Israel Tempest-tossed

At one period of his ministry the prophet Isaiah described the Israel nation as "afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted" (54:11). That same description could well be applied today! For the modern State of Israel seems like a small vessel on a very rough sea, lashed by gales and with little prospect of relief.

Her problems are legion. There is the continuing nightmare of economic strain, with penalizing inflation and high taxation levels. The enormous burden of defence expenditure strangles the country's economy.

Internal divisions of opinion are deep and bitter. The Sephardim Jews who came to Israel from North Africa and the Middle East have on the whole been less prosperous than immigrants from Europe and America. The political views of these groups have tended to become polarized, leading to strong confrontations on many issues.

The vexed question of Palestinian claims to political and territorial rights stirs passionate strife. The Sephardim take a hard line on the subject, denouncing the more moderate view which would attempt negotiation and offer concessions. Further rapid development of Jewish settlements in the West Bank area has provoked Arab resentment and protest, and tough counter-measures have added to the country's internal tensions.

Under the stress of all these factors, the economic austerity, political divisiveness and the growing sense of insecurity, many Israelis are returning to their countries of origin. The rate of emigration from Israel is now causing deep concern.

Against this background we look again at the 54th chapter of Isaiah. The verse which speaks of Israel as "afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted" is in the context of God's everlasting remembrance of His people: "The mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but My kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall My covenant of peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on Thee" (verse 10). Isaiah witnessed Israel's backsliding and God's inevitable chastisement. Yet he was moved by the Holy Spirit to declare God's faithfulness to His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The nation's adversity was "for a small moment", but with great mercies God would gather them. "In overflowing wrath I hid My face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, said the LORD thy Redeemer" (54:8).

God's faithfulness to covenant promise regarding Israel spans the centuries like a brilliant rainbow across dark storm-cloud. Judgement through Nebuchadnezzar and seventy years captivity in Babylon were followed by the promised restoration to the land. Judgement through the Romans and centuries of dispersion have again been followed by restoration to nationhood. Sadly the darkness of unbelief regarding the Lord Jesus as their true Messiah still engulfs modern Israel. Divine chastisement continues as the nation wrestles in self-reliance with a daunting situation.

Yet the covenant promises remain. "As touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sake. For the gifts and the calling of God are without repentance" (Rom. 11:28-29). For the sake of His promise to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David God will not change His purpose regarding the nation of Israel. They are "beloved for the fathers' sake". The nation will in due course emerge to millennial blessing under the Lord Jesus as Messiah: "In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression... No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper" (Is. 54:14,17).

Scripture warns of course that Israel's present troubles are but the prelude to the time of Jacob's trouble: "Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it" (Jer. 30:7). The Lord Jesus described that coming fearful ordeal as "great tribulation, such as hath hot been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever shall be" (Mat. 24:21). "But", the prophetic word insists, "he shall be saved out of it".

What shall we say to these things? We see Israel's present experience as fulfilment of the prophetic scriptures that she would be restored to nationhood before the time of the end. Yet because the restored nation persists in unbelief regarding Christ, it remains under divine chastisement. Meantime the Middle East situation takes shape on lines predicted for the time of the end, with neighbouring countries sharing a common hostility to Israel. As modern history unfolds, the lord's word to Jeremiah remains abidingly true:

"I WATCH OVER MY WORD TO PERFORM IT" (Jer. 1:12)

unknown | Mar 1986
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