DRY BONES
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| http://www.stmarystjames.org.uk/images/dry_bones.jpg |
In my last two posts I have written about the miracle that is the modern state of Israel. But this week I have been reminded that Israel is still a work-in-progress and far from complete in terms of the LORD's redemption plan. In the vision of the prophet Ezekiel he saw the Valley of the Dry Bones and the LORD said to him, " Can these bones live?", then He goes on to answer his rhetorical question, saying;
“Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! 5 Thus says the Lord God to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. 6 I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.”’”7 So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them. ( Ezekiel 37: 4-7)
This well-known passage speaks, I believe, of this time when the LORD regathers the scattered people of Israel from the ends of the Earth and brings them back to the land, and restores the nation of Israel. First comes the regathering of the bones, bones coming together and sinews and flesh coming upon them, the physical resurrection, but at this point the bones are still without life, having no breath in them. In Hebrew the word for breath is ruach ( רוח) which can also mean spirit or wind.
God then goes on to tell Ezekiel ,
“Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” (Ezekiel 37: 9)
So the physical body was quickened with the breath of life, yet it did not yet have the Spirit of the LORD indwelling, that would come later.
Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 13 Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. 14 I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it and performed it,” says the Lord.’” (Ezekiel 37: 12-14).I believe then that the restoration of Israel will take place in three stages, first the regathering and joining together of the 'dry bones', then the quickening of life, and only after that the spiritual restoration when the Spirit of the LORD will be put in to the people. I believe that the first and second stages are in progress today but we have not yet seen the third. There are those that say that the present state of Israel cannot be of God's doing because it is a sinful nation, full of idolatry, evil practices, and corruption. However I believe this reasoning is flawed. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that God's regathering of the 'dry bones', requires prior repentance. Quite the opposite in fact.
Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name’s sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went. 23 And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the Lord,” says the Lord God, “when I am hallowed in you before their eyes. 24 For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. 25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. 28 Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God. (Ezekiel 36: 22-28)God does not restore Israel because we deserve it, and we clearly do not, but because of His Name. He will, for the sake of His Name, gather Israel from the nations and restore them to their own land, and then, and only then, will he sprinkle them clean, and cleanse them, putting a new heart and a new Spirit within them.
Until that day, we cannot expect Israel to be any holier than any other people since we do not yet have the indwelling Holy Spirit. Little wonder then that Israel as a nation is far from perfect and suffers from many of the ills common to lost mankind.
As I mentioned earlier, over the last few weeks something has occurred which has brought this home to me; we have seen violent riots in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Twelve protestors and 56 police were injured in the Tel Aviv riot, and 46 protestors were arrested. These were sparked by the release of CCTV footage showing a young Ethiopian Israeli man, dressed in army fatigues, being beaten up by two Border Policemen for absolutely no reason except that he was Ethiopian. You can see this disturbing footage on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiwxiFOkndA&oref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DyiwxiFOkndA&has_verified=1. The policemen in question have been suspended but for the Ethiopian community in Israel this was the last straw, and they took to the streets in anger. Sadly their protests devolved into violence.
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| Protesters and police clash in Tel Aviv. 'Violence is not the answer.' (Photo: AFP) http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4655330,00.html
The Ethiopian Jews, who call themselves Beta Israel (the house of Israel) claim to be descendants of the Tribe of Dan, which fled the Roman sacking of Jerusalem in 70 AD via Egypt and eventually arrived in Ethiopia. In the nineteenth century many converted to Christianity but maintained their connection to their Israelite forefathers, keeping Mosaic laws and practices. They also dreamed of returning to Israel one day.
When they first made advances to the Israeli government they were ignored or rejected, but eventually rabbinic opinion about their eligibility for Israeli citizenship turned and in 1975 the Chief Rabbinate officially recognized them as Jews, which opened the doors for their immigration.
Ethiopian immigration to Israel had begun in 1934 but remained a trickle until the Rabbinate decision made possible the first wave of mass immigration beginning in 1979. Thousands of Ethiopian Israelites walked to the Sudan from where they were to be transported by the Israeli government to Israel. Around 50% perished along the way from starvation, dehydration, illness, and attacks by bandits. Between 1983 and 1985 thousands arrived in Sudan where they lived in camps awaiting rescue. Many also perished in these camps. In 1984 around 14,000 Ethiopians were airlifted to Israel in Operation Moses. In 1991 another large group of over 14,000 were airlifted to Israel from Ethiopia in the course of 36 hours. Since then there have been a number of smaller waves of immigration and it continues today. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopian_Jews_in_Israel#First_wave_.281934-1960.29 By the end of 2013 there were some 135,500 Jews of Ethiopian descent living in Israel, 85,900 of whom were born in Ethiopia and 49,600 born in Israel.http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/CBS-report-135000-Ethiopians-living-in-Israel-at-end-of-2013-382266.
Integration of these Ethiopian Jews into the mainstream of Israeli society has been difficult from the beginning. Most of the new immigrants came from rural areas, where they knew neither electricity nor running water, had little or no education, were illiterate in their own language, and did not know Hebrew. In short they were ill equipped for coping in a modern, competitive capitalist society. A report published by the Bank of Israel in 2006 painted a bleak picture:
In addition to this economic disadvantage, Ethiopians also face discrimination when it comes to finding an apartment or a job. Sad to say there exists a high degree of racism within Israeli society. I remember when I first arrived in Israel I expected a degree of culture shock, but what shocked me most was to discover that find that many Israeli Jews were racist, and discriminated between the various cultural groups within Israeli Jewish society. I remember well telling a friend on my kibbutz that I was working with a nice old man, Ezra, in the kitchen. Her response was a snort of disgust and a comment about "cushim" the Hebrew equivalent of "nigger". I was puzzled at the time as he was no darker than many others in the kibbutz, but I later learned he was of Eastern background, an immigrant from Iraq. Askenazi Jews (of European descent) look down on Mizrachi (or Eastern) Jews. I was deeply saddened that Israeli Jews, who themselves had suffered so much from prejudice and discrimination, make such distinctions within their own people. In subsequent years I have again and again encountered these kinds of prejudices. Every new immigrant group tends to suffer from it when they first arrive. Unfortunately the Ethiopians have suffered the most, being unable to blend in easily, and having little political clout with which to protect themselves. I fully believe their claims of discrimination and racism, and it is no wonder they have been provoked to demonstrations and violence. I hope that they will find a better way to speak out but I do understand their frustration and anger.
We as a society must do better, much better! God said he would gather in the whole house of Israel, that is to say not only the Jews (of the tribe of Judah and some from the Israelite tribes who returned from the Babylonian Exile) but also the 'lost' tribes of Israel that were scattered far and wide during the Assyrian conquests.
Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 16 “As for you, son of man, take a stick for yourself and write on it: ‘For Judah and for the children of Israel, his companions.’ Then take another stick and write on it, ‘For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel, his companions.’ 17 Then join them one to another for yourself into one stick, and they will become one in your hand.18 “And when the children of your people speak to you, saying, ‘Will you not show us what you mean by these?’— 19 say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Surely I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel, his companions; and I will join them with it, with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they will be one in My hand.”’ 20 And the sticks on which you write will be in your hand before their eyes.The so-called 'lost' tribes of Israel are not lost to God. He knows where each one is. He said he would gather them in and he is beginning to so. The Ethiopians are only one such group. Others have been discovered and some of these are already in Israel. The Bene Israel, a group whose DNA profiles identify them as descendants of the Cohanim (Priests), emigrated to Israel in the 1950s from India. The Bene Menashe, who believe they are descendants of the Tribe of Menashe, are from the region around the border between Myanmar and India, are recognized by some authorities as Israelites. Around 1700 have already immigrated to Israel. Another 7,200 are still in India. Other groups such as the Lemba in southern Africa have many customs similar to those of the house of Israel and have been DNA tested and found to have Semitic origins. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/136374#.VU-Ncpt01LM In the coming years we can expect more and more of these groups to be found and brought to Israel. We must be open and ready to receive these 'long lost' brothers. Please pray against the spirit of racism and prejudice in this land. Return, O backsliding children,” says the Lord; “for I am married to you. I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion. 15 And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.16 “Then it shall come to pass, when you are multiplied and increased in the land in those days,” says the Lord, “that they will say no more, ‘The ark of the covenant of the Lord.’ It shall not come to mind, nor shall they remember it, nor shall they visit it, nor shall it be made anymore. 17 “At that time Jerusalem shall be called The Throne of the Lord, and all the nations shall be gathered to it, to the name of the Lord, to Jerusalem. No more shall they follow the dictates of their evil hearts. 18 “In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given as an inheritance to your fathers.Jeremiah 3:14-18
One of the problems I encounter when writing this blog is that events are happening so fast I cannot keep up with them. I had intended to write about the new Israeli government but others have done so in depth therefore I will not do so at this stage. YOu can read all about it on the internet. Here are some articles to get you started:
Yesterday was Jerusalem Day, the day we commemorate the reunification of Jerusalem in 1967. I also wanted to write about that but one of my friends has done so very eloquently on her blog so I will just do a cut and paste job (with her permission) for you here.
Greetings from the Land of Israel where we have celebrated today the 1967 reunification of the city of Jerusalem with YOM YIRUSHALAYIM (Jerusalem Day).
Jewish youth gather outside Damascus gate on 'Jerusalem Day,' May 17, 2015.. (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
Minor clashes with some Arabs broke out as expected when the annual flag carrying procession paraded through the Old City including the Muslim Quarter to reach the Western Wall Plaza.
The large majority of people (mainly youth) who participated in this march, however, sang and danced joyfully because of their love for Jerusalem.
This day was declared a national and minor religious holiday by The Chief Rabbinate of Israel to publicly praise God for giving Israel the victory in the Six-Day War. Finally, after 2,000 years, the fervent prayer of "Next Year in Jerusalem” had been answered. Jerusalem has always remained central to the heart and soul of the Jewish people.
In 1978, at the Camp David ‘peace talks’, US president Jimmy Carter pressured Israeli prime minister Menachem Begin to sign a document stating that he would agree to put the final status of Jerusalem on the bargaining table.
Begin refused, explaining to the American president,
“I understand that we may sacrifice a limb to save an entire body. But Jerusalem is Israel’s heart, the focus of our mission.
As the Psalmist declared, "If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill! If I do not remember you, let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth - If I do not exalt Jerusalem above my chief joy." (Psalm 137:5-6)
This could be extremely significant in the prophetic timetable. It may mean that the 'Times of the Gentiles' has been fulfilled and we are very close to Yeshua's return. "Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled." (Luke 21:24)
A word within the name Yerushalayim is l’hashlim להשלים which means to ‘complete, reconcile or restore’. If something is in need of completion or restoration, it means that something is missing, damaged or destroyed and in need of repair .
Jerusalem has been destroyed by conquering nations and re-built forty times! In fact, the Old City of Jerusalem today sits upon hundreds of feet of rubble – the ruins of its former destruction.
The story of Jerusalem is the story of all humanity. God is in the business of completing, restoring and rebuilding; He takes that which is broken or ruined and makes it whole and complete once again.
In the book of Joel, God promises to restore (l'hashlim) that which the locust have eaten (Joel 2:25).
In the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:8-10) Yeshua tells us of a man who became totally broken, having squandered his inheritance on wine, women and song; and yet his father (Abba) restored him to the family as a beloved son.
The people of Israel are rejoicing over the restoration of Jerusalem; but like the older brother in the story of the Prodigal son, there are some who do not wish to join in the party. Although any people will be singing, dancing and rejoicing in Israel on Jerusalem Day, not everyone is so happy about it and tensions run high in the Holy City on this day.
A petition by left-wing groups to prevent the traditional flag-bearing march to parade through the Muslim quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem was rejected by the High Court of Justice. As a gesture of goodwill, some of the Jewish people handed out flowers to the Arab residents of the Old City and East Jerusalem to "show them the beautiful face of Judaism."
 In the end times, Jerusalem will be at the center of the battle, as all nations will come against her; but they will end up only injuring themselves.
" Adonai …declares: 'I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem. On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock
for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves'" (Zechariah 12:1-3).
This is when Yeshua will return to defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem He will establish Jerusalem as the capital of His eternal Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and justice.
"So will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem. Defending, He will also deliver it; Passing over, He will preserve it." (Isaiah 31:5)
Jerusalem today may still be full of strife as nations fight and argue over who will get a piece of her; and there is still much weeping in her streets because of continual terrorist attacks; but God’s Word promises that one day, the people of Jerusalem will truly rejoice, and weeping shall no longer be heard in her.
"I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in My people; the voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her, nor the voice of crying." (Isaiah 65:19)
Thank you so much for standing so strongly with us for a united Jerusalem! We so deeply appreciate your fervent prayers and generous support! Thank you for being faithful 'Watchmen on the Walls'.
"I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they shall never hold their peace day or night, You who make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent, and give him no rest till He establishes and till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth." (Isaiah 62:6-7)
We are so thankful to those who pray for the peace (shalom) of Jerusalem. “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” (Psalm 122:6)
In the attached study on Jerusalem Day you will discover the meaning of some of the biblical names for Jerusalem; and how the prophetic destiny of this Holy City is hidden within her Hebrew name! May this study be a blessing, encouragement and inspiration to you and others. Please feel free to share.
Blessings & Shalom,
Hannah Nesher & family
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