Chosen, Persecuted, A Blessing

Genesis 12:2-3 "I will bless you. . .and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."

Possibly you find the title for this week's message interesting and curious. At the same time I am sure you know who these above descriptive words are describing - the Jewish people. The above referenced verses of God's Word clearly points out that Abraham and his descendants through Isaac and Jacob will be blessed but also will be a blessing to the world. They are "Chosen of God."

However, along with being "Chosen" has come a lifetime of persecution. Their history reveals 400 years of bondage in Egypt; 70 similar years in Babylon; Pogroms in Russia and Spain; the Holocaust; tyrannical powers controlling their land; and currently continual attacks by surrounding enemy countries.

The news reports this week reveal the possibility of Peace Talks starting again. Is this another form of persecution? I believe so! There have been many other peace talks that have taken place over the years with such titles as Madrid, Oslo, Camp David, The Road Map but nothing changes. What is the problem? In 2003, Zola Levitt stated "The answer to peace in Israel is simply for the Palestinians to stop killing Israelis. That is all that is needed. If tomorrow morning there were no Palestinians trying to kill Israelis, Israel would have no need to retaliate or arrest anyone." This is the Truth!

How have the Jewish people responded to being chosen, persecuted, and called to be a blessing? The Jewish people are a blessing beyond proportion relative to how few their people are in number. For example, although only 0.2% of the world's population, between 1901 and 2010 Jews won 27% of Nobel Prizes for Medicine, 25% for Physics and 42% for Economics.

God's Chosen People are an example of through much persecution they have learned to Trust In The Lord. We should pray daily for them as it appears new persecutions could be starting.

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

Frank    

A History Lesson

I would think that all those who have an interest in the events of the Middle East would agree their ultimate goal is for peace. United States Secretary of State John Kerry has been working towards establishing new peace talks without success. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he is ready to participate immediately but without pre-conditions to the peace talks from the Palestinians.

As a result, there are barriers preventing even talking about peace but even bigger barriers to actually establishing peace. Many Israelis question whether their enemies have moved past their desire to eliminate the Jews and Israel. An Arab produced film currently in production will commemorate the extinction of an entire Jewish community, Khaibar. Chants of "Remember Khaibar" is chanted by Arabs across the Middle East. This does not sound like an attitude of working toward peace.

Also, a history lesson seems very appropriate for those chanting and others like them. Ezekiel 35 is titled "The Judgement of Edom." Approximately 2,500 years ago Edom housed millions of people located just southeast of the Dead Sea. Today, only a few people live there and it is totally desolate. What happened? Ezekiel 35:5,7,9 illustrates the following: "Because you had an ancient hatred and have shed the blood of the children of Israel by the power of the sword. . .thus I will make Mt. Seir {Edom} most desolate . . .I will make you perpetually desolate and your cities shall be uninhabited; then you shall know that I am The Lord." 

The story of the Edomites illustrates the truth and the power of the Word of God! Let us pray continually for God's Will and Purposes according to His Word will control events in the Middle East.

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

Frank

Egypt "In That Day"

News headlines during the last week have informed us that the Muslim Brotherhood government in Egypt headed by Prime Minister Morsi has been overthrown by the Egyptian Army. A large portion of the citizens of Egypt through a poll taken indicated that 73% believed that the Morsi government was not capable of improving a very weak economy. Additionally, 22 million of these same citizens signed a petition to remove the Morsi government. An interim Prime Minister has been put in place who has promised a democratic election for a new government within six months.

How do these events in Egypt line up prophetically with the Word of God? Isaiah 19:18-25 address the spiritual condition of Egypt "In That Day" which most Bible scholars believe is when Jesus physically comes back to earth. Notice what is happening in Egypt "In That Day" in Isaiah 19:

"In That Day five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear by the Lord of Hosts." vs. 18

"In That Day there will be an altar to The Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt." vs. 19

"In That Day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria and the Assyrian will come into Egypt and the Egyptian into Assyria." vs. 23

"In That Day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land, whom The Lord of Host shall bless." vs. 24 & 25

Could these events this past week in Egypt bring us closer to the return of Jesus to earth when Egypt will be worshipping The Lord our God with Israel and Assyria? Obviously, Israel is observing these events in Egypt very carefully especially in regard to the nomenclature of the next government since they still are observing a peace treaty with Egypt. We who love and support Israel need to pray earnstly concerning all these events.

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

Frank  

Celebration

Today is Independence Day when the citizens of the United States celebrate the anniversary of the founding of our nation with fireworks and gatherings of friends and family. Hopefully, some are giving thanks for our founding fathers who with the help of our Heavenly Father birthed this nation on Judeo-Christian values.

However, as we reflect on the current spiritual and moral climate of our country we find a far different picture than of the original founding principles. Abortions are being performed each and every day, fifty percent of marriages fail, our government is deeply in debt and even the Biblical definition of marriage is under attack. We are in great need of a Spiritual Revival!

Our Heavenly Father gives us clear instructions in IIChronicles 7:14 about our part before "He will heal our land." We are to "Humble ourselves, pray and seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways." Additionally, our Lord desires for us to bless Israel and then He will bless us and our nation. Genesis 12:3 says "I will bless those who bless you."

The last significant wave of salvation and faith expansion took place in the United States in the late 1960's and early 1970's. This movement of God was called "The Jesus Movement" and thousands of young adults and hippies became believers in Jesus. No doubt this movement of God was birthed on large numbers of people adhering to IIChronicles 7:14 and on blessing Israel.

I truly believe prayers for Israel were an important part of this movement of God because at the same time Israel was fighting the Six Day War of 1967 and the Yom Kippur War of 1973. Believers and agnostics have testified to the awesome presence of angelic hosts during these conflicts. God's mercy caused Israel's triumphs.

Would we who love our country and Israel recommit ourselves this special day of remembrance to be in a spirit of humility and repentance for our country and pray continually and boldly for a spiritual revival movement of our God for the United States and Israel?

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

Frank

A Blessing To All The World

When the Lord God established His binding and everlasting covenant with the Jewish people in Genesis 12:2-3 He said "I will make you a great nation (Israel), I will bless you, and you shall be a blessing. . .and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." This is the truth from God's word totally contrary to words of Israel's enemies such as Iran Clerics who say, "The Jews are filthy people who spread diseases and Israel is a cancerous tumor that must be removed from the Middle East."

Israel just celebrated her 65th birthday and the following is a partial list from an article about this birthday event showing how Israel and the Jewish people have indeed been a blessing to the world:

{1} Israel set up the most advanced field hospital in Haiti with 240 medical workers after an earthquake.

{2} Established a field hospital and aid to Japan after an earthquake in March, 2011.

{3} Vital heart operations at an Israeli hospital for 3,000 children of the developing world including 1,500 Palestinian children.

{4} Established a water purification system that delivers safe drinking water from almost any source.

{5} Developed an artificial desert oasis that helps feed millions of desert dwellers.

{6} Free cataract removal operations by Israeli eye doctors in Vietnam, China,  Myanmar and even Muslim countries.

{7} Developed a phone imaging system to diagnose and monitor malaria.

{8} A field hospital along Israeli's border with Syria to treat wounded Syrians.

{9} Solar-powered light fixtures on African and South American roads.

{10} Israel provides yearly trauma care training courses in Africa, South America and the Far East.

Again, this is a partial list of how Israel and the Jewish people have been a blessing to the world as the Word of God proclaimed in Genesis 12:2-3. We who love and support Israel need to be those who regularly proclaim these truths and encourage others to do likewise.

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

Frank

Non-Military Threats To Israel

Almost everyday in the news we hear of military threats to destroy Israel from countries on its borders and those close by such as Iran. Additionally, there is always threats from terror groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah. In fact, Psalm 83 describes the enemies of Israel saying in verse 4 "They have said, come and let us cut them off from being a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more."

Now we learn there are additional threats to Israel which we could call or title "non-military threats." For example, the Council of Europe consisting of 47 countries to oversee The European Court of Human Rights just met and brought forth a motion. This motion exclaimed that Israel must stop any new or existing construction in the settlements of Judea and Samaria.

Maybe I am missing something here but what gives this Council the right to demand Israel stop construction on its own God-given land? Genesis 15:18. Israel's government reacted in a similar manner. Deputy Defense Minister Danon responded at an awards ceremony "I will not institute a construction freeze."

Another non-military threat to Israel is referred to as Cyber attacks. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said recently "Iran has recently increased Cyber attacks on Israel to also include attacks through their proxies Hamas and Hezbollah. These attacks are against our infrastructure but also against economic and civilian targets." 

We need to expand our prayers for Israel to ask God's hand of protection over these additional unique attacks. Psalm 91:1, 2, and 11 state "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of The Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust. For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways."

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

Frank 

Middle East Unrest

Approximately one year ago we were hearing many reports about what was termed the Arab Spring. This term described violent rioting in the streets of many of the capital cities in the Middle East. The result was the governments in Egypt and Libya were overthrown with the resulting new governments controlled by the terror group Muslim Brotherhood.

The current situation in parts of the Middle East could be called the new Arab Spring or Arab Spring II. The blog of last week informed us of the turbulent situation in Syria and now we hear of violence in the streets of Turkey between police and demonstrators.

Could these scenarios in Syria and Turkey plus the fact that Lebanon is already under control of the terror group Hezbullah be setting the stage for the Battle of Gog and Magog as described in Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39? In Ezekiel 38:14-16 The Lord God is speaking to Gog {leader of Russia} to come from your place in the North with a mighty army and come against My people Israel. This mighty army will consist of forces from Turkey, Iran and Libya as mentioned in the early verses of Ezekiel.

However, The Lord God wins a mighty victory for Israel. Ezekiel 38:21-23, The Lord God says "I will call for a sword against Gog. . . .I will bring him to pestilence and bloodshed. . . .then they shall know that I am The Lord." Why is the unrest in Syria and Turkey possibly setting the stage for the Battle of Gog and Magog? These countries are in the direct path of the "Invasion From The North" which this battle is commonly called. The current unrest seems to open the door for this invasion.

How do we pray regarding all of this since we know the Battle of Gog and Magog is in the future according to The Word of God? We need to pray boldly for Godly wisdom for the leaders of Israel and for God's hand of protection for those who live in Israel!

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

Frank