Weeks 21 & 22 (10) - Blessings of Divine Guidance

Israel and the Middle East will no doubt take centre stage as we enter the final chapter of the history of mankind in the years ahead.

On Monday 31st May, Israel caused an international furore when its commandos shot dead 9 protestors on a Turkish ship that was bound with humanitarian supplies for Gaza, which Israel has been blockading. The commandos boarded the ship before dawn in an effort to prevent it from reaching Gaza but opened fire when some on board tried to repel them with sticks and, according to the Israelis, knives. The Israelis impounded 6 ships in all and detained 600 campaigners with a view to deportation. Most governments deplored Israel’s actions but America was more hesitant, persuading the UN Security Council not to lay the blame exclusively on Israel.

For years, many in the international community have been complicit in a policy that aimed at isolating Gaza in the hope of weakening Hamas, a radical Islamic organisation who are Israelis phobic. But the policy turns out to strengthen Hamas in its grip over the strip that measures 10kmx40km. No doubt the conflict will continue and no one can predict the future.

The nation of Israel has a special place in the Kingdom of God. In the Old Testament, we see how God deliver the Israelites from slavery and turned her into a proud nation who worship God. But along the way many rebel against God, unknowingly crucified the Messiah and are still waiting for the Messiah to come. The Bible says that they are the last to be saved when the full number of the Gentiles has come in [Rom 11:25-26].

I saw a recent e-mail calling to pray for Israel. Yes, it is the right thing to do. Let us pray for a softening of heart. Let us pray for the knowledge of the Lord to be made known to the Israelis. It will bless God’s heart!

Let the Israelis one day say that “we have heard with our ears, O God; our fathers have told us what you did in their days, in days long ago. With your hand you drove out the nations and planted our fathers; you crushed the peoples and made our fathers flourish. It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them. You are my King and my God, who decrees victories for Jacob. Through you we push back our enemies; through your name we trample our foes. I do not trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame. In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever.” [Ps 44:1-8 NIV]

Indeed, "What is man, that he could be pure, or one born of woman, that he could be righteous? If God places no trust in his holy ones, if even the heavens are not pure in his eyes, how much less man, who is vile and corrupt, who drinks up evil like water!” [Job 15:2-16 NIV] Man is but a filthy rag without God’s grace. His forgiveness allows us to receive the gift of righteousness.

But His grace will not wait forever. Although “the Lord is ……patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.” [2 Peter 3:9-18 NIV ]

The sad thing is “a fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions. When wickedness comes, so does contempt, and with shame comes disgrace……Before his downfall a man's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor. The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out. From the fruit of his mouth a man's stomach is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. [Prov 18:2-3,9,12-15,20,21 NIV]

Amen & amen.