Improve Your Upward Vision

The land of Israel is slightly more than 70 miles at its widest and a little more than 200 miles long. Yet, once more it is the sight of strife gaining global interest. The struggle over the land began a little over 3,000 years ago in a Bedouin’s tent in a barren land. There two sons of Abraham were born, one by Sarah his wife and the other by Hagar the handmaid of his wife.

God promised to bless the descendants of both. Isaac gave rise to the Jews.

Of them God said his descendants would be as numerous as the stars (Genesis 15: 4.)

God said of them “I will bless those who bless you; And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12: 3).

Evidencing proof regarding by them all nations have blessed is the fact that   of the 965 individual recipients of the Nobel Prize and the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences between 1901 and 2023, at least 214 have been Jews or people with at least one Jewish parent, representing 22% of all recipients. Jews comprise only 0.2% of the world’s population, God did not choose them and bless them as His pets, but as His pattern for how nations should conduct themselves.

The other, Ishmael, was the heir who gave rise to the Arab nations. Of them the Lord promised, “I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count.” (Genesis 16: 10). God further appointed a specific land for each.

After the end of the Six Day War (1967) Israel ceded the land of Gaza to the Palestinians. It was so beautiful Israel offered to help develop the area as a beautiful beach resort hoping it would attract tourists. A militant revolutionary group, Hamas, developed within it and took control. Ever since they have been tempted to disrupt Israel, including the incursion October 7, 2023. This began the current conflict.

There will come a day, perhaps soon, when all the nations of the earth (“all” includes America) shall turn on Israel. Before His exodus Jesus said.“you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’” (Matthew 23: 39). This will be an appeal for His Second Coming. That will happen when it appears all is lost.

That does not have to be in our lifetime, but it may.

After a discourse regarding His second coming Jesus said of the things noted therein these words: “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near” (Luke 21: 28).

There are several more detailed insights regarding these issues but may this cursory insight inspire greater vigilance and devotion.