When Israel went to meet the power of the Mighty One when revealed at Sinai, there was cloud over the mountain, thunder, lightening, fire and the mountain quaked.
And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. (Exodus 19:16-18)
Recent events in the world are a lesson on how the faithful might fail if they place reliance on human might, and how even the unfaithful know by experience there is no power as great as God's. We see only a hint of what that power might be, in fog, earthquake, thunder and fire.
Israel and US leadership Ignoring the Presence of God
It was reported recently that the president of the US and the Secretary of State made an offer to Netanyahu and that he had in principle agreed with it and was taking to the Cabinet. The BBC on the 14th of November reported that Israel was pondering a US incentive offer for a settlement building freeze for 90 days in exchange for guarantees (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-11751713)
On Monday 15th of November it was reported in the JPost that
By a margin of one, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is expected to pass his proposal for a 90-day settlement freeze when he brings the matter before the 15-member security cabinet.
US President Barack Obama on Sunday said the proposed freeze was a “very constructive step” that he hoped would lead to serious peace negotiations soon.
On Sunday, the prime minister presented the full cabinet with the plan to halt new settlement construction for 90 days in exchange for US security and diplomaticguarantees.
The draft of the proposal was hammered out on Thursday during a seven-hour meeting in New York between Netanyahu, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and members of their staff.
Netanyahu told the cabinet that the proposal was a preliminary one and that a final text was still under discussion.
It’s expected that US and Israeli officials will hold face-to-face meetings in the coming days to hammer out the details. Only then will Netanyahu bring the matter to the security cabinet. http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=195335
According to Debka File the reason why Netayahu is taking the US offer seriously is,
The Obama administration is willing to let Israel have 20 F-35 stealth warplanes worth $3 billion in addition to the 20 already allocated and promises to veto anti-Israeli motions at the UN and other international bodies. http://debka.com/article/9146
But behind this is Obama's will for who possesses Judea and Samaria,
According to our Washington sources, Obama believes that leaving Israel with no more than 4-4.5 percent of the pre-1967 West Bank area should satisfy its essential security requirements. In terms of population, this would entail the evacuation of dozens of settlements plus two important towns, Efrat in Gush Etzion in the south which has a population of 8,000, and Ariel in Samaria which has 20,000 inhabitants.
http://debka.com/article/9146/
There has been some protest. Israel is divided, in more ways than one. The news on the 17th is that Israel demands written guarantees (Both in JPost and Y-net news report this).
The security cabinet will not vote on a US proposal for a three-month settlement freeze until the Obama administration's promises are officially delivered to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in writing,.... JPost
Of note is that they are not disputing the deal, only asking for it in writing. Asking in writing implies, in principle, agreement with the deal.
A voice speaking up against it on Tuesday (the 16th) was reported,
Likud Minister-without-Portfolio Bennie Begin voiced his opposition to a renewed settlement freeze...
said in an interview with Army Radio that "if no agreement is reached - the Americans will ask us to continue the freeze, because they have no other solution."
Begin was also wary of US promises to fund the delivery of 20 F-35 advanced stealth fighter jets to Israel as part of the benefits package meant to convince Israel to extend the freeze. Despite Defense Minister Ehud Barak's Monday contention that the jets were more important to Israel than Likud infighting, Begin said the F-35s were a trap.
"The 20 planes offered by the US constitute an enticement meant to lure Israel into a political trap." JPost
Has anyone stood up and said that Israel does not rely on US planes? Where is trust being placed? It seems even those who do not trust the US are leaning on their military might and US support. What support can the US give when it was only by Providence that the US State Department was over ruled and they voted for Partition in 1947?
The fog, earthquakes, thunder and fire co-incidence or Providence?
All the while this is going on where it appears Israel's leaders are not addressing the real issue of whose Land it is, there are slightly unusual events occurring in Israel.
While it was being reported,
Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Monday Israel should accept the American offer of 20 F-35 stealth jet fighters in return for a three-month extension of the freeze on Jewish construction in Judea and Samaria. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/news.aspx/140659
It was also being reported, and it can be no co-incidence, that planes were being affected by fog, which is so rare that the airport has no way to deal with it
Unusually heavy fog closed down Ben Gurion Airport for several hours Monday night Tuesday morning, stranding thousands of travelers trying to leave while incoming passengers found themselves landing in Turkey, Jordan, Cyprus and Greece. The fog cleared before noon and operations slowly returned to normal.http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/news.aspx/140674
The unusual fog is a reminder that planes are of no use unless the weather is suitable. The question is why does Israel need American stealth planes? Joshua and Caleb stated the case,
Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not. (Numbers 14:9)
David proclaimed,
My defence is of God, which saves the upright in heart. (Psalm 7:10)
Isaiah was even bolder in terms of Israel's air force he writes,
As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it. (Isaiah 31:5)
On Tuesday the 16th Y-net news first reports two quakes in Upper Galilee one at 3.6 Richter waking people up (http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3985202,00.html). But did they wake up to understand what it portended? IsarelNews reported that there were 7 quakes,
Northern residents shook off seven mild earthquakes between Sunday and Tuesday while heavy fog shut down Ben Gurion airport, stranding thousands of travellers....
Mild tremors are not uncommon in Israel, which is situated over the sensitive Syrian-African fault, but it is unusual that’s so many are reported within the space of two days. The first tremor struck Sunday evening in the Upper Galilee, measuring 2.7 on the Richter scale
Sunday afternoon was when Netanyahu first spoke to the Cabinet. Tuesday morning there was the 3.6 quake that woke people up. On that day some perhaps did wake up, It was reported
Contrary to reports in the media that portray the U.S. as giving Israel a “package” of “benefits” for another three months of building freeze in Judea and Samaria, Washington is actually demanding a lot more for its largesse – far more than Israel can safely agree to, said Infrastructures Minister Uzi Landau...
Now, the American veto is being used as a threat against our negotiators, pressuring them to surrender our positions
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/news.aspx/140681
On Monday there was a large fire on the Golan http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=195465, which alone might not be of significance but,
Elsewhere in the country, isolated thunderstorms brought down a bit of rain in the Judean Desert, but the rain was not significant as Israel continues to suffers from a another dry year. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/news.aspx/140674
If the rain was not significant the thunder might have been. But of all of the weather, the fog was the most apt. Israel is waiting for rain,
And let us know, eagerly strive to know the LORD, His going forth is sure as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter rain that waters the earth.' O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the dew that early passes away. (Hosea 6:3-4)
All ye inhabitants of the world, and ye dwellers on the earth, when an ensign is lifted up on the mountains, see ye; and when the horn is blown, hear ye. For thus has the LORD said unto me: I will hold Me still, and I will look on in My dwelling-place, like clear heat in sunshine, like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest. (Isaiah 18:3-4)
If Israel themselves do not heed the prophets, why expect the US to do so?
Yet we must heed the prophets. These are the days where faith is being developed in us by the fact we are asked to trust in the Word of God against the appearance. All appearances are to the rising power of the US over Israel, to divide the land, to force the end of the building and settlement on the mountains of Israel. But over history those who despise or ignore the prophets have done most to help to fulfil them, and in this case the US push will have unintended effects, including rousing the defenders of the Word of God.
The Word on Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria
Nehemiah when dealing with the leader of the superpower of his day over building in Jerusalem had a different approach. He made the fate of his people a matter of prayer,
We have dealt very corruptly against Thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances which Thou didst command Thy servant Moses. Remember, I beseech Thee, the word that Thou didst command Thy servant Moses, saying: If ye deal treacherously, I will scatter you abroad among the peoples; but if ye return unto Me, and keep My commandments and do them, though your dispersed were in the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence,
and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to cause My name to dwell there. (Nehemiah 1:7-9)
In this there is an affirmation of faith, that God will do what he has promised. Nehemiah did not see the sad state of Jerusalem as evidence of the failure of God, but he did confess his and his people's failures. Faith is confidence. It is written if Israel return to keep the commands- then will I gather them to the place where God has put his name. This place is in the mountains of Israel.
Is there something remarkable in Nehemiah that is missing in modern leaders? He was no less under the instruction of the superpower of the day. There was no less opposition, for the land was occupied and Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite were against more Jews settling. Yet Nehemiah says,
'Ye see the evil case that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire; come and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.' And I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also of the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said: 'Let us rise up and build.' So they strengthened their hands for the good work. (Nehemiah 2:17-18).
Despite whatever anyone thought. Despite appearances, Nehemiah's faith and vision was clear
But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said: 'What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?' Then answered I them, and said unto them: 'The God of heaven, He will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build; but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.' (Nehemiah 2:19-20).
While there was great opposition to the building work, Nehemiah continued.
(3:33) But it came to pass that, when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews. (3:34) And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said: 'What do these feeble Jews? will they restore at will? will they sacrifice? will they make an end this day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, seeing they are burned?' (3:35) Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said: 'Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall break down their stone wall.' (3:36) Hear, O our God; for we are despised; and turn back their reproach upon their own head, and give them up to spoiling in a land of captivity; (3:37) and cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before Thee; for they have vexed Thee before the builders. (Nehemiah 4:1-5)
There was every evidence that there would be possible violence, there was in effect a covert declaration of war. There was indication that if they continued building then they would be attacked.
and they conspired all of them together to come and fight against Jerusalem, and to cause confusion therein. But we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them. (Nehemiah 4:8-9).
Nehemiah spoke with confidence, that can only come from faith, the evidence of things unseen,
“Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.”
And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work. ...
And I said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, “The work is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another. In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us: our God shall fight for us. (Nehemiah 4:14-20)
The action of faith from that era, which was not very different to today, was to act in accordance with the promise, and not be swayed by fearing the appearance. Their faith was to put trust in God yet all the while being prepared to fight.
Hosea presents God's view, of relying on the nations about- especially the superpower of the day,
(12:2) Ephraim strives after wind, and follows after the east wind; all the day he multiplies lies and desolation; and they make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried into Egypt. (12:3) The LORD has also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways, according to his doings will He recompense him. (Hosea 12:1-2).
Asa was condemned for seeking Syria's aid (2 Chron 16:19) and Ahaz who asked for Assyria's aid, left a legacy that brought the Assyrians down in the era of Hezekiah.
Faith is a trust in events and a waiting for the redeeming of the Promise as an expected outcome, after we have sorted out our ways, and repented.
(12:7) Therefore turn thou to thy God; keep mercy and justice, and wait for thy God continually. (Hosea 12:6).
The sin of Sodom was fullness of bread. Israel's lack of faith now may have much to do with economic prosperity. Economic prosperity is not always a blessing, if we think the blessing is by our labour, it becomes a snare.
Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt; and thou know no God but Me, and beside Me there is no saviour. I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought. When they were fed, they became full, they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten Me. (Hosea 13:4-6).
We may be our own worst enemy, as Israel's leaders are now,
It is thy destruction, O Israel, that thou are against Me, against thy help. (Hosea 13:9)
But, thankfully for all, we are saved even from ourselves, if it be God's will. Israel certainly will be saved from its own likely indiscretion in accepting 'in principle' US assurances for security.
(14:2) Return, O Israel, unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast stumbled in thine iniquity. (14:3) Take with you words, and return unto the LORD; say unto Him: 'Forgive all iniquity, and accept that which is good; so will we render for bullocks the offering of our lips.
(14:4) Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses; neither will we call any more the work of our hands our gods; for in Thee the fatherless finds mercy.' (14:5) I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely; for Mine anger is turned away from him. (14:6) I will be as the dew unto Israel; he shall blossom as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. (Hosea 14:1-5).
As the fog lifted, how many pondered on the promise of being dew unto Israel? As yet most Jews speak the foolish formula that Jerusalem is the holy city for all alike. Where are the those such as Nehemiah that state the truth?
'The God of heaven, He will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build; but you have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.' (Nehemiah 2:19-20).
When the earth shakes seven times the wise understand,
(14:10) Whoso is wise, let him understand these things, whoso is prudent, let him know them. For the ways of the LORD are right, and the just do walk in them; but transgressors do stumble therein. (Hosea 14:9)
Our path and the fate of the nations will not be what the nations' leaders desire, or even what we desire, but will in the end, though all on earth be against it, the outcome will be what God desires.
And he has declared,
As a shepherd seeks out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country. (Ezekiel 34:12-13)
What seems so certain and real at present, the gathering of the nations against Jerusalem, is a mirage, a vision- it is not real.
Moreover the multitude of your strangers shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones shall be as chaff that passes away: yea, it shall be at an instant suddenly. You shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire. And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, even all that fight against her and her munition, and that distress her, shall be as a dream of a night vision. (Isaiah 29:5-7)
There must yet be some like Nehemiah in the modern world. It is prophesied that in the days that Jerusalem is in contention they will exist. They are likely to even be in government now at a local level, but they come from Judea/ Judah.
In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem. (Zechariah 12:6)
The trials now faced by the leaders in Judah, due to the events unfolding because, “Obama believes that leaving Israel with no more than 4-4.5 percent of the pre-1967 West Bank area should satisfy its essential security requirements.” and his push for, “ the evacuation of dozens of settlements plus two important towns, Efrat in Gush Etzion in the south which has a population of 8,000, and Ariel in Samaria which has 20,000 inhabitants”. (http://debka.com/article/9146/) are to raise up those leaders in Efrat and in Gush Etzion, as fire among the wood. Whereas all in Israel know the word of the leader of USA is not to be relied upon, the word of God is sure. He already has put it in writing. He will gather his people to the mountains of Israel, which is 100% of the 'West Bank' and feed them (the Torah), and he will make the leaders of Judah like a fire in the presence of tinder-dry sheaves.
For more sons of Greece, sons of Zion
Cyrus the Great encouraged the Jews to rebuild their Temple and return to their homeland.
What the world leaders intend and what God directs may be different things. In this case of the US Administration's action in the UN Security Council the Bible, with an amazing track record, both predicted the situation and indicates the future, which won't be as they hoped. They are on the wrong side of the Maker of history.
Shimon Peres has been a man of sign in his life and now in his death and burial.
We can be sure that the Creator of all things controls who takes power. Thus the current US election, though people strive and think they are free to elect who they will, the result is God's. There is one curious point to ponder: this contest more than any previously has powerful undercurrents of a struggle involving Zion.
Whoa! Has the Creator made a comment?
