The Few Against the Many – Which Side Are You On?

November 22, 2013

4 min read

Defeating enemies far greater in size strengthens our faith, removing any doubt as to the cause of our triumph.  It is not merely to strengthen the faith of Israel, however, that we must face such overwhelming odds.  It is for the sake of all of mankind.

After nearly six weeks of travelling throughout Asia and Europe, I have finally returned to Jerusalem.

With the mission of sharing the truth and beauty of Israel with the non-Jewish, primarily Christian world, I must admit I was impressed by the numbers I encountered.  Many hundreds, at times over a thousand, would come out to learn about Israel and express their support for and solidarity with the Jewish State.

Nonetheless, compared to the billions in Asia and millions in Europe, those who stand with Israel are few.  It has always been this way.  It must always be this way.

We are approaching the sacred Holiday of Chanukah.  Just as one vial of olive oil consecrated by the High Priest conquered the laws of nature, so, too, did the courageous but small in number Maccabees conquer the exponentially larger Greek Empire.

In the days of Matityahu, the son of Yochanan the High Priest, the Hasmonean and his sons…  You delivered the mighty into the hands of the weak, the many into the hands of the few, the impure into the hands of the pure, the wicked into the hands of the righteous. – From the Chanukah Prayers

But why?  Why must we always be the few facing the many?

When fulfilling my lifelong dream of joining the Israeli Army, I was honored to serve in the “Gideon 13” Battalion within the esteemed Golani Infantry brigade.  The name of my battalion was always a source of pride, as the Biblical character of Gideon beautifully illustrates the answer to this burning question.

It was the days of the Judges and at 32,000 soldiers, the outnumbered army of Israel was facing the formidable Midianite army of 135,000 strong.

All but 300 were sent home.

And who were these 300?

They were not skilled fighters or seasoned warriors, but those who most feared the God of Israel.

Leaving no room for doubt, God explains to Gideon, “You have too many troops with you for me to deliver Midian into their hands; Israel may claim for themselves the glory due to Me, thinking “Our own hand has brought us this victory,” (Judges 7:2).

Defeating enemies far greater in size and might strengthens our faith, removing any doubt as to the cause of our triumph.

It is not merely to strengthen the faith of Israel, however, that we must face such overwhelming odds.  It is for the sake of all of mankind.

“You are my witnesses,” declares God. (Isaiah 43:10).

The existence of the people of Israel is a testimony to the God of Israel and therefore, a war against Israel is a war against God.

“The struggle for world domination is between me and the Jews. All else is meaningless. The Jews have inflicted two wounds on the world: Circumcision for the body and conscience for the soul. I come to free mankind from their shackles.” – Adolf Hitler

This, too, was the Greek mission.  For the Greeks, the body is the idol and the gymnasium is the Temple.

“What is beautiful is good,” said the Greeks.

“What is good is beautiful,” said the Jews.

“Survival of the fittest,” said the Greeks.

“Charity to the poor, compassion to the weak,” said the Jews.

“Man is God,” said the Greeks.

“God is One,” said the Jews.

And the Jewish People stood alone.

Today, world leaders convene to remove Iranian sanctions, the last remaining obstacles standing between the regime and the nuclear weapons which they seek to fulfill their genocidal aspirations.

We are condemned by the UN, criticized by the EU, and increasingly isolated internationally.

Facing enemies no less numerous than those of the past with weapons far greater – who would stand with us?

“And God will have mercy on Jacob and again choose Israel and settle them in their land.  And the righteous gentile will join them and attach themselves to the House of Jacob.” (Isaiah 14:1)

What does it mean “to attach” oneself to the house of Jacob?

A German who was caught hiding a Jew in his home during World War II would end up next to that Jew in the gas chambers of Auschwitz.

Those who cast their lot with the State of Israel, those who tie their fate in with that of the Jewish people – only they will be the righteous remnant of which the prophets spoke.

“Behold, I have refined thee, but not as silver; I have tried thee in the furnace of affliction.” Isaiah 48:10

Only by pitting us against seemingly insurmountable odds can God sift, or refine, those who truly fear his name from those who do not.

Although our times may seem volatile and unpredictable – even frightening – they conceal an unparalleled historic, even Biblical, window of opportunity.

It has been my greatest privilege, as I travel the world, to meet those few brave souls who have grasped this divine opportunity.  People whose lives embody the words of Ruth, “Your people are my people your God is my God.” (Ruth 1:16)

These righteous people I have met throughout my journeys are not only friends to the Jewish People.  They are our family.

They, too, are today’s Maccabees.

Share this article

Donate today to support Israel’s needy

$10

$25

$50

$100

$250

CUSTOM AMOUNT

Subscribe

Prophecy from the Bible is revealing itself as we speak. Israel365 News is the only media outlet reporting on it.

Sign up to our free daily newsletter today to get all the most important stories directly to your inbox. See how the latest updates in Jerusalem and the world are connected to the prophecies we read in the Bible. .