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The Fishers and the Hunters Print E-mail
Written by Victoria Radin   

“Therefore behold, the days are coming,” says the L-rd, “that … I will bring [the Jews] back into their land which I gave to their fathers. Behold, I will send for many fishermen,” says the L-rd, “and they shall fish them; and afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain and every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.” (Jeremiah 16:14a, 15b, 16)

While G-d can perform His will through supernatural means, history has demonstrated that He most often uses mankind to bring about His purposes. For instance, G-d used a foreign, pagan nation to discipline His chosen people when they strayed from Him just before they were exiled to Babylon for seventy years, “Behold, I will bring a nation against you from afar, O house of Israel…” (Jer. 5:15a). But, when the punishment that G-d decreed was accomplished, G-d then chastised the nation that served as the weapon of His wrath, “…when seventy years are completed, … I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation…” (Jeremiah 25:12)

With the dawning of the twentieth century, G-d determined that it was time to re-gather the Jewish people to the former Israel. To achieve this goal, He burned that desire in the hearts of both Jewish and Christian leaders of that day. But, when Theodor Herzl, the ‘father’ of modern Zionism , determined to pursue the re-establishment of the nation of Israel, the devil set out to prevent this from taking place, knowing that it signaled the return of Jesus and thus, his demise.

The principle of the “Fishers and the Hunters” began before the outbreak of WWII. Renowned writer and champion for Zionism, the Russian-born Ze’ev Jabotinsky was one of G-d’s chosen fishermen, seeking to lead the Jews to 'Palestine' away from Europe and danger. Jabotinsky not only ‘saw’ the coming holocaust, but also, the rise of the Jewish State. The Orthodox Union website recalls his efforts. (http://www.ou.org/chagim/yomhaatzmauth/jabo.html)

“In the last years prior to the outbreak of the second World War, Jabotinsky made frequent visits to Central and Eastern Europe. Foreseeing the catastrophe that was imminent in the wake of Hitler's rise to power, he pressed for the mass evacuation of the Jews from Eastern Europe…” "Either you liquidate the Diaspora  or the Diaspora will liquidate you," he cried out.

 Alas, his was a voice crying in the wilderness.

"... and … whoever of you will escape from the catastrophe, he or she will live to see the exalted moment of a great Jewish wedding: the rebirth and the rise of a Jewish state… I believe in this as I am sure that tomorrow morning the sun will rise."

Some Jews did heed his warnings and that of others who saw the impending devastation and they escaped to Palestine or to other countries of the world. But the urgent counsel of the ‘fishermen’ fell on the deaf ears of most European Jews who had become complacent in the countries they called home even though they never found acceptance anywhere. The persistent anti-Semitism throughout much of the world existed because G-d warned the Jews that they would never find peace in the Diaspora since the Diaspora was G-d’s curse on them for rebellion.

“The L-rd will scatter you … from one end of the earth to the other….And among those nations you shall find no rest, nor shall the sole of your foot have a resting place, but there the L-rd will give you a trembling heart, failing eyes, and anguish of soul. Your life shall hang in doubt before you; you shall fear day and night, and have no assurance of life….” (Deuteronomy 28:64-66)

However, when the time to return to Zion had come, Satan sought to devise a means to destroy every Jew on the earth. Hitler, whose German military might far exceeded that of any nation in the world, as did his vicious and merciless pursuit of the Jewish people, was empowered by Satan. He was able to destroy six million Jews before being stopped by the Allied forces that were obviously aided by G-d Himself.

It was then that Satan raised up an ‘old’ enemy of the Jewish people, the Muslims––their power, OIL. The oil-greedy Western nations quickly bowed to the oil-rich Muslim nations in coming against the nation of Israel. The result being that all the nations of the world are gradually taking a stand against Israel and thus G-d’s plan for the redemption of the world. This will lead to the finale of this Age.

“And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it.” (Zechariah 12:3)

The very existence of Islam is permitted by G-d to provoke nations to choose between the selfish desire for oil and doing what is right. For Christians, it is a choice between the obvious, insidious evil of radical Islam and the worship of the G-d of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. There is no neutral ground. As believers, we are called upon to stand for our L-rd [and Israel], no matter what the consequences may be.

Many believers are waiting for the promised outpouring of the Spirit of G-d. However, the prophet Joel records that G-d will FIRST restore His people to the land of Israel and THEN pour out His Spirit on all flesh.

“Then the L-rd will be zealous for His land, and pity His people…’I will remove far from you the northern army, and will drive him away…So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you…Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel…And it shall come to pass AFTERWARD that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh…I  will pour out My Spirit in those days…” (Joel 2:18, 20a, 25, 27a, 28a,29b)

As such, we must pray for the ingathering of Israel and do whatever possible to see its fulfillment. There are already many ‘fishermen’ financing the return of Jews to Israel from all over the world and others canvassing the world, telling Jews to go home to Israel. The Scriptures declare that Gentiles (non-Jews) will be instrumental in bringing the Jews back to Israel from the exile they have endured for 2000 years.

“Behold, I will lift My hand in an oath to the Gentiles, and set up My standard for the peoples; they shall bring your sons in their arms, and your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders…” (Isaiah 49:22)

We must work as fisherman for the L-rd while it is still light––before the hunters arrive on the scene. Jesus said,  “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work” (John 9:4). “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (John 20:21).

Let Jabotinsky’s pre-WWII words ring in your ears, “…listen to me in this 11th hour: In the name of G-d, Let anyone of you save himself as long as there is still time. And time there is very little.”

 
 
 
 
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