The international spotlight continues to feature the current plight of Jews in general and the nation of Israel in particular. The recent 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz reminded many of us of the unspeakable horrors suffered by millions of Jews during WWII.
Sadly, some Auschwitz survivors have turned away from God. One, Tomas Lefkovits, former chairman of Holocaust Remembrance Day events, no longer believes in God. He rejects the idea that the Jews are “chosen” people: “Chosen for what?” he states. “Because so far, I haven’t seen any benefits . . . .”
Almost daily we hear reports of modern day terrorists targeting Jews in Europe and other regions across the globe. Only a couple of weeks ago there were anti- Jewish demonstrations at the University of California Davis campus—evidence of increasing anti-Semitism in our university system.
The ongoing tension between our President and Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel has also been the focus of numerous recent reports—especially in light of Netanyahu’s upcoming visit to Congress in March.
As history continues to unfold, we should remember the unique and special role of Jews in God’s plan—a fact supported by numerous scriptures in both the Old and New Testaments. As I teach in Principle 5 in Joel, “Both believers and unbelievers should respect God’s chosen people, regardless of their spiritual status at this moment in history.”
Prophecies of the Old and New Testaments tell us that Israel and Jerusalem are destined to be a focal point of major world events. As the details of history unfold, let’s pray for the millions of Jews around the world whose eyes have not yet been opened to the Gospel and who suffer persecution for reasons beyond their understanding. Let’s also remember to follow the instruction in Psalm 122: 6 where we read “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.”