The idiom, ‘The apple of my eye’, is often used to express how precious a person is to us. The Hebrew translation says, ‘The little man of the eye’. Try looking into someone’s eye – you’ll see yourself reflected in the pupil of their eyeball.
The eye is also the most vulnerable part of your body. You protect it by blinking or turning your face away from a ball whizzing your way, or if an opponent sends you a ‘knuckle sandwich’ (also known as a ‘punch’).
This phrase speaks of God’s presence, providence and protection.
In Deuteronomy 32:10, Moses referred to Israel as ‘the apple of His eye’, in expressing God’s providential care during her wilderness wanderings. He was singing the song under a prophetic anointing about God’s eternal and covenantal love for Israel.
In the wilderness, God provided her manna for food, water from a rock, and safety from her enemies. He held Israel as the apple of His eye, rebellious and stiff-necked as they were. They were most valuable and cherished and God’s care for His people has not diminished with time.
The passage in Zechariah 2.8 also refers to Jerusalem as the apple of God’s eye. The prophet goes as far as to warn, “He who touches you touches the apple of His eye.” Imagine the insolence and audacity of attempting to poke a finger into the pupil of God’s eye!
Since the eye is the lens through which a person perceives the world around him, could God also be saying that Israel is the lens through which He gazes at and evaluates the world?
If God were to render judgement or blessings to the nations based on their treatment of the Jews, would it then behoove us to handle Israel with care?
Nearly 3,000 yrs ago, He made a promise to King Solomon, “I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before Me, I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting My name there forever. My eyes and My heart will always be there.” 1 Kings 9:3. God’s eyes, His name and His heart are eternally bound to His people. The good news is – if you belong to Jesus, you, too, are the apple of God’s eye.
Israel just celebrated her 75th Anniversary of Independence, amid growing tension and conflict across the country. As a mark of solidarity with our Jewish brethren, we as a church will join with 1 million intercessors worldwide in the Isaiah 62 Fast Solemn Assembly this May, praying and fasting for God to raise watchmen and women in the last days to fulfil Isaiah 62:6-7:
‘I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem;
They shall never hold their peace day or night.
You who make mention of the LORD, do not keep silent,
And give Him no rest till He establishes
And till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.’
I believe our prayers will secure a beachhead in the spiritual realm that will escalate the events ushering the Lord’s return. Let’s be part of this unprecedented global call to watch and pray for Israel for ‘such a time as this’ (Esther 4:14).
