What a thrill to visit this historic site, Independence Hall, a few weeks ago in Tel Aviv. It made me think of the poem that God gave me on June 1, 2015, "A Nation Born in a Day." I included it in my book, "The Honeycomb is Waiting: Poetic Devotionals." By posting this poem and devotional on my blog today, I am beginning an early celebration of the 70th anniversary of Israel's rebirth on May 14, 1948. Here is the devotional and poem from my book:
20. Miracle-Working God
“Who
has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to
give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion
was in labor, she gave birth to her children” (Isa. 66:8).
The
very survival of the Jewish people throughout history is nothing short of
miraculous. Because so many evil rulers have tried to stamp them out, they
should have disappeared long ago. The first Prime Minister of Israel, David Ben
Gurion, stated it best: “A Jew who does not believe in miracles is not a
realist.” A miracle-working God is the only possible explanation for the
continued existence of the Jewish people. Over 300 years ago King Louis XIV of
France asked Blaise Pascal, the great French philosopher, to give him proof
that God exists. Pascal answered: “Why the Jews, your Majesty, the Jews!”
The
United Nations Partition Plan to divide Palestine into a Jewish state and an
Arab state was passed on November 29, 1947. There were 33 votes for, 13 against
and 10 abstaining, including Britain, who had the Mandate since 1917 to
establish a homeland for the Jews in Palestine. The turning point came when
U.S. President Harry Truman’s former Jewish business partner flew to Washington
and begged him to vote for the plan. When America cast her vote, other nations
followed. It was a miracle, and the Jews in Israel danced in the street! On May
14, 1948, Ben Gurion declared Israel a free and independent nation. Only eleven
minutes later Truman called Ben Gurion to give U.S. recognition of the new
government in Israel. The fact that the nation of Israel has been reborn in our
day proves that we have a miracle-working God who keeps His promises!
A NATION BORN IN A DAY
(Isaiah
66:8)
A
land flowing with milk and honey
Was
born in a day, but the day wasn’t sunny.
The
Jews would regain their ancient land.
Truman
said, “Sign it!” It was an ordained
plan.
For
Jews and for Arabs the land was divided –
The
Jews rejoiced, but the Arabs derided
The
U.N. body that gave them a nation.
They
couldn’t get along with their blood relations.
The
Arabs said “No!” because they wanted it all.
And
they would fight; they delighted to brawl.
Then
before the Jews could lose all hope,
Ben
Gurion called an assembly to vote.
He
declared the State of Israel official.
The
Jews celebrated, but the Arabs bristled.
Ready
to attack the very next day,
They
had gathered five armies to join in the fray.
The
Jews had only a rag-tag band,
But
determined like Maccabees, they would make a stand!
Jews
were six-hundred thousand, Arabs eighty million strong –
Who
was in the right, and who was in the wrong?
And
how did it end, when the dust had settled?
Israel
won the war and had proven her mettle!
God
had shown He was on their side –
Angels
were busy, knocking down Arab pride.
Miracles
abounded, and the whole world was shocked!
Scripture
was fulfilled, and mysteries were unlocked.
Revelation
twelve paints the story of this war:
The
woman was Israel whom the dragon stood before,
Ready
to devour the nation soon as born,
Fragile
as an infant, but it would not be torn.
God
would keep His covenant with all of Jacob’s tribes.
His
chosen people Israel in victory still abides.
Isaiah
sixty-six, verse eight foretold this day,
Nineteen
forty-eight the year, the fourteenth day of May.
Truman
was the first to call and praise this tiny nation,
The
Holy Land and people God had chosen, His creation!
The Jews won their War of
Independence on January 7, 1949. Israel has continued to snatch victory from
the jaws of defeat in all the subsequent wars after her rebirth, because the
God of Israel makes her victorious. “Like birds flying about, so will the Lord
of hosts defend Jerusalem. Defending, He will also deliver it; passing over He
will preserve it” (Isa. 31:5). And the Lord will also defend you with His miracle-working power. When
you are under attack, call on Him and expect a miracle! Think of a time when God delivered you from
harm, and write it in your journal. Praise Him!
Prayer:
Almighty God, You are all-powerful, and I know I can trust you to defend me
when the enemy attacks me, whether physically or spiritually. My only hope is
in You, and You will uphold me.
(If you would like to order my book, The Honeycomb is Waiting: Poetic Devotionals, look at the side bar.)
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