The cover of the Israel Today Magazine for November 2012 featured an old picture and slogan that were used almost 80 years ago by the Labour Union in the Land of Israel. The aim of the picture was to express the Zionist ideal of the redemption of Israel – an ideal that was well and alive, long before the Land of Israel received its independence in 1948 and continues to inspire thousands of people, inside and outside of Israel, up to this day. With the recent outbreak of fighting and aggression in the Gaza area, this cover picture once again becomes extremely relevant. The slogan above the picture says: “Ayin ge’ulat ha’olam beli ge’ulat Yisra’el” which means: “There is no redemption of the world without the redemption of Israel”.
There are several ways to understand the slogan “There is no redemption of the world without the redemption of Israel”. This statement may signify: Israel will be redeemed first (in time) – only thereafter will the rest of the world receive redemption. It may also mean: The nations of the world should stand together for the redemption of Israel, for by taking hands with Israel, they will be redeemed, too. Or it may indicate: The idea and the details of redemption became known and available to the rest of the world, only through Israel and through the process of redemption of Israel.
Regardless of how this statement is formulated or interpreted, it confirms a truth that is repeated many times in Scriptures. One is reminded of the words of the Messiah in Luke 21:20-24,28:
“And when you see Yerushalayim surrounded by armies, then know that its laying waste is near.
Then let those in Yehudah flee to the mountains, and let those who are in the midst of her go out, and let not those who are in the fields enter her. Because these are days of vengeance, to fill all that have been written. And woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing children in those days! For there shall be great distress in the earth and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Yerushalayim shall be trampled underfoot by the gentiles until the times of the gentiles are filled … and when these matters begin to take place, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”
Notice the words: Yerushalayim, Yehudah, times of the gentiles and redemption. In Yahweh’s design for this world and the redemption of this world, Yerushalayim and Yisraél play a pivotal role. In the final days before the coming of the Messiah redemption will “draw near” because of what is happening in and around Yerushalayim. Nowadays, people all around the world are constantly concerned about gathering food, making provision and fleeing to the mountains, in view of the coming tribulation and end-time prophesies. They fail to understand, however, that it is Yerushalayim that will be surrounded by armies and be trampled underfoot and that those in Yehudah will have to flee to the mountains … when the time comes. No doubt, the end-time events regarding Israel may have a ripple effect and bring danger and distress and even full blast war to other parts of the world, too. But there is no Scriptural call for any believer, anywhere in the world, to make extraordinary arrangements for a perceived end-time catastrophe that has not yet dawned upon the world. Yes, those in Yehudah may be required to flee to the mountains, but ONLY when they see Yerushalayim surrounded by armies, not before such a time!
Let us look at the slogan once more: “There is no redemption of the world without the redemption of Israel”. This reminds us of the fact that up to this day, Yahweh has his sight on the redemption of Yisraél. It is with Yisraél that He made and renewed his covenant – many times throughout the ages. By far the majority of promises contained in Scriptures, were promises made to the people of Yisraél. And whenever the subject of redemption is discussed, it is about the redemption of Yisraél or the redemption of those who came to believe in the Elohim of Yisraél. There should be no doubt in our minds, whatsoever, that Yahweh has never given up or let go of his everlasting concern for the redemption of Yisraél.
Ps 74:2 Remember Your congregation. You did purchase of old, The tribe of Your inheritance. You did redeem, This Mount Tsiyon where You have dwelt.
Isa 43:1 But now, thus said Yahweh, your Creator, O Yaákov, and He who formed you, O Yisraél, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name, you are Mine.
Jer 50:34 Their Redeemer is strong, Yahweh of hosts is His Name. He shall strongly plead their case, so as to give rest to the land, but unrest to the inhabitants of Bavel.
Does this mean that Yahweh is not interested in the redemption of the rest of the world? Of course He is interested. Already in the promises made to Avraham one can clearly see that Yahweh has always had the world in his sight, as well. The blessing to the seed of Avraham would flow over into a blessing for all the tribes of the earth. Thousands and thousands of believers from practically every nation of the earth, have already experienced the fulfilment of these promises in their own lives. Through Y’shua, the Messiah promised to, and born as one of the people of Yisraél, those who belong to other nations may become part of the remnant of Yisraél that will be redeemed on the great Day of Yahweh, yet to come. These ones do not see themselves as a “Plan B” that came into existence because the original plan had failed. No, they realize all too well that the keynote event is still the redemption of Yisraél and that there is no redemption of the world without the redemption of Yisraél.
I received a gripping email this past week from a woman who asked the question: “Is there a place (in the Father’s plan) for a sinner like me?” This woman has been involved in a series of events and practices that made her cry out for forgiveness and restoration. She also came to realize that what she had been taught all these years by churches and spiritual leaders was not exactly the truth. In her email to me she called out in desperation: “This time, I want to walk on the right path – something inside of me chases me, but I don’t know where to.” She wanted to know from me what she should do.
At first, I was not sure where to begin, what to say or which issues to address. But then it just occurred to me: Let me introduce her (once again?) to the true Elohim of Yisraél. Not the popular “god” of this world – the one who forgives in a jiffy and sends people back to a life without Torah. I reminded her that there surely was true forgiveness for someone like her – someone with a desire to walk in Yahweh’s ways, no matter at what price. I reminded her of the fact that the coming of Y’shua the Messiah was pretty much aimed at the redemption and restoration of people like herself. But I also tried to make her understand that Yahweh will always remain the Elohim of Yisraél – the One who holds dear those things that He had been teaching his own people from the very beginning, including the knowledge of his Name, keeping the Shabbat and observing the Scriptural feasts. Surely, these are not the only things that we should do to show our allegiance to the Almighty. But these were some of the main ingredients that were left out (deliberately) by our teachers of the past, failing to introduce us to the true Elohim of Yisraél and consequently teaching us to expect a kind of redemption that has nothing to do with Yisraél.
I touched on other aspects that were highlighted by her email, but this was the core of what I wrote back to her. I cannot say with certainty that it will have the desired effect. But of this one thing I am convinced, more than ever before: “There is no redemption of the world without (and outside of) the redemption of, and the redemption revealed to, Israel”.
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