At the center of the Arab-Israeli conflict in the Middle East is a fundamental, socio-religious ideology that says Jews should not exist—anytime or anywhere—much less as the modern State of Israel. As a result, the tiny nation faces a constant threat to her national sovereignty and safety, and the world continually demonizes every effort she makes to defend herself. Despite this perpetual crisis, however, we need not be concerned that Adonai will fail to protect and preserve His people. Eventually, Israel will have peace and safety; in the end, Israel will survive (Zechariah 12:1-9). But what of Israel today? What assurances do we have that during the present era, God will protect and preserve the State of Israel from her ever-present foes? And what is our role and responsibility as we watch these events transpire?

When the modern State of Israel was founded—and again when Israel’s enemies were defeated in 1967—many pointed to the unfolding of Scriptural prophecy. In Jeremiah 32:37, Adonai says, “I will surely gather [Israel and Judah] from all the lands where I banish them…. I will bring them back to this place and let them live in safety.” And in Ezekiel 34:28-29, Adonai declares, “…[Israel] will live in safety, and no one will make them afraid…. they will no longer… bear the scorn of the nations.” Unfortunately, these words currently fall far short of describing the condition of the modern Israeli State. Those residing in the Land today do not “live in safety”—they do have reason to be afraid, because they continually “bear the scorn of the nations.”

Why is this so? Why aren’t the people of the Land yet enjoying the life of peace promised for the Regathering? At her founding, Adonai promised Israel that she would live securely only if she would follow His decrees and be careful to obey His commands (Leviticus 26:3). Israel’s peace and safety have always been conditional, depending in part on Israel’s collective faithfulness to God. Indeed, in Deuteronomy 4:25-26, Moses warned that “after you have had children and grandchildren and have lived in the land a long time—if you then become corrupt… you will quickly perish from the land…. You will not live there long but will certainly be destroyed.”

Sadly, the Jewish people—both those in and outside the Land—have wandered far from the decrees and commands of our God. Half of us are still assimilated into and dispersed throughout the nations, while many of us living within the modern Israeli State are just as secular, worldly, and permissive of sin as the rest. How will we ever become the faithful Israel Moses instructed us to be?

Before Israel can nationally count on the enduring safety promised by God, more is required than just our physical regathering to the Land… we must also be regathered to Him through the Son of David—the Messiah Yeshua, our Salvation! (See Ezekiel 37:21-25.) As we watch the relentless bombardment against the State of Israel, we should be pierced with an urgency to reach the Israel in our own backyards—our Jewish families, friends and neighbors—with the truth of Yeshua. Let us no longer simply pray for the peace of physical Jerusalem, but also actively work to revive spiritual Jerusalem in the hearts and minds of every Jew… everywhere.

In times like these, people are more ready to think about questions of life and death. We have the answer, and we must be ready to give it! This is especially true of our ministry friends in Israel who are literally on the front lines, seeing many opportunities to proclaim Yeshua.

I am once again reminded of the mission that Manny Brotman put on paper when he founded this ministry over fifty years ago: “to bring the Good News of Messiah Yeshua to every Jewish person in the world.” This is still our mission today, and we must not miss any opportunity to move forward. Now is the time!