APPLE OF MY EYE

APPLE OF MY EYE

“O, Zion!…For thus says the Lord of hosts…he who touches you touches the apple of His eye.” Zechariah 2:7-8

 There is nothing more delicate and sensitive than the “apple of one’s eye.” The apple/pupil is the gate through which light enters the retina. It is very painful if touched by accident. I have seen people get extremely angry when someone poked them in the eye. In the same way, God goes into a blind rage when anyone touches the apple of His eye – the people of Israel. He is very protective over His chosen ones.

Some people have a hard time with Jews being called God’s chosen people. To be honest – being the chosen ones is not all it’s cracked up to be. Next time you wish God had chosen you instead, just take a look at their history. It included being in slavery, kicked out of their homeland, thrown into a fiery furnace, locked up in ghettos…Oh yes – almost forgot…the holocaust! They did not ask to be chosen. I’m often reminded of my favorite line from the musical “Fiddler on the Roof” when Tevye looks up and says to God “I know, I know. We are your chosen people. But, once in a while, can’t you choose someone else?”

God chose the Jewish people to carry His promise to the world. He made a covenant with Abraham, the father of the nation, that “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3) The blessing was the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. That’s
the reason Satan has tried to destroy them through the ages. But God had vowed to Abraham: “I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” (Genesis 17:7-8) Even though they were dispersed from their land for two thousand years, God did not forget His promise. On May 14, 1948, the Jewish people returned to their homeland and became a nation again. In the future God will fulfill all His promises towards them.

God had given Abraham one more promise – I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you.” (Genesis 12:3) Through the centuries people and nations who have recognized this promise to the Jews have been blessed by God and those who have gone against them have faced His wrath. One of the secrets of America’s success has been our historic support of Israel. President Truman actually wept when he was thanked for recognizing the newly formed state of Israel. On the other hand, three nations (Germany, Poland and Russia) turned their backs on them in the past century and great devastation came upon them.
God was not bluffing when He said – “And I will curse him who curses you.” Today, we would do well as a nation to remember that and stand with Israel. After all, Israel has always been a loyal supporter of the United States.

Just because the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob has been pro-Israel, it does not mean that He is anti other races or groups of people. Through Jesus Christ, God is always pro-people of all nationalities.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you.” Psalms 122:6