When America Would Turn Her Back on Israel

On October 23, 2011, Dr. David Jeremiah's book I Never Thought I'd See The Day: Culture at the Crossroads reached #1 on the New York Times bestsellers list under the category of "Hardcover Advice & Misc.!" Since then, each week it has stayed in the top five.

I think that the popularity of the book demonstrates what MILLIONS of people here in America have concluded:  Our nation genuinely has reached a critical juncture in the culture wars. Since the book's release, hundreds of Internet searches have led new visitors here when they type in "I Never Thought I'd See The Day," "David Jeremiah," and dozens of other combinations. There is a huge desire to learn the information contained in this book!

I haven't read the chapter "When America Would Turn Her Back On Israel," yet, but the sermon broadcast was so excellent and relevant for today that I find myself drawn towards transcribing the entire message here at Talk Wisdom!!

To see the broadcast, go to David Jeremiah.org and click on the green box that says, "WATCH NOW - This Week's Broadcast."

Page description of the broadcast:

This Week’s Television Broadcast

When America Would Turn Her Back on Israel | Week of November 13, 2011

A most unusual promise in Scripture pertains to how one treats the nation of Israel. Those who bless Israel will be blessed while those who curse Israel will be cursed. In recent years, America's support for Israel has wavered, which could have disastrous results for our nation.

I Never Thought I'd See the Day!
ABOUT THE CURRENT TELEVISION SERIES

The world is changing rapidly. Many people are witnessing upheavals in the world’s structures and values that they never thought they would witness. Debt is skyrocketing, the Middle East is in turmoil, millions are unemployed, standards of morality are falling, and marriage and family are being completely redefined. Jesus Christ is the butt of jokes in the nation that historical honored him the most. And the Bible--the book that informed the philosophies of the founding fathers--has been shuffled further and further to the edges of meaningful cultural conversation. We are even seeing these changes in the Church. With over 40 years in ministry, Dr. David Jeremiah has witnessed many of these changes and sheds light on Western culture’s decline in his newest television series, I Never Thought I’d See the Day! He examines nine changes in our world and a biblical evaluation of each: angry atheists, profaning of Jesus Christ, redefining marriage, irrelevance of the Church, rise of militant nations, marginalization of the Bible, and more. He also provides the Bible’s strategy for standing firm on the truth when the world is searching for answers to modern crises. Tune in to Turning Point Television on Sundays from September 18 to November 20 for this enlightening series.

Here is an outline of the Scriptures used during the broadcast:

Genesis 12:3

I. God’s Providence in the Story of Israel
Psalm 33:12
Deuteronomy 7:6-8
Genesis 12:1-3

II. God’s Promise of a Land for Israel

III. God’s Punishment of the Enemies of Israel
Zechariah 2:8
Zechariah 9:8

IV. God’s Preservation of America Because of Israel

V. God’s Program for the Church and Israel
Romans 11:26-27
Jeremiah 31:35-37

VI. God’s Plan for the Peace of Israel
Psalm 122:1-9

Dr. Jeremiah does not parse any words about the fact that the Obama Administration has been, and continues to be, the most unfriendly entity towards Israel of any previous American administration in our nation's history! He also suggests that much of the economic, moral, and culture decline could be a direct result of the current administration's way of turning its back on Israel, plus the obvious mistreatment against Her current leader, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

[Added note from Christine: While reading the news during my lunch break from transcribing Dr. Jeremiah's sermon, I ran across this blog post:

Now The End Begins: Israel Refuses To Tell US Its Iran Intentions.

Can anyone blame them??? Obama IS NOT ISRAEL'S FRIEND!

Note this portion from the link:

Mr Panetta conveyed an urgent message from Barack Obama. The president, Mr Panetta said, wanted an unshakable guarantee that Israel would not carry out a unilateral military strike against Iran’s nuclear installations without first seeking Washington’s clearance.

The two Israelis were notably evasive in their response, according to sources both in Israel and the United States.

“They did not suggest that military action was being planned or was imminent, but neither did they give any assurances that Israel would first seek Washington’s permission, or even inform the White House in advance that a mission was underway,” one said.

Alarmed by Mr Netanyahu’s noncommittal response, Mr Obama reportedly ordered the US intelligence services to step up monitoring of Israel to glean clues of its intentions.]

Back to my original post:

It will take several days to complete the transcript version here at this blog. I highly suggest that you listen to the broadcast TODAY. It is most relevant concerning the signs of the times that we are living in these days, and it will become increasingly important to tell your family, friends, coworkers, and acquaintances what you have learned from the video sermon! Again, I cannot stress enough how terrific Dr. Jeremiah's new book is for discerning how, and why, we are at such a decision-making crossroad to save our culture and nation from further disaster due to both the mistreatment of Israel and the dangerous administration that is hell-bent on destroying our nation!

~Christine

Hat Tip:

David Jeremiah.org

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Transcript:

See if you agree with this statement, "The nation of Israel is the key to America's survival." Hello, I am David Jeremiah and I invite you to stay tuned as I explain the statement that I just made. You are watching a very special Turning Point series called, "I Never Thought I'd See The Day: Culture at the Crossroads" where we are taking a look at unsettling development in our world. Today's message, I Never Thought I'd See The Day When America Would Turn Her Back on Israel explains how America has begun to look beyond Israel for allies in the Middle East. But She does so at Her own peril. For God has said clearly in His Word, that nations who abandon Israel will not be blessed by Him. And there are many examples in history that prove God's promise. So join me on today's Turning Point while I explain why Israel is the key to America's survival.

I believe that America's future depends in large part on one single factor: Our relationship with the tiny nation of Israel. And given the political trends in recent years, I believe that America is putting Her future at risk. We supported Israel in the 20th century when She was reformed politically in Her homeland, and if we do not return towards our previous supportive policies toward Israel, our future as a nation is in peril.

You may be wondering if my thinking is upside down; after all America is the world's greatest super-power. Israel is a sliver of land accommodating only a few million citizens. One would think that America is the key to Israel's survival, not the other way around. Given our history of vast economic and military aide packages to Israel over the years it would seem that America could use the threat of withdrawn aide to leverage Her influence over Israel and get that tiny nation to do whatever we want. surely the larger independent nation holds in Her hand the survival of a smaller independent nation. But I am saying the opposite is true: that Israel is the key to America's survival and here are the reasons why:

It is clear that America's leaders, at least in recent administrations have not been looking at Israel with spiritual or biblical eyes. Had they done so, one small verse would have guided their policy decisions. That verse is Genesis 12:3 which says, "I will bless those who bless you and I will curse him that curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."

God has a perfect track record, men and women, for keeping His promises. A fact that is demonstrated by several thousand years of history. Yet in spite of God's well demonstrated trustworthiness, American leaders in recent years have rationalized and justified their way into denying Israel the free expression of Her sovereignty as a nation.

America has coddled and tolerated, and even financially supported some of Israel's neighbors who have openly declared that their goal is to drive the Jewish people from their homeland and scatter them back into their pre-1948 homes around the world; if not to exterminate them altogether.

No nation should take lightly the promises of God in Genesis 12:3. If for no other reason, then for self-preservation. And that includes America; even if American leaders don't fully understand or agree with the Judeo-Christian teachings of the Bible, matching up Genesis 12:3 with the thousands of years of history involving Israel should be convincing enough. Bless Israel, and you will be blessed. Curse Israel, and you will be cursed.

What is so special about Israel?
I. God's Providence in the Story of Israel


To answer that question we have to look briefly at the beginning of the nation of Israel. While Israel is often called "God's chosen people," it is more accurate to say that God chose a person by the name of Abraham. Rather than choosing an existing nation, God chose a man and created a nation through him and his wife Sarah. That nation became God's chosen people. Actually, the phrase "God's chosen people" doesn't occur in the Bible, the New King James Version, but there are abundant examples in Scripture to support the idea.

Psalm 33:12 - Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people He has chosen as His own inheritance.

The best summary of why God chose Israel to be His own people is found back in a passage in Deuteronomy Chapter 7:

Deuteronomy 7:6-8 For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. Now the LORD did not set His eye on you or choose you because you are more in number for you are the least of all peoples; but because the LORD loves you, and He would keep the oath He swore to your fathers..."

That's why He chose you! There was nothing in Israel to cause God to embrace Her as His people. Moses spoke the words in Deuteronomy to a new generation of Israelites whose parents had been poverty-stricken slaves in Egypt for over 400 years! Not exactly the kind of resume that would make a people appealing to a God who wanted to show off His best work. Israel became the people of God for two reasons:

1. Because of a promise that God made to Abraham centuries before.

2. Because of God's faithful love in keeping His promises.

Here is the complete promise that God made to Abraham as is recorded in Genesis 12:

Genesis 12:1-3 Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, from your family, and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I shall curse him who curses you, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."

These passages contain a warning, but why such a warning? What is so important about Israel that God protects Her by promising to bless her benefactors and curse Her enemies? The answer is found in the passage that bookends the warning:

Genesis 12:2-3 And you shall be a blessing and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.

Through His chosen people God intended to bless the rest of the human family. He chose a Mesopotamian man named Abram and promised that he and his descendants would be a channel of that blessing. People who recognize God's promises for Israel and do whatever they can to preserve, protect, and defend Israel will likewise be preserved, protected, and defended and God will see to it.

Let me ask you, has God blessed us through Israel? He gave us His Word through the Israeli people, He gave us our Savior through the people of Israel, He gave us the code of law through Moses which is now the basis for jurisprudence of every free nation of the world. Oh yes, we have been blessed by the people of Israel, by the Jews. And people who stand in the way of Israel's prosperity will find themselves standing in the direct path of God's purposes for Israel. And history gives us the tragic story of what happens to anyone, individually or nationally who puts himself in that unenviable position - God's providence in the story of Israel.

II. God's Promise Of A Land For Israel

Part of God's promise for Abraham was a land in which he and his descendants would dwell. That land was known as Canaan when Abraham first arrived there and it became known as The Promised Land when Israel moved in following the exodus from Egypt. Not only did God promise the land of Israel from the river of Egypt to the Great River, the river Euphrates, He also promised it to Abraham's son Isaac, and Isaac's son Jacob, and He promised it to Jacob's twelve sons and all of their descendants. I have all of the Scriptures marked down in my notes.

Israel moved into this land and prospered exceedingly. She became rich and powerful; to be reckoned with under the successive reigns of Her kings, David and Solomon. But then the nation fell away. Fell away from Godly principles to the point that God stepped in and allowed the Jewish people to be conquered and dispersed throughout all the nations of the world. Israel began moving back to Her land following World War I, under the British mandate of Palestine. And then in earnest following World War II, tension developed between the returning Jews and the Arabs who were then living in the land who did not then, and haven't since taken kindly to Israel coming home. This tension came to a head when Israel's statehood was announced in 1948.

It's easy to slip into a kind of sympathetic mode towards these occupying Arabs. But the bottom line is simply this. The land belongs to God first, and God gave it to His people as an inheritance forever. That's what the Scripture says.

To get a proper perspective on this let me give you a little illustration:

You are sitting in a reserved seat at a theater production. Just before the curtain rises, you get an important call on your cell phone. So you leave your coat on your seat and return to the lobby to take your call in private. You return to find a stranger, sitting on your coat in your seat. The squatter refuses to leave and only does so after an embarrassing scene in which the ushers force him to abandon a seat for which he cannot prove ownership. You, however, have your reserved seat ticket stub so access to the seat is given back to you.

In that illustration, the theater-goer is Israel, the seat is Israel's homeland, the ticket is the Bible where legal assignment to the land is recorded. The temporary vacancy of the seat represents Israel's temporary absence from the land from AD70 to 1948. The squatter represents various groups who avail themselves of the opportunity to take the land in Israel's absence. The coat represents the historical artifacts that exist throughout the land that show that Israel's previous habitation really happened. And the usher at least in 1948 which was the League of Nations turned United Nations that said, "this is Israel's seat."

Israel is not taking land that she does not deserve. She is just occupying the land that was given to her by God. She is not doing something that she should not do; for which she should apologize or stand in defense. She is simply doing what God allowed her to do by His promise to her in the Scriptures.

The Jews were not restored to their homeland because they earned the right or turned back to God. In fact, if you know what is going on in Israel today you know that it is primarily a Zionist movement; it's not such a spiritual movement. So far they have failed as a people to embrace Jesus as their Messiah although the Bible tells us one day they will. But Israel remains to this day the "apple of God's eye." And woe to any nation today, including the United States, that tries to deny that fact for the sake of politics, preference, or popularity.

Thomas Newton was the bishop from Bristol, England from 1761-1782. He was an expert in biblical prophecy. He summarized well the economy of Israel's uniqueness. He wrote,

"the preservation of the Jews is one of the most single and elustrious acts of Divine Providence. What but a Supernatural Power could have preserved them in such a manner as no other nation upon the earth has ever been preserved. Nor is the providence of God much more remarkable in the destruction of their enemies that in their preservation, we see that the great empires which in their turns subdued and oppressed the people of God are all come to ruin. And if such has been the fatal end of the enemies that had been suppressors of the Jews, let it serve as a warning to all of us, who at any time, or upon any occassion, are raising a clamor and persecution against the Jews."

[to be continued]