May 14, 1948: The Founding of the State of Israel
Seventy-One years ago, was the first birthday of the Nation of Israel in modern history. I think God also enjoys celebrating and recognizing significant birthdays!
“Who has ever heard of such things? Who has ever seen things like this? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion in labor than she gives birth to her children.” –Isaiah 66:8 NIV
The Jewish people were still without their own state during the first 66 years of the resettlement of the Land of their Forefathers. The founding of the state on the 14th day of May 1948 is connected directly with the horrors of the Second World War (1939-1945). The annihilation of 6 million Jews made it clear that an answer to the Jewish Question was urgently needed. Deeply affected by the atrocities committed against the Jews, a majority of the nations of the recently founded UN exhibited the courage to defy Islamic opposition in the November Resolution and voted for the founding of the Jewish state. Immediately following, there were terrible conflicts in Palestine. It was the first phase of a war of annihilation against the Jews, beginning in December 1947, which would continue into 1949. In the face of all this bloody opposition, on the unforgettable Friday afternoon of May14, 1948, David Ben Gurion proclaimed to the new nation:
“Here is the State of Israel. 2,000 years have passed. When the time for God has come, no one can withstand Him!”
Doesn’t his statement just send chills up your spine?
In 700 BC this remarkable day was described by the prophet Isaiah in the words above (Isaiah 66:8). Please take time to read the verse again out loud and slowly.
Yes, the nation of Israel was born on May 14, 1948 in the middle of belligerent adversity. During the eve of the following Saturday total war broke out.
In 1922 the League of Nations gave Great Britain the mandate (the political authority) over Palestine. As soon as the British withdrew her mandate, the nation of Israel was “born in a day!” That day war was declared by the surrounding enemy nations of Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt, plus the contingents from Saudi Arabia and Yemen. The verse in Isaiah states that the birth of the Jewish State would take place in the midst of extreme pain.
The Word of God is amazing isn’t it?!
The nations around Israel tried to obliterate Israel, the Jewish State, three times through total war:
• 1948/1949: in the so-called Israeli War of Independence
• 1967: in the Six Day War
• 1973: in the Yom Kippur War
The prophetic Psalm 83 describes the enemies’ objective precisely. The voice of the people of Israel is heard in this End-Time prayer-song, calling to God for help in the distress from their enemies:
“1 Do not keep silent, O God! Do not hold Your peace, and do not be still, O God! 2 For behold, Your enemies make a tumult; And those who hate You have lifted up their head. 3 They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, And consulted together against Your sheltered ones. 4 They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, That the name of Israel may be remembered no more.” – Psalm 83:1-4 NKJV
Once again, in view of what is happening in Israel today—
• Hundreds of rockets being launched from Gaza
• The UN’s overwhelming bias against Israel
• The US moving its embassy to Jerusalem
• Israel is paying tribute to Trump after he officially recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights by naming an undesignated region after him. Israel captured the southern section of the Golan from Syria in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed it in 1981, a move not recognized by most countries.
In view of these powerful fulfilled prophecies and present realities, what can we do as sincere followers of Christ? Here are two things:
• Pray for the people of Israel and Jerusalem!
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you.”-Psalm 122:6 NKJV
• Vote for people running for office who are loyal to Israel.
“Look with favor on Zion and help her; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.” –Psalm 51:18 NLT
Understanding the Times with you as a Follower of Christ,
Dale
dale@daleebel.org