In the September/October issue of Israel My Glory, Friends of Israel Bible teacher Ty Perry related how British physician John Scott Haldane came up with an early warning system for workers in underground mines to protect them from poisonous gases. By the time they recognized they were in contact with one of these gases, it was often too late to escape. So, Dr. Haldane suggested they take canaries with them underground.  If the canary, which is far more sensitive to the effects of these gases, died, it was time to get out immediately–hence the origin of the idiom, canary in a coal mine. 

     Mr Perry observes how “the Jewish people are the canaries in the world’s cultural coal mines.  Where antisemitism is accepted, other forms of persecution will arise. History demonstrates that antisemitism is an early indicator of a troubled culture. And recent events indicate that the United States is a nation in peril.”  Ty Perry goes on to say, “As an historian, I can think of no democracy that tolerated antisemitism and remained  a vibrant democracy…Embracing Jew-hatred is one of the first indicators, not only of a culture in decline, but also of God’s impending judgment…Such societies are doomed because “...he who touches you (Israel), touches the apple of His eye” (Zech. 2:8).  This common phrase is often used to identify an object of one’s  special favor or affection. The “apple of the eye,” of course, is not a fruit, but the pupil of the eye, so essential for sight that it becomes an apt symbol for a highly valued possession. Three times in the Bible the phrase is used in reference to God’s chosen people, Israel (Dt. 32:10; Lam. 2:18 and Zech. 2:8). It is also used in reference to individual believers in (Psa. 17:7,8). 

     Way back in Gen. 3:15, we have the prophecy of how God would defeat Satan and provide redemption for mankind who had succumbed to Satan’s temptation to doubt God’s word and disobey His clear command. God said to the serpent (and thus to Satan), “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise Him on the heel.”  The “seed of the woman” (implying a virgin birth..cf Isa. 7:14) would come and defeat Satan but would suffer in doing so (speaking of the torture and crucifixion of the God-man, Jesus Christ…cf II Cor. 5:21).  From that time forward Satan attempted to prevent the “seed” from coming and, when unsuccessful, attempted to kill the “seed” before He could pay the penalty for sin. Again, he was unsuccessful. 

     Since the Gospel is the means of Satan’s defeat through Jesus Christ, and since Israel is the channel through which God will complete His redemptive work, Israel is Satan’s greatest threat. Antisemitism and its effort to eradicate the Jewish people are Satan’s best chance to thwart his forthcoming eternal judgment from God. Without Israel, Jesus Christ can’t return to Earth, restore God’s Kingdom on Earth, or sit on David’s throne to rule over Israel from Jerusalem as God promised. Satan has tried many times to wipe the Jewish people from the face of the earth. In Exodus, Pharaoh brought his army against them, but God intervened and provided a way of escape through the Red Sea. The book of Esther tells of Haman’s diabolical plan to eliminate the Jewish people, but God used Queen Esther to save her people from annihilation. Even the psalmist cried to God for help against those who conspired against Israel–people who said, “Come, and let us wipe them out as a nation, that the name of Israel be remembered no more” (Psa. 83:4). The holocaust in Nazi Europe was one of Satan’s more recent attempts to destroy God’s chosen people. But, again, Satan was unsuccessful and will continue to be, for God said,:“My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure…Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it” (Isa. 46:10,11); “Remember these things, O Jacob, and Israel, for you are My servant; I have formed you, you are My servant, O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me” (Isa. 44:21); “Thus says the LORD; Who gives the sun for light by day, and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, Who stirs up the sea so that the waves roar; the LORD of hosts is His name; ‘If this fixed order departs from before Me,’ declares the LORD, ‘Then the offspring of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before Me forever.’ Thus says the LORD, ‘If the heavens above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out below, then I will also cast off all the offspring of Israel …” (Jer. 31:35-37).   We just observed a beautiful full moon and star studded sky this week–God has not forsaken Israel!   

     But Satan hasn’t given up. Early in the morning on the Jewish Sabbath, October 7, The Hamas conducted a massive attack targeting numerous towns, villages and Kibbutz in southern Israel. The vicious invaders murdered, raped, kidnapped, beheaded and tortured innumerable Israelis. Hezbollah joined in and attacked Israel from the north.  All these continued unsuccessful efforts to annihilate the Jews are proof that God is not finished with Israel. If He were finished, there would be no reason for Satan to expend such effort to wipe them out. Antisemitism has been around since Israel’s beginning and will remain as long as Satan sees Israel as the path through which Jesus will return and destroy him. This is why hatred of the Jewish people has spanned the centuries of time and continues to this day. 

     As horrific as these attacks on the Jewish people are, it’s equally alarming that there are those in our country who align themselves with the genocidal sentiment of wiping Israel off the map, as evidenced by the anti-semitic protests on college campuses and even within our elected leadership. Anti-Israeli protestors even displayed the Nazi swastika in New York City’s Times Square. 

     That brings us back to “the canary in the coal mine.” Don’t forget what was included in God’s covenant with Abraham. He promised him a land, a people and a blessing and added, “And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse” (Gen. 12:3).   As the church of believers (also God’s “chosen” people), we need to stand up and oppose antisemitism, pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psa. 122:5), and pray for salvation for both the Jews and those who oppose them (I Tim. 2:1-4). 

Forever His,

Pastor Dave