ISRAEL UPDATEJune 16, 2002 – War Emblem races for the Triple Crown, the French Open, NBA playoffs, Stanley Cup, Tyson vs. Lewis, a major golf tournament, several key baseball matches, NFL teams preparing for summer workouts… plus a virtual cornucopia of sports activities here in the U.S.A.
Will we ever be able to calculate the vast amounts of money spent, the food and beverages consumed, and time and travel invested to either participate or view as a spectator? Plus, if we take into consideration the entertainment industry’s activities – the numbers would be astronomical.
As the blood flows in Israel, the Pakistani-Indian conflict still poses a nuclear threat. Al Queida is recruiting volunteers in Pakistan as coalition forces work to mop up operations in Afghanistan.
Russia is looking forward to participating in the world market as a boost to their economy, yet Polish farmers feel a merger with the European Economic Union will allow wealthy Germans to cross the borders and buy up their farms…
NATO is being challenged to monitor terrorist activities in their region, and as America is revamping its Homeland Security in light of potential terror attacks, the western states in the U.S. are in the death grip of a severe drought.
When Jesus told his followers, “…see that ye be not troubled…” in Matthew 24:6 - he was not saying to “party down” and turn your back on the problems. But Jesus also said in Matthew 24:38 that these things would happen just as in the days of Noah.
Babylon fell as the people were indulged in a drunken stupor and both Rome and Greece were plagued by obsession with entertainment. America appears to be headed down this same path of distraction and destruction.
June 16, 2002 – I believe we can see a strong parallel between the prophet Jonah failing G-d in his mission to Nineveh and the Church’s call to support Israel and the Jews.
The word of the L-rd came to him in Jonah 1:1-3, telling him to get to Nineveh and declare His word. Jonah chose to flee and catch a ship going to Tarshish by way of Joppa.
Nineveh was a long journey by foot – whereas Joppa afforded beachfronts, sun and other activities – while Tarshish was a place of lucrative business opportunities.
True, Jonah “woke up” after G-d’s intervention and did what G-d had called him to do - thus Nineveh was spared G-d’s wrath and judgment.
Since G-d’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3, the Church has often done the opposite of G-d’s will. Unfortunately, in our modern world the same is true.
Avoiding the literal interpretation of G-d’s word, today’s Church has replaced Israel in theology – and / or is just plain cold and indifferent to the current problems and state of affairs.
It is far easier to “catch the ship at Joppa’s sandy beaches and follow the breeze to Tarshish”, because it is man’s carnal nature to avoid the confrontation and pressures now mounting in our world.
Jonah knew, but chose not to do what was right. Today, the cry of G-d goes out not just through His word, but also through spiritual evaluation of the current situation and times. For the Church must stand fast to G-d’s word, because if we don’t do what is right and stay vigilant, we may not get a second chance… a frightening scenario considering the alternatives…
To be continued…