Part I I T was fascinating to read an arti cle from the Los Angeles Times recently which carried the headlines: “Swallows Return to Mission Exact ly on Time, 7 :01 and 53 seconds A.M.” This story has to do with the 6,000-mile journey from South Amer ica which the swallows annually take as they return to the mission at San Juan Capistrano, south of Los An geles on the way to San Diego. This is something which has mystified people for many years. Yet there is something far more interesting than the account of the swallows going back to San Juan precisely on sched ule. I refer to the return of God’s chosen people, the Jews, to the land of promise, the nation of Israel. These people, in the wisdom and providence of God, in a sense like the swallows, have a built-in homing de vice. No matter in what area of the world they may be found, there is a certain compulsion which is calling them back to this area given by God to Abraham and to his seed forever. Those of us who have known and loved the Bible over the years have heard again and again the geograph ic names of places in Scripture. Wasn’t it amazing, as it has been ever since, to hear over the air and to read in the newspapers these same names so familiar in Bible history? Many years ago, the chaplain in the empire of Frederick the Great of Germany was called upon by his monarch to defend the faith. The ruler resolutely declared, “If what you believe is trustworthy and reli able, then you should be able to prove the Bible and what you stand for with just one word. Can you do it?” The wise man of God responded in
the affirmative. “Of course it is pos sible, your majesty. That one word which proves the authenticity of the Bible, and the reality of salvation today is ISRAEL!” Today, perhaps as never before in history, we see how Israel is proof of the veracity of God’s Word. Have you ever wondered why God selected a nation? Why use any spe cial people and make them more privi leged than others? To understand this situation we need to realize why God established a covenant with Abraham. This was not some last- minute though t, some capricious whim of the Almighty. There were at least three purposes God desired to achieve in His gracious relation ship with Abraham. First of all, He wanted a nation which would serve as a repository for His divine reve lation, namely the Scriptures. To have the Word of God preserved for all mankind was one purpose in se-
Rev. Clyde Cook, head of the Missions Department of Biola College, takes the opportunity of using the warm weather for a class session out of doors. Mr. Cook's ministry has included several terms in the Orient following his graduation from Biola and Talbot Theological Seminary. He has been the representative for Biola's evangelistic drama team which tours the Orient this summer presenting the gospel of Jesus Christ. 3
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