each other) and refuse His love.

God gives three steps on this path of covenant love:

1. Da'ah lifnei omdim – Know before Whom you stand; the Lord your God (Deut 29:10)
2. Shuvu v'hashivu – Repent, Turn; from your idols (Ezek 14:6)
3. Shuvu elai – Return to Me; and I will return to you (Zech 1:3)

His promise to those who follow this pattern of love, is: I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the Lord...for they will return to Me with all their heart (Jer 24:7). This is the choice we have in these coming Days of Awe: to know before Whom we stand, to repent (or not); and to return (or continue to go our own way). One choice brings life, blessing and joy; the other brings death, fear and despair. How often our loving God exhorts us: CHOOSE LIFE!

On Monday it is Rosh Hashanah - Jewish New Year. Le'Shanah Tovah – have a 'good year' - filled with His love, goodness and abundant life.

Author: Greg Stevenson

American voters are facing an extremely difficult and important decision. Clifford Hill comments on how they might discern God's will - and how we can support them.

All my American friends are saying the same thing – who do we vote for? Never in the history of the USA has it been so difficult to make a choice – both candidates are seriously flawed. Voters feel they are between a rock and a hard place, or between the devil and the deep blue sea. Many committed Christians I've spoken to say they are not going to vote at all because both Clinton and Trump are so awful!

Allegations of Corruption

The US press has been full of negative accounts about both presidential candidates. Hillary Clinton has been accused of misusing her personal email account for state business when she held high office in the Obama administration. She has also been accused of being involved, together with her husband, in a huge amount of personal corruption in which they have made vast fortunes.

Trump has been accused of refusing to reveal his tax returns which allegedly show that he has hired clever accountants to hide his vast income successfully, meaning that he has paid relatively little in tax. So both candidates are mired in allegations of corruption.

Both candidates are mired in allegations of corruption.

Politically Disturbing

On the political front, Trump has a history of discrimination against African-Americans in renting his property and in employment in his enterprises. He also has made many statements in his speeches indicating prejudice against non-Americans and a xenophobic attitude, such as his declaration that he will build a wall to prevent Mexicans entering the USA illegally, and his promise to ban Muslim immigrants.

Preparations are underway for the second presidential debate, to be held this Sunday in St Louis. See Photo Credits.Hillary Clinton is highly distrusted by conservative voters because of her strong liberal views on abortion and same-sex marriage, as well as her support for the LGBT campaign to allow public toilets to be used by either gender (including the extending of this into state schools, which will allow boys to use the girls' toilets). She is also known to support a wide range of measures that discriminate against Christians who take a stand upon biblical principles.

Voter Indecision

It is these issues of personal corruption and unpopular political measures surrounding both candidates (and many other concerns beside) that are causing such anxiety and uncertainty among voters. Polls currently show Clinton having a small lead over Trump, although some polls show them to be level. But most significantly, recent polls also indicate that as many as 12% are presently still undecided,¹ due to the unpopularity of both candidates. Many of these may not cast their votes at all.

But voter apathy could spell disaster for America. If electors are so alienated by the choice of politicians being offered to the public by the two main parties, voter turnout will be low. This not only undermines the whole process of democracy; it also has a negative impact upon the spiritual life of the nation. That may sound a strange thing to say, but it is based upon a major spiritual principle – the sovereignty of God.

Voter apathy and indecision could spell disaster for America.

God's Sovereignty

Most Christians don't really understand the 'sovereignty of God' because very little is taught about it in our churches and we don't really like verses in the Bible that speak about it. Take a look at two key verses:

Come and see the works of the Lord, the desolations he has brought on the earth. (Ps 46:8)

I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things. (Isa 45:7)

Does God really create disaster? Surely not! Isn't he a God of love? So why does the Bible tell us that God creates disaster?

Justice as well as love is part of the nature of God, which the prophets of Israel recognised. But they also knew that God held the nations in his hands 'as a drop in a bucket', which was Isaiah's description (Isa 40:15). Isaiah said that God "brings princes to nought and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing" (Isa 40:23). In other words, God is completely in control – everything that happens, he either allows or initiates.

Our Acknowledgement Aside!

The same is true of our individual lives, even if we don't acknowledge his sovereignty. Cyrus, the Persian ruler, had no knowledge of God but God used him to overthrow the Babylonian Empire and allow the captive Jews to go back to the land of Israel to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple. God actually called Cyrus his 'anointed one'! He said "I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honour, though you do not acknowledge me" (Isa 45:4).

Understanding the 'sovereignty of God' is of immense importance if we are to know what God is doing today and if we wish to pray with wisdom about what's happening, not only in our individual lives but also in our nation. Understanding God's purposes and how he is working out those purposes in the contemporary world situation is of great importance.

God is completely in control – everything that happens, he either allows or initiates.

Asking for God's Guidance

Prayer changes things. And when many Christians combine to pray about what's happening, they can actually influence the course of history. This has happened recently in Britain on two occasions: the Scottish Referendum, where a huge amount of prayer called upon the Lord to save the British Union; and the June Referendum on our membership of the European Union, which was preceded by prolonged prayer both by individuals and by a large number of gatherings of Christians. They called upon the Lord to guide the nation to the right decision.

Even some politicians who wanted Britain to remain in the European Union, such as our new Prime Minister Theresa May, are now recognising that a new dawn is opening up before the nation, that could lead to a time of unprecedented prosperity and blessing. But this will only occur if we truly seek the ways of righteousness and truth.
The same could happen in America if the American people surround the nation in prayer so that God can work out his purposes.

Praying Wisely

God can work out his purposes one way or another; even if he has to allow what appears to be a disaster. God often has to use disasters in our personal lives or in the life of a nation in order to bless us – to turn us from the wrong path, to change our hearts or to give us a deeper experience of his grace!

This is why it is so important for Christians to pray in the right way – asking the Lord to guide them in placing their vote – not according to party allegiance or personal prejudice. The right prayer is to ask the Lord that his will be done. Then, whatever the outcome, God will work out his purposes for good, and not for evil.

When many Christians combine to pray, they can change the course of history.

Whatever happens in America affects the rest of the world, especially Britain with its historic ties. We urge our readers to pray for America: pray that God will guide America's believing Christians who feel alienated from both candidates and show them how to use their vote.

References

1 Stokes, C. EXCLUSIVE POLL: Democrat Hillary Clinton opens up double-digit Michigan lead on GOP's Donald Trump. WXYZ Detroit, 6 October 2016.

Time to taste the sweet honey of following Yeshua.

I was looking forward, with some trepidation, to blowing the shofar in front of hundreds of schoolchildren last week. But in the end my wife, who teaches Christianity and the Jewish feasts to primary pupils all across our town, decided she was perfectly capable of thus sounding the trumpet.

And as Jews welcome their New Year festival of Rosh Hashanah in this way, and enjoy the tradition of apples dipped in honey, I feel there is something of an apocalyptic, end time significance about this particular anniversary.

Significant Anniversaries Ahead

It ushers in the year 5777, which has a resonance of its own with three sevens – the latter being the 'perfect' number in biblical terms. And in the Gregorian calendar which most of us follow, we will soon be welcoming 2017, a date of huge relevance to Israel on three counts.

First, it will mark the jubilee, or golden anniversary (50 years), since the Six Day War of 1967 when the Old City of Jerusalem – the holiest property in all Judaism – was restored to Jewish hands for the first time in more than 2,000 years. Some scholars have suggested that this awesome event represented the fulfilment of "the times of the Gentiles" referred to by Yeshua (Jesus) when he said: "Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled" (Luke 21:24).

The new year will also mark 70 years since the historic United Nations vote to recognise Israel when, although Arab states opposed the resolution, the required two-thirds majority was achieved which set the scene for the re-birth of Israel the following year.

The year 5777 will mark and contain several significant anniversaries.

Jesus' Return Close

Bear in mind what Jesus said about the lesson learned from the fig tree, which is symbolic of Israel. He said that when it buds and blossoms at a time when the world is in great upheaval with wars, famines and earthquakes, we would know that his coming is near. Then he said: "This generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened" (Matt 24:34).

In other words, the generation (possibly lasting 70 years, man's allotted lifespan according to Psalm 90:10) witnessing these extraordinary events would live to see "all these things" happening. Could that include his actual return? We cannot be certain, but it's a distinct possibility. And as one born the year after the state of Israel, I find that both hugely exciting as well as rather scary.

The Zionist Hope

But neither of these hugely historic anniversaries would have been possible without Britain's Balfour Declaration of 1917, which effectively cleared the path for Israel's restoration. The centenary of this crucial milestone in the Jews' long journey home is in danger of being lost in the mists of political correctness, but it needs to be celebrated with gusto. It may not be as topical as our current Brexit endeavours, but it is also something for which Britain can be justly proud.

It amounted to a British government promise, from Foreign Secretary Lord Arthur James Balfour, to do all in its power to facilitate the creation of a homeland in Palestine (as the region was then known) for the Jewish people. And it came about largely through the efforts of 19th Century evangelical Christians, allied to the rise of Zionism under Theodor Herzl. When all is said and done, it was the preachers and politicians who knew their Bible – and the God of the Bible – who undoubtedly most influenced the government of the day. They clearly saw that it was our duty as a Christian nation to love and support the Jews, and to facilitate their return to their ancient homeland.

The preachers and politicians of the 19th Century knew their Bible – and with God, influenced the government of the day.

They also knew – and this was crucial to their support – that it wasn't just about land, but about the Lord; that though the Bible clearly speaks of a restoration of Israel from every corner of the globe, such restoration would precede their national return to the God of Israel, the Father of the Jewish Messiah, Jesus Christ, which would in turn usher in our Lord's Second Coming. Ezekiel prophesied: "I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land...And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws" (Ezek 36:24-27).

It was this truth, above all, that drove our British forefathers to pray, proclaim and work towards fulfilment of the Zionist dream.

God is Seeking a Bride

God is seeking a Bride with whom he wishes to rendezvous back in their ancient land where he first 'courted' her. There she learnt to walk in his ways and the prophets tried, often in vain, to encourage faithfulness to the one true God.

When the Balfour promise was made back in November 1917, the Holy Land still belonged to the Turkish Ottoman Empire, which had ruled the region for 400 years. But within weeks it was in British hands, which handed on a plate the opportunity for us to make good our pledge.

However, because we reneged on many of our promises and dealt treacherously with the Jews as we made repeated concessions in a bid to appease Arab demands, it took another three decades – and the death of millions at the hands of the Nazis – before the founding fathers were finally in a position to re-create the state of Israel.

The Zionist dream is not just about Jews returning to the Land. It heralds their prophesied return to the Lord and – ultimately – his return to the Earth.

Please forgive us, Israel, and in the meantime rejoice that even without our help in more recent times – though certainly with God's help – you have come this far.

May God's love surround you at this special time and cause you to know the fear of the Lord and his decrees, which are "sweeter than honey" (Ps 19:10).

In this beautiful psalm of King David, we see how much he loves the law, the statutes, the precepts and the commands of the Lord. "They are more precious than gold...and sweeter than honey." And all of this is perfectly fulfilled in Yeshua, who told the crowds on the Mount of Beautitudes at Capernaum: "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law and the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them" (Matt 5:17).