The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Isaiah 38:1-8, “In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.”
2 Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD,
3 and said, “Remember now, O LORD, I beseech You, how I have walked before You in truth and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
4 Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah, saying,
5 “Go and say to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of your father David, “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will add fifteen years to your life.
6 “I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city.”‘
7 “This shall be the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD will do this thing that He has spoken:
8 “Behold, I will cause the shadow on the stairway, which has gone down with the sun on the stairway of Ahaz, to go back ten steps.” So the sun’s shadow went back ten steps on the stairway on which it had gone down.”

I recently witnessed Donald Trump speaking to a largely Jewish audience. His praise for Israel was strong and certain. Yet, he subsequently predicted a time when Israel would fail as a nation. Donald Trump is right about many things, but I hasten to note that he is not right about everything –especially, not about things related to Israel.

Despite the LORD’s criticisms of His people, Israel, there is no biblical statement related to her total destruction. Israel is the LORD’s chosen people (Rom. 11:1-2). What’s more, He speaks of Israel’s restoration and salvation (Rom. 11:5-6).

We must never forget that Israel is God’s “Chosen People.” However it may appear, the LORD is guiding and discipling and protecting her by His eternal Word and for His own glory. He cites her as “a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever…” (Ex. 31:17).

I have known numerous Jewish people over the years. Needless to say, most were not Christians. Yet, I have sensed in them all something unique. The Word says,

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they prosper who love you.
May peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your palaces.
For the sake of my brothers and my friends, I will now say, ‘May
peace be within you.’ For the sake of the house of the LORD our God,
I will seek your good” (Psa. 122:6-9).

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom