It was on this day in 1917 that the British government gave final approval to the adoption of the Balfour Declaration. This was a document that declared British support for those Jews who were trying to establish a Jewish homeland in the Holy Land. It was written by the UK’s Foreign Minister, Arthur James Balfour. In that document, it stated:

“His Majesty’s government views with favor the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavors to facilitate the achievement of this objective…”

This began the process of what would culminate in the establishment of Israel in 1948. There are historians who believe had this Declaration not been adopted when it was, then most likely it would never have happened. The reason they believe this is because within days of its adoption, the British Army began the conquest of what they called Palestine and the Bolshevik Revolution broke out in Russia; the attention of nations and governments began to quickly turn elsewhere.

The timing of this demonstrates just how the God of Israel is always in control of every situation. He’s never late; He’s never early, but always on time. 

The problem with His timing seems to be on our end of things. We tend to get ahead of Him or sometimes we’re lagging behind, but very seldom are we completely in sync with His timetable. With the Balfour Declaration, many believers in the UK and across the world felt that establishment of a Jewish State in the Holy Land was inevitably at hand. They thought it would be at any time. Fueling these expectations was the war in Europe and especially so when it spilled over into the Middle East. 

While this document was certainly instrumental in the development and establishment of the nation of Israel and played as significant role in the fulfillment of prophecy, it didn’t happen produce what people expected when and how they thought it should be. In fact, it was another 30 years and another World War later before there was a state of Israel. This is another example of something most of us have come to understand: things almost never happen the way we think or when we think they should. It always happens as it has been determined by the Creator. If this is true in world events, then it’s true in our daily lives. 

When we see things developing around us, its natural to develop certain expectations. We begin to conjure in our minds how things are going to come to pass. Again, it almost never happens according to our interpretation which brings us to this point: we can’t afford to hold fast to our own plans but must submit to Him and His plan. We must trust Him.  

He’s going to perform what needs to happen, when it needs to happen, and how it needs to happen. In the meantime, pray that He’s going to give us the strength to endure until all of His purposes take shape and come to fruition. This willingness to endure and persevere is going to be a very important, critical attribute in these last days. Yeshua said as much to the congregation of Philadelphia in Revelation 3:10:

“Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.”

Many folks are sitting on pins and needles with everything that’s going on around in the world, expecting something to blow up at any moment. Maybe it will but it is needful for us to keep our eyes focused won here they need to be that we may endure, persevere, and overcome. 

Shalom.