Modern Israel at 60 … Some Melancholy Thoughts

Over the next few days lots of words will be written about the prophetic fulfillment of Israel returning to its Promised Land.  May 14, 1948, was a miracle of truly biblical proportions  Out of the ashes of the Holocaust, the Chosen People of God are given their home back and in a sense live again (makes one remember the words of Ezekiel does it not).

And yet I am a little melancholy at this time of the year.  I am joyful that Modern Israel has a home but sad that it took the devastation of the Shoah for the world to make right a 1,900+ year wrong.  I am excited over the fact that Israel has managed to survive these past 60 years despite the number of attempts (1948, 1957, 1967, 1973, etc., etc.) to destroy Israel but disheartened that there are still plans afoot to destroy the land of promise.  I am glad to personally know so many Israeli believers in Jesus but distraught over the fact that so many Israelis and Jewish people worldwide who do not know that the Gospel of Jesus has always been for them.

And I believe that this distraught feeling is at the core of my melancholy mood.  When will we realize that the prophetic fulfillment of May 14, 1948, is not the end of the church’s responsibility to the Jewish people?  Returning to the Promise Land without the promise of Jesus in their hearts is nothing but a temporary solution to an eternal dilemma.

Therefore while we as friends of Israel rejoice with Israel on their 60th anniversary of statehood, let’s remember that Rom. 1:16 and 11:11 call for a spiritual return more than a physical one.

Postscript:  It is now Day 24 since the first email was sent to the Christian TV network and Day 6 since I was promised a speedy response.  Still nothing.  I wonder why?