Dr. Couch, I really appreciate your historical snapshots of history, and
especially how you tie them in to something current, prophetic, and
biblical. I enjoyed your insights into Albert Einstein. Do you have any
more?
I am finishing up a “big” book on his life that I suggest for reading for all bibliophiles! Einstein, His Life and Universe,
Walter Isaascson, Simon & Schuster, 2007. Having moved to Princeton
University in 1933 to do physics research, he Einstein became a lovable
character on campus. He was also to a degree influenced by some of the
Christian witness there, what was still there at that time! Just before
Christmas he found out about a Christian prayer group who met to pray
for the Jewish people. They were making intercession for the persecuted
Jews, the book noted.
In an impromptu manner Einstein grabbed his violin and offered up
what he called a solo prayer. The ones doing the praying were
Presbyterians who more than likely were premillennial/dispensational,
and who realized that God was not through with the Jews. A large number
of Presbyterians from the 20s through the 40s were such. In time, the
denomination tossed dispensationalists out.
This same group came to Einstein’s house singing Christmas songs. He stepped out into the snow and joined them on his violin.
A few months later Elsa, Einstein’s wife, met in Princeton the
Blackwood family who said they were traveling to Europe and Palestine to
meet some of the Zionist leaders. She responded, “I didn’t know you
were Jews.” Mrs. Blackwood said no they were premillennial Presbyterian
and that there was a deep connection between the Jewish heritage and the
Christians. She added, “And after all, Jesus was a Jew.”
Elsa hugged her and said, “No Christians has ever said that to me in
my life.” She then asked for help in getting a German language Bible
because she had lost theirs when they moved from Berlin. Mrs. Blackwood
got her a copy of Martin Luther’s translation which Elsa clasped to her
heart and said, “I wish I had more faith in God!”
For years I read my devotionals from my German New Testament edited
by Luther. The German is so rich in its translation! I like to pretend
Mrs. Einstein’s eyes fell on Romans 11:26 where Paul wrote: “Und so wird
ganz Israel gerettet warden, wie geschrieben steht: ‘Es wird kommen aus
Zion der Erloser, der abwended wird alle Gottlosigkeit von Jakob.’”
Maybe, just maybe, she shared such a rich verse with Albert!
Thanks for your comments and question.
Dr. Mal Couch
