In yesterday’s edition of Israel Today Online an article appeared concerning the small nation of Nauru that has publically recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Part of the article read; “Nauru, formerly known as Pleasant Island, is an island country in the Central Pacific Ocean. It lies north of the Solomon Islands and east-northeast of Papua New Guinea. With only a 21-square-kilometre (8.1 square mile) area, Nauru is the third-smallest country in the world behind Vatican City and Monaco. 85% of the nation’s population practice Christianity. Their constitution provides for freedom of religion, but the government has restricted the religious practices of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Their support for Israel is based on a simple and clear reading of the Bible, which states hundreds of promises to the Jewish people that they would dwell in the land of Israel.”
This delightful article reminded me about what God said about Israel; “The LORD did not set His affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than the other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples.” (Deuteronomy 7:7) It is interesting that small nations are recognizing God’s people Israel. Nauru might be a very small island but Israel was also a small nation at one time. There is no doubt that those who really love the Lord Jesus and know what His Word says about Israel also love His people.
Paul writing to the believers at Corinth writes…“Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.” (1 Corinthians 1:28-29)
Even though America in these last days supports Israel it will not be ‘the major players’ in the nations that will support Israel primarily, but little nations like Nauru that are governed by God’s law and recognize the absolute authority of His Word and Israel’s place within God’s prophetic purposes. Moses writes in the Torah; “The sceptre will not depart from Judah, nor the staff from between His feet, until Shiloh (The Messiah) comes and the allegiance (obedience) of the nations is His.” (Genesis 49:10)
In the Messianic age to come, when the Messiah our Lord Jesus reigns from Jerusalem in His Messianic Kingdom with all of His saints, small obedient nations like Nauru will be lifted up and honoured in the Messiah’s Kingdom because in this age they loved and supported Israel. They will be among ‘the sheep nations’ in the Messiah’s Kingdom. As for the ‘goat’ nations that did not support Israel in this age, they will go down into the pit. (Matthew 25:31-46) (Ezekiel Chapter 32) One cannot profess to love the Lord Jesus, to love His Word yet not love and support the Jewish people.
Israel may be away from the LORD at present and the dark days are coming for the Jewish people and at that time they will need the support of faithful Christians who believe Biblically in Israel’s national and spiritual restoration. At present by and large, there is a hardness in the hearts of the Jewish people towards their Messiah our Lord Jesus, but is a partial hardening of their hearts that will be removed. The LORD is going to rectify the situation and bring them to the foot of that old rugged cross to look upon He whom they have pierced and turn back to Him. (Zechariah 12:10-14)
The Prophet Zechariah writes; “On that day the weeping in Jerusalem will be great…on that day a fountain will be opened to the House of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity” (Zechariah 13:1) He also writes; “On that day holy to the LORD will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, and the cooking pots in the Lord’s house will be like the sacred bowls in front of the altar. Every pot in Jerusalem and Judah will be holy to the LORD Almighty, and all who come to sacrifice will take some of the pots and cook in them. And on that day there will no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the LORD Almighty.” (Zechariah 14:20-21)
After the Messiah has come back will we be numbered with the sheep nations or with the goat nations? In these last days we cannot ‘sit on the fence’ where Israel is concerned! We are going to jump one way or the other because God is going to ‘electrify the fence!’
