This year marks the 77^th anniversary of the greatest miracle of the modern era—the rebirth of the Jewish state after 19 centuries.  Though it seemed to be impossible, the dream of Jewish people through the years for a return to their homeland, was promised by God.  And it happened just as He had spoken it. 

Declaration of Independence

On November 29, 1947, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted a resolution for re-establishment of an independent Jewish state in Palestine and called upon inhabitants of the country to take such steps as may be necessary on their part to put the plan into effect.

This recognition by the United Nations of the right of the Jewish people to establish their independent state may not be revoked. It is, moreover, the self-evident right of the Jewish people to be a nation, as all other nations, in its own sovereign state.

On May 14, 1948, at a meeting in Tel Aviv, David Ben-Gurion, who would become Israel’s first prime minister, read a statement approved by the members of the governing council. It was a declaration to the world that the Jewish state would be reborn.

Accordingly we, the members of National Council, representing the Jewish people in Palestine and the Zionist movement of the world, met together in solemn assembly by virtue of the natural and historic right of Jewish people and of resolution of the General Assembly of the United Nations:

Hereby proclaim the establishment
of the Jewish state in Palestine,
to be called Israel.

We hereby declare that as from the termination of the Mandate at midnight this night of the 14th to 15th of May, 1948 and until the setting up of duly-elected bodies of the state in accordance with a constitution to be drawn up by a constituent assembly not later than the first day of October, 1948, the present National Council shall act as the Provisional State Council, and its executive organ, the National Administration, shall constitute the Provisional Government of the state of Israel.

The state of Israel will promote the development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants; will be based on precepts of liberty, justice and peace taught by the Hebrew prophets; will uphold the full social and political equality of all its citizens without distinction of race, creed or sex; will guarantee full freedom of conscience, worship, education and culture; will safeguard the sanctity and inviolability of shrines and holy places of all religions; and will dedicate itself to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.

The state of Israel will be ready to cooperate with the organs and representatives of the United Nations in the implementation of the resolution of November 29, 1947, and will take steps to bring about an economic union over the whole of Palestine.

We appeal to the United Nations to assist the Jewish people in the building of its state and admit Israel into the family of nations.

In the midst of wanton aggression we call upon the Arab inhabitants of the state of Israel to return to the ways of peace and play their part in the development of the state, with full and equal citizenship and due representation in all its bodies and institutions, provisional or permanent.

We offer peace and amity to all neighboring states and their peoples, and invite them to co-operate with the independent Jewish nation for the common good of all. The state of Israel is ready to contribute its full share to the peaceful progress and reconstitution of the Middle East. Our call goes out to the Jewish people all over the world to rally to our side in the task of immigration and development, and to stand by us in the great struggle for the fulfillment of the dream of generations — the redemption of Israel.

With trust in Almighty God, we set our hands to this declaration at this session of the Provisional state Council in the city of Tel Aviv this Sabbath eve, the fifth day of Iyar, 5708, the fourteenth day of May, 1948.

War for Survival

As soon as Israel declared independence in 1948, the new state was at war. Armies from Egypt, Syria, Jordan, and more poured into Israel to try to destroy the Jewish state even before it could truly begin. The Jewish people, poorly equipped and organized, fought back with desperation to try to defend their families and homes and their hopes for the future. 

The war took an incredible toll on the Jewish people. The death toll from the War of Independence was 1% of the entire population of Israel!  As a point of comparison, such a deadly cost in America today would mean the deaths of more than three million in battle in just a few months. The cost of the birth and survival of Israel was high indeed…and sadly, that cost has had to be paid over and over ever since.

Israel’s quest for independence was greatly aided by the Machal, or Mitnadvei Chutz-La’Arets (Volunteers from Outside Israel). This was a group of volunteers, approximately 3,500 strong, who hailed from at least 37 different countries. Young and old, they answered the rallying cry of the young nation surrounded by enemies determined to destroy every man, woman, and child. Some of them were Jewish, many were Believers, and some were simply interested in the cause of freedom for Israel.

One of the most vital contributions of these volunteers was the training they provided in every area—infantry, air force, navy, artillery, health, and communication—that was a key to Israel’s success against an overwhelming foe. This war was truly of a tiny Jewish David versus the Arab Goliath. In its infancy, Israel was forced to fight for its life against the war machine stationed at its borders, and it needed the help of every able-bodied volunteer. Israeli soldiers referred to the volunteers from outside Israel—Americans and Canadians—as the Machalniks.

By the time the long, bitter battle finally ceased in January 1949, Palestinians by the hundreds of thousands fled to surrounding countries upon orders from the Arab leaders, who had visions of a triumphant return after routing the Jews. Following the deadly confrontation, Israeli leaders made the first of many succeeding attempts to forge a lasting peace with their Arab neighbors; no one would respond. There was no partner for peace. Arab inflexibility alone was responsible—then and now—for the continuing wars and unrest.

War for Survival

As soon as Israel declared independence in 1948, the new state was at war. Armies from Egypt, Syria, Jordan, and more poured into Israel to try to destroy the Jewish state even before it could truly begin. The Jewish people, poorly equipped and organized, fought back with desperation to try to defend their families and homes and their hopes for the future. 

The war took an incredible toll on the Jewish people. The death toll from the War of Independence was 1% of the entire population of Israel!  As a point of comparison, such a deadly cost in America today would mean the deaths of more than three million in battle in just a few months. The cost of the birth and survival of Israel was high indeed…and sadly, that cost has had to be paid over and over ever since.

Israel’s quest for independence was greatly aided by the Machal, or Mitnadvei Chutz-La’Arets (Volunteers from Outside Israel). This was a group of volunteers, approximately 3,500 strong, who hailed from at least 37 different countries. Young and old, they answered the rallying cry of the young nation surrounded by enemies determined to destroy every man, woman, and child. Some of them were Jewish, many were Believers, and some were simply interested in the cause of freedom for Israel.

One of the most vital contributions of these volunteers was the training they provided in every area—infantry, air force, navy, artillery, health, and communication—that was a key to Israel’s success against an overwhelming foe. This war was truly of a tiny Jewish David versus the Arab Goliath. In its infancy, Israel was forced to fight for its life against the war machine stationed at its borders, and it needed the help of every able-bodied volunteer. Israeli soldiers referred to the volunteers from outside Israel—Americans and Canadians—as the Machalniks.

By the time the long, bitter battle finally ceased in January 1949, Palestinians by the hundreds of thousands fled to surrounding countries upon orders from the Arab leaders, who had visions of a triumphant return after routing the Jews. Following the deadly confrontation, Israeli leaders made the first of many succeeding attempts to forge a lasting peace with their Arab neighbors; no one would respond. There was no partner for peace. Arab inflexibility alone was responsible—then and now—for the continuing wars and unrest.

Six-Day War

When Israel’s War of Independence ended, the city of Jerusalem was divided. Barbed wire and concrete separated the part of the city under Jordanian control and the part that was under Jewish control. Though the armistice agreement that ended the fighting in 1949 said that the Jews would be allowed access to the Wailing Wall and the Old City, the Jordanians did not keep their promise. Instead, they systematically destroyed and desecrated Jewish holy sites.

In 1967, after years of a fragile peace and following a massive Soviet Union arms buildup, the governments of Egypt and Syria were threatening war against Israel. Following the decision by President Nasser of Egypt to close the Straits of Tiran at Sharm El-Sheikh to Israeli shipping (a deliberate act of war), the United Nations peacekeeping forces were removed. 

On the morning of June 5, 1967, Israeli forces launched a lightning attack, which left the Egyptian Air Force destroyed on the ground. On the same day, successful raids also destroyed much of the Syrian Air Force as well. Israeli General Moshe Dayan made a crucial strategic decision to impose a complete news blackout. Rather than bragging about their success, the Israeli Defense Forces released no news about the attacks. At the same time, Egypt was boasting publicly about having won a great victory against Israel.  

Jerusalem Reunited

The unexpected result of the Israeli news blackout and the false Egyptian propaganda was that it convinced King Hussein to enter the war, despite promises from Israel that they would not attack Jordan. Hussein ordered his forces to take control of the Jewish sector of Jerusalem and unite the entire city under his rule. Israeli troops immediately responded to halt the Jordanian advance. They were heavily outnumbered but fought ferociously for the sake of the Holy City.

Colonel Mordechai Gur and his 55^th Paratroop Brigade had been scheduled for deployment in the Sinai. Things were going so well there, however, that they were sent to Jerusalem instead. Years later sitting in his office in Jerusalem, he remembered the events of that momentous day. “On Wednesday morning, June 7^th, I and my paratroopers stormed into the Old City and advanced on the Temple Mount. I wept as I shouted over my communications system, ‘The Temple Mount is in our hands!’ I had long looked forward to liberating Jerusalem as something sublime. For me it was the culmination of my most personal goals as a youngster, as a Jew, and as a soldier.”

Looking Forward

Never before in history has a nation thousands of years old celebrated a second 77^th birthday. But never has there been another nation like the one God called into existence through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The center of God’s plan for the past, present, and future of our world revolves around the Holy City and His Chosen People. There is no doubt about the seriousness of the threats facing Israel in the modern world, but there is also no question that the mighty hand of God will defend them.

“Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.” —Psalm 121:4

The past is not forgotten in Israel, and the promise of the future is bright. The promises of God for what is yet to come are just as certain as those that have already been fulfilled. Israel lives. And despite the challenges and threats facing the Jewish state, this 77^th birthday will not be Israel’s last!

God Himself, the Creator of heaven and earth, wants to have a personal, intimate, and meaningful relationship with you. My relationship with my father was nonexistent. As I’ve related, I was severely abused and belittled by my father until I left home at the age of 17. I truly lacked a close and meaningful connection with him. One thing I’ve learned over the years since I came to know Jesus as Lord of my life and can without reservation assure you is this: You are God’s child! He gave you life.

The Bible says in Ephesians 1:4–5: “Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.” You and I are alive today for no other reason than because God has a Good Father’s loving heart. He wanted to have a family, so He adopted you, implanted you into His family. For what purpose were you born? For fellowship with God; He wants to communicate with you, His child. I want to show you just a few of the things the Bible tells us about the Good Father that will help you begin to understand the heart of God and His shepherd’s love for you:

• Our Father shows unconditional love. “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities” (Psalm 103:8–10).
• He is integrity personified. “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” (Numbers 23:19).
• He is compassionate. “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness” (Psalm 103:8).
• God has tremendous wisdom. “For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Corinthians 1:25).

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore” (Psalm 133:1-3).

Unity and harmony were non-existent in my childhood home. Neither my parents nor my siblings dwelt “together in unity.” Not until I later began to study the Word of God did I realize just how important these words are. In this Psalm, the writer paints a beautiful picture of unity in the anointing of Aaron, the high priest, brother of Moses. He pictures it being poured over Aaron’s head, flowing sweetly and smoothly, fragrantly down his face, through his beard, all the way to the hem of his priestly garments.

Why is that picture important? Unity is the glue that holds a family, a Church, a nation together. Psalm 133 extols the value of unity. The result of such harmony is a place where God’s people are refreshed and strengthened by His Spirit—just as the dew nourishes the dry ground! It is the place where God commands blessing and where His anointing flows! Vine’s Expository Dictionary records that the word together in Psalm 133:1 “emphasizes a plurality in unity. In some contexts, the connotation is on community in action.”

The Hebrew word for unity, yâchadh, in verse one means “oneness, concord;” it denotes a people drawn together for one purpose—to follow Jehovah, fulfill His plan and purpose, and to dwell together under the umbrella of His blessings.

Aaron wasn’t anointed with just any old oil…with whatever was handy. No, it was the holy anointing oil used only in Temple ceremonies. It consisted of four spices: myrrh, cinnamon, sweet cane (or sweet calamus), and cassia. They were mingled together with olive oil, which to the ancient Hebrews was enormously symbolic and useful. It was a balm, a soothing healing oil poured into wounds; it was fuel to keep lamps burning and provide light; it was a food, blended with grains and other foods to fill the hungry.

As the spices enfolded Aaron, it became a picture of yâchadh—oneness—of a group of very different people united in service to Jehovah. As the oil was infused with the spices, it became holy. None of the ingredients alone could make the anointing oil, but together they become a wonderful example of unity.  God has called us together “for such a time as this,” and I give thanks to Him for your love for His Chosen People and your singleness of purpose to stand in their defense.