ISRAEL UPDATEAugust 31, 2003 - Why would tens of thousands of supporters attend the funeral of Ismail Abu Shanab, a top leader of Hamas and radical terrorism?
Either the media reports are greatly exaggerated, or there are multiple tens of thousands of Palestinians supporting terrorism, not the complete Road Map peace plan…
The area of Judea-Samaria (the West Bank) is relatively small, as is Gaza. When we see this many people angry and marching after the death of a known terrorist, it is safe to say that they want the benefit of land concessions, without fulfilling the intents of the Road Map.
As the Road Map was drafted, and as men have tried to implement it, we are seeing that the requirements of this “peace plan” are not being honored by the Palestinians - yet much pressure is still being placed on Israel to do their part.
We are supposed to see the lines that were drawn in this plan for peace, becoming clearer and more defined as time progressed.
So far, the cease-fire has been violated, the bombs continue to explode, the death toll continues to rise, and the cry for peace gets louder.
Watching these people march in mourning of a murderer wearing and displaying the colors of terror groups - Americans need to realize these groups despise the United States as much as Israel.
As the media tells us that there are tens of thousands marching in Palestinian controlled areas, the world needs to come to an understanding… there is more standing in the way of peace than terror groups, but rather there is a “nationalist movement" firmly focused on the destruction of Israel.
August 31, 2003 - Fourth on our list of modern day parallels to the Pharisees of Jesus' day is called the Pestle, or Mortar Pharisee.
His head is bowed like a pestle in a mortar, or he is the painted sepulcher Pharisee, his bumper sticker on his chariot would read "Don't touch me, lest I become defiled."
Does this sound familiar? Yes - the Pestle Pharisee was like the priest and the Levite who refused to help the wounded man on the road to Jericho. Luke 10:31-32
In their desire not to be defiled, they ignored the need - because Levitical Law stated that contact with a dead or bloody body would make them ritually impure.
This is only partially true - contact with a dead body would render them unclean, but contact with a bloody body was allowed if it was life threatening.
So this priest and Levite had a form of godliness, but were unable to embrace the practical part of ministry - to touch that which is unclean.
Jesus touched the lame, blind, prostitutes, tax collector, and anyone else who needed a touch… He didn't worry about getting dirty.
In essence, from antiquity to today, how many believers will stand before the L-rd on Judgment Day thinking their garments are spotless? In reality, their garments will be soiled and their hands will be bloodstained…
Nothing is more detestable to G-d than pride. Pride that inhibits ministry is nothing that I want to be guilty of - we are mandated to reach all of those in need.
To be continued…