Category Archives: Israel

The descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and the land promised to them by God. They are the subject of much Biblical prophecy that is both fulfilled and remains yet to be fulfilled in the future.

Bible, Israel, Politics

The origin of Blue Laws

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15 In those days I saw in Judah some who were treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sacks of grain and loading them on donkeys, as well as wine, grapes, figs and all kinds of loads, and they brought them into Jerusalem on the sabbath day. So I admonished them on the day they sold food. 16 Also men of Tyre were living [k]there who imported fish and all kinds of merchandise, and sold them to the sons of Judah on the sabbath, even in Jerusalem. 17 Then I [l]reprimanded the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this evil thing you are doing, [m]by profaning the sabbath day? 18 Did not your fathers do the same, so that our God brought on us and on this city all this trouble? Yet you are adding to the wrath on Israel by profaning the sabbath.”

19 It came about that just as it grew dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut [n]and that they should not open them until after the sabbath. Then I stationed some of my servants at the gates so that no load would enter on the sabbath day. 20 Once or twice the traders and merchants of every kind of merchandise spent the night outside Jerusalem. 21 Then I [o]warned them and said to them, “Why do you spend the night in front of the wall? If you do so again, I will [p]use force against you.” From that time on they did not come on the sabbath. 22 And I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves and come as gatekeepers to sanctify the sabbath day. For this also remember me, O my God, and have compassion on me according to the greatness of Your lovingkindness.

-Nehemiah 13 NASB

So not only did the people of Israel not work on the sabbath, but they realized that they should not enable others (even unbelievers) to work on the sabbath.  In fact, they threatened them with force if they showed up at the city trying to sell on the sabbath.  This is very interesting indeed.

Bible, Constitutional Freedoms, Israel, Persecution

Jepthah is our example

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Let me start by saying that I am not one that thinks that all promises granted to Israel apply to us directly.  Having said that, we can often learn and apply principles from the Bible to our lives, so please bear with me as we discuss a Judge of Israel.

The people rejected Jepthah, but called on him when the required a leader to fight against Ammon.  The Ammonites were under the false impression that the land Israel took from them should be returned to them.  Jepthah’s response was fantastic.  “Israel did not take away the land of Moab, nor the land of the sons of Ammon… The LORD, the God of Israel gave Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, and they defeated them… Since now the LORD, the God of Israel, drove out the Ammorites… are you then to possess it?” (emphasis added).

How does this apply to us?  Despite the fact that the current governing authorities want to take back the freedoms granted to us, and don’t even think we belong here, we believe that God delivered this nation from oppression, and who are we to surrender those God-given freedoms to those who claim their ownership?  May the Spirit of the LORD fall upon us, and may we glorify and praise Him and Him alone for our current freedoms, and for victories great and small.

Lest any of you think I didn’t read the end of the story, Jepthah made a fatal mistake when he thought that his sacrifice could encourage God’s help further.  He therefore made a foolish vow, and it cost him the life of his only child.  Let us instead follow the words of Psalm 50:

13 Will I eat the flesh of bulls,
Or drink the blood of goats?
14 Offer to God thanksgiving,
And pay your vows to the Most High.
15 Call upon Me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”

Thank you, God, for granting us great freedoms.  Please lead us in making wise use of them, and defending them however you may direct our paths.

Both of these reading (though not the application above) are from the April 23rd reading of Stanley’s LIFE PRINCIPLES DAILY BIBLE.

Bible, Eschatology, Israel, Persecution

Interesting development here – maybe part of setup for Ezekiel 38-39?

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Ezekiel 38-39 predicts that an alliance of Russian and Iran, along with others, will attack Israel.  Russia is supplying the technology and know-how to Iran to build their nuclear warheads.  If Israel tries to take out Iran’s nuclear facilities with a preemptive strike, you can bet that Iran and Russia, their nuclear supplier, will be rather put out.  Don’t expect the U.S. to lift a finger in Israel’s defense.  Expect maybe some “tough talk” and finger wagging from our President and state department while we abandon our ally and hide over here in the other hemisphere.

The following article shows that the Russians are focused on the Jews for some strange reason as they take over the Ukraine.  Hmmm I wonder what’s up?

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/04/17/jews-ordered-to-register-in-east-ukraine/7816951/

Now the Russians are denying…

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/04/17/prorussian-deny-jews-told-to-register/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+foxnews%2Fpolitics+%28Internal+-+Politics+-+Text%29

Bible, Eschatology, Israel, Persecution

Encouraging signs of alliance between Jews and Christians

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I found This Wall Street Journal editorial in this morning’s paper to be very encouraging.  I think that increasingly, and especially under Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership, Israel is recognizing more and more that Bible-believing Christians worldwide are their most faithful ally.

They seem to recognize that although the U.S. on an official diplomatic level has all but thrown them to the wolves, the worldwide community of true Christian believers has nothing but respect and love for the Jewish people and the nation of Israel.

It would be understandable, to me, if Israel harbored suspicion and animosity toward all of Christendom, given many centuries of harsh treatment at the hands of the supposedly “Christian” establishment in Rome.  That persecution was inspired by Satan, perpetrated by evil men, and had no valid root in New Testament theology.  However it seems that today the message of support and honor from millions true Christian believers throughout the world toward Israel and the Jews is starting to resonate with Israel and the Jews.  In my view, just another sign that we are getting close to the time of the end.

Here’s the article written by Israel’s current ambassador to the UN in support of persecuted Christians throughout the Islamic middle east.

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303630904579417482632439814?mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052702303630904579417482632439814.html

Israel

Nice to see a Jewish journalist finally sticking up for Israel

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I get tired of hearing about “peace negotiations” in the middle east between Israel and the Palestinians.  It always seems to be every US WH Administration’s pet project.  The problem is their version of “peace” always seems to involve the good guys (Israel) surrendering territory to the bad guys (Palestinians).  What are the bad guys asked to surrender?  Nothing!  They are just asked to promise (with their fingers crossed) to stop killing innocent Israelis with rockets and suicide bombs.

Check out this article from this morning’s Wall Street Journal.   I found it to be very refreshing:

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304640104579487444112949138?mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052702304640104579487444112949138.html