ISRAEL UPDATEDecember 22, 2002 - Great Britain is a nation that was once the hotbed of the belief called Christianity, but the last several centuries they have not shown much Christian love toward Israel or the Jews.
During the October 1973 War, when Israel was almost annihilated by a two-pronged attack mounted by Syria and Egypt – Britain actually assisted these two vehement enemies of Israel.
They did not do this by supplying troops or munitions to the enemies of Israel, but rather withheld the shipment of replacement parts for the British Centurion tank, the primary battle tank on the Golan front.
As more than 900 Syrian tanks threatened to slice into Israel’s civilian population, they were met by a scant force of 177 tanks.
Even as reinforcements arrived, many of the Centurions sat idle. This was not due to anti-tank fire, but because they were broken down while the replacement parts were still in Britain – even though the parts had already been paid for by the Israeli government.
As the war raged on, there may not have been British aircraft dropping bombs on Israeli soldiers, U.K. submarines attacking Israeli ships, or the Queen’s troops drawing a bead on them with tanks, artillery, or small arms – they just left Israel defenseless at a critical time.
Celebrating Christmas, we should ask ourselves what we could lay at our Saviour’s feet. Why not dedicate or re-dedicate your life to be a support to the country where our Redeemer was born – and one day He will reign forever?
December 22, 2002 – One of the most well known Messianic prophecies is found in Micah 5:2, “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”
It is not a coincidence that Jesus would be born in a city that was small, this was so that no one could degrade Him for being born in a large metropolis.
G-d ordained that the city of His birth would be at that time, a less than holy place. Bethlehem at the time of His birth was known as a city of sin and ill repute.
On top of that, He was born in a less than glorious environment, sharing a stable with animals and hay – to be sought out so people could worship the newborn King.
Our Saviour was born in all of these circumstances - in a most insignificant setting - so that His appeal to follow Him would be heard by the poor and rich alike.
As He stood and spoke of love, both ruler and servant knew He did not start “from the top”. This was so that we would know and feel the need to be the servant of all, following Him without hesitation.
Still even more intriguing is the Bethlehem Ephratah itself, Bethlehem meaning house of bread and Ephratah meaning fruitful.
Reading the prophecy of Micah, it made the promise of Jesus even more real. “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10
Amazing, so much rich truth in one passage of scripture. It defines our Saviour and gives us hope - Merry Christmas to you and yours.
To be continued…