The first World War of 1914-1918 radically changed the picture in the Near East as it took the Promised Land from the domination of the “ unspeakable Turk” and placed it under the protection of Great Britain. Along with this came the significant Balfour Declara tion, issued by the government of the British Empire. It read, in part, “His Majesty’s government views with favor the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use its best en deavors to facilitate the achievement of this object.” No wonder the Jewish press on that memorable day jubilantly reported: “With one step the Jewish cause has made a great bound forward. The Jew is at last coming to his rights. In place of his being a wan derer in every clime, he is to be given a home in his ancient land. The day of his exile is to be ended.” There were few Jews in the land before the turn of the twentieth century, but the real influx of immigra tion began about the year 1921. Orders were given to allow the Jews to enter as quickly as the land could be prepared to care for them. Since Israel became a free nation on May 15, 1948, ever-increasing numbers of the world’s wanderers have been going home—they believe in peace and security. Today there are over two million Jews within the boundaries of the republic of Israel. THE TRANSFORMATION OF DESOLATE PALESTINE INTO A FRUITFUL GARDEN Earlier in this study we read in Ezek. 36:35 that it is written, “ And they shall say, This land that is deso late is become like the garden of Eden.” And those who have seen Palestine before the two World Wars, com paring it with the land today, can testify that these words of Ezekiel are verily coming to pass before our eyes in this present hour. The will to work and the joy in the doing, mani fested by these returning exiles, is a sight beautiful to behold. And the progress goes on apace. Roads are being repaired and surfaced throughout the land. New highways are being completed. Fever-infested swamps have been drained; and the Valley of Jezreel, which was pestilential for so long, is now a fruitful garden. On the barren slopes of many hills millions of grape vines have been planted, the ipajority of which were from government nurseries. Fruit production is greatly on the increase, and the latest figures show that last year millions of cases of oranges were produced and exported from the Jaffa section. We are told that rail way facilities are so good that it is possible to pick grapes from the Samaritan hills in the afternoon and have them on the breakfast tables of Egypt the next morning. Some son of Abraham, with marvelous pa tience, has tabulated the flowering plants growing on the hills of Palestine, and has found them to number over 2,200 species. When I was in the Holy Land what was my delight to see that the hills were covered with the most gorgeous and profuse display of wild flowers! This surprised me; for I had always seen pictures of these old hills, bleak and dead, the barren rocks, like whited skeletons of the centuries, protruding from the scrubby, dry grass. And does not the Word of God promise all this? “ The desert shall rejoice, and blos som as the rose” (Isa. 35:1). Surely this is beginning to come to pass today; at least, in anticipation of that yet further blossoming forth, when Jesus comes again! TH E INCREASE IN “ TH E EARLY AND LATTER RAIN” In the days of Moses God told His people that, if they would obey Him, He would give them “ the rain” of the land “ in his due season, the first rain and the
“ graves” of Russia, Germany, England, France, Italy, Canada, the United States of America — in every nation under heaven. Her bones have been bleached, throughout the passing centuries, in the valley of the nations of the world. But a glorious resurrection awaits this long-despised people of God of which the present
Near Tel-Aviv, the Israeli Government Rehabilitation center assists those in need. This child, Rachamin Ham- dani, was struck with polio when he was a year old. In the area of health, the nation continues to take great forward steps. nation of Israel is but a token. Then they will be “ the head of the nations” of the world, and not “ the tail.” (See Deut. 28:13.) TH E ZIONIST MOVEMENT— TH E COMING TOGETHER O F THE DRY BONES The coming together of the dry bones; and, indeed, their being covered with “ sinews” and “ flesh” and “ skin,” represent what we are witnessing today in Israel. Those who return to the land of their fathers are going back, but in unbelief. There is “no breath in them,” Spirit-given life from God. Why? Because, as a nation they still reject their Messiah and the only Saviour. They are still “ dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2 :1 ). The Zionist movement is political and national, not spiritual; but it is preparatory to the time when “ breath” from God shall be given them; spiritual breath, that they may live unto God. Zechariah foretold that wonderful day when he wrote saying, “They shall look upon me whom they have pierced. In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for unclean ness” (Zech. 12:10, 13:1).
THE KING'S BUSINESS
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