Can one man make a difference? He can where God is concerned. In fact, God could use one man to save the very focus of His kingdom plan, the nation of Israel. In addition, because God is a God of irony, He could even use a World War I German officer to save the future Jewish nation in order to preserve God's kingdom plan.
Last week, the Israel Daily Picture, published a photograph of a German General, Erich von Falkenhayn, leaving Palestine in 1918 with an amazing caption. (It was elaborated further by a Falkenhayn family genealogy, which was posted on the internet.) The information read: "While he was in command in Palestine, he was able to prevent Turkish plans to evict all Jews from Palestine . . . it is fair to say that Falkenhayn prevented the eradication of Jewish settlements in Palestine."
Had all Jews been evicted from Palestine, it is doubtful that the British and others would have provided for the modern state of Israel. Because there was an ongoing Jewish connection to that piece of land—the land God predicted the Jews would once again possess, the international community was willing to make allowance for the modern state of Israel.
This is monumental! After all, God's plan focuses on the Jews in the land of Israel and in the city of Jerusalem. Without the Jews possessing that area, God's kingdom plan would have been stopped. This means that God may have used one man to protect the future of Israel and to provide for His kingdom plan to be advanced.
Dr. Jacob Thon, head of the Zionist Office in Jerusalem, wrote in 1917: "It was a special stroke of good fortune that in the last critical days General von Falkenhayn had the command. Jamal Pasha [Turkish governor of Syria and Palestine] in this case—as he announced often enough—would have expelled the whole population [of Jews] and turned the country into ruins."
Was it simply "a special stroke of good fortune," or was it the hand of God? As we read the pages of Bible prophecy, we can see that God was in control of it all. In fact, this is why Bible prophecy has a one hundred percent success rate of fulfillment; God not only predicts, but He determines. This determination includes all individuals in alignment with His kingdom plan.
An incredible example of this truth was recorded for us in an inspired prayer to God, found in Acts 4:27-28. Following the ascension of Jesus to heaven, His disciples, filled with the Holy Spirit, revealed this important truth: "For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done."
Allow that to soak in for a moment. God used Herod and Pontius Pilate, perennial villains in the Christian Easter story, to accomplish His kingdom plan. They had no known, or claimed, relationship with God, and they willingly participated in handing Jesus over to crucifixion; yet, God used them as His instruments to fulfill an aspect of His plan that was absolutely critical to the accomplishment of His kingdom program.
Proverbs 21:1 reveals that "the king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes." Yet, the illustration above shows that not only kings, but also governors, are included in this depiction of God's sovereignty. In fact, since ALL positions of authority are granted by God (cf. John 3:27; 19:10-11; etc.), then the principle of Proverbs 21:1 also includes princes and judges (cf. Isaiah 40:23), as well as generals.
In order to place those He wants in the places of authority that will work best to accomplish His kingdom plan, God determines when and where people would live (cf. Acts 17:26). Thus, from all this, we can see that God placed General Falkenhayn in command in Palestine at that exact time which would be best to continue God's kingdom program. Thus, God raised up General Falkenhayn "for such a time as this" (cf. Esther 4:14); and He did so to provide for the Jews to return to the land, in fulfillment of His word. Not only did the General's stand provide for the future nation of Israel, but it provided for God to fulfill His prophetic plan.
God is amazing beyond our comprehension; and His kingdom plan is incredible, as well! From the pages of Bible prophecy, we can learn that God is in control, and from both Scripture and history, we can see that, due to God's amazing sovereignty, He can use one man (even without his understanding) to preserve the nation of Israel and His prophetic program.
These truths ought to encourage us in whatever we face. They should remind us that God is able to see us through and even to use us in important ways in His ongoing kingdom program; and understanding that should inspire our trust in God.
Written by John Claeys
Last week, the Israel Daily Picture, published a photograph of a German General, Erich von Falkenhayn, leaving Palestine in 1918 with an amazing caption. (It was elaborated further by a Falkenhayn family genealogy, which was posted on the internet.) The information read: "While he was in command in Palestine, he was able to prevent Turkish plans to evict all Jews from Palestine . . . it is fair to say that Falkenhayn prevented the eradication of Jewish settlements in Palestine."
Had all Jews been evicted from Palestine, it is doubtful that the British and others would have provided for the modern state of Israel. Because there was an ongoing Jewish connection to that piece of land—the land God predicted the Jews would once again possess, the international community was willing to make allowance for the modern state of Israel.
This is monumental! After all, God's plan focuses on the Jews in the land of Israel and in the city of Jerusalem. Without the Jews possessing that area, God's kingdom plan would have been stopped. This means that God may have used one man to protect the future of Israel and to provide for His kingdom plan to be advanced.
Dr. Jacob Thon, head of the Zionist Office in Jerusalem, wrote in 1917: "It was a special stroke of good fortune that in the last critical days General von Falkenhayn had the command. Jamal Pasha [Turkish governor of Syria and Palestine] in this case—as he announced often enough—would have expelled the whole population [of Jews] and turned the country into ruins."
Was it simply "a special stroke of good fortune," or was it the hand of God? As we read the pages of Bible prophecy, we can see that God was in control of it all. In fact, this is why Bible prophecy has a one hundred percent success rate of fulfillment; God not only predicts, but He determines. This determination includes all individuals in alignment with His kingdom plan.
An incredible example of this truth was recorded for us in an inspired prayer to God, found in Acts 4:27-28. Following the ascension of Jesus to heaven, His disciples, filled with the Holy Spirit, revealed this important truth: "For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done."
Allow that to soak in for a moment. God used Herod and Pontius Pilate, perennial villains in the Christian Easter story, to accomplish His kingdom plan. They had no known, or claimed, relationship with God, and they willingly participated in handing Jesus over to crucifixion; yet, God used them as His instruments to fulfill an aspect of His plan that was absolutely critical to the accomplishment of His kingdom program.
Proverbs 21:1 reveals that "the king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes." Yet, the illustration above shows that not only kings, but also governors, are included in this depiction of God's sovereignty. In fact, since ALL positions of authority are granted by God (cf. John 3:27; 19:10-11; etc.), then the principle of Proverbs 21:1 also includes princes and judges (cf. Isaiah 40:23), as well as generals.
In order to place those He wants in the places of authority that will work best to accomplish His kingdom plan, God determines when and where people would live (cf. Acts 17:26). Thus, from all this, we can see that God placed General Falkenhayn in command in Palestine at that exact time which would be best to continue God's kingdom program. Thus, God raised up General Falkenhayn "for such a time as this" (cf. Esther 4:14); and He did so to provide for the Jews to return to the land, in fulfillment of His word. Not only did the General's stand provide for the future nation of Israel, but it provided for God to fulfill His prophetic plan.
God is amazing beyond our comprehension; and His kingdom plan is incredible, as well! From the pages of Bible prophecy, we can learn that God is in control, and from both Scripture and history, we can see that, due to God's amazing sovereignty, He can use one man (even without his understanding) to preserve the nation of Israel and His prophetic program.
These truths ought to encourage us in whatever we face. They should remind us that God is able to see us through and even to use us in important ways in His ongoing kingdom program; and understanding that should inspire our trust in God.
Written by John Claeys
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