Israel - How And Why?

For Zion's Sake Ministry is celebrating ten years of sharing a message from Jehovah God every week. We thank Him for this special honor and privilege, we also thank Him for the 74,000 people who have read these messages during the ten years. We also sense it is time to transition to a new series of messages entitled "Israel - How And Why?"

We will start by studying Genesis 12:1-3. Our Lord God speaks to Abram in a relatively short message but an extremely important message since it introduces the concepts of:

The Jews - God's People . . . Israel - God's Nation

Genesis 12:1-3, "Now the Lord said to Abram; 'Get out of your country, from your kindred and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. 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.'" 

Please notice Abraham was called Abram at this time. God speaks to Abram and directs him to leave his family and his home and go to a place unknown to Abram. How many of us would immediately obey in a similar situation?

God then says to Abram, "I will make you into a great nation." In reality, God is speaking to Abram and to his descendants who will become the Jewish people and will become "The Great Nation." We need to illustrate here that this "Great Nation" has a two-fold meaning. This "Great Nation" will become the physical state of Israel and also it refers to God's Chosen People - The Jews.

Shortly after Jehovah God declares to Abraham about the "Great Nation," He establishes with them an Unconditional Covenant. A Covenant is an agreement between two parties that is unbreakable. Please notice in verses 2 and 3 God promises exactly what He will do for His New Unconditional People - The Jews.

God promises: He will make them into a Great Nation...He will bless them...He will make their name great...He will make them into a blessing...He will bless those who bless them...He will curse those who curse them. Pease notice Jehovah God is doing it all!

In conclusion, Genesis 12:1-3 is the foundation road map of how God chose the Jewish People to be His "Covenant People." Could we say they are "His Chosen People?" In our next message, we will exam how the Covenant was physically established. Stay Tuned!

Blessings,

Frank          

The Northern Border Of Israel

"The land is Lebanese, the control is Iranian and the target is Israel," said Israel's Defense Minister Gallant. Iran has built a base for terrorist organizations at an airport 12 miles from the border with Israel. In pictures you can see Iranian flags flying over the runways. The defense minister of Israel said, "If it comes to a conflict, we will activate the Israeli Defense Forces. Hezbullah and Lebanon will pay a heavy price."

Gallant charged Iran with organizing the most recent surge of Palestinian Terrorism in Israel, Iran seeks every means to harm Israelis. Israeli officials have alerted citizens of Israel to be extra alert during the Jewish Holidays in September.

Let Us Pray For The Jewish People During Their Holy Days

By Praying Psalm 121

Vs. 1 - "I will lift up my eyes to the hills - from whence comes my help."

Vs. 2 - "My help comes from The Lord, who made heaven and earth."

Vs. 3 - "He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber."

Vs. 4 - "Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep."

Vs. 5 - "The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand."

Vs. 6 - "The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night."

Vs. 7 - "The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul."

Vs. 8 - "The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth and even forevermore."

Blessings, Frank

Starting with our next message, we will have a new format which will be a teaching about Israel's past and present anointing from Jehovah God!   

Israel's Borders?

"Rabbi, what are Israel's actual borders?" This was a question from a student during a class about The Old Testament. In many ways this is a difficult question to answer.

The United States Ambassador to Israel said "Some will say it is the Jordan River, some will say it is the Armistice Line of 1949." Today, Israel controls from the Mediterranean Sea to Jerusalem but there is a large dispute as to who controls the West Bank which in reality is Judea and Samaria. Jesus performed the majority of His miracles in Judea and Samaria.

However, the Word of God clearly answers this question. Jehovah God speaking to Abraham and his descendants {The Jews} said in Genesis 15:18, "To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates." This includes a major portion of the Middle East. The day is coming when Israel will occupy all of this land!

We Who Love And Support Israel

Should Proclaim Psalm 105:1-11

Vs. 1 - "Oh, give thanks to The Lord! Call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples."

Vs. 2 - "Sing to Him sing Psalms to Him; talk of all His wonderous works."

Vs. 3 - "Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek The Lord."

Vs. 4 - "Seek The Lord and His strength; seek His face evermore."

Vs. 5 - "Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders and the judgements of His mouth."

Vs. 6 - "O seed of Abraham His servant, you children of Jacob, His chosen ones!

Vs. 7 - "He is The Lord our God; His judgements are in all the earth."

Vs. 8 - "He has remembered His covenants forever, the word which He commanded, for a thousand generations."

Vs. 9 - "The covenant which He made with Abraham and His oath to Isaac."

Vs. 10 - "And confirmed it to Jacob for a statute to Israel for an everlasting covenant."

Vs. 11 - "SAYING, 'TO YOU I WILL GIVE THE LAND OF CANAAN.'"

Blessings,

Frank

Democracy In Israel

Jehovah God warned Israel right from the beginning that trying to be like other nations would lead to division. He even discouraged them from wanting a king - He was their King! Almost every king of Israel were not good kings and most worshiped the false god Baal. Even David and Soloman had their faults.

In countries that functioned as Democracies, the Bible is overtaken by the democracy that becomes the ideal way of functioning. Even Israel today fits into this scenario. The divisions we see in Israel today are no different than its past.

During the time of the Tabernacles and the Temples, there were 12 Tribes and during the second Temple timeframe, there were Pharisees and Sadducees. Today, in Israel, there are Liberal and Secular Jews. However, Jehovah God can bring unity to Israel. Psalm 133:1 says, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"

Because We Love Israel Please Join Me

In Praying Psalm 24

Vs. 1 - The earth is the Lord's and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein.

Vs. 2 - For He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.

Vs. 3 - Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His Holy Place?

Vs. 4 - He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully.

Vs. 5 - He shall receive blessing from The Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

Vs, 6 - This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face.

Vs. 7 - Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of Glory shall come in.

Vs. 8 - Who is this King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.

Vs. 9 - Lift up your heads, O you gates! And lift them up, you everlasting doors! And the King of Glory shall come in.

Vs. 10 - Who is this King of Glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of Glory.

Blessings,

Frank