As Good as Dead

October 7, 2023 Survivor

In Genesis 18:11, it states that Abraham’s wife, Sarah, had passed the age of childbearing. Yet the Lord told them that she would give birth to a son. Sarah laughed at the absurdity, but the Lord said to her, “Is anything impossible for the LORD?” (vs. 14). Years before, God promised Abraham “Look at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them. Your offspring will be that numerous” (15:5). Despite his age, Abraham believed God and it was “credited to him as righteousness” (15:6).  He was 100 years old, and Sarah was 90 when Isaac was born (17:7, 21:5). Through Isaac and his descendants came the nation of Israel, the very country whose survival is threatened by those who would annihilate them.

​Meditation
Hebrews 11:12—Therefore, from one man—in fact, from one as good as dead—came offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and as innumerable as the grains of sand by the seashore.
 
It is a miracle that Israel even exists. Consider how many times in history evil tyrants like Hitler have done all in their power to exterminate the Jews. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is just one of many leaders committed to their destruction. Yet, God pledges in Deuteronomy 33:29, Psalm 121:4-5,7, Isaiah 43, 46:4, and Amos 9:15 to protect and sustain Israel. Thousands of years before her reemergence as a nation on May 14, 1948, her borders were established (Exodus 23:31). Grant Jeffrey noted in The Signature of God that no other country has lost its language and been able to recover it later.          
            
It would seem reasonable that Satan’s strategy is to destroy Israel, because if she is wiped out, God’s promises fail, and the Messiah cannot return. Is there any surprise that we observe a never-ending threat and widespread and fanatical commitment to extinguish her? What other people group is as hated and mocked as the Jews?
            
​There are many Jews who do not believe in God. A small percentage recognize Yeshua (Jesus) as their Messiah. The Jews are as steeped in sin as any other people group. Yet do not mistake their rebellious history or scorned culture as proof that they are somehow not protected by God. His promises are irrevocable. His word and power reign supreme. As surely as He birthed this nation through Abraham and Sarah, so He will bring a great awakening to a land mired in conflict and surrounded by enemies. Israel will turn its heart to God’s Son and recognize Him as their Messiah. To what many view as good as dead, will return Yeshua, the King, to reign forever.  Something to think about and look forward to . . . in reveration!
 
Inspiration
Second, as an evangelical Christian, I believed what the Bible said about God giving the land of Israel to the Jewish people as an everlasting covenant, one that could not be broken, no matter what mistakes we Jews made throughout the centuries.—Joel Rosenberg in Epicenter
 
©2025 Daniel York ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals, go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed, subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)