Daily Devotionals

Voice of the Lord

Devotional: 24th of Tammuz

He will return and gather you from all the peoples to which ADONAI your God scattered you (Deuteronomy 30:3).

There has been an ongoing tension in the Messianic movement for many years over the issue of aliyah (returning to Israel). Some have been tirelessly devoted to calling and shepherding our people back to the Land. They believe, according to numerous Scriptures such as Ezekiel 37, that as a result of the Jewish people's return to the Land, the Lord will pour out his Ruach (Spirit) upon them and they will be saved. Others, deeply committed to bringing the gospel to our people, have argued that it makes no difference where Jewish people die. If they die without Messiah, they are eternally separated from God.

While working in Russia, I have become convinced that both of these views contain elements of truth. The restoration of the Jewish people is both spiritual and physical. Just as salvation involves both soul and body, the restoration of the Jewish people includes both the spiritual restoration of our people to God through Messiah and their physical restoration to the Land.

Messianic Jews must understand and be committed to this idea of dual restoration. I think that very soon anti-Semitism will grow in Russia and the doors to Israel will slam shut. Perhaps millions of Jews will be left behind. The immense task of getting them back to Israel may fall heavily upon us. Are you prepared to help?

...pray, "Lord, I commit myself to your complete plan of restoration for the Jewish people. I give myself to the dual task of bringing your people back spiritually through Yeshua and back physically to the Land of Promise."

JB