Editorial - The Secret of Greatness
by Joseph Hunting
There are two standards by which we evaluate greatness. One is material and the other is spiritual. Usually material greatness is measured by wealth, power or ability, whilst spiritual greatness is measured by one's relationship with God.
Moses measured Israel's spiritual greatness by the abiding presence of the Eternal in their midst with this comment: "What nation is there so great who hath God so near unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon Him for." (Deuteronomy 4:7)
Whilst never a great nation numerically, in the realm of spiritual greatness Israel's role has been unique. The Patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob lived in a world of almost total idolatry, yet each had a personal relationship with the one true God that laid a spiritual foundation upon which countless millions have since built their faith.
Indeed, it is this relationship with God that has made their descendants unique among the families of the nations. And Israel's family diary is just as unique. It is a collection of sixty-six books written by prophets, priests and even a plowman over a period of more than a thousand years. And the only true knowledge which the world has of God, be it His loving kindness and tender mercy or judgement and severity, is that which is revealed in its pages.
Israel today is surrounded by enemies plotting her ultimate destruction and using every device known to man. Never has there been a time more urgent for Israel to rediscover the secret of her greatness.