Israel - A Year In Review

This past year has been a year of breakthrough and expansion concerning the For Zion's Sake ministry. We believe The Lord has called us to be those who support Israel and the Jewish people. During the last couple of months of 2012, I sensed The Lord encouraged me to "expand the tent pegs" of this ministry. The result is the "For Zion's Sake" blog which started in January, 2013. As a result, approximately 1,100 people have read the blog in countries all over the world. Just consider if many of our readers would also expand their tent pegs to spread these messages in support of Israel. We are humbled and are Praising The Lord with Thanksgiving.

As 2013 draws to a close, a review of key events in Israel or affecting Israel  is appropiate. Let us start by looking at those events in which we want to thank and praise our Lord God:

Israel is experiencing relative calm with few internal terrorist attacks or bombings from Gaza.

The Muslim Brotherhood was banned in Egypt.

The Egyptian government has controlled terrorism in the Sinai and closed weapon smuggling tunnels into Gaza.

Israel has sent medical relief teams to extreme weather destruction areas throughout the world.

The Jewish people continue to move to Israel or "Make Aliyah" in steady numbers.

Israel continues to be a world leader in medical technologies and other innovations.

On the other hand, the following scenarios need our continuing prayers:

The Civil War in Syria continues and at times spills over into Israel and Lebanon.

Palestinians leaders persist in proclaiming "Israel does not have a right to exist."

Iran continues to be a threat to Israel and the whole world even though Iran's President says "All this is not intended for nuclear weapons."

Judean and Samarian products are boycotted expecially in Europe.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu continues to remain strong. He commented recently "My responsibility is to ensure the survival, security and longevity of the one and only Jewish State. In our time Biblical Prophecies are being realized. The people of Israel have come home never to be uprooted again!" Let us in 2014 also stand strong with Israel with our prayers and other avenues of support.

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You In His Care This Day And Each Day, 

Frank  

"An Open Letter To John Kerry"

The title for this week's message is the same title of an editorial in the Jerusalem Post written by Erez Winner. As I read Mr. Winner's message, it became apparent this would be a perfect follow-up to our message of last week in which Kerry was proposing to place United States troops along the Jordan Valley instead of Israeli troops. This appeared to be a desperate attempt to do anything to reach an agreement with the Palestinians.

In this message we will only share the highlights of Mr. Winner's message with the suggestion that you read the whole message on jpost.com. The opening statement is "I ask that you please take these words into consideration and remember true peace can only come from a position of strength."

Erez Winner's current position is Assistant to the Chief of General Staff. He has held various senior Israeli Defense Forces positions and is currently serving in the reserves of the Israeli Army. The Winner family lives in the West Bank alongside Palestinians.

Winner goes on to say "Israel is enjoying a relatively quiet period. This is not the result of a lack of will of our enemies, but of serious and through intelligence gathering and security control of Israeli authorities. If we were to give in to your demand, the number of terror attacks would increase overnight. Each and everyone of these attempted terrorist attacks is prevented by Israel. When Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, a wave of attacks began immediately."

Mr. Winner ended his editorial with this powerful statement, "Israel has experienced endless wars and battles over the past few thousand years. The only way to create deterence is by showing one's strength which sometimes includes military operations. Before you pressure Israel to hastily sign one agreement or another, please take these words into consideration."

Psalm 29:11 says "The Lord shall grant strength to His people, The Lord shall bless His people with peace."

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You In His Care This Day And Each Day,

Frank  

Peace Talks = Peace Deal?

There is a new development in what is wrongly referred to as the Peace Talks in Israel. I say these talks have an incorrect title for two reasons: There is no declared war in Israel and the talks now and have always been about pressuring Israel to give up its own God-given land. In reality, these talks should really be titled "Pressuring Israel To Give Up Its Land."

Well, what is this new development? John Kerry and Marine General John Allen met privately last week with Israeli leaders with a new proposal with the purpose of easing Israeli concerns of its security if Judea and Samaria becomes a Palestinian State. The new proposal is that the United States would place its military forces along the Jordan Valley protecting Israel from any enemy invasions from the East. Israel would withdraw its forces as part of this proposal.

Let us examine this further. What if a foreign country proposed to the United States that they would place their military forces along the borders with Canada and Mexico to protect the United States from its enemies? I doubt the majority of American citizens would agree to or be comfortable with such a proposal. Why should Israel be forced to even consider such a concept? It appears to me that Western powers will propose almost anything to force Israel to give up its own land.

Most importantly, we need to realize the God of Israel will never desert or forget about His Covenant People. Isaiah 43:1-3 says "But now, thus says The Lord, He who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned or scorched, nor will the flame kindle you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior."

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You This Day And Each Day,

Frank  

"A Bad Deal"

An editorial in the Jerusalem Post last Friday was entitled "You Know It Is A Bad Deal When. . ." The author was David Weinberg and he was referring to a deal reached in Geneva last week between the P5+1 group concerning Iran's nuclear enrichment program. On the surface, it appeared Iran would freeze nuclear enrichment for six months while the economic sanctions against Iran are lessened.

David Weinberg, in his editioral, goes on to say that United States government officials now confirm it is not realistic to expect Iran to agree to zero enrichment. John Kerry admits the main purpose of the deal is "to put time on the clock." Dr. Asculai of the Israeli Atomic Energy Commision says the Iran Accord "Does not do anything to change Iran's breakout time except in a very minor way."

Israeli analysts term any restrictions as almost meaningless. Iran already has more than eight tons of low-enriched uranium which is enough for four to five atom bombs. It can enrich uranium to any level within a short period of time.

How does the Word of our Lord God line up with these events? "Thus says The Lord: cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from The Lord. Blessed is the man who trusts in The Lord, and whose hope is The Lord." Jeremiah 17:5, 7. The Lord desires for us to trust in Him only! "I, The Lord, search the  heart, I test the mind, even to give everyman according to his ways." Jeremiah 17:10. Evil ways will be judged by our Lord God!

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You In His Care This Day And Everyday,

Frank