Why doesn’t God just place a giant banner in the sky, proclaiming who He is? Why did Jesus speak in parables, leaving most of the people in the dark concerning the meaning of His stories?
Jesus told His disciples that this was a form of judgement on the people. Because they had refused to listen to God’s plain warnings, He was now presenting them with a message that they could not understand even though it was straight in front of them.
Today some almost 2000 years later, God is speaking again to the nations, and this time in the parable of the nation of Israel. Every tribe, tongue and nation across the global are hearing an unceasing torrent of news about Israel, and the vast majority of it is negative. Many are getting angry with this tiny nation, raging against her very existence.
But for the true followers of Jesus, every time the nation of Israel is mentioned, we hear a parable pointing to God. There was in fact no nation of Israel for 1900 years. God Himself had predicted over 60 times in the Old Testament that His people would be scattered among all nations due to their sins, but also that one day He would sovereignly bring them back. No other nation or people group in human history that have been exiled have ever returned home. This one people group who have been the most despised, hated and persecuted minority group in history, have not only endured centuries of persecution, but have also survived the largest scale genocide event in human history, the Holocaust. And then only three years after the Holocaust and World War Two, on this day of May 14 in 1948, the nation of Israel was proclaimed.
The existence of the nation of Israel today is a parable paraded before the nations, testifying to the faithfulness of God to His promises and to the divine inspiration of the Scriptures. The parable of Israel also warns us that this same God is about to send His Son back to earth. For those who listen and understand the parable of Israel, it inspires teaches them to live holy lives in preparation for the soon coming of the King of Kings.
But for those who are unable to listen, the parable of Israel remains a mystery. They live not only unprepared for the 2nd Coming of Jesus, but they are also increasingly lining themselves up against God and His Messiah.
In their rage to come against Israel, they too are fulfilling prophecy, as the Word of the Lord declares:
“ For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem…. Then the Lord will go forth, And fight against those nations…. And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives” Zec 14:1-3
Does your church understand the parable of Israel?
Israel today is hardly mentioned in our churches but remains a central part of the Scriptures. How can we alert our fellow believers and help them understand the parable of Israel?
Ps Enoch Lavender was born in Australia, raised in Norway, spent time living in China and is now based on the Gold Coast of Australia. He has been studying Hebrew and the Jewish roots of our faith for the past decade, and has a keen interest in the Middle East from a Bible prophecy perspective.
Contact Enoch and Olive Tree Ministries
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