What was, what is…
The vast majority of the “Old World” has its history and ruins to visit. Scotland with the standing stones. England, France, Germany, Spain and so on with all their castles. Italy with ancient cathedrals and mummified popes of yesteryear. We can visit these locations and see that there was historical value to each place, which is evident by the amount of tourism each location attracts. Everyone wants to know about the history, whether you’re wanting to connect to something of your past or you’re simply interested in ancient history and archaeology. This all reminds me of a scripture in Ecclesiastes, Chapter 1…
9. What has been is what will be, what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.
10. Is there something of which it is said, "See, this is new"? It existed already in the ages before us.
11. No one remembers the people of long ago; and those to come will not be remembered by those who come after them.
This is so true, however, there is one place on earth that calls to people more than any other place on earth…Israel! It’s more than just history. It’s more than just a place on earth where things happened so, so long ago. It’s more than a distant memory. No, it is part of everyone’s past, it is part of everyone’s present and there will be a future.
Israel, the land that God called Abram to, and once Abram crossed the Jordan River he became the father of many. He became the first Hebrew and through him the nation of Israel was born. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob became the patriarchs because of their strong faith in the God of Israel. God gave this land to Abraham and all his decedents and through them the Messiah was born. This child was born, but was no ordinary child, He was God, the Word Who poured himself into a human child in order for us all to have life. He redeemed us from our sins. He overcame the power of death and took back the keys that held us in captivity. He gave us hope for a future and brighter tomorrow. This child, Yeshua (Jesus), died for us. Where did this all take place? Israel! Where did Yeshua live, teach, preach, heal and perform awesome miracles? Israel! Cana - where he turned water into wine. The Sea of Galilee - where he calmed the raging sea and commanded the storms. This is where he also called some of his disciples to follow him. This is all part of “what was”.
The “what is” can be found in Ezekiel 37:21;
21. Then say to them that Adonai ELOHIM says: 'I will take the people of Isra'el from among the nations where they have gone and gather them from every side and bring them back to their own land. I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Isra'el; and one king will be king for all of them. They will no longer be two nations, and they will never again be divided into two kingdoms.
What an awesome and miraculous coming to fruition of prophecy we are currently experiencing in present-day Israel. God said He would do it and has. He called back the children of Israel from the four corners of the world and has reestablished them in their own land! For almost 2,000 years the land of Israel was nothing but a dried up, barren waste land that wasn’t producing nor yielding any good thing. A land full of Malaria and other diseases. Upon traveling to Israel in 1867, Mark Twain stated, “Of all the lands there are for dismal scenery, I think Palestine must be the prince... Can the curse of the Deity beautify a land? “Palestine sits in sackcloth and ashes. Over it broods the spell of a curse that has withered its fields and fettered its energies.” What a bleak and dismal encounter, however, when God saw fit to bring back the rightful heirs of a small plot of land sitting off the shores of the Mediterranean Ocean, the land began to live. Tel Aviv is considered the Silicon Valley of the Middle East. The Golan Heights is home to vast vineyards and wineries. The Dead Sea has yielded a vast supply of beauty and health products. God breathed and it all came to life! Date orchards, olive groves, vineyards and the most beautiful rose gardens you have ever seen all flourish in Israel, this small country no bigger than the state of New Jersey.
The “what was” and the “what is” are very apparent in Israel today and the “what will be” is not completely out of sight. You can see the hand of God moving and the stage is being set for what will be. When at Mt. Carmel you can see where God miraculously worked through the prophet Elijah in that he showed up when no other god would. Then you turn your head to the north and see the Jezreel Valley where Yeshua will show up where no other god will and defeat the dragon called Satan at the battle of Armageddon.
Israel, there is no other place on earth like Israel.
If you have never been, please consider going with us on our next tour to Israel. I promise, you’ll never be the same.
