Quotes about Israel

Model: Ezra committed himself first to study God's Word, then to practice it, then to communicate it to the rest of Israel.

When I was a child, Israel was a legend more than a reality. She emerged from a dream, and today she has surpassed that dream.

It is interesting to note that Israel cannot live in her land today and have peace while she continues to reject God. It is not Russia or the Arabs that are giving Israel so much trouble; it is God. Israel is God's chosen people. He is going to bring them back to their land someday in faith and belief. They are returning to the land today in unbelief, and they do not have peace. This is the evidence of the hand of God in the affairs of the world.

The fig tree without fruit is symbolic, in my opinion, of the nation Israel. The owner of the fig tree expected it to bear fruit and was disappointed when it was barren. He had the unquestioned right to take the fruit and to act in judgment by cutting down the tree. Israel had been promised blessings if they walked in the light God had given them and curses if they rejected the light.

And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God.

Luke thus provides the last part of the prophetic pattern, that of rejection by the people. As Simeon foretold, this will be worked out in the subsequent narrative in terms of a division within Israel between those who do and those who do not accept this prophet. But this ominous opening already suggests a reason why many Jews later on in Acts reject the Gospel, precisely because it is meant for all (cf. e.g., Acts 13:44—52).

Our society is illuminated by the spiritual insights of the Hebrew prophets. America and Israel have a common love of human freedom, and they have a common faith in a democratic way of life.

The covenant relationship between Yahweh and Israel and the way Yahweh shone his light of blessing in Israel's life was designed to become a revelation to other peoples, a means of opening their eyes and releasing them from darkness.

The challenge to Jacob-Israel is to turn to Yahweh and be willing to submit to his intention regarding the fulfillment of his purpose, rather than continuing to insist on working with its own ideas about how that should work out (Is 55:6-13).

The First Testament is under no illusion about whether implementing the Torah has the potential to achieve God's purpose for Israel's life. There is no direct link between seeking to restrain injustice in society and the implementing of God's reign. Implementing God's reign is fortunately God's business.

I had faith in Israel before it was established, I have faith in it now.

So spake Israel's true king, and to the Fiend Made answer meet, that made void all his wiles. So fares it, when with truth falsehood contends.