| RESTORATION |
R E S T O R A T I O N :
For Israel and Christian Believers
There was once a lovely young woman, favored by her doting
Father. After a few tests of her character to see if she would be true to her
training, she was given a land to rule and enjoy. When she behaved well she was
rewarded with material abundance to enhance her beauty. This made the
surrounding nations jealous.
Then her pride arose, causing her to speak and act as if she
had done it all herself. She forgot that what she was, and everything she had,
was due to the favor of her Father. Such a foolish one was a daughter of Adam
and Eve. When she sorrowfully confessed her sin, turning away from it, she
begged her Father to give her another chance.
So, for many years, her Father sent one messenger after
another to her. They were the prophets of Israel. Their messages called Israel
and its kings back to the true knowledge of their God. They described the
Father’s love and faithfulness. They warned of the inevitable price of God’s
judgment upon sin. They pointed to a very special time when Father God would
send them the “Anointed One”, the Messiah, Who would save them from sin and
restore their kingdom.
The prophet Ezekiel wrote a promise of restoration for
Israel. By that time the people had been scattered through several dispersions.
The Assyrians had scattered the northern kingdom, and the Babylonian king,
Nebuchadnezzar had conquered and dispersed the southern kingdom.
Ezekiel wrote to Israel during the Babylonian dispersion,
with Father God’s promise for Israel’s restoration. In chapter 11, verse 16,
Ezekiel wrote: “Though I had removed them far away among the nations and though
I had scattered them among the countries, yet I was a sanctuary for them a
little while in the countries where they had gone.”
“Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD. “I will gather you
from the peoples and assemble you out of the countries among which you have
been scattered and I will give you the land of Israel.” ‘ (verse 17)
Then in the next passage God’s Spirit does a fast-forward of
the divine time clock, advancing about three thousand years. He speaks of those
Jews who would return to the land. This was fulfilled when the restored nation
was proclaimed, May 14, 1948, and its first president, David ben Gurion, spoke to the
National Council on that historic day.
Ezekiel had written: “When they come there they will remove
all its detestable things and all its abominations from it. And I will give them one heart
(unity) and put a new spirit within them. And I will take the heart of stone
out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh.” (vs. 8 and 9)
A stony heart is hard,
and without compassion. It cannot serve God. In order to obey God’s
commandments, we must be tender-hearted. So Ezekiel continues:
“That they may walk in my statutes and keep My ordinances and
do them. They will be My people and I shall be their God."
There was a promise as well, for those that continue in their
evil ways…
"I will bring their conduct down on their heads…” Ezekiel wrote of
God’s righteous judgment.
We know that Ezekiel’s prophetic promise has been fulfilled.
Today the people of restored Israel continue to cleanse the land, as God told
Ezekiel.
Could there be a further application for this scripture? Let
us look at the Apostle Paul’s second letter to the believers at Corinth. In the
first chapter, 20th verse, Paul writes:
“All the
promises of God are yes and so be it, in Jesus Christ.” (KJV)
Since
Yeshua, Jesus, is God’s word made manifest in human flesh,
ALL of
God’s promises are complete in Him!
Was the promise of Israel’s restoration to its land, the word
of God? Yes it was.
Was the promise of the softening of Israel’s stony heart, the
word of God? Indeed it was.
Therefore, born again, spirit-baptized, repentant, converted
children of God have every reason and right to claim the same promise of
restoration for themselves. We may claim it for the Body of Christ as a whole.
We may claim it for our churches. We may claim it for our families, and for
ourselves as individuals!
Wonderfully, those of us who once lived in Christ and
backslid into sin, can thank our loving Father for His promise of restoration
to His people Israel. We can say:
“Thank you, Father, for your mercy. Thank you that Your Word
is settled in heaven, and thank You that You have restored Israel to her land.
You have changed hardened hearts so they will obey You.
Even so, in Your Anointed One, Yeshua the Messiah, You will forgive and restore me as well. Thank you and so be it, in Jesus’ mighty Name!”
בשי יב תפנא יכ הוהי ךדוא אוהה םויב תרמאו א
:לארשי
“And in that day you will say, ‘Oh Lord, I
will praise You.
Though
you were angry with me. Your anger has turned away
and
now you comfort me.
Behold,
God is my Salvation. I will trust and not be afraid.
For
God Most High is my strength and My Song.
He
also has become My Salvation!
Therefore
with joy shall you draw water out of the wells of salvation.
And
in that day shall you say: Praise the Lord! Call upon His Name!
Declare
His doings among the peoples!
Make
mention that His Name is exalted. Sing unto the Lord,
for
He has done marvelous things. This is known in all the earth.
Cry
out and shout, you inhabitant of Zion!
For
great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of You!”
(Isaiah 12, KJV)