The Wonderful Nation

by G. E. HORNE | Category: The Wonderful Nation | Aug 1943

In a former article, we wrote of the literal fulfilment of many scriptures in the history of this wonderful nation-Israel-of the terrible consequences of their rejection of God's word, and of His Christ. We now desire to draw attention to some remarkable prophecies regarding their future blessing and glory; of their turning again to the Lord, and their acceptance of the Lord Jesus as their Messiah.

Ezekiel 37. is a most interesting chapter. It foretells the resurrection of the Jews from their long national death. As one thinks of their condition through the centuries, since their defeat and scattering by the Romans in A.D. 70, the question might well be asked, "Can these bones live?"

One hundred years ago only a few hundred Jews were living in. Palestine, and they were very poor. Since then the Zionist movement has come into being for the repatriation to the country of the Jews.

Already Ezekiel 37. is commencing to be fulfilled. "These bones," we are told, "are the whole house of Israel." The bones are coming together, sinews are coming upon them, and flesh and skin are covering them. The countries into which they have been driven are being opened and Jews are being brought back into the land of Israel.

In the days of Ezra and Nehemiah, only a very small remnant returned. To-day in Palestine there are about 5.00,000 Jews. In addition, there are some 200,000 settled in Mesopotamia (Irak), an adjacent country.

The present return of Jews to Palestine is largely consequent upon their being persecuted in other lands. In a future day, before the millennial reign of Christ, God will work mightily among the nations on behalf of His scattered people. Of that day, it is written, "and shall bring thy sons in their bosom, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders. And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their faces to the earth, and lick the dust of thy feet "(Isaiah 49.22,28). In ships of Tarshish shall they travel (Isaiah 60.9).

RETURN TO THE LAND.

Many scriptures tell of the time. In these words Isaiah foretells the event: "And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people, which shall remain, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush,, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And He shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth" (Isaiah 11.11, 12). Ezekiel says, "They shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob My, servant, wherein your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, they, and their children, and their children's children, for ever " (Ezekiel 37.25).

ONE NATION, ONE KING.

In the days of Rehoboam, son of Solomon, God divided the kingdom of Israel, giving ten tribes to Jeroboam. This was on account of Solomon's departure from the LORD, through his marrying strange women, who "turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father" (1 Kings 11.4). Since that day Israel has been divided; they have never had one king over the whole nation. The day is coming, however, when the nation shall be united, and "David shall be king over them" (Ezekiel 37.22, 24). This, we understand, refers to the time when Christ shall return to earth, and sit upon the throne of His father, David.

PEACE AND PROSPERITY.

The people who at present are tossed to and fro among the nations, shall then know rest and peace; "they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid" (Micah 4.4).

"The plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt" (Amos 9.13).

THE JEW HIGHLY ESTEEMED.

The people who to-day are despised and persecuted, shall then be the head of the nations Others will consider it an honour to be associated with them. " Ten men shall take hold out of all the languages of the nations shall even take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you" (Zechariah 8. 28)

REPENTANCE

The Jews are going back to Palestine in unbelief but the time is coming when God will put His Spirit in them, and they shall live (Ezekiel 37.14). The Spirit of grace and supplication shall be poured upon them; they shall look unto Him whom they pierced and shall mourn for Him (Zechariah 12 10) At last the great Antitype of Joseph shall make Himself known to His brethren Ml their present trials and persecutions are designed to bring about repentance A worse time still lies before them "the time of Jacob's trouble" (Jeremiah 30.7), elsewhere spoken of a9 "the Great Tribulation God is correcting them with judgement, but they will come out of the furnace of affliction as gold purified in the fire, "and so all Israel shall be saved" (Romans 11.26). This "all Israel" does not, of course, mean every Jew.

Zechariah 12. makes abundantly clear how real, widespread and individual this repentance will be. Isaiah 53. shall then have its primary fulfilment. The people who saw no beauty in their Messiah that they should desire Him who despised and rejected Him, shall then say, "Surely He hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted But He was wounded for our transgressions He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him and with His stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53. 4, 5)

The LORD will appear for their deliverance when they are in desperate straits.; all nations being gathered against Jerusalem to battle. The city shall be taken and half of the city in those awful times shall go forth into captivity but the residue shall not be cut off from the city, and then the LORD shall intervene (Zechariah 14)

A wonderful transformation is already taking place in Palestine Agriculture is flourishing cities have sprung up; industries are thriving. There is a splendid Hebrew university on the Mount of Olives; and good schools in various places Haifa is one of the best ports in the world, capable of accommodating the largest vessels afloat. A Jewish Shipping Company has been formed, with a fleet of steamers manned by Jewish sailors. Haifa 4s also a terminal for the pipe-line through which oil is pumped from Mesopotamia. It is claimed that there is fabulous wealth in the chemicals of the Dead, Sea.

A change is coming over the Jews. New Testaments, and portions of it, in Hebrew, are being freely sold in Palestine, and "The history of Jesus" is being taught in the schools. The Lord Jesus is being spoken of as a great Jewish Prophet, though not yet recognised as the Messiah.

Israel is a wonderful people indeed, "beloved for the fathers' sake." In spite of all their disabilities in many lands, they everywhere rise into prominence. Jews have become great statesmen, eminent scientists, doctors and lawyers. Many of the greatest financiers and industrial magnates of the world have been Jews.

How glad we are to know that the future of the nation is assured; that God "will make a covenant of peace with them: it shall be an everlasting covenant." He will set His sanctuary in the midst of 'them for evermore. "And the nations shall know that I am the LORD that sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore" (Ezekiel 37.2.6, 28).

G. E. HORNE | Aug 1943
The Wonderful Nation