Israel Bible Study Association

In Israel, the Bible is credited with a practical value that is applied in unexpected ways.

That the Scriptures are our only true guide to spiritual living is well known and accepted by us, with well grounded assurance and justifiable faith.

Although on a differing basis of values, it is also a recognition of the trustworthy accuracy of the Biblical record that has led scientific minds in Israel to accept that book as their guide in the search of further know­ledge about their own country. David Catarivas tells us about it in his book, “Israel”:

“It is with the Bible in hand that tourists should visit Israel It is with the Bible in hand that archaeologists survey the country for excavation . . . It is with the Bible in hand that high rank­ing officers of the Israeli Army learn strategy . It is with the Bible in hand that members of Parliament prepare their speeches . . . and geol­ogists prospect for oil

But we should not assume that the spirit­ual message of Israel’s prophets is unknown or disregarded in the new-born nation of today. From other sources we hear that the Israel Bible Study Association, after commencing with 30 people 12 years ago, now have 400 groups and at least 20,000 members who “aim to ensure that every­one in Israel has a knowledge of the Bible, and to make the study of that book a popular pursuit”. They meet in private homes, and it is not surprising to know that the Presidents and the Prime Ministers are included when we hear these leaders of their nation re-echo the words of their prophets:

“No nation aspires so fervently to true peace as ours, whose inspired prophets were the first to preach from the heights of the mountains of Zion the ideal of peace and righteousness to their own people and to the world at large.”

And we might add that no other nation holds the Scriptures on the same national level and value; but we do know that there are many earnest believers who also con­duct Bible Study Groups and are united in a fellowship that constitutes them members of “Israel after the Spirit”.