The Jews re-established Israel in 1948 through a long process of return, kibbutz-building, a successful war against surrounding Arabs, and early recognition by President Harry Truman — and Les sees the hand of God behind the whole process.
Les says the nation began taking shape around the turn of the century as Jews came back and set up kibbutzes. By 1948, after the little war with the Arabs around them, Harry Truman was the first world leader to declare Israel a sovereign state. Les attributes the survival and restoration to God's promises and mercy, not merely to human strategy.
Ezekiel 37:21 — God promises to gather Israel from among the nations and bring them into their own land — the biblical backdrop for the Jewish return.
Scripture does not name 1948 or describe political maneuvering. It does promise that God Himself would bring His scattered people back to their own land. In Ezekiel 37:11, the dry bones represent the whole house of Israel, whose hope was lost. Then God says He will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land (Ezekiel 37:21). The Bible therefore presents the return not merely as human achievement but as the fulfillment of God's pledge to Israel.
Les states that after Israel was dispersed into every nation, around the turn of the century they started coming back, set up kibbutzes, and the nation slowly made its appearance. In 1948 they had that little war with the Arabs around them, and Harry Truman was the first world leader to declare Israel a sovereign state (Clip 2). Les calls this part of God's promise that mercy would never depart from Israel.
Les says that when the Jews spoke to the powers in England and America, they were laughed at. The English actually offered them an uninhabitable piece of Africa for a homeland, but the Jews refused, saying they did not want a piece of ground in Africa — they wanted their own homeland, Israel.
Les describes Palestine before the return as a no man's land with nothing but a few nomad Bedouins and a few Arabs. There was no production or farming. After the Jews came from almost every nation under heaven, the land became remarkably productive with agriculture, dairy farms, fruit farms, and construction.
Les says that after the turn-of-the-century return and the establishment of kibbutzes, the nation of Israel was making its appearance little by little. In 1948 they had a war with the Arabs around them, and Harry Truman was the first world leader to declare the nation of Israel a sovereign state.
Les notes that the people of Israel often claim they accomplished these things on their own and do not give God any credit. He tells of an Israeli who, after the Six-Day War, said 'God didn't have a thing to do with it. We did it.' Les disagrees and says that one day they will realize it was the work of their Almighty God.
The Bible says God will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land. In Ezekiel 37:11, the dry bones are called the whole house of Israel, whose hope was lost — but God promises restoration.
God's Work Behind Israel's Success
Les says Israel's rebuilding is amazing but the people do not credit God; he compares the nation to dry bones that God is bringing back to life.
God’s Plan for Israel vs. Gentiles: Understanding the Abrahamic Covenant
And remember, they're coming in almost a thousand a day, at least they have been. But see, there are still at least that many in Russia, somewhere between 2 and 3 million. And then there's another million or two scattered in the other nations of the world, and then the largest Jewish community tonight is still in America, somewhere between 5 and 6 million.
1948 in Les's Own Account
Les says that after dispersion, Jews began returning around the turn of the century, set up kibbutzes, and by 1948 after a war with surrounding Arabs, Harry Truman was the first world leader to recognize Israel as a sovereign state.
From Wasteland to Productive Land
Les contrasts the land before the return — a no man's land with few Bedouins — with today's agricultural and building boom, saying the Jews came from almost every nation under heaven.
Why the Jews Refused an Alternative Homeland
Les says the English offered the Jews a piece of uninhabitable Africa, but the Jews turned it down, insisting they wanted their own homeland, Israel; since 1948 they have been an independent state.
Human Pride vs. God's Doing
Les tells of an Israeli who said God had nothing to do with the country's success, while Les insists God was behind it.
Jacob's Trouble: Why the Tribulation is for Israel, Not the Church
It's the time of Jacob's trouble, which means it is primarily God dealing with the nation of Israel after all these years of seemingly ignoring them, and yet not really, because always remember one of the greatest miracles of the whole human race is the nation of Israel.
The Boundaries of the Promised Land: What Does the Bible Say?
Israel has territory that the rest of the world thinks she should give up and let the Palestinians have it for the sake of peace. Israel says what? It's our land. And they haven't even got all that God has deeded to them. So I can sympathize, I can identify with the nation of Israel tonight, as well of course as with the Palestinians.
Ezekiel 37:11: Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.
This verse identifies the dry bones as the whole house of Israel and shows their hopeless condition before God restores them.
Ezekiel 37:21: And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land.
This is the core promise that God Himself will regather Israel from the nations and bring them back into their own land.
Les says that after the dispersion, Jews began returning around the turn of the century, built kibbutzes, and the nation slowly came together. In 1948 they had a war with the surrounding Arabs, and Harry Truman was the first world leader to declare Israel a sovereign state. Les sees this as God keeping His promise of mercy to Israel.
No. According to Les, the English offered the Jews a piece of uninhabitable Africa for a homeland, but the Jews said they did not want a piece of ground in Africa; they wanted their own homeland, Israel.
Les acknowledges the remarkable human effort — farming, building, and fighting — but he also says most Israelis gave God no credit. He compares Israel's recovery to Ezekiel's dry bones and insists God is the one who has gathered and restored the nation.
Watch the Teaching: Ezekiel 37 Explained: Israel's Dry Bones Prophecy Fulfilled?