Given by Elsie L. Heacock (Coy) to her high school senior class, May 9, 1919 (see note on Sis. Coy 2/2000, p. 71).
It has been almost 4,000 years since God called Abraham out of Ur of the Chaldees and said to him, “Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy Father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great: and thou shalt be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” With the calling of Abraham, we have the beginning of the nation now widely represented and scattered today — the Jewish nation.
History of Israel
I will not take much time telling the history of this nation which is very complex and long — a few historic facts will suffice. One would naturally think after God had spoken to Abraham that he would immediately go into the promised land, the land of Canaan, and he and his descendants would remain in the land forever; one finds out differently, however. Abraham went to the land but went to Egypt when famine struck. He came back to Canaan where Isaac was born and Abraham died. Jacob, Isaac’s son, went into Egypt where he lived and died along with his descendants after him.
Two hundred twenty five years later they were brought out from the persecution and bondage of the Pharaohs under the hand of Moses. But this was not all of their trial; they were tried still more for 40 years in the wilderness before reaching the promised land. Eventually Saul was chosen first king of the people. Under subsequent kings, particularly David and Solomon, they became a great and prosperous nation whose glory and grandeur probably reached its height in the reign of King Solomon.
King after king reigned until Zedekiah, the last king. Most of the kings were wicked and profane; so the Lord said: “Remove the diadem, and take off the crown.” In speaking of the kingdom, He said, “I will overturn, overturn, overturn it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is and I will give it him.” The kingdom was overturned and the people dispersed so that today we find the Jews scattered through the nations.
Promises to the Jews
Next we will take up the promises made to the Jewish fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the order of their fulfillment.
One promise has been partially fulfilled — they have become a great nation. As the poet said:
“At first they were but feeble,
Yet fast their numbers grew,
Until in every country
Today we find the Jew.”
Truly they are as the “sands of the sea,” and as the “stars of heaven.”
It is one of the greatest phenomenons in history that, although the Jews have been scattered, oppressed and persecuted, they have multiplied, prospered and formed a distinct people among the nations. We see this doomed and exiled race adapting themselves to every clime while dwelling far from their native land. They were dead as a body-politic, yet, as a race, which has been a proverb and by-word, the Jews are politically immortal. In the world there are over thirteen and a half million Jews. In our own United States, there are about two and a half million, one million of them living in New York City. (Remember that this is written in 1919.)
Yet the “good book” tells us Abraham, Isaac and Jacob would receive the land for an everlasting possession. In one place it tells us, “He gave Abraham none inheritance in it.” And, after enumerating and telling of the faithful ones, it says in Hebrews, “These all died in faith, not having received the promises.”
The Zionist movement
Truly they have not received the promises because the kingdom has not been restored to Israel. But now the land that once sparkled like a gem beneath the blue of the orient skies is seeing the first faint tinge of light after the darkness. The herald of coming dawn now ushers in brighter years for the land and the people. I refer to the Zionist Movement being organized all over the civilized world — in Russia, France, England and America.
America, which has never persecuted the Jews as has Russia, England and France, is heartily in favor of establishing a Jewish national home. The striving for a Jewish national home means working to create conditions in Palestine which will accommodate the reception of 50,000 to 60,000 Jews annually — to settle them in the land, to build up Jewish institutions and schools, to develop Hebrew as a living language, to promote Jewish civilization with the hope that Palestine will be as Jewish as England is English.
The Zionist organization stated its demands to the allies at the peace conference in Hebrew, probably the first time the assembled powers heard the Hebrew tongue. The conference will surely agree with Zionism in principle, but the details will be worked out together. If the demands are granted, the Jews will be able to do many things with Jewish will, Jewish power, Jewish money and Jewish enthusiasm. This will mean the gathering of many Jews, now aliens and strangers, to the promised land.
American support
Something which ought to create more than ordinary interest is the fact President Wilson, in his speech March 2, said the American government and allied powers are agreed upon the establishment of a Jewish Commonwealth in Palestine. Also 61 senators from 43 states and 239 representatives from 44 states and three territories have given their approval to the Zionist aspirations. Even our own state (Ohio) is included in this! In fact, the majority of American lawmakers favor it.
Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, ranking Republican senator and member of the Foreign Relations Committee, wrote, “I should favor the adoption of an appropriate resolution by Congress in favor of the establishment in Palestine of a ‘Jewish National Center.’ I feel the effort of the Jewish people is not only natural, but in all ways to be desired.”
Senator New of Indiana said, “I think that the Jews ought to become a nation, the assurance of whose safety is one of the main purposes of the war.” He concluded with the hope that America will become the protectorate for a Jewish Palestine.
It is my opinion that not many Jews will go back from America. I may be mistaken, but those heartily favoring the movement should not be charged with American disloyalty any more than the loyalty of the Belgians here can be questioned because of their hope for the restoration of their land to its rightful owners.
A blessing to all nations
It is my hope that the gates of Palestine will stand ajar and “Welcome” be written above them to all the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in any oppressed land, and that they be permitted to return to the land of their fathers to find a home where none shall come to molest them and make them afraid.
The reason people are interested in this is because the Jewish nation will bless the world. The teaching of the prophets is that Israel will be restored to Palestine. Jews are now in Palestine in greater numbers than for many generations; yet the prophets mean still more than just that in foretelling the restoration. It is to be the Kingdom of God restored —the land, the people and a king. We know what the land is and who the people are, but who is the King? We remember when the kingdom was overturned that it would be no more until he come whose right it is. It is Christ’s right. When the Jews crucified him, was not this the inscription above the cross, “This is Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews?” All who know anything of the Jew’s religion know they do not accept Christ whom they crucified. But when he comes, they will turn from their unbelief. This kingdom under the rule of Christ will be the kingdom God desired.
Several cities have had claims to the position of being the world’s capital. All have been eliminated except Rome, Constantinople and Jerusalem. In all probability, it will be Jerusalem. So in the day to come righteousness will be the stability of the times and the law will go forth from:
“Jerusalem the famous
and of the Messiah’s birth,”
And it
“Shall shine again with splendor
The center of the earth.”
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One