It Is All About The Land, Again

Recently, a new United States Secretary of State was installed. Secretary Kerry visited with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu shortly after his installation which was customary, appropriate, and important. Also, very interesting but not surprising, was the announcement by Kerry that he would like to see the "Peace Talks" resume.

Yes, it is all about the land again! It seems good and appropriate then to look again at the "Land Issue." However, we will look at it from the only accurate viewpoint - THE WORD OF GOD.

The basis for determining who the land belongs to is the Abrahamic Covenant discussed in Genesis 12, 13, 15, 17. A covenant is a binding agreement between two parties meaning the promises made must be kept. This is nothing new since we know our God keeps all His promises - Hallelujah.

Well, what did God promise to Abraham and his descendants concerning the land? Genesis 17:8 reveals our Lord saying to Abraham "Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God." Notice God said I give you all the land of Canaan.

Biblical maps during the time of Abraham show Canaan included all the land from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan River and well into present day Jordan. Obviously, this included Judea and Samaria which is the land of dispute politically called the West Bank. God gave all of Canaan to Abraham and his descendants through Isaac, Genesis 17:19. Also, God confirmed this convenant when He said to Jacob in Genesis 28:13 "And behold, The Lord stood above it and said: I am The Lord God of Abraham your Father and The God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I give to you and your descendants."

What can be our part before and during peace talks if they start once again? Obviously, we need to pray earnestly but in our prayers remind our gracious and powerful God of His promises to the Jewish people.

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

Frank

  

An Opportunity To Help

News headlines during the last week have revealed the Israeli Air Force has struck and destroyed two shipments of weapons in Syria destined for Hezbollah in Lebanon. Hezbollah is a terrorist organization in Southern Lebanon bent on attacking and destroying Israel. As a result, Israeli Defense Forces have stationed tanks and anti-missile batteries along the Northern Israeli and Syria border preparing for any possible counter attack by Syria.

Situations like these of war preparations and alerts are almost a continual status for the Israel Defense Forces. Since the founding of the State of Israel in 1948, they have fought numerous wars miraculously protected by the hand of God each time. Adding to the challenge of protecting its residents in wars, the Israel Defense Forces continually have to deal with the threats of terror attacks and entifadas.

We need to also realize that almost every young Israeli, male and female, after graduating from high school must serve in the Israeli Defense Forces. Even after completing the required time, men must serve in the Reserves for an additional twenty years. Protecting Israel has come at a cost of 23,000 lives and with 100,000 disabled from wounds received.

How can we who love Israel help the Israeli Defense Forces? First, we can pray for God's daily protection and for His wisdom for their leaders. Secondly, we can provide financial support for the Israeli Defense Forces through an organization called Bridges For Peace. Starting military salaries are very low at $105.00 per month. Military families assist as they are capable but more than 5,000 soldiers have no family or are from needy families.

Isaiah 40:1 says "Comfort yes, comfort My people says your God." In addition to praying, if you are interested in supporting the Israel Defense Forces or other programs of support for Israel, log onto WWW.bridgesforpeace.com and click on "Blessing Israel." I personally have been supporting Bridges For Peace for twenty years.

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

Frank

"The Spirit Of The Lord Is Upon Me"

These are challenging days for God's original covenant people whether they live in Israel or throughout other parts of the world. Anti-Semitism is at its highest level in history. The last couple of weeks this blog has documented  the threat of a nuclear Iran as it becomes more ominous each passing day.

The last couple of days headlines reveal suspicions that the Syrian government has used chemical weapons to suppress the rebels trying to overthrow the government. Think for a minute of the threat to Israel of chemical weapons in the hands of Hezbollah as they are closely associated with the Syrian government. Additionally, a drone was shot down last Thursday off the coast of Northern Israel believed to have been launched by Hezbollah.

The enemies surrounding Israel continue their measures to destroy them from being a nation. How should God's people react to all this? They should turn to their Lord in prayer and to His word for peace and comfort. We can help them by praying God's word into effect for them.

The Old Testament has over 300 prophecies about the Advent Of Christ, their Messiah, and the word salvation appears 26 times in the book of Isaiah. Isaiah 61:1-3 says about the Advent of The Messiah "The Spirit of The Lord is upon me, Because The Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of The Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, To comfort those who mourn in Zion."

These are the kinds of words of comfort God's original covenant people need to hear not only for their peace but to reveal Jesus as their Messiah. Let us be about praying all this into fruition for them.

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

Frank 

Israel Can Attack Iran By Itself

Last week's message revealed how the Israeli leadership is expressing that they must maintain a strong defensive posture as Iran continues to develop nuclear capability. This week the rhetoric has become even more intense to include the United States government.

As Israel celebrated its 65th Independence Day, the Israeli government stated they have the ability to attack Iran's nuclear sites even without help from other governments. At the same time, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee passed a resolution stipulating that the United States will assist Israel diplomatically, economically, and militarily if Israel is forced to attack Iran. It is expected to also be adopted by the Senate.

Has some event happened to elicit these bold statements? Yes, the United States Defense Intelligence Agency now believes North Korea may be able to miniaturize its nuclear warheads and fit them on ballistic missiles, meaning if this is true, Iran will also soon have the same capability. Israeli leaders are monitoring developments in North Korea very closely.

The leaders in Israel and the United States need God's wisdom desperately. Proverbs 2:1-5 says "My Son, if you receive My words, and treasure My commands within you, so that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; Yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of The Lord and find the knowledge of God." We should be led to pray this word of God into effect for the leaders of Israel and the United States daily.

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You In His Care,

Frank

"A Strong Defensive Force"

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke at the ceremony to honor Israel's fallen soldiers earlier this week during Remembrance Day and said "We have been forced as a nation to fight for our right to exist. Since our formation we had to fight for our freedom. Haters prosecuted us in each generation, harmed us and sought to erase Israel off the face of the earth. But throughout the generations we learned that only a strong defensive force can ensure we will not be harmed." 

Netanyahu shared how Israel has had to defend itself through many wars in its history and needs today a strong defensive force. We hear almost every day of rockets fired into Southern Israel from Hamas in Gaza. The conflict in Syria has overflowed into the Golan Heights with stray gunfire and rockets. Since the beginning of 2013, Palestinians have thrown 1,195 rocks at Israelis in Judea and Samaria actually killing a baby and his father. This week missiles were fired into Eilat, a tourist town on the Dead Sea, from Egypt.

However, the biggest threat is from Iran as it draws ever closer to nuclear capability. Iran is working with North Korea in developing nuclear warheads and ballistic missiles and North Korea just threatened the United States. These new events could possibly accelerate an attack on Iran by Israel to slow down its nuclear planning dramatically.

Psalm 83 seems to address Israel's current scenario showing Israel threatened by almost every surrounding country. Verse 4 quotes the enemies of Israel saying "Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more." Certainly sounds like the day and times Israel is experiencing. However, verses 13 - 18 are a prayer asking our God to intervene and defeat Israel's enemies so that "His name will be most high over all the earth." Let us be about praying these kinds of prayers for Israel!

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

Frank

Ezekiel 36 - One More Time

The last couple of weeks we have studied together Ezekiel 36 and have learned about the Mountains of Israel or Judea and Samaria - past, present and future. However, to receive a complete picture of this very prophetic book, I sense it would be good to finish our study by looking at the last nine verses.

We have learned the nations around Judea and Samaria have made it desolate but our God is judging them; He is bringing His people back to His land; and He will cleanse them and give them a new heart and put a new spirit within them.

Today's message shows our Lord is doing miracles to the physical land of Judea and Samaria itself. Remember there was a time when the land was considered desolate. Verses 29, 30, 35 and 36 illustrate:

{29} "I will deliver you from all your uncleanesses. I will call for the grain and multiply it, and bring no famine upon you."

{30} "And I will multiply the fruit of your trees and the increase of your fields, so that you need never again bare the reproach of famine among the nations."

{35} "So they will say, this land that was desolate has become like the Garden of Eden; and the wasted, desolate, and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited."

{36} "I, The Lord, have spoken it, and I will do it."

Has The Lord fulfilled His word? Absolutely! Recent reports from Israel reveal that because of Jewish immigration the Jewish majority in Judea and Samaria will be 80% in the near future. Israel's economy is growing at 14.7%. Just this week, Israel started pumping natural gas into Israel proper from a very large find in the Mediterranean Sea. Israel ranks 20th out of 80 countries in a survey of "Best Countries In Which To Be Born." 

Be encouraged in your support of Israel and its people in thought, word, and deed. They need it desperately and you will be blessed. May The Lord bless you and keep you this day and each day.

Blessings,

Frank

A Prophecy To The Mountains Of Israel

I would think the title of our message this week has aroused your curiosity since it is a prophecy not only to the people of Israel but to the mountains. Ezekiel 36 is a very prophetic book in which our God is bringing a very encouraging word to the Mountains of Israel in verses 1-15.

Last week's message identify the Mountains of Israel as Biblical Judea and Samaria and not the West Bank. Ezekiel 36:1-7 illustrates this land in the past had "borne the shame of the nations" but now God in "His jealousy and fury will cause these nations to bear their own shame" because of their treatment of the Mountains of Israel.

Our Lord continues His uplifting message to the Mountains of Israel in verses 8-17 proclaiming "My people Israel are about to come." The Jewish people are coming back from all over the world to inhabit their land. Our Lord continues "I am for you and will do better for you and then you will know I am The Lord." The Jewish people have been coming back to Israel for many, many years.

Ezekiel 36:24-28 also brings forth from our Lord a very positive message for the people of Israel. He says upon their return He will "Cleanse them from all filthiness; give them a new heart; and put a new spirit within them; and He will be their God." As part of their return, they will come to salvation through Jesus Christ as their Messiah. Hallelujah!

Maundy Thursday is remembered as when Jesus communed with His Disciples just before going to the cross. The Disciples were surprised when Jesus washed their feet during their time together. Philippians 2:7 says "Jesus took the form of a servant." My prayer for each of us as we approach Resurrection Sunday is we will have a similar servant's heart towards the Jewish people and everyone.

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You Now And Forever,

Frank