The Miracle Called IsraelSample

Birth of a Nation

Israel was born as a modern-day nation in 1948. It was the work of the same God, with the same conduct, for the same people. As David Ben Gurion, Israel’s first prime minister, read aloud Israel’s Declaration of Independence, the state of Israel sprang into being. All who knew the Bible understood the significance of that moment; they were amazed, with tears in their eyes. All the Replacement Theology teachers were left scratching their heads. 

Biblical prophets all the way back to Moses had predicted that the Jewish people would return to the Holy Land after a long and bitter exile, inhabit Jacob’s ancient inheritance, rebuild the cities, and reestablish the Jewish nation. 

As the radio broadcast of David Ben Gurion carried his words across the land of Israel and to the whole world, the people in Tel Aviv danced in the streets. However, most Jews in the newly declared state had little time for rejoicing. Ben Gurion later described his feeling as he read the Declaration, “There was no joy in my heart because I was thinking of just one thing—the war we were about to fight.” 

On the borders of the land, Arab armies from Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Egypt all prepared for an onslaught. The day after Israel declared statehood, seven Arab armies pounced on the new nation, vowing to push the Jews into the sea. Although the U. N. had officially sanctioned that partition of Palestine into a Jewish state and an Arab one, the Arab nations rejected it saying that there was no place for the Jews. 

Prior to Israel’s independence, the British forces, who were still in control of Palestine at that time, announced that their soldiers would leave on May 15th, 1948. The Jews of Palestine found themselves in a terrible predicament. Zionists, those who believe that Israel is the place for the Jews, could not purchase weapons. The Arab world prepared to pounce; the rest of the world looked away. 

Zionists realized that they could not depend on anyone but God alone, even if they did not believe in Him. David Ben Gurion was the most secular Jew you could find, but even he had Bible verses under his desk, spread all around. He said, “The only way I can explain what is happening right now is if I believe in these things.”

On the surface, all looked hopeless. But God keeps His promises. He is faithful to the words He spoke through all His prophets. We can trust Him.