Last week I referenced Psalm 122:6: “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” How do you view the word “prosper!” While most know its basics, see how the “Oxford American Thesaurus of Current English” defines “prosper.” “To do well; thrive; flourish; be successful; get ahead; progress; advance; get on in the world; make headway; make good; become rich; be in clover; be on easy street and live the life of Riley!” In the Greek, we find the word referenced as: “prosperity; peace; favour; and good health.”
In the O.T. book of Genesis, chapter 12, verses 1-3 we read; “The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” (Underlining mine!) (U.L.M.)
In the book of Genesis when the children of Israel left Egypt, God transferred the wealth of Egypt to many countries not even in existence as yet. Look at today! If we consider what is taking place with nations who are not standing with, and backing Israel, it’s quite easy to see who is, and who is not “prospering!” Without using space to list the decline in European countries not backing Israel, one can see what is taking place regarding their rapid weakening as a country. Quite to the contrary, the US is abounding in so many blessings, proving the truth of obeying the Psalm 122:6 verse, and reaping the benefits of Genesis 12:3, “I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt.” (U.L.M.)
Israel is the way God uses to communicate with the entire rest of the world. Space is limited with this CRA devotional; however, that short sentence is so power-packed it should be repeated. Israel is the way God uses to communicate with the rest of the world! Isaiah 49:5 & 6 reads in the NKJV: “And now the Lord says, ‘Who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, to bring Jacob back to Him, so that Israel is gathered to Him, indeed He says…that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’” Verse 6 in the NLT reads, “You will do more than restore the people of Israel to me. I will make you a light to the Gentiles, and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”
The critical part of verse 6 I want to point out is the later part of the verse. “…that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth” (NIV). “…and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth” (NLT). “…that you would save people all over the world” (God’s Word Trans.). “…so that my salvation becomes global” (Msg). “…that My salvation may reach to the ends of the earth” (Amp). God’s promise is through Israel. He will bless the nations that bless and stand with Israel! Again, Genesis 12:3b reads, “And in (or through) you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
As has been said by others, being pro-Israel will cost you! However, it will come with eternal rewards! Joel 3:1-2 reads, “For behold, in those days and at that time, when I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat: and I will enter into judgment with them there on account of My people, My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, they have also divided up My land.”
Matthew 25:31-46 is the N.T. version of the words of Joel. Verse 32 reads, “All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another…” “All nations!” The word “all” certainly means the USA, America, will be included in that gathering. All will be judged on as “to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me” (vs. 40b). While accoding to scripture there is coming a day when America may not take a stand against Israel, but rather we could choose to sit it out and not take any stand for or against Israel, therefore fitting into what the Bible says as “all nations!”
Zechariah 2:8-9, “For thus says the Lord of hosts… for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye. For surely I will shake My hand against them, and they shall become spoil for their servants.”
We must love what God loves ‘or else’ we will end up loving and siding with what God hates! We learn from Paul in Romans 11:26, “And so, all Israel will be saved,” and therefore the Church and Israel will be saved in the end! However, in the meantime, the way you and I treat Israel, who is “the apple of His eye,” will be the very same way we will treat every other part of God’s Word, and it is then, we begin to choose what we believe and what we do not!
Blessings, Psalm 20:7 Dale & Jeannie