Good news for Israel! In Wednesday’s edition of Israel Today Online a headline read, “Another Country to Move Embassy to Jerusalem.” The article went on to say; “The Moldovan government announced this week its intention to transfer their embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The World Jewish Conference welcomed the decision and thanked the Moldovan government for its continued support for the State of Israel. “The Moldovan government took a welcome and important step today in expressing confidence in the State of Israel and in the public recognition of Jerusalem as the legitimate capital of Israel,” said WJC (World Jewish Congress) Director Robert Singer in a statement. “I hope that this step will be a positive example for all the countries that are supportive of Israel, who will consider the same move,” Singer added. “Moldova has proved repeatedly in recent years that it is a true friend of Israel, leading the critical struggle against the growing anti-Semitism in the world, and a positive gesture towards many Moldovan Jews living in Israel today.”
Moldova is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe bordered by Romania to the west and Ukraine to the north, east, and south with a rich Jewish history. The capital city of this former USSR nation is Kishinev, and before the local 1903 pogrom that decimated the Jewish population, over 50% of the of capital’s citizens were Jews. By 1920, the Jewish population had bounced back to approximately 267,000, but WWII once again devastated the Jewish population, and today there are only about 20,000 Jews in all of Moldova, including over 15,000 in Kishinev. During the 1970s and 1980s, many Moldovan Jews were among the waves of immigrants coming from the Soviet Union to Israel.
Today there are more than 80,000 Moldovan Jews living in Israel. The decision by Moldova to move its embassy to Jerusalem comes as somewhat of a surprise. Antisemitism is still commonplace in the predominantly Eastern Orthodox Christian country. Some churches and political organizations still incorporate anti-Semitic rhetoric and far-right and neo-Nazi groups are quite active in the country. Because religion was heavily restricted in Soviet times, it is likely that there are many more Jews in Moldova than those who practice Judaism or are willing to identify themselves as Jews.”
Moldova may not be a great and powerful nation by human standards but then God chooses those who are not mighty or great by the standards of men. Indeed as the prophet Samuel declares; “Man looks on the outward appearance but God looks upon the heart.” (2 Samuel 16:7) The heart of the Moldovan government is in the right place and by transferring their embassy to Jerusalem they are showing their support for the God of Israel and the recognition that Israel is still God’s covenant people and Jerusalem the eternal capital of Israel. Some would say that the Church is now God’s covenant people but what they need to realise is that the New Covenant cut in the blood of the Messiah was made with the House of Israel and with the House of Judah. (Jeremiah 31:31) Gentile believers share in the blessings of the New Covenant and are by extension and inclusion part of the Commonwealth of Israel. (Ephesians 2:11-22) The Church owes a great spiritual debt to Israel. The Apostle Paul writes; “…the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory and the covenants; theirs the giving of the Law, the temple worship, and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them comes forth the human descent of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever worthy of praise! Amen.” (Romans 9:4-5)
The time will come when the Messiah reigning from Jerusalem will become the desire of the nations. As Moses has written in the Torah concerning Jesus the Messiah, “The sceptre will not depart from Judah, nor the staff from between His feet, until Shiloh comes and the allegiance of the nations is His.” (Genesis 49:10) Moldova has made the right choice in supporting Israel. Indeed in the Messianic Kingdom to come the prophet Zechariah writes; “And many peoples and strong nations will come to seek the LORD of Hosts in Jerusalem and to plead before the LORD.” This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “In those days’ ten men from all nations and languages will tightly grasp the robe of a Jewish man, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’” (Zechariah 8:22-23) As far as Israel it is written; “For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable!” (Romans 11:29) Moldova is indeed a true friend of Israel! They have chosen wisely!
