Thursday, June 17, 2010

What is the biggest miracle with Israel?

When we read the Bible, the accounts of Israel's exploits make it seem like a big power.  They must have been one of the world's superpowers back then.  But in actual fact, Israel has always been a small nation with limited reach -- even at her height (under Kings David and Solomon) she was still relatively small.  

In contrast, the Hebrew nation was surrounded by nations that at one time or another become ancient superpower: Egypt (they were a superpower a few times), Babylon, Assyria, Persia and of course Rome.  These comprise most of the world history's greatest empires!  And four of them at one time or another had a major issue with little Israel.  

The fact that this small nation survived the antagonism of four super powers is astounding -- something we moderns forget.  Many people struggle with the veracity of the ten plagues and the parting of the Red Sea as God's miraculous acts.  But they forget the obvious miracle (one that historians don't doubt) and that was the fact that Israel managed to escape from the Egyptian Empire at the very pinnacle of its rule, taking away from it a massive labour force and livestock!  

In the modern era a relatively small number of Jewish people have been able to maintain their identity even while spread throughout the world, having been separated for many centuries.  Then only three years after the largest and most sophisticated effort to extinguish them, Israel became a recognized state! 

Many larger people groups have come and gone from the face of Earth over the last 4000 years, yet Israel stands today as a strong power in the Middle East.  This is mind boggling history for such a tiny group.  The existence of Israel today is nothing short of miraculous.  We can credit Israel for its tenacity and strength...and marvel at God's unfailing commitment to His people even when many of them no longer believe He exists.

No comments:

Post a Comment