Communique_Sprng_11:Communique_Sprng_11 4/19/11 9:37 AM Page C1 Isaac and Jacob in spite of giants seeking its 8 http://www.benmelech.org/z-def/english/israel-bailey. 9 Ibid. destruction. And though the Elah Valley 10 http://www.israpundit.com/2008/?p=8204 may not be a booming tourist attraction 11 Ibid. today, it is a quiet reminder of God’s ability 12 Ibid. to keep His covenant promises to His Chosen People—which is the only logical explanation for the existence of the modern PHOTO CREDITS state of Israel. Cover and title bar, FOI Archive. Pages: 3-Stones and sling, James Steidl/iStockphoto. 4–5-Field with flowers, Amit E N D N O T E S Erez/iStockphoto. 6-Late Israeli Prime Minister, Golda Meir, Ken Brown/iStockphoto. 7-Soldiers praying, Mikhail Levit/ 1 http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/ 1948_War.html iStockphoto; Boy with flag, Noam Armonn/iStockphoto. 2 Mitchell Bard, The 1967 Six Day War <http://www. jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/67_War.html#N_14_> 3 Ibid. Charles E. McCracken is the 4 <http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News. aspx/12243 Canadian Director of 5 Martin Gilbert, Israel: a History (New York: Harper Perennial, 2008) 387. FOI Gospel Ministry. 6 http://www.againstalloddstv.com/miracles.php 7 http://exposingliberallies.blogspot.com/2009/07/ god-of-israel-shows-himself-strong.html Now available for your Sunday School, Call toll free for pricing church bulletin information or Bible study group! n a concise and easy to access format, FOI Gospel Ministry’s Canadian Communiqué is a reliable Iresource for personal or group study. Volume discounts available upon request. Aliaksandr Nikitsin/iStockphoto FOI Gospel Ministry, Inc. is authorized by CCRA to issue official donation receipts. FOI Gospel Ministry, Inc. 21 Queen Street East • Suite 402 • Brampton, ON L6W 3P1 OFFICE: 888-664-2584 • 905-457-6830 • FAX: 905-457-6547 Copyright FOI Gospel Ministry, Inc., reprint with permission only Communique_Sprng_11:Communique_Sprng_11 4/19/11 9:37 AM Page 1 Communique_Sprng_11:Communique_Sprng_11 4/19/11 9:37 AM Page 2 Modern Miracles in an Ancient Land By Charles E. McCracken nyone traveling southwest of Jerusalem With customary battle lines established, the along Highway 38 can easily miss it. Philistines broke protocol by seeking to arrange There is no monument, no shrine, not representative combat rather than a full-fledged evenA a roadside marker. Yet, three thousand military conflict. Bawling out the terms of the chal- years ago on the broad plain in the Elah Valley lenge, a hulking giant named Goliath represented near modern day Azekah Junction, a dramatic the Philistine army. The terms were simple: event in Israel’s history took place. Choose a man for yourselves, and let him On a recent trip to Israel, our guide deviated come down to me. If he is able to fight from the itinerary and made a stop at Tel Azekah. with me and kill me, then we will be your Climbing to the top, we had a bird’s eye view of servants. But if I prevail against him and the Elah Valley where two ancient armies were kill him, then you shall be our servants poised for conflict around 1063 B.C. and serve us (1 Sam 17:8-9). For decades, the Philistines oppressed Israel Although his 9’9” stature was in itself imposing, and banned blacksmiths from the land forcing Goliath was armed for intimidation. He wore a the Israelites to have iron tools fabricated and brass helmet causing him to appear taller than his sharpened by their adversaries (1 Sam. 13:19-22). actual size. His body was encased in brass mail Effectively curtailing the manufacture of Israel’s weighing in the neighborhood of 125 pounds, weaponry, the Philistines armed with iron and he wore bronze leggings from the knees to the chariots, armor, swords and spears routinely ankles (1 Sam. 17:5). The spear he lugged around plundered towns and villages. had a tip of solid iron weighing 15 to 17 pounds. Reading the account in 1 Samuel 17, our Apparently, the intimidation factor worked guide pointed to key landmarks associated with because King Saul accepted the challenge without the record. The Philistines moving toward the first securing a champion to fight the giant. Con- heart of Israel from Gath on the coastal plain sequently, the armies of Israel huddled in fear as were camped at the base of the foothills on the Goliath carried out his defiant bullying campaign southwestern edge of the Elah Valley. On the hills every morning and evening for the next 40 days. to the northeast, the army of Israel blocked On day 41, David enters the narrative. Leaving Philistine advancement toward population early in the morning with provisions sent by his centers in the Judean highlands. father, he made the 15 mile trek from Bethlehem 2 SPRING 2011 Communique_Sprng_11:Communique_Sprng_11 4/19/11 9:37 AM Page 3 When Goliath saw David, he immediately resumed his intimidation campaign roaring, Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks? Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field! (1Sam. 17:42-44). Then Goliath sarcastically, cursed David by his gods (1Sam. 17:43). Unfortunately, he was ignorant of the Torah warning, I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you (Gen. 12:3). In cursing a descendent of Abraham, Goliath brought God’s bitter curse against himself and un- wittingly sealed his own fate. David’s response confirms, You come to me with a sword, with a Elah Valley/Azekah Junction spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the and arrived at the Israelite encampment in God of the armies of Israel whom you time to witness Goliath’s defiant challenge. have defied. This day the Lord will The Bible tells us David was appalled; what deliver you into my hand, . that all the galled him even more than the insolent earth may know that there is a God in Philistine bellowing verbal abuse was the Israel. (1 Sam. 17:45-46). cowering fear demonstrated by Saul’s army. Running toward his opponent, David loaded David exclaimed, Who is this uncircumcised his sling. A split second later, the stone hit its mark, Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the and within minutes, David was walking back to the living God? (1Sam. 17:26). Israelite encampment carrying the head of Goliath. His indignation soon caught the attention of Saul who summoned David to his tent. We aren’t privy to the details of their conversation, but we do know that David assured the king, Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine (1Sam. 17:32). Responding to Saul’s objections, David clarified that his willingness to fight the giant was not the result of mere youthful idealism; he had experience. Tending his father’s sheep, he was often confronted by lions and bears threatening the flock. God had given him victory over dangerous animals, and David was confident He would give victory over this foe as well. Leaving Saul, David made his way to meet The battle was over. Goliath’s braggadocio Goliath. At a waddi bordering the plain, he was not enough to assure a victory. Despite stooped to choose stones for his sling. With five the size of the opposing army or Goliath’s stones in his arsenal and shepherd’s staff in ability to intimidate, David understood what hand, David emerged from the Israelite camp everyone else missed that day—the battle onto the battlefield. belonged to the Lord. CANADIAN COMMUNIQUÉ 3 Communique_Sprng_11:Communique_Sprng_11 4/19/11 9:37 AM Page 4 GOD’S UNCONDITIO WITH IS Four unconditional and non-transferable coven They are covenants between God and a literal people group—the They are unilateral covenants in which God Himself is the guaranto Abrahamic Land-Grant Covenant Covenant n Foundation for all of God’s n Provides a permanent home for unilateral covenants with Israel the descendents of Abraham, Isaac Gen. 12:2. and Jacob (the nation of Israel) n Includes a land, a seed and a Dt. 30:1-20. blessing Gen. 12:1-3; 12:7; 13:14-17; n Guarantees ownership of the land 15:1-21; 22:15-18. despite Israel’s failings Dt. 30:3. n Reaffirmed to Isaac and Jacob n Tied blessing in the land to Israel’s Gen. 26:2-5, 24; 28:13-15. obedience Dt. 30:20. n Passed to Jacob’s sons, the 12 tribes n Predicts Israel’s temporary of Israel Gen. 49:1-28. removal with subsequent return n Basis for Israel’s deliverance from to the land Dt. 30:3-5. Egypt Ex. 6:2-4, 8. n Assures Israel’s restoration n Confirmed the land-grant to and blessing during the Messianic Israel after the Exodus Josh. 1:2. Kingdom Dt. 30:6-9. n No time limit; ultimate fulfillment in the Messianic Kingdom Gen.7:7-8. Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, . I will cause you to dwell in thi 4 SPRING 2011 Communique_Sprng_11:Communique_Sprng_11 4/19/11 9:37 AM Page 5 IONAL COVENANTS ISRAEL ovenants define God’s relationship with Israel. —the descendants of Abraham through Isaac and Jacob Gen. 12:1-3. antor; they are perpetual, eternal and not limited by time Jer. 7:7, 25:5. Davidic New Covenant Covenant n Promises an everlasting dynasty n Predicts Israel’s forgiveness through the lineage of King David Jer.