Today whole world's attention is on Israel though it is a tiny nation. Why is it so and what does the Bible talks about Israel. Let us look from the Bible.

Bible says in Genesis 17th chapter that God appeared to Abraham and said to him, " I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly." Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying, "As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. And I will establish My covenant 
between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God." And God said to Abraham: "As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised; and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you." (Genesis 17:1-11) And further God told him in Genesis 17:15-16, "As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her 
name. And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her."

When Abraham heard all these things, He could not hold his laughter and said in his heart, "Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?" And Abraham said to God, "Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!" Then God said: "No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him." (Genesis 17:17-19)

God specifically told Abraham that He will establish His covenant with Isaac not with Ishmael. Then we read that God gave Abraham a son named Isaac. Isaac got married and had two sons named Esau and Jacob. We all know the story of Esau and Jacob. Jacob ran for his life because he deceived his own brother by taking all his blessings and birthright. He went to his mother's home and lived there. While returning he was afraid thinking that, Esau will harm him or kill him. So he prayed to God in Genesis 32:11, "Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, 
from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and attack me and the mother with the children." And he encounters with God and His angels. Finally God says to him, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have  prevailed." Genesis 32:28)

So Israel is none other but Jacob. Jacob had twelve sons that are the twelve tribes of Israel. Then Bible goes on speaking about the twelve tribes of Israel but we do not see much mention of Ishmael in the Bible. Israel is God's chosen people and chosen land because of God's promise to Abraham. God also told Abraham in Genesis 12:2-3, "I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."

That's was the reason why when Balaam tried to curse Jacob's tribe or Israel then God said to him no, you cannot. We read in Balaam's own words in Numbers 23:7-8-10, "And he took up his oracle and said: "Balak the king of Moab has brought me from Aram, From the mountains of the east. 'Come, curse Jacob for me, And come, denounce Israel! For from the top of the rocks I see him, And from the hills I behold him; There! A people dwelling alone, Not reckoning itself among the nations. Who can count the dust of Jacob, Or number one-fourth of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, And let my end be like his!"

Balaam tried to curse Israel again and again but did not succeed. Why? Because God has already blessed Abraham and his seed, no one can overturn the promises of God. This is the lone reason why Israelites stands still though these tiny nation and handful of people went through terrible persecution; many tried to kill and destroy them but could not. Yes, as long as God reigns no one can wipe away this tiny nation nor these people.

Daniel in  lion's Den

Sixty-two years old Darius got the kingdom because Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was slain.  It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss.

Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm.  So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could not find any charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him.  Then these men said, "We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God."

So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: "King Darius, live forever!

"All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.  Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter."

Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.  Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.  And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king's decree: "Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?" The king answered and said, "The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter."  So they answered and said before the king, "That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day."

And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him.  Then these men approached the king, and said to the king, "Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed."  So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, "Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you."  Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed.

Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him.  Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions.  And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?" 

Then Daniel said to the king, "O king, live forever! My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you."  Then the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God. 

And the king gave the command, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions; them, their children, and their wives; and the lions overpowered them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they ever came to the bottom of the den.

Then King Darius wrote: To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.  I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, And steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, And His dominion shall endure to the end.  He delivers and rescues, And He works signs and wonders In heaven and on earth, Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.  So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

  This week's Riddle

They were put into jail but while they were singing and praising God
a great earth quake came and their shackles were broken. They found 
themselves free. Who are they?

Kids, who will be able to answer correctly, their names will be published
here.  While answering please do not forget to write your "name" and "age"  To send your answers click here

Last week's Riddle

She lost all the male members of her family. On returning to her home she called herself, "bitter". Who she was?

Answer was : Naomi 
And the riddle was taken from Book of Ruth 1st chapter.

Congratulations:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sherry Mathews, Age - 12 from New Delhi was successful in sending the correct answer.

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