THE ENEMY OF MY ENEMY IS MY FRIEND?
Who has divided a channel for the overflowing water,
Or a path for the thunderbolt,
To cause it to rain on a land where there is no one,
A wilderness in which there is no man;
To satisfy the desolate waste,
And cause to spring forth the growth of tender grass?
Has the rain a father?
Or who has begotten the drops of dew?
Job 38:25-28
This week Israel got its first taste of winter. My thermometer outside is reading only 10 degrees (Celsius) and it is raining. Mount Hermon has its first blanket of snow. How wonderful it is to see the rain falling at last. I can almost hear the trees singing for joy. Or a path for the thunderbolt,
To cause it to rain on a land where there is no one,
A wilderness in which there is no man;
To satisfy the desolate waste,
And cause to spring forth the growth of tender grass?
Has the rain a father?
Or who has begotten the drops of dew?
Job 38:25-28
A few days ago a friend and I went up Mt Tabor (traditionally thought to be the Mount of the Transfiguration of Yeshua) to see the first of the winter flowers in bloom, the stunning yellow Halmonia (Sternbergia clusiana), a kind of crocus. Here and there amongst the as-yet, dried off vegetation, emerging between the rocks, were the bright egg-yolk colored flowers. They made me think of how it is to be a believer, life flowering in spite of the spiritually dry environment all around, boldly blooming even before the rains fall because we have a secret source of life, not an underground bulb, but the ever-flowing Holy Spirit.
An alternative name for this species of crocus is Sternbergia spaffordiana, named for the American-born lawyer, Horatio Gates Spafford, who wrote the well-loved hymn It Is Well With My Soul, following a family tragedy in which four of his daughters died. He was also one of the founders of the American Colony in Jerusalem (that would later become the American Colony Hotel) He died in Jerusalem in 1888 (1).
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| The rare and endangered Sternbergia on Mt Tavor |
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| A tree growing out of a salt formation in the Dead Sea http://www.straitstimes.com/multimedia/photos/tree-springs-to-life-from-the-dead-sea |
It is now Friday (24th) and we have just enjoyed 2-3 days of rain, but we are all praying for a good rainy season this year after 4 straight years of drought, and we still need much more. With the Sea of Galilee at an all-time low, the coastal and mountain aquifers drying up and the threat of another drought year, it was announced last week that the State is planning to buy up to 75 million cubic meters of desalinated water from Israeli desalination plants in Palmachim, Soreq, Ashkelon and Hadera by the end of 2018 (2). The desalination plants can supply sufficient water for drinking, industry and agriculture, but of course cannot help the forests and other ecosystems on which we also depend. Thankfully this year we have been spared serious forest fires, but with the falling water tables, the forests themselves may soon be at risk. Already up to a third of the acacia trees in the Negev desert have died. I remember learning while at university that one of the expected consequences of global warming would be the spread of the Saraha Desert northwards. This is of great concern to us here as we are situated right on the northern edge of the Sahara. The satellite image below shows very graphically just how vulnerable we are.
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| https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a7/Sahara_satellite_hires.jpg |
The Enemy of my Enemy is my Friend
Apart from the regional drought, the Middle East is undergoing an intense period of turmoil and drastic political change. The civil war in Syria is winding down as President Asad's government forces, backed by Iran and Russia, retake the areas that had been taken over by ISIS (Islamic State) or the various rebel militias. Although ISIS is on the run from Syria and Iraq, it is strengthening its influence and activity in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. Last week 305 people were killed and at least 128 wounded when a Sufi mosque in the Sinai was attacked by militants carrying Islamic State flags. Sufism is a mystical sect of Islam which is considered heretical by the extremist Sunni Muslims, such as ISIS. With ISIS on the run from Syria and Iraq, the civil war in Syria winding down, bringing Asad back into power with the backing of Iran and Russia, the civil war in Yemen between Iranian backed Houthi rebels and the Yemen government forces. Alarmed by the Iranian support of the Houthi, and the spread of the influence of Shia Iran, a coalition of mainly Sunni Arab states, led by Saudi Arabia and backed by the USA, the UK and France, have begun a bombing and blockade campaign against the Houthis. This war has brought some 20 million Yemeni to face imminent starvation and disease, which constitutes world's largest and most urgent, though largely ignored, humanitarian crisis. Meanwhile, Iran backed Hezbollah is taking more and more control in Lebanon to the extent that Lebanese Prime Minister, Saad Hariri, was forced to resign leaving a power vacuum that could return that country to civil war (3).
You might have noticed how Iran seems to be involved in every Middle Eastern crisis. Its spreading power and influence in the region are causing a reshuffling of alliances along a radical Shiite vs more moderate Sunni axis, with Russia backing the Shiite bloc led by Iran, while the western powers seem to be in a state of confusion and retreat, but vaguely supporting the more moderate Sunnis.
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| http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-25434060 |
This realignment is resulting in some rather strange bedfellows. A shared interest in blocking Iran's spreading influence is causing one-time enemies to consider cooperation. One such relationship is that between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Saudi Arabia has never accepted the legitimacy of Israel, no Israeli is permitted to even visit the country and there are no official diplomatic relationships between the two countries, yet reports of talks between them have been appearing in the press lately, leading to a speculation that Saudi Arabia wishes Israel to join forces with it to oppose Iran. Although Israel is not likely to be dragged into a war on behalf of Saudi Arabia the whole situation is volatile and direct conflict with Iran seems inevitable at some time in the near future (4).
Israel has no desire nor interest in initiating any war but the situation is very tense as Hezbollah and Iranian forces dig in along our border with Lebanon and Syria. Iran has repeatedly and vocally threatened to annihilate Israel and may well do so by means of its proxy Hezbollah. The IDF is on high alert and watching every move.
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| November 16, 2017, an Israeli tank overlooks the border into Lebanon near the Israeli city of Metulla (AFP PHOTO / MENAHEM KAHANA) https://www.timesofisrael.com/saudi-iran-dispute-unlikely-to-take-israel-to-war-analysts/ |
Terror continues
Internally Israel continues to face the threat of terrorism, although there have been fewer successful attacks of late. On Friday the 17th a Palestinian terrorist wounded two Israelis in a car ramming attack and attempted to stab soldiers at a second intersection before they shot and wounded him (6).
This week a young woman, Hodaya Asulin, died 6 1/2 years after being wounded in a terror attack. She was only 14 years old when the attack took place and she had been in a coma ever since (7). at a bus stop near the Binyanei HaUma (an International Conference Center) in Jerusalem. I remember this attack well as it occurred just after I had passed the spot on my way home from a job interview, and it was also at the bus stop from which my current local bus leaves.
Why Islam cannot accept Israel
To understand the Middle East one must have an understanding of the Muslim worldview. Non-Muslims believe that Islam began with Mohammed in the 7th Century of the Common Era (AD). Muslims do not believe that. Believing that Islam is the only true religion, Muslims have rewritten history. They believe that Islam began with Adam and Eve and that Abraham, Moses and all the prophets, including Yeshua (Jesus), were Muslims. They believe that Judaism and Christianity were heretical aberrations that were corrected by Mohammed. Consequently, they see all the Biblical Lands as belonging to Islam and the Koran forbids the relinquishing of any Muslim lands to the Infidel (non-Muslims). For this reason, the very existence of the State of Israel cannot be considered legitimate by Muslims.
I would like to recommend the following article for a very thorough discussion of this matter: https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5025906,00.html?
Record number of tourists visit Israel
In spite of all this, on November 7th, Israel welcomed its 3 millionth tourist this year, breaking all previous records. The lucky Romanian visitor, Iona Isac and her partner, were treated to a VIP tour of various sites, a limousine, a helicopter tour and hotel upgrades by the Tourism Ministry (8).
How to Pray
1. Pray for a good rainy season across the Middle East.
2. It is not always clear how to pray about politics and military issues but we can always pray, as Yeshua taught us, that God's Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven
3. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem (and Israel), not just absence of war, but the true peace that passes understanding that can only be found in following Yeshua.
4. Pray for the Christian and Messianic believers, a persecuted minority, throughout the Middle East, that they will stand firm and that the LORD will meet all their needs. Pray for the various congregations and churches that they will be kept safe and will grow in spirit and truth.
5. Pray for righteous and wise leadership and leaders who really care for the welfare of the people in every country.
6. Pray for the relief of all those who are displaced and in need of food, water, shelter and medicine, especially as the winter takes hold.
(1) http://flowersinisrael.com/Sternbergiaclusiana_page.htm (2) https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/403282
(3) https://www.breakingisraelnews.com/98349/israel-stands-shoulder-shoulder-egypt-massive-terror-attack-sinai/#/
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29319423
http://kehilanews.com/2017/11/19/urgent-global-prayer-for-lebanon/
(4) http://edition.cnn.com/2017/11/25/middleeast/israel-saudi-relations/index.html
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/11/17/israel-and-saudi-arabia-forging-ties-could-mean-war-with-iran-commentary.html
https://www.timesofisrael.com/saudi-iran-dispute-unlikely-to-take-israel-to-war-analysts/
(5) http://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/160660-171119-for-second-day-israel-fires-warning-shots-at-syrian-army-on-golan-heights
http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Lebanon-army-chief-asks-troops-for-readiness-at-Israel-border-514782
(6) https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.823342
(7) https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5046429,00.html
(8) https://www.breakingisraelnews.com/97476/3-millionth-tourist-arrival-2017-sets-new-annual-record
MESSIANIC JEW TO BE DEPORTED
http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Swedish-daughter-of-Holocaust-survivor-faces-deportation-from-Israel-514734
Israeli gymnast wins bronze medal at world gymnastics competition
https://www.fromthegrapevine.com/videos/lifestyle/linoy-ashram-gymnast-makes-history-world-championships
BDS stand
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/nov/22/brian-eno-and-roger-waters-scorn-nick-caves-principled-stand-to-play-in-israel
why the Gaza 'blockade'
https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5046519,00.html
Christ at the Checkpoint conference
http://kehilanews.com/2017/11/21/claim-israel-no-longer-promised-land-in-new-testament-era/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=159&v=nWPa75a-AW4
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