As Israel marks 75 years since its modern rebirth in 1948, the whole world should be joining the celebrations. For centuries, the Jewish people were scattered among the nations. But the Lord promised that one day He would regather them to their ancient homeland and use them to bring great benefits to the entire world.

“And it shall come to pass that just as you were a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you, and you shall be a blessing.” (Zechariah 8:13)

That day has surely arrived! For over seven decades now, Israel has overcome many challenges to become the Start-Up Nation, leading the world in important advances in agriculture, the environment, science, technology and medicine.

Consider that the Jewish people came back to a barren land, but they have brought the desert back to life. In the 1950s, Israel first built the National Water Carrier to bring fresh water to the Negev, making the desert blossom like a rose, just as the prophet Isaiah foresaw.

“The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose.” (Isaiah 35:1)

By the 1960s, Israel was a world leader in conserving and recycling water. Today, the nation re-uses 85% of its water supply.

Israelis also invented drip irrigation and water desalination methods that are now being used around the world.

In 1965, Israeli engineer Simcha Blass noticed that one of two adjacent trees was growing faster because of a leaking water pipe next to it. He launched Netafim, which today supplies drip irrigation systems in 112 countries worldwide.

In addition, they have planted over 300 million trees, which both beautify the land and filter out carbon emissions from the air.

“This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden…” (Ezekiel 36:35)

Did you know that Israel also invented the long-shelf cherry tomato? Indeed, Israeli fruit and produce, such Jaffa oranges and Medjool dates, are popular exports around the world.

“Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit.” (Isaiah 27:6)

Later, Israel emerged as one of the most innovative nations on earth. Did you know that Israelis developed the first microprocessor for personal computers?

The first firewall to protect computers from data theft?

In 1993, the Israeli start-up Checkpoint developed the first information security software program, called Firewall-1, to protect computers from data theft.

And the world’s first USB memory stick?

In 1999, an Israeli techie introduced the Disk-on-Key, the world’s first portable USB memory storage device, later bought by SanDisk. These small, handy devices are known today as flash drives or data sticks.

In medicine, Israeli researchers invented the PillCam – a little camera that you swallow which allows doctors to detect diseases inside us without invasive surgery.

They also have come up with a phone that can diagnose diseases through smell. And then there is ReWalk – a battery-packed ‘exoskeleton’ which allows the disabled to walk again.

The list of Israeli innovations goes on and on.

They gave us WAZE, the first driver assistance phone program with real-time traffic information.

It was started as an open-source project called ‘FreeMap Israel’ in Tel Aviv back in 2006.

It has over 150 million users worldwide, being the second most downloaded driving app.

It was bought by Google in 2013 for $1.1 billion and its 100 employees then received an average of $1.2 million, the largest payout to Israeli hi-tech in history.

The new Watergen system produces clean drinking water out of thin air. This new Israeli company that has developed a portable generator which produces pure drinking water from humidity in the air.

Plus, let’s not forget Israel’s pioneering work in the field of solar energy.

And now we have MobileEye, a leader in the race for self-driving cars. The Israeli company Mobileye has partnered with leading car manufacturers to pioneer the safest, most reliable computer-assisted driving programs.

It was launched by a Hebrew University professor and is is the largest Israel IPO in US history, raising $890 million.

MobileEye cameras are already used in cars built by BMW, GM, Volvo, and other automakers. It was acquired by Intel in 2017 for $15.3 billion and is now valued at $17 billion.

And then there is the Iron Dome, the world’s most effective anti-missile system to defend civilian populations from rocket attacks.

The mobile Iron Dome missile battery, developed mostly in Israel with joint US funding, has quickly proven to be the world’s most effective short-range anti-rocket interceptor, with a shoot-down rate of 95%, and now being sold to other nations.

The mobile batteries were developed by Rafael and Israel Aerospace Industries and first deployed in 2011.

So, Israel has truly been blessing the whole world over its first 75 years as a nation restored to life. And God remains “zealous” to perform all His good promises and plans for Israel.

“I am zealous for Zion with great zeal; With great fervour I am zealous for her.” (Zechariah 8:2)

So, we join with the Jewish people in celebrating seventy-five years of the restored nation of Israel – a great blessing in the midst of the earth!

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