"I Will Overturn, Overturn, Overturn..."

Imagine a national economy with inflation running at 400 per cent and currency reserves so depleted that there remained only about six weeks' supply of foreign currency to finance essential imports!

That was the situation in Israel last autumn. A general election had left the two major political parties almost equally balanced. Neither was in a decisive position to rule. Under stress of the economic crisis the two parties finally formed a coalition government with the curious arrangement that the Labour leader (Peres) would be premier for two years and then exchange positions with the Likud leader (Shamir) who was given the foreign ministry.

The coalition government promptly introduced austerity measures. The amount of currency allowed to Israeli citizens when travelling abroad was cut by half. The shekel was devalued by 9 per cent. A six-month ban was imposed on imports of luxury items including cars and liquor. Every government department was required to reduce spending in a drive to cut the year's budget by one billion dollars.

The economic situation had indeed called for these drastic measures, but they were also necessary to convince the United States that further massive financial aid was justified. With a view to influencing the Jewish vote in election year Congress approval was sought for 2.6 billion dollars in economic and military aid to Israel for the 1985 financial year. The United States administration insisted that to qualify for this aid Israel must demonstrate serious effort to live within her means.

Israel's continued military occupation of southern Lebanon remained a heavy liability, costing over one million dollars a day. Further casualties made the occupation unpopular in Israel and the Moslem population showed growing resentment of the occupying army. Withdrawal of the Israeli forces would make sound financial and political sense. But the situation in Lebanon remained dangerously unstable, as illustrated by a bomb attack on the American embassy.

Would the Lebanese government be strong enough to prevent PLO forces re-establishing themselves near Israel's northern border? Had not the Syrians still got 40,000 troops in Lebanon? So the occupation dragged on. A military exercise intended swiftly to eliminate the threat of PLO forces in Lebanon had developed into a long and costly operation which Israel's economy and manpower could ill afford.

Since its inception in 1948 modern Israel has experienced crisis after crisis. There is a record of tremendous development in agriculture and industry, plus brilliant military achievements. Yet after thirty-six years of revived nationhood, political leadership is weak, the economy falters and attempts to improve relationships with Arab neighbours have reached a stalemate. Why this frustrating succession of disappointments? Is the answer not found in Ezekiel's remarkable prophecy? (ch. 21: 24-27):

"Because ye have made your iniquity to be remembered, in that your transgressions are discovered, so that in all your doings your sins do appear... Thus saith the Lord GOD: Remove the. mitre, and take off the crown: this shall be no more the same: exalt that which is low, and abase that which is high. I will overturn, overturn, overturn it: this also shall be no more, until He come whose right it is; and I will give it Him".

This divinely given oracle casts its long shadow over Israel's national experience until the time of the end, as verse 25 confirms. The nation's supreme iniquity, the crucifixion of the Messiah, cannot be forgotten. National aspirations have been revived in modern times, but the ancient authority of king and prophet is lacking. There can be no lasting national prosperity or stability until the ultimate appearing and acceptance of the Lord Jesus Christ as Israel's Messiah:

"I will overturn, overturn, overturn it until He come whose right it is".

The effects of political and religious strife within Israel, of economic strains and of hostile attitudes towards her on the part of several Arab countries, all combine to hinder stability and progress. How dramatic the approaching climax foretold in Scripture! Antichrist's deceptive seven-year covenant will bring false promise of security, only to be blighted when the agreement is renounced after three-and-a-half years. Through the following "time of Jacob's trouble" the power of the holy people will be broken into pieces (Dan. 12:7). This will be the final overturning, when at the moment of Israel's utmost extremity "there shall come out of Zion the Deliverer" (Rom. 11:26).

"I will overturn... until He come whose right it is: and I will give it Him".

unknown | Feb 1985
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