The modern state of Israel was born on 14th May 1948. Based on the Gregorian calendar, Israel’s 70th birthday fell on 14th May 2018. However, according to the Jewish calendar, this anniversary was on 19th April 2018, which also happens to be both Joan Isoke and George Magimbi’s birthday. Whichever calendar you use, Israel’s 70th anniversary is in the past; and we belatedly wish her a happy birthday.

Christians have all the Godly reasons to wish Israel well. We are the spiritual sons and daughters of Abraham, the father of natural Israel. Out of Israel came a Jew, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. The salvation of the Jews (John 4:22) came to us the non-Jews when Israel rejected their Messiah. As Apostle Paul clearly put it, the Jews are the natural olive branches that were plucked off because of unbelief, to be replaced by us, the non-Jews and wild olive branches. We must remember though that a time is coming when “all Israel will be saved” (Romans 11:26). At that time, the natural branches will be grafted back into their own olive tree (Romans 11:24).

When we look at the past (and future) of Israel, we cannot help but learn about the faithfulness of God. Through the centuries, Jews have many times been on the verge of total extermination. That they still exist today is testament to the God who is faithful to His promises. “If those ordinances (the sun, moon and stars) depart from before Me, says the Lord, Then the seed of Israel shall also cease from being a nation before Me forever” (Jeremiah 31:36). God who has been faithful to Israel will also be faithful to you. “He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23).

We also learn from the history of Israel that God not only blesses obedience, but also allows unpleasant circumstances to happen to His people when they disobey Him. Israel’s past and present sufferings are majorly due to this one thing - disobedience (Deuteronomy 28:45).

Therefore, let’s ask God for the grace to obey Him in everything, for therein lies the true blessings. At the same time, we should never take lightly the clearly revealed will of God. At the very least, we should consider the possible repercussions.

For these and many reasons not stated above, Christians should wish Israel well.

May God bless Israel.