Tuesday, April 25, 2017

WALK THE LAND

However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities. 16 So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.
Luke 5: 15-16

 Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. 
Luke 6: 12


We have celebrated the Passover and Easter here in Israel and now life is settling back into its busy routines after the holidays. How easy it is to become so caught up in the frantic busyness of life that we drift away from God. It is hard to truly know him when we are rushing about, His voice drowned by the cacophony of noise and the tumults of our thoughts.  Even Yeshua, in the busyness of his ministry often found it necessary to take some time out, withdrawing from the neediness of the crowds around him, to draw near to the Father and hear His voice. I too find that I have to do this from time to time. 
Migdal (Magdala), Capernaum and the Sea of Galilee from Mt Arbel
For me, one of the great pleasures of living in the Land of Israel is its many natural areas, parks and reserves, to which I can withdraw and hear God. In spite of the dense population of the Land, now nearing 8.4 million in an area only the size of New Jersey (or Southland in New Zealand, or of Wales), we still have large areas of wilderness, which are greatly valued and protected. 

I have just returned from a 3-day break up in the Lower Galilee, an area of great natural beauty and an area which our Lord, Yeshua, would have known intimately.  At this time of the year many Christian pilgrims visit the Land to celebrate Easter  and to 'walk in the steps of Yeshua'.  Sadly these visitors are usually herded onto buses and rushed from 'holy site' to 'holy site', most of which these days are covered with a Catholic or Orthodox church. There is value in this, but it leaves me rather cold.  I find it much more meaningful to get out, put on my dusty sandals (or trainers) and walk the Land, just as Yeshua did two thousand years ago. That way I can feel the Land, see its varied and stunning landscapes and its wildlife, smell its perfumes, and experience its weather. This brings the Bible to life for me. I can know the weariness Yeshua must have felt after a long day of walking its hot and dusty trails. I can picture the landscape, the plants and the animals described by Yeshua in his parables. It brings me closer to Yeshua than sitting in a church or so-called 'holy site'.  I would therefore encourage any of you who plan to visit the Land, to put aside some time to walk in the wilderness or just to sit quietly under a tree and soak in the essence of the Land. 

A Galilean landscape

When I first arrived in Israel, in the early '80s, Israelis were in love with their Land. Nearly every popular song was a celebration the Land. Families spent their holidays hiking its trails, and the common rite-of-passage of every young person was to walk its length. Sadly this has been somewhat lost today. Now family outings, if they occur at all, are  often to the local shopping mall, cinema complex or water park, and holidays are enjoyed abroad. In spite of this trend, on weekends and holidays the parks, beaches and forests of Israel are still overflowing  with hordes of people indulging in the national pastime - 'al ha-esh' (on the fire) barbecuing with family and friends. As fun as that is (I enjoy a good 'al haesh' myself), it is scarcely conducive to quiet contemplation or prayer. It is possible to be so involved in socializing that one does not even notice the surroundings.  
Israelis enjoying the Sea of Galilee at Passover last year
http://img.mako.co.il/2016/04/24/751978_B.jpg
On Easter Friday this year my congregation traveled together to the site of the ancient city of Shiloh, where the Tabernacle stood for some 400 years before King David established Jerusalem as the capital of the nation of Israel. Standing on the hillside where the platform of the Tabernacle can still be discerned, I looked around and was impressed by the similarities of its position to that of the Temple in Jerusalem. It stands on the side of a hill (not on the top) and that hill is surrounded by higher hills on every side, just as in Jerusalem.  Why is the LORD's house not on the highest hill?  I believe it was because the pagan religions of the region tended to raise up their idols and altars on the 'high places'. God wanted the nation of Israel to separate themselves from such practices. Just before the people of Israel crossed the Jordan River to take possession of the Promised Land, God spoke to Moses and told him to tell the people these words: 

When you have crossed the Jordan into the land of Canaan, then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, destroy all their engraved stones, destroy all their molded images, and demolish all their high places;  you shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land and dwell in it, for I have given you the land to possess.
Numbers 33: 51-53

God was not to be worshiped on the 'high places' of the pagan gods but at the place that He chose. Throughout the times of the Judges and the Kings of Israel these 'high places' were a continual temptation for the people of Israel. They did not destroy them as God had commanded, fell again and again into idol worship and even set up altars and a priesthood to God in those high places, contrary to His express command. (See for example 1 Kings 3:3, 1 Kings 12:31, 1 Kings 13:3, 1 Kings 14:23 etc). 
Walking towards the site of the Tabernacle at Shiloh (by the shelter)

While at Shiloh I also looked down into the valley below and saw the road snaking its way through the high mountains of Samaria. The modern road follows an ancient route that connected the Galilee to Jerusalem and passed through Samaria. We know that Jesus used this route on at least two occasions for we have the account of his rejection by a Samaritan village in Luke 9: 51-56 and his meeting with the Samaritan woman in the town of Sychar (John 4). 

Road forefathers (Blue), Via Maris (purple) and the royal road - Via Regia (Red)
Three roads of antiquity: The Via Maris (purple), the King's Road (red) and the Samarian Road (blue)
http://guide-israel.ru/39847-doroga-praotcev/doroga-praotcev-sinij-via-maris-fioletovyj-i-carskij-put-via-regia-krasnyj/
When we read the Biblical accounts of Yeshua's journeys it is easy to gloss over them, but what do we know of the difficulties He would have encountered? How long would it take to walk from Capernaum to Jerusalem? Using the shortest route it is about 75 miles (120 km) and at a normal walking pace this would take at least 4 days. This route is very mountainous, with many steep climbs. Capernaum lies at an altitude of around  200 m below sea level and Jerusalem is around 800 m above sea level - an overall climb of around 1000 m (3000 ft). Most of the route lies in the ecological zone of steppe grassland, so there are few trees and little shade. For most of the year it would be very hot and dusty. There are no perennial streams so water can be obtained only from wells. 
The Samarian highway from Shiloh

According to an article "On the Road" by Merilyn Hargis

"Jesus, like many of his contemporaries, crisscrossed the country numerous times. Assuming he went from Nazareth to Jerusalem annually for each of the three required annual feasts using the shortest route through Samaria, a distance of 75 miles each way, he would have walked a minimum of 13,500 miles before beginning his ministry. On at least one of his later pilgrimages, he went from Capernaum to Jerusalem by way of Jericho, 106 miles each way. Estimating conservatively, Jesus probably walked at least 15,000 miles in his lifetime."

15,000 miles is about 2/3 the circumference of the Earth at the equator. That is a lot of walking! I wonder if Yeshua ever got blisters or inflamed tendons or sore muscles? How many pairs of sandals did he wear out? 

News in Israel and Matters for Prayer
  1.  On the same day as we went to Shiloh there was another terror attack in Jerusalem. A 21 year old woman, a student from England, was stabbed multiple times in the chest on the Light Rail train as it passed near the Old City. She later died of her injuries. A pregnant woman and a 50-year-old man were also lightly injured. An off-duty policeman and a passerby managed to wrestle the attacker to the ground before he was able to hurt anyone else. The attacker was a Palestinian man with a history of mental illness.  Please pray for the family and friends of the murdered woman.
  2. This past Friday morning three mortar shells fired from Syria landed in the Golan Heights. They fell in open areas and resulted in no damage or injuries. Although these mortars were most likely 'spillover' from the internal fighting in Syria, Israel holds Syria responsible for what emanates from its territory. Consequently, later that day, Israel attacked positions affiliated with the Assad regime from which the mortars were fired. 
  3. Some 1200 to 1300 Palestinian prisoners began an open-ended hunger strike on Monday to protest the conditions of their imprisonment. The strike was called by the popular Fatah leader, Marwan Bargouti, who is currently serving 5 life sentences for orchestrating terror attacks against Israeli citizens during the Second Intifada. The hunger strikers are demanding more family visits, more television channels and access to cell phones. 
  4. This week there have been several other terror attacks. Today a man brandishing a knife attacked a group of Golani soldiers but was neutralized before he injured anyone. On Monday a woman stabbed a female soldier and wounded her in the upper body before being neutralized. Tragically this female attacker, a mother of 9, later told her captors that  she had carried out her attack in an attempt to commit suicide because her life had become unbearable as a result of abuse from her husband who was threatening to deport her to Jordan. Two days ago, an 18-yr old man from the Palestinian territories attacked and lightly wounded 4 people in the lobby of a hotel in Tel Aviv. 

I was glad when they said to me,
“Let us go into the house of the Lord.”
2 
Our feet have been standing
Within your gates, O Jerusalem!
3 
Jerusalem is built
As a city that is compact together,
4 
Where the tribes go up,
The tribes of the Lord,
To the Testimony of Israel,
To give thanks to the name of the Lord.
5 
For thrones are set there for judgment,
The thrones of the house of David.
6 
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
“May they prosper who love you.
7 
Peace be within your walls,
Prosperity within your palaces.”
8 
For the sake of my brethren and companions,
I will now say, “Peace be within you.”
9 
Because of the house of the Lord our God
I will seek your good.
Psalm 122







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Sunday, April 9, 2017

LET GOD ARISE

 May God arise, may his enemies be scattered;
    may his foes flee before him.
 May you blow them away like smoke—
    as wax melts before the fire,
    may the wicked perish before God.
 But may the righteous be glad
    and rejoice before God;
    may they be happy and joyful.

 Psalm 68: 1-3
It has been quite a while since I updated my blog and I find the longer I leave it the harder it is. So much is happening around us and it seems as fast as I write events overtake me.  I have been very busy of late at work and this past week was down in the Negev on a field trip with my students, blissfully unaware, for a few days anyway, of what was happening in the world. However now I am back home, and catching up with the news.  It is not so pleasant these days. 

Baby ibex twins on the rim of Maktesh Ramon in the Negev at sunrise


Gas Attack in Syria 

First I was dismayed to hear about the terrible gas attack on civilians in Syria that had occurred on Tuesday. At least 70 died, including 33 women and children, and over a hundred injured (some still struggling for their lives) as a result of what appears to have been a chemical weapons attack carried out by Syrian planes against the village of  Khan Sheikoun  in the rebel controlled province of Idlib in Syria. Although the Syrian government and its supporters, Russia and Iran, claim they did not use chemical weapons in this attack, the on-the-ground, the evidence is pretty clear. The symptoms of the injured are consistent with Sarin and chlorine gas poisoning. Claims that these lethal gases were released from bombed stockpiles and factories belonging to the rebels are unlikely since the components of Sarin gas are never combined into their final lethal form until loaded into warheads. Investigators on the ground have found no such factories or stockpiles, and the traces of the chemicals radiate from the bomb craters. You can read more in the following account written by the first western journalists to reach the area:


The following article contains some disturbing images, but perhaps we need to see them to stir us all into action.

This is by no means Assad's first use of chemical weapons (gas) against his own civilian populations. There have been several, the worst known was the attack in 2013 in which around 1000 civilians, men, women and children, were brutally killed. After that attack then- US President Obama threatened to retaliate against Syria, but he backed down when Assad promised to destroy all his chemical weapon stockpiles. This sent a message of weakness to Assad and, though he did declare and destroy some of his stockpile at that time,  he has continued to manufacture and store such weapons, and use them against his people.

This time however it is different and the present US President, Trump, ordered his fleet in the Mediterranean to retaliate. On Friday morning the US fired 59 Tomahawk missiles at the Shayrat  Airbase (from which the gas attack had originated) near Homs in Syria, destroying planes and other installations there, and sending a clear message to Syria's Assad that the use of chemical weapons will no longer be tolerated. 


Today (Saturday) we hear that Russia, Iran and Syria have condemned the US attack, and a Russian frigate carrying cruise missiles has moved into close proximity with the American warships from which the missiles were launched. Russia has also cut the communication ties between US and Russia designed to prevent them directly clashing in Syria. This increase in tension between the US and Russia could escalate into direct combat, but I hope and pray this can be prevented.  Such an escalation has always been a possibility since 2015 when Russia aligned itself with the Assad government regime in Syria against the rebels supported by the US and other western powers.  

The situation in Syria is very complicated and it is hard to know who to support in the situation. On one hand Assad is a cruel, and oppressive dictator, but on the other hand the assorted rebel groups are backed by Al Kaida and other fundamentalist terror organizations. Then there is ISIS which is the most evil of them all. It is hard to see any solution except a Western coalition which could come in and take total control of the country and clear out all the various groups, but this also seems unworkable in a land populated by Muslims who support one or other of the Jihadist groups.  

And how is Israel being affected by all this? We are all anxiously watching the news to see how this all plays out. We are all dismayed and sickened by the loss of life and terrible suffering of the people of Syria, and wonder why the world is doing so little to stop it. Of course the rhetoric from Syria and Hezbollah is trying to blame Israel (it seems we are deemed responsible for just about everything that happens in the world!!!). Israel however has consistently taken the position of non-involvement in the Syrian conflict, except when there has been a 'spillover' into our territory, or when weapons were crossing Syria from Iran to supply Hezbollah. Israel has also treated many hundreds of the Syrian wounded that have managed to cross the border to seek our help. There doesn't seem to be much else we can do at present. 

We, who know the LORD, the God of Hosts,  can however pray fervently, and send aid whenever possible. There are glimmers of hope in the darkness. More and more Muslim people are growing sick of Islam and its violent excesses, and are searching for hope elsewhere.  Many are finding Yeshua, either through the preaching of their brave believing compatriots, and the few working amongst them, or by means of direct revelation through dreams and visions.  Please pray for these persecuted brothers and sisters in the LORD whose very lives are at risk all day and every day - yet they are standing strong and even preaching to those who seek to kill and silence them. 

Massacre in Egypt
Even as I am writing this (now Sunday 9th) news is coming in of two attacks on Coptic Christian Churches in Egypt, in which 40 people have been killed, and at least 70 injured.  It is Palm Sunday and Coptic Christians gather to worship to celebrate the coming of Yeshua (Jesus) into Jerusalem prior to his crucifixion. The Jews of Jerusalem on the first Palm Sunday welcomed Jesus by waving palm branches, and shouting, 
“Hosanna!” 
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Blessed is the king of Israel!”
John 12:13
The so-called Islamic State (ISIS) has claimed responsibility for these heinous acts. It is no wonder their god is angered by Palm Sunday, for this day proclaims a King in Israel, total anathema to their faith.  

Pray for the safety of the 13 million Christians in Egypt, and countless millions elsewhere as we celebrate Easter, the crucifixion and resurrection of our LORD at this time. There may well be other attacks planned. May God protect us all, and may the hearts of our enemies be humbled before Him. 

Terror in Stockholm and Israel

This past week too there was a terror attack in the Swedish capital, Stockholm, in which 4 people died.  Again ISIS has claimed responsibility.

In recent months there has been something of a lull in terror attacks in Israel but over the last two weeks there have been several attacks. This week soldier waiting at a bus stop was killed, and other injured, by a car which was rammed into them. Last week two civilians and a policeman were stabbed and lightly wounded, in the Old City, and  a few days earlier  a woman attempted to stab police officers and was shot dead. 

As we prepare for the coming feasts, tensions in Jerusalem, and elsewhere in Israel are high. Please pray for our safety as we celebrate Passover and Easter, gathering in synagogues, churches or private homes.  Also this is springtime, the Land is at its most beautiful, lush and full of stunning wildflowers. People at this time flock in their thousands to parks, forests and beaches all over the country. Such large gatherings are a temptation for terrorists planning an attack.  Pray especially for those who work hard at such times to protect us all, soldiers, border police, police, firemen and ambulance workers. 

Tension on the Northern Border
On the northern border tensions are also very high. Two weeks ago on a Friday red alert sirens rang out in several Israeli settlements in the Jordan Valley and in parts of Jerusalem, and Israel's new  David's Sling anti-missile battery shot down a missile fired by the Syrian army towards Israel. This medium range missile was carrying 200 kg of explosive ordnance. The Syrians claimed that this missile was aimed at Israeli fighter jets which had attacked a convoy carrying weapons from Syria destined for the terror organization, Hezbollah, in Lebanon. They even released press reports, published around the world, that they had shot down several Israeli jets. This was not true. All the Israeli planes returned home unharmed. In any case the missile the Syrians fired was of a kind too slow to hit a fighter jet, so it would seem the intention was to strike  inside Israeli territory. This is a dangerous escalation. 
 Israeli intelligence does not indicate that either Hezbollah  or Syria intend to attack Israel in the near future as they are still bogged down fighting in Syria, and unlikely to want to open a new front. However as the Syrian forces, backed by Russia, gains greater control this could soon change. Incidents like this are a timely reminder of the volatility of our northern border. 
Not long ago, in 2006, a cross-border raid in which some Israeli soldiers were captured by Hezbollah, catapulted us into a war within days. In that month-long war some 4,000 rockets were fired into Israel by Hezbollah, killing some 44 Israeli civilians and 121 Israeli soldiers. In response Israel bombarded Hezbollah installations which were embedded in Lebanese towns, and some 1,200 Lebanese, mostly civilians, were killed. 
Now Hezbollah has stockpiled some 150,000 rockets and missiles with which to attack Israel. Amongst this arsenal are new, medium range missiles that can hit any target within Israel with precision. Hezbollah is fond of boasting that it can destroy Israel's nuclear reactor or the ammonia plant in Haifa, not to mention hit any city or target anywhere in Israel. 
While the world ignores these threats against Israel, we take them very seriously. Today the final level of missile protection was officially commissioned, the David's Sling Anti-Missile batteries. The 'Iron Dome' protection against short range and the 'Arrow' protection against long range missiles are already in place. This completes Israel's defensive 'umbrella'. However we all know that should Hezbollah decide to attack with all its firepower, we can expect thousands of incoming missiles to be fired into our towns and cities every day. There is no way any anti-missile 'umbrella' could protect us totally. We could expect massive civilian casualties. 
Last week contingency plans were announced for the evacuation of some 250,000 civilians from border communities in both the north and the south should war break out.  http://bigstory.ap.org/article/44c8332fd5a645478fbec7d4732a8fc5/israel-plans-mass-evacuation-if-war-erupts-again


North Korea



In the face of a growing provocavation from the North Korean regime, the USA is moving a 6500 strong strike force, including fregates and aircraft carriers, close to the Korean peninsula. 


Floods  in New Zealand and Australia

News from my homeland, New Zealand, has also not been good this week. After wreaking havoc in Australia, ex-cyclone Debbie swept southwards and struck the northern and central parts of New Zealand bringing 3 months rain in just 3 days. The  Ramataiki River in the Bay of Plenty broke the flood protection levee sending water rushing into the towns of Edgecumbe.  Residents had to flee for their lives and the whole town of some 1600 people had to be evacuated as homes and farms were flooded with up to 2 m of water. Parts of the neighbouring town of Taneatua, where I once lived, also were flooded.



A boat makes its way down the street as flooding in Edgecumbe forced evacuation of residents. Picture: Andrew Warner.
A boat passes along a street in flooded Edgecumbe
http://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/hundreds-of-new-zealand-homes-under-water-residents-evacuated-as-cyclone-debbie-effects-are-felt-across-the-tasman/news-story/057f0f4662c8d3928a844a31f3c15ce7
Thankfully there were no human casualties but the rescue services are working around the clock trying to save hundreds of pets and farm animals that were trapped. No doubt there will be much loss of animal life and economic disaster for many farmers and severe damage to many homes. Even as the civil defense is beginning the clean up additional storms are approaching. A complex of low pressure systems is coming up from the south west, colliding with warm tropical air, and threatening to bring heavy rain over the whole country mid- week, while a new tropical cyclone is sweeping down towards Australia and New Zealand with the threat of more rain and flooding over the coming weekend. In the midst of all this at least two strong aftershocks were felt this week in the region hit by the large earthquake in November last year. 

In the face of so many troubles, what can we do?  It would be easy to sink into the depths of despair, however we are exhorted to rejoice and be glad, especially as the darkness thickens. The Apostle Paul gave us some good advice: 

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
Philippians 4:8 

 In this vein, lets meditate on  the most beautiful thing of all: 

 HE IS RISEN!

 "When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb  and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.  As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here." 
Mark 16: 1-6
The Garden Tomb, Jerusalem
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/9f/a7/64/9fa7641477623170198176eca9b1c48a.jpg


In the northern hemisphere this is the season of new life. In Israel the landscape is green, trees are in blossom and the wildflowers blooming in all their glory. It is Springtime.  It is also the time of the Passover celebrations and the time of Easter. I do not think it is an accident that these celebrations fall during spring.  What could be more appropriate?

For 3500 years Jews have celebrated at this time the Passover, when the Angel of God passed over their homes as He was destroying all the first-born of Egypt. The sign on the lintels of their houses was the blood of the sacrificed lamb. At that first Passover God brought the Israelites out of Egypt and slavery, and brought them to the Promised Land, gave them the teachings of the Torah (the Law), and established them as a nation. This was the first salvation. 
Later, 2000 years ago, God brought us all a second, and better salvation, by means of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jeshua (Jesus). Again the sign is the blood of the sacrificed Lamb - the Lamb of God (Yeshua)- on the cross. By this sacrifice God brought us out of the 'land' of slavery to sin, gave us the indwelling Holy spirit and established us in the freedom of the Kingdom of God.
I love this time of year, when we celebrate these two wonderful events.  How sad it is that so many do not see the connection between the Passover and the Death and Resurrection of Yeshua. Yet even in the traditions of the Passover Seder we see Yeshua celebrated - even though most Jews have no idea that that is what they are doing.  
For example, in ancient times the shank bone of a sheep was laid on the Passover Dish as a reminder of the Passover Lamb. Today a chicken leg is used, however, just as in former times it must be unbroken. No one really knows how this tradition arose, however Christians see a parallel with the sacrifice of the Passover Lamb, Yeshua (Jesus).  None of Jesus' bones were broken during the crucifixion. When Jesus had been hanging on the cross for some time, because the Sabbath eve was approaching,  the Romans thrust a sword  into His side, to finish Him off quickly, rather than breaking the bones of his legs, as would have been their the normal practice.  
Why too is the unleavened bread (matzah) eaten during the Passover week carefully prepared with holes and stripes? No one really knows but some say it represents the the marks of the scourge with which Yeshua, the Bread of Life, was beaten prior to the Crucifixion.  
 And what of the Afikoman? The word Afikoman comes from a Greek word meaning 'that which comes after'. During the seder, three pieces of matzah are presented and the middle one broken and hidden, for the children to find later. This piece is the Afikoman.  Christians believe the three pieces of matzah represent the threefold persons of the Trinity, and the middle one, the Son, is broken, hidden away but later restored. What a beautiful picture of the death and resurrection of Christ?  There is so much more amazing symbolism in the Passover Seder, not to mention the many beautiful prayers and songs. 
Even the  Jewish Chabad movement sees this connection, though they do not (yet anyway) recognise Yeshua as their long-awaited Messiah (Moshiach):
"The afikoman represents our liberation from Egyptian exile. That redemption, however, was not a complete one, as we are still awaiting the final redemption with the coming of Moshiach. Setting aside or hiding the larger half of the matzah reminds us that the best, the real redemption, is yet to come, still hidden in the future."
My prayer this year is that more and more people, both Christians and Jews,  will see the prophetic revelation embedded in the symbolism of the Passover seder, and be prompted to seek greater understanding and draw near to God.

Finally, I want to share with you two links that have blessed me. Enjoy. 
The Jerusalem Dateline  CBN documentary

 Link to  Hebrew worship from Israel
 I wish you all a Happy Easter and a Happy Passover,



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