Science reveals our eye as one of the most sensitive areas of our bodies. In fact, doctors cannot do an eyeball transplant “because the optic nerve, which connects the eyes to the brain, is too sensitive to reconstruct.” Interestingly it’s also one of the fastest muscles in our body, as it functions similar to a camera, only faster.

So it’s intriguing that in Zechariah 2:8 God says about Israel, “For thus says the LORD of Hosts: ‘He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you: for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye.” Using that swift, sensitive area of the body to describe His relationship with Israel, God tells the nations that touching Israel touches Him.

The word touches here refers to laying hands on, to strike violently, to beat. “The verb frequently means to extend authority over by claiming as one’s own, or inflicting a blow upon. God forbids people so to touch His prophets (1 Chronicles 16:22), His people (Zechariah 2:8) or His inheritance (Jeremiah 12:14). These are holy and belong to Him” (p. 552; Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament).

In the modern era for Israel the nations have sought to do exactly these actions. In May 1948, the five Arab nations surrounding Israel stated that the birth of Israel “would be a stillbirth.” They outnumbered Israel 40-1 at the time, and yet Israel emerged victorious. Today in Iran the leaders have openly threatened to “wipe Israel from the face of the earth.” They seek the methods and the alliances to do exactly that. Will they succeed?  Not according to this promise of God, which firmly states, “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you” (Genesis 12:3). So those who would seek to harm Israel will answer to God, for they touch Him in that sensitive area of His eye.

The phrase the apple of His eye refers to the image in your pupil when you look into a mirror. You see your own reflection when you look closely into your eyes. God sees Israel as the pupil of His eye. What a tender picture of affection and care He gives in that image!

The Three Stooges made people laugh by their antics and missteps. One of their acts was to poke each other in the eye. I can envision God saying to the nations, with their threats and taunts to Israel, “Take your finger out of My Eye!” “For he who touches Israel touches the apple of His eye” (Zechariah 2:8).

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