ISRAEL UPDATEDecember 18, 2005 – II Chronicles chapter ten describes the division of the twelve tribes of Israel into two separate kingdoms, and the scripture bears the fact that neither kingdom fared well after the fact.
I cannot help but think about how disastrous of a move this was and in many ways appears that all has been lost.
G-d never intended for His nation nor His people to be divided, nor for then to turn to other gods, nor to be led away captive or put to the sword. However, His divine plan, after establishing His covenant with Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3, and all the subsequent promises and covenants are still intact and relevant.
Christians who believe Israel should share their land and be divided geographically as well as the world, religious, political and financial leaders should all ask themselves one pertinent question. If G-d did not approve of these actions by His own covenant people, then how much more can He be angered by outsiders doing the same thing, regardless of immediate results or circumstance?
The situation in Bosnia – Herzegovina, Ireland and the U.K. and India and Pakistan warring over Kashmir continue to be unresolved but for some reason the world is trying to use the Israeli – Palestinian conflict as an example, but since it is man made and contrary to the scripture, it has and will continue to fail miserably.
December 18, 2005 – As we read Luke chapter two we find the compelling story of Anna, the prophetess, a woman of the tribe of Asher.
The name Asher means “happy” and its symbol was a big fruitful olive tree, which describes Anna both before and after her encounter with the Christ Child.
Anna was at least 84 years of age possible even 100 at the time she saw the baby Jesus and much like Simeon she rejoiced greatly. Her life was noted for not departing the Temple and fasting and prayers day and night, Luke 2:37. Therefore, she was in a prepared state to receive the good news of the infant’s arrival. Not only did she give thanks after the encounter but also verse 38 tells us she “spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.”
Long before Mark 16:17, 18 and Matthew 5:17-20, where believers are instructed to preach the gospel to all nations and make disciples of them, was Anna, a generation ahead of her time.
Like Simeon, Anna properly identified the L-rd, Jesus but oh how much greater the fact she did not hoard her revelation but shared with all seeking redemption.
The tribe of Asher truly had a happy representative in Anna, and like her tribe’s symbol she was bountiful and fruitful, as we can all be when we properly identify and respond to Christ.
To be continued…