Today we are seeing the “first flowering if Israel’s redemption” as we watch the Jewish people returning to their ancient homeland, the rebirth of the nation of Israel in 1948, the revivification of the once dead language of Hebrew, the restoration of ancient Biblical cities and so much more. These are things that G-d promised the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob throughout the Scriptures. He promised that one day these things would happen. Today we’re seeing the beginning of the fulfillment of these promises. The covenant promises of our G-d to His chosen people are being proved true in our time, and it is exciting to see!
There are many places where HaShem speaks of the restoration of Israel but two primary passages we’ll look at here are Jeremiah 30-31 and Isaiah 60-62. Through these two prophets HaShem speaks of His plans for Israel at the time of her redemption. It is Jeremiah 31:6 that several Jewish friends have informed me speaks of Christians being in the mountains of Israel as they call to others “Come, let’s go up to Zion, to the L-RD our G-d!” You see, in this passage the Hebrew word for “watchmen” is natsar and has the same root as the word that was first used to describe first century Christians – “Notsrim”. Without going into detail about this particular word, let’s just look at this passage and know that it is understood that these watchmen are those who believe that Yeshua (Jesus) is the sent Messiah of G-d. These watchmen on the mountains of Israel (Judea, Benjamin and Samaria) are Jews and non-Jews who fear G-d and trust in His Messiah.
In speaking of the restoration of Israel, Isaiah also speaks of non-Jews coming to the mountains of Israel (Judea, Benjamin and Samaria) in verse 61:5. This passage uses the words “strangers” (zar) and “foreigners” which simply means that these people are non-Jews. As Israel is now being restored and is restoring her ancient homeland to it’s former glory, some non-Jews are indeed helping in the restoration process by tending to flocks and vineyards just as the prophets foretold.
Today we find that the non-Jews who are holding to these promises in Isaiah and Jeremiah are G-d fearing people of the nations. Yeshua (Jesus) said that He came to serve and to encourage those who were in need of encouragement that G-d is still trustworthy and He still loves Israel. Shaul (Paul) wrote in Romans 15 that Yeshua came to be a servant to His brothers, Israel, in order to prove that G-d is faithful to His promises and that the people of the nations might glorify G-d. And since these followers of Yeshua of Nazareth want to walk as their Master walked, we are pleased to be humble servants who work in the vineyards and with the livestock as Israel rebuilds her ancient ruins and restores that which has been devastated for many generations – because we, too, believe that G-d is faithful to His word and is currently bringing about the restoration of Israel. We want to encourage the Jewish people in Israel that what He has promised, He will do!
Shaul also wrote in Romans 15:27 that non-Jewish followers of Messiah Yeshua owe not only a spiritual debt to Israel but that “they ought to be of service to them in material blessings” and that the early believers were pleased to be of service to Israel, recognizing that we owe a significant debt to Israel. It is right that we, non-Jewish G-d fearers humbly serve Israel at this first flowering of her redemption. Visit Serving Israel to find out more.
In all we harvested over 300 metric tons of grapes as well as some olives and pomegranates. We fasted along with Israel on Yom Kippur and we celebrated Sukkot with guests in our succah as we were guests in Israel. We heard from many special speakers, met some amazing people, were able to participate in some really neat and exciting events and were privileged to make new (and dear) friends. Re-entry to “normal life at home” has been difficult after spending so much time participating in something so much bigger than ourselves, something that was foretold thousands of years ago. I still hear one man joyfully and tearfully telling someone in our group, “I can’t believe it! I had to come and see for myself. You’re really here. When HaShem gave Isaiah the vision… he saw you. It’s you he saw… here… now. 
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