There are many ways we TREASURE OUR MEMORIES. We collect souvenirs. We take photos or make videos to enjoy later, sharing them with family and friends on social media. We write about them in our personal diary or a blog post, trying to capture for ourselves or others what was so special about the experience or event.
God has something that is very special to Him, Solomon mentions this in his prayer, “For when you brought our ancestors out of Egypt, O Sovereign LORD, you told your servant Moses that you had SET ISRAEL APART from all the nations of the earth TO BE YOUR OWN SPECIAL POSSESSION.” (1 Kings 8:53)
What does it mean that God considered Israel to be His, AMY, “treasured possession” “Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be MY OWN SPECIAL TREASURE from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me.” (Exo. 19:5)? This phrase has also been eloquently translated as “my own special treasure.” It is used several times in the Old Testament and indicates that the nation had been CHOSEN AND SET APART. “The LORD did not set His heart on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other nations, for you were the smallest of all nations! Rather, it was simply that the LORD loves you, and He was keeping the oath He had sworn to ABRAHAM. (Deut. 7:7-8)
So how did Israel become a nation again? “It shall come to pass in that day That the Lord shall set His hand again THE SECOND TIME To recover the remnant of His people who are left.” (Isa. 11:10-11) Twice Israel has been taken out of it’s nation and on May 14th 1948 they came back for the second time, why? Well, Christ was born and crucified there the ones God used to write the Bible all came from there, when Jesus returns for the second coming, He’ll set down there. Israel is hated by most nations and very soon will be attacked but God will protect them. Remember what Jesus said when you see Israel become a nation, “know that it is near—at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, THIS GENERATION WILL BY NO MEANS PASS AWAY till all these things take place…Now when these things begin to happen, look up and LIFT UP YOUR HEADS, because your redemption draws near.” (Matt. 24:33-34, Luke 21:28)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham