1016. Israel Aided by the Gentiles

Israel Aided by the Gentiles

"Thus saith the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, and His Holy One to Him Whom man despiseth, to Him Whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the Lord that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and He shall choose thee" (Isa_49:7)

What a stirring picture! The very nations who once despised Israel will hasten to help her back to her land. "But Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, * * they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands; thy walls are continually before Me * * Thy destroyers and they that made thee waste shall go forth of thee. * * Thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, * * for thy waste and thy desolate places, * * shall even now be too narrow by reason of the inhabitants; * * Behold, I will lift up Mine hand to the Gentiles, and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders, and kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers; and they shall bow down to thee with their face to the earth, * * and all flesh shall know that I the Lord am thy Saviour, and thy Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob."

Many today may have despised Israel. In her blindness she may have forgotten her own welfare, but there is One Who has never forgotten. When He brings her back, the very nations who once despised her, shall hasten to lend her aid.

Let us go back, in memory, to the time when Israel was led out of Egypt and into Canaan. During many years she had suffered untold agony and cruelty under Pharaoh. Finally God raised up Moses, and when the Israelites were ready to go out of Egypt, read what occurred:

"And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment:

"And the Lord gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required: and they spoiled the Egyptians" (Exo_12:35-36).

When Israel shall be once more led back to her Canaan-land, not alone the Egyptians but the peoples of all nations will aid in their return.

"Therefore, behold, the days come, said the Lord,

That it shall no more be said,

The Lord liveth that brought up the children

Of Israel out of the land of Egypt;

But, the Lord liveth that brought up the

Children of Israel (not Judah)

From the land of the North,

And from all the lands whither He had driven them;

Behold, I will lift Mine hand to the nations * *

They shall bring thy sons in their arms * *

The Lord shall comfort Zion,

He shall comfort her waste places * *

And the redeemed of the Lord shall return,

And come with singing unto Zion."

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR