As parents, once kid number two, three, and four came into existence, our mantra of speaking settled in quite nicely.  We all have familiar phrases that are drilled into our ever-listening captive audiences – our offspring!!  In this house, the regular phrases that come out of my mouth are “pretty is as pretty does,” “it’s a sign of maturity to eat your vegetables first,” “be a blessing,” “be kind to everyone but share your heart wisely,” “how’s your heart?” and so on. Our children are getting older now, growing up way too fast for this momma and I often wonder if I’ve equipped them to live like Jesus.  An ear full of little sayings won’t produce the kind of heart that loves well . . . only God can take our heart of stone and give us a heart of flesh.  (from Ezekiel 11:19)

We built a sheltered life, Chad and I, for the babies God gave us.  But, the sheltered life can have a tendency to create a blind life to those around us who are beaten down by this broken world.  We are broken too but all too often we have the means and support to pull ourselves up while casting judgement on those who can’t, or we would argue, won’t do the same.  It’s a fearful and prideful way to parent.  Don’t be discouraged if you feel like you can relate because this is where sanctification comes in the middle of our pride and fear.  God shows Himself shockingly kind, even to us.

I heard this phrase while attending Sunday service at a church in Dallas and it has simply knocked me over!  I knew God was (is) love, He is just, He is faithful, He is our provider, He is ______________ but shockingly kind?  Now that’s a description this heart craves!  For it’s my heart’s desire that our children live to be kind.   At Colin’s high school graduation, held in our living room, I remember reading a verse from Proverbs 19:22, a verse I wanted him to live by, to become.  It read, “What’s desired of a man is kindness.” 

Kindness is a supernatural virtue.  It’s more than just keeping the peace or being cordial.  It embodies Christ and how He interacted with people—fallen, broken, mean, hurting people.  Christ’s response to the woman caught in the very act of adultery was “shocking kindness.” It was well within the Law to stone her for her sin, but Jesus showed her great mercy and a tender kindness. Kindness that brought her life out of the pit and into a real existence, that’s the supernatural nature of kindness. A power that can change the trajectory of a life.  And where were her accusers?  Gone.  One by one, from oldest to youngest, rocks on the ground . . . gone (John 7 & 8).  Can’t you just imagine that in the quiet of her accuser’s hearts, some came to know the real freedom in Christ because they had witnessed His kindness to the lowly, undeserving adulterous women?  I believe God’s character of kindness is powerful enough to change a woman living in a broken lifestyle while at the same time changing the self-righteous rock throwing accusers.  He is just that kind and we are just that valuable to Him! Shocking, isn’t it, but all together wonderful, and I’m so grateful!! Because I’ve been both, the woman living in sin and the self-righteous rock thrower.  We all have.  Can we be shockingly kind so that the world might have a view of the Father’s unimaginable love?   We can, because nothing is impossible with Christ, not even shocking kindness. 

We homeschooled our kids for years but as of last year everyone has joined the public-school ranks!! This has left me home in a very quiet house and I’ve turned to podcast listening.  Ask any of my friends, I’m almost obsessed with listening to Bible teaching pastors on the daily.  I recently listened to a pastor speaking on God’s kindness and he stated, “As Americans, our greatest apologetic is kindness.” WOW! So much truth and power in that statement . . . and I believe it – kindness is supernatural and unexplainable! Kindness is unexpected and can give room for the Gospel.  In all our spheres of influence, the shocking kindness of Christ modeled in our sanctified lives opens opportunity for relationship, compassion, mercy and humility. I want more kindness, but to get this supernatural virtue I need more of Jesus.  Let’s be honest—the very process of sanctification is shockingly kind. 

Who needs your kindness today?  Your family does, future generations of your family will benefit spiritually from the kindness you show those in your home today.  I’ll close with lyrics from a new favorite song called “So Will I” by Hillsong. Listen as these words describe the ultimate shocking kindness of God and let His unforgettable, undeserved kindness create in you a heart like His.   

God of salvation
You chased down my heart
Through all of my failure and pride
On a hill You created
The light of the world
Abandoned in darkness to die

And as You speak
A hundred billion failures disappear
Where You lost Your life so I could find it here
If You left the grave behind You so will I
I can see Your heart in everything You’ve done
Every part designed in a work of art called love
If You gladly chose surrender so will I
I can see Your heart
Eight billion different ways
Every precious one
A child You died to save
If You gave Your life to love them so will I

On May 14, 1948, in Tel Aviv, Jewish Agency Chairman David Ben-Gurion proclaimed the State of Israel, establishing the first Jewish state in 2,000 years. In an afternoon ceremony at the Tel Aviv Art Museum, Ben-Gurion pronounced the words, “We hereby proclaim the establishment of the Jewish state in Palestine, to be called Israel,” prompting applause and tears from the crowd gathered at the museum. Ben-Gurion became Israel’s first premier.

I was eleven years old at the time, but I’ll never forget the excitement of my parents when we received the news.  I didn’t understand it fully, but my parents told me that there hadn’t been a “State of Israel” for 2,000 years, but there were prophecies in the Bible about it being reborn.  They impressed upon me that Israel was the land God had given His chosen people, and this was the fulfillment of prophecy. Specifically Ezekiel 37:21: “Thus saith The LORD God: Surely I will take the children of ISRAEL from among the nations, WHEREVER they have gone, and will gather them from EVERY side and bring them BACK into their OWN LAND.”

I have witnessed in the last seventy years a miraculous transformation take place. There used to be a TV series called “Against All Odds” about Israel and the adversity it was up against to remain a nation.  The day it was declared a nation, it was attacked by forces from Egypt, Transjordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq. The Israelis, though less well equipped, managed to fight off the Arabs and then seize key territory, such as Galilee, the Palestinian coast, and a strip of territory connecting the coastal region to the western section of Jerusalem. In 1949, U.N.-brokered cease-fires left the State of Israel in permanent control of this conquered territory.

Although Israel is only 260 miles long, 60 miles at its widest and 9 miles wide at its narrowest point, you would think it was the “center of the world,” considering the worldwide attention it receives.  In 1948, it had a population of 860,000 and the land was mostly desolate wilderness. Today, it has a population of 8.8 million and is rich in resources and technology. 

God has always had a plan (for the world, for you and me, and for Israel).  Back in the beginning in Genesis 12:2-3, He told Abraham: “I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”  That may be why the tiny country of Israel is so important, don’t you think?

My parents also impressed upon me to remember that Israel is God’s “prophetic time-clock.” You may not realize it but about 38% of the Bible is “prophetic.”  In the Old Testament there were over 300 prophecies of the coming of the Messiah. All of these were fulfilled by Jesus Christ.  There are many more prophecies dealing with His return that have yet to be fulfilled. I would like to mention just a few and look at where we stand on this 70th Anniversary.

In the Old Testament book of Daniel, Gabriel, an archangel, gave Daniel a blueprint of God’s plan for Israel. The term for “weeks” is to be interpreted as “week of years,” in other words, seven years.

“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people (Israel) and upon thy holy city (Jerusalem), to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.”  (Daniel 9:24). 

So, that plan covers “seventy weeks of years” or 70 times 7, equaling 490 years. The first 69 weeks have already taken place.  At the time Daniel wrote this, Israel was still held captive in Babylon.  At the end of their 70 years of captivity, they were commanded to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the city and the walls.  From that time, until the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, was exactly 483 years (or 69 weeks of years). This means the 70th week, or the last seven years still hasn’t taken place.  During this 2,000 years “gap of time,” the “Church” was formed, and salvation offered to everyone who believes.  However, God is by no means finished with Israel.  That 70th week or seven years is referred to in the Bible as “Jacob’s Trouble,” or “The Great Tribulation,” when God will show His people His full power, authority and wrath.  This seven-year period is described in the Book of Revelation, the last book in the Bible.  It will be a terrible time of plagues, and “natural disasters.”  Its purpose will be to give Israel one last chance to believe in the Son of God.           

Another event that is predicted is the “Battle of Gog, and Magog.”  In Ezekiel 38 and 39, it tells of a time when Magog (Russia) will make an alliance with Persia (Iran) and other allies (Turkey, Libya, Sudan).  They will make it their mission to destroy Israel, and they will invade the land of Israel, but it will be there that God will destroy them.  So, you may be asking (like the disciples) “Lord, when will all this take place?”  Jesus told them:

Luke 21:10-11: “Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:  And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.”  

Luke 21:17:  “And ye shall be hated of allmenfor my name's sake.”

Luke 21:28:  "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws near."

Is there any significance to this being the “70th” anniversary?  Perhaps, seventy has a sacred meaning in the Bible that is made up of the factors of two perfect numbers, seven (representing perfection) and ten (representing completeness and God's law). As such, it symbolizes perfect spiritual order carried out with all power. It can also represent a period of judgment.  Consider these occurrences of the number 70: 

1. Moses appointed 70 elders to assist him in handling “judgment” for Israel.
2. The “Sanhedrin” or judgment council of the Pharisee’s had 70 members.
3. When Jacob migrated to Egypt, the total population of Israel was 70.
4. Israel (Judah) was exiled in Babylon for 70 years.
5. Daniel prophesied there would be 70 weeks (weeks of years) for Israel before judgment.
6. Jerusalem was destroyed by Rome in 70 A.D.

It would seem they are all related to “completion” or “judgment.”  Are we approaching the completion of an era (or dispensation)?  Has time for “judgment” arrived?  I’ll leave that for you to conclude.

So where does Israel stand on this, its 70th anniversary?  Being the only “democratic” nation in the Mideast, it is pretty much isolated. It is being threatened (surprise), by Iran and Russia who have established a presence in Syria (just to the north of Israel).  On May 12, President Trump must decide whether the U. S. will keep the “Nuclear Treaty with Iran” or not.  Iran and Russia have threatened “severe consequences” if the U. S. backs out of the treaty. That decision is only two days before the “Anniversary Celebration.” The United Nations would like to give Jerusalem to the Palestinians for their Capital.  However, the United States has recognized Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel and plan to open their embassy there on May 14 to celebrate the anniversary. It’s kind of like seeing a movie after you have read the book. The actors are in their places, the plot is unfolding, and if you read the book, you already know the outcome.

If you haven’t read the book, now is the time to read it. If you don’t have a relationship with the Author, now is also the time.  In 1948, I had no idea I would live to see these things take place, and although no one can set an exact date or time, it is clear God’s plan is unfolding just as He said it would.  My advice is to keep your eyes on Israel and Jerusalem, examine your spiritual condition, and be ready for the Lord’s return.

God Bless,
Dan