Today there are more than 12,000 Jewish believers in the Messiah.
Hundreds of years ago, the Old Testament prophet Isaiah declared: “And it shall come to pass in that day that the remnant of Israel, and such as have escaped of the house of Jacob, will never again depend on him who defeated them, but will depend on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, in truth” (Is. 10:20, NKJV). I believe the day Isaiah spoke about is upon us.
The year 2007 will go down in the history books as a significant turning point in God’s prophetic time clock for Israel. Jerusalem has now remained a united city without walls or barbed wire for more than 40 years, and the nation will celebrate its 60th birthday in 2008 as a renewed modern state.
In the days since becoming a nation, Israel has made great strides. It continues to hold the highest success rate of research and development projects and is attracting serious investment as the shekel strengthens and the economy advances. This forward motion has been attained in spite of growing worldwide anti-Semitism and the continual threat of destruction by Islamic extremists and terrorists.
As the nation pays a huge price to defend itself, both in money and in lives lost, politicians driven by a secular humanistic ideology continue to pursue a bankrupt policy of “land for peace,” even though Israel has tried this tack over and over again since 1948 with no lasting success. There is a time coming, the Lord says, when Israel “will never again depend on him who defeated them, but will depend on the Lord.”
However, because of international pressure, the memory of the Second Lebanon War, which took place during the summer of 2006, and near daily rocket attacks from jihad groups such as Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Israelis now are willing to try almost any possible untried solution for peace—at almost any cost. Its enemies see its eagerness to negotiate but are preparing for the battle that they hope will defeat Israel once and for all.
Nevertheless, the Bible continually speaks of God’s remnant in Israel. “The remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the Mighty God,” Isaiah said (Is. 20:21). Today, there are more than 12,000 Jewish believers in Yeshua the Messiah who are proclaiming His praises throughout the land: “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” This reality should excite every believer in Jesus across the globe, for Yeshua said that when He hears these words once again from His people, His return is imminent.
In the more than 100 congregations in Israel, God is raising up Jewish apostles, prophets, teachers, evangelists and shepherds after His heart. He is pouring out His Holy Spirit today just as He did on Mount Zion in the first century. This is what we have waited for and prayed for—the hope of Israel.
In spite of all the negative press Israel receives from the media and the antagonism toward the country even from some segments of the church that buy into false teachings such as replacement theology, we can proudly proclaim with the apostle Paul, “For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?” (Rom. 11:15).
It is time for the real Bible-believing church to welcome the return of fellow Messianic Jewish brothers and sisters into their rightful inheritance in Israel. We should not be ashamed of them nor be fearful of associating with them but rather embrace them with all our hearts.
We must ensure that the remnant of the Jewish people not only comes to the Messiah but also receives ongoing support so that God’s promise concerning Israel will be fulfilled: “Though your people, O Israel, be as the sand of the sea, a remnant of them will return” (Is. 10:22).
Barry Segal and his wife, Batya, are founders of a humanitarian aid center in the Judean hills near Jerusalem. Their longing to help restore Israel inspired them to pioneer Vision for Israel and The Joseph Storehouse, nonprofit charity organizations. For more information go to visionforisrael.com.
