by Charles L. Feinberg
Written in 1964 and published in the book, Israel, in 1980
The Chosen People | SEPTEMBER 2019 3
That Which Is So Precious
A man guards the apple of his eye because it is dear to him.
It is considered by every man as one of his most precious
possessions. The psalmist prayed to the Lord: “Keep me as
the apple of the eye; hide me in the shadow of Thy wings”
(Psalm 17:8). No one is interested in bargaining away the apple
of his eye, nor in exchanging it for some trifling object. God
considers the Jew as His precious possession. God has set His
love on Israel and they are very precious to Him. Moses told
them in the wilderness: “The LORD did not set His love on you
nor choose you because you were more in number than any of
the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but because
the LORD loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your
forefathers, the LORD brought you out by a mighty hand,
and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of
Pharaoh king of Egypt” (Deuteronomy 7:7–8).
Second, the apple of the eye indicates that which is so easily
injured.
That Which Is So Easily Injured
It is not necessary to thrust a knife into the eye to cause excruciating
agony and injure it. A splinter, an eyelash, a speck of dust,
or a touch will bring real pain. We need to be exceedingly careful
how we conduct ourselves toward the Jew. He may appear
without protector, but any injury hurts the heart of God, as He
has repeatedly stated in the Word of God.
Third, the apple of the eye is that which is impossible to repair.
That Which Is Impossible to Repair
Parts of the human body can be injured and mutilated, and
yet some type of replacement can be made. Hands, feet, and
bones in the body have been replaced by skillful surgeons, or
so treated that they are still useful. But the pupil of the eye
cannot be repaired once it is severely injured. Some injuries to
Israel, God’s people, cannot be repaired. How can the slaughter
of six million Jews in Europe ever be repaired? How can this
multiplied injury be righted? Impossible! And to think that
everyone who touched them—let alone cremated them—was
touching the apple of God’s eye!
Fourth, the apple of the eye is that which allows the light to
penetrate.
That Which Allows the Light to Penetrate
The pupil of the eye is the entrance through which the light
rays from without penetrate to the retina so that we may see
the objects before us. Israel is God’s entrance way for the light
of His Word and His salvation to enter the world. One day
Jesus the Messiah said to a Samaritan woman: “You worship
that which you do not know; we worship that which we know;
for salvation is from the Jews” (John 4:22). These words of the
Messiah and Savior were in perfect accord with the declaration
in Isaiah (43:10-12): “‘You are My witnesses,’
declares the LORD, ‘and My servant whom
I have chosen, in order that you may know
and believe Me, and understand that I am
He. Before Me there was no God formed, and there will be none
after Me. I, even I, am the Lord; and there is no savior besides Me.
It is I who have declared and saved and proclaimed, and there
was no strange god among you, so you are My witnesses,’ declares
the LORD, ‘and I am God.’” This was the intention of God for
Israel and still is.
Fifth, the apple of the eye is that which is so carefully protected.
That Which Is So Carefully Protected
Remarkable and abundant provision is made for the protection
of the pupil of the eye, of which many people are unaware. The
protection consists of: (1) the strong frontal bones (to guard
against a blow); (2) the brow and eyelash (to protect against
dust); (3) the lid (to guard against painful glare); and (4) the
tear glands (to provide continuous cleansing). With Israel is
the omnipotent power of God committed to protect them. The
psalmist clearly recounts the protecting hand of God over His
people:
He has remembered His covenant forever, the word which
He commanded to a thousand generations, the covenant
which He made with Abraham, and His oath to Isaac.
Then He confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, to Israel as an
everlasting covenant, saying, “To you I will give the land
of Canaan, as the portion of your inheritance,” when they
were only a few men in number, very few, and strangers
in it. And they wandered about from nation to nation,
from one kingdom to another people. He permitted no
man to oppress them, and He reproved kings for their
sakes: “Do not touch My anointed ones, and do My
prophets no harm.” Psalm 105:8–15
Remember, God’s hand of protection is upon Israel as a nation,
and He will not suffer them to cease as a people.
That Which Causes Intense Pain When Injured
When a man’s pupil has been injured, he feels intense pain. And
this pain can be so great that he becomes sick. To injure Israel
is to cause God intense pain. He says: “In all their affliction He
was afflicted” (Isaiah 63:9). When Israel is mistreated, God
reckons that His very name, His own excellence, is blasphemed
(Isaiah 52:5).
We never dare to forget that he who touches Israel for ill will
not go unpunished. Nations as well as individuals have proved
the truth of this passage of Scripture. On the other hand, we
must also remember that he who touches Israel for good, will
not go unrewarded (Matthew 25:40). You, too, have something
you must keep in mind. You must be willing to open your eyes
to see the glory and the beauty of the Messiah or you will never
be able to behold the glorious sight!