GOD’S PERFECT TIMING – by Raphael ben Levi
I would like to bring you a word of encouragement today regarding God’s perfect timings. This is of great importance in these days where we are surrounded by ever-increasing levels of godlessness, chaos and evil manifestations.
Israel is a perfect illustration of God’s tender care over His covenant people with underlying principles that can be applied to every believer. A classic example in modern history was the establishment of Israel as a sovereign state in 1948. Military strategists unite in their opinion that it was an impossibility for the tiny group of Jews to have prevailed over the overwhelming strength of the invading armies!So too, almost 20 years later in the 6-Day War and in the Yom Kippur war in 1973.
Jeremiah specified that God would watch over the people of Israel (Jer 31:10) and likened the intimate care of the Divine hand over His people to a shepherd guarding his sheep. The Book of Leviticus presents Israel with a conditional promise (26:3-8) that they would be Divinely empowered to overcome the enemy where “five people would chase 100 and a 100 would defeat 10,000” and we have seen this with the IDF since its inception. They have supernaturally defeated all those who have sought her destruction! God’s condition? “If you walk in My statutes, keep My mitzvot and carry them out…” Yet, we cannot say that modern Israel has fulfilled these conditions. The majority of them are secular and attribute their military victories to themselves although things are starting to change!
Yet despite, this God has not abandoned them because of His covenant promise that, “…I will plant the people of Israel in their own land, never again to be torn out of their land that I gave them,” says the LORD your God.” (Amos 9:15)
This may all appear to be a little confusing if not contradictory until we understand the interplay between God’s covenant promises and His judgments – one does not void the other.
God’s covering over unfaithful Israel has remained intact despite her unfaithfulness not because of it, but Scripture speaks of a tough ride for Israel in these end times unparalleled in Jewish history – Divine judgment – that is becoming increasingly intense that will ultimately lead to a climax (Zech 12:10) when all Israel will be saved. The apostle Paul confirms this: “25 For I do not want you, brothers and sisters, to be ignorant of this mystery—lest you be wise in your own eyes—that a partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer shall come out of Zion. He shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. And this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.” (Rom.11:25-26)
Exciting times lay ahead as we see God’s eternal plans unfolding at lightening speed in these end times. Pray fervently for the peace of Jerusalem! Am Yisrael Chai!
