Secure in God's Hands!

"I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them..." Ezekiel 34:13

As I have become more and more involved in the work of Ebenezer I have been awestruck at the humbling responsibilities we share in His Holy work of aliyah - helping to bring God's ancient people, the Jews, home from the former Soviet Union in accordance with Biblical prophecy. Somehow the witness of the Word and of the Spirit cry out that rebuilding Israel and regathering His chosen people are the focus of our Father's heart in this hour.

To be entrusted with any small part of this work is awesome enough, but what if I should fail in so righteous an assignment? Can I live up to all He calls me to do? Yet in the midst of these disquieting thoughts the Holy Spirit has been drawing me to several clear promises. One such promise to the Jews is that "the Lord … will restore you from captivity … and will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you. If your outcasts are at the ends of the earth … from there He will bring you back." (Deuteronomy 30:3-4, NASB).

That promise is amplified in Ezekiel 34:11-16. The Lord will bring the Jews back. He will seek the lost.

Suddenly I saw the obvious emphasis: the far-reaching task He bids us to be part of is His! God will find the Jews, God will gather them and God will bring them home. So encouraging was this concept that I began to search the Old Testament scriptures on this matter and within a few hours I had found over 70 promises in which the Father says "I will do it - I will bring them home!"

This central principle means that no matter how strategic our task seems to be in this mighty and holy work, the overall responsibility and work is the Lord's! He is the project director and the project will be completed - on time!

All of this frees us from a great deal of angst and distress. The fulfilment of aliyah is in our Lord's hands. "When I have brought them back from the nations and have gathered them from the countries of their enemies, I will show myself holy through them in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God, for though I sent them into exile among the nations, I will gather them to their own land, not leaving any behind" (Ezekiel 39:27-28, NIV).

Today there is a critical background against which I write these words. Whatever major trials our dear founder, Gustav Scheller, and those who served Ebenezer in the first ten years of this ministry faced, there is ample evidence that significantly greater opposition to aliyah is coming. As I write, the intifada (Palestinian uprising) has been centre stage in Israel for nearly nine months, and the level of violence and carnage is just now escalating to the point of almost certain war. By the time these words reach you we may even be experiencing a major regional war, as I believe the Scriptures foresee.

Does all this mean that aliyah ceases and the task is done? Of course not! The God who said "I will gather them" also said "I will leave none of them behind." Or, as the NASB puts it, "I will leave none of them there any longer."

We might be tempted to look at the world conditions and the enemy's hatred of aliyah and feel overwhelmed and inadequate about being able to fulfil the task. It may seem impossible humanly speaking, but the task is the Father's! He has pledged His Word and His name to re-establish Israel and regather her children. It will be done! Our part in it is to move forward in integrity, humility and in righteous fear of the Lord, fulfilling all He has spoken to our hearts. Accountability for the completion of aliyah rests with Almighty God alone.

To those whom our Lord has burdened to stand in the gap and intercede, the message is simply to continue steadfastly holding the needs of Ebenezer before His throne. Having prayed, be at rest and know that He hears and that He has everything under His control: "I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?" (Jeremiah 32:27, NIV).

To all of you who have given so faithfully and sacrificially to enable Ebenezer to help bring the Jews home to Israel, be faithful in your appointed stewardship. Know that He who keeps Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps, but will multiply those gifts to accomplish His purposes, and bless all who bless Israel.

I have a fresh awareness in my heart that our Heavenly Father has everything under control, on track and on time. It gives a peace about this ministry that truly liberates my spirit. I can feel the rejoicing of Micah's heart as he wrote: "'In that day,' declares the Lord, 'I will gather the lame; I will assemble the exiles and those I have brought to grief. I will make the lame a remnant, those driven away a strong nation. The Lord will rule over them in Mount Zion from that day and for ever'" (Micah 4:6-7, NIV). What peace in the full realisation that His is the final responsibility!

Dr. Richard Gottier
Chairman, Ebenezer International