PEA RIDGE — Whether we study biology, physics or astronomy through microscope, telescope or the natural eye, we find undeniable evidence that our universe and all living things were designed and formed by a very intelligent and powerful creator.

Evolutionists can no longer argue that everything came from nothing over time by chance.

Over and over again, archaeology, anthropology and geology confirm Old Testament history. Fulfilled prophecies and the Dead Sea Scrolls confirm that Old Tes tament prophets did receive supernatural revelations of future events. Historical evidence confirms the death burial and resurrection of Jesus. However, skeptics insist that even if God did create the world and Jesus is the Messiah, God is no longer involved in the affairs of man. Fortunately Bible-believing Christians and Jews have a powerful argument that God is indeed working in the world today!

According to Probe.org, the powerful Prussian King Frederick the Great had a chaplain who was a Biblebeliever, though Frederick himself was a rationalist.

One day, Frederick challenged his chaplain, "In a word, give me a good argument for the God of the Bible." His wise chaplain, responded, "The Jew, your majesty!"

Before the Hebrews went into the Promised Land, Moses predicted that Israel would be unfaithful, that she would lose the land, and that she would be dispersed throughout all the world, before being re-gathered to the land and re-established as a nation (Deuteronomy 28-31).

Moses said, "See, I have taught you decrees and laws as the LORD my Godcommanded me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering to take possession of it." (Deuteronomy 4:5). God called Israel His special people and made covenants with them through Abraham, Moses and David. To test their faithfulness, God gave them elaborate set moral, civil and ceremonial laws which set them apart from other nations.

History demonstrates how accurately God predicted what would happen to Israel if they disobeyed His laws.

To summarize nearly 100 verses: their enemies besieged their cities, defeated them and scattered them as slaves to foreign countries.

They lived in constant fear and turned to other gods.

The prophesied disasters continued for 2,000 years after the Bible was written. For most of that time they were without a national homeland. They've faced persecution and genocide from Greeks, Romans, Christians, Nazis and Communists.

Even now the re-established nation of Israel faces continual harassment and threats of annihilation from Muslims all around her.

In the midst of these curses, comes a promise that Israel will not be totally destroyed: "I will not reject them or abhor them so as to destroy them completely, breaking my covenant with them. I am the LORD their God" (Leviticus 26:44). Providentially, Israel has survived as a distinct people.

From the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 to the formation of modern Israel in 1948, Israel had no government of its own. Thus the predictions regarding Israel's governmental status were fulfilled in detail. In our generation we are seeing the fulfillment of Isaiah 11:11, "Then it will happen on that day that the LORD will again recover the second time with His hand the remnant of His people."

To be continued next week.

Opinion, Pages 4 on 09/30/2009