Israel: a Land Torn Apart Israel: a Land Torn Apart
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The Chosen People Volume X, Issue 5 June 2004 Israel:Israel: AA LandLand TornTorn ApartApart INSIDE Trusting the Lord in a Dangerous World • Israel’s Most Influential People • THIS ISSUE: Land Control, Settlements, and Israel’s Political Parties • Revelation Study Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” (Genesis 12:7) TrTrustingusting thethe LordLord inin aa DangerousDangerous understanding, allowed sin to come into this world. Sin has corrupted WWorldorld what God Himself made so beautiful. Yet through His redeeming Dear friend, power, the Lord continues to create Shalom from New York City. I am sure you would agree with me that we beauty from ashes, restore what was now live in a very “unsafe” world. But this should not surprise believers in Jesus. broken and redeem the fallen. Every We need only turn to God’s Word for confirmation of this uncomfortable truth. time I see believers worshipping the The Scripture has often described our present world as unsafe and hostile to the Lord, my heart rejoices. I know this things of God. In good times, we tend to gloss over the more sobering passages. is a foretaste of a time to come, But we ignore them at our own peril—not only from the standpoint of physical when sin will be permanently well being, but also with regard to our spiritual priorities. removed from our restored planet, It is good to be reminded that our Messiah said, “...In the world you will have God will again be our all-in-all, and tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).Although it together we will worship around is hard to comprehend at times, the Scriptures tell us that the world we live in is His throne. Until then, we live in a temporary, dominated by “the god of this world” and immersed in darkness. dangerous world that is plagued by The world God created is certainly beautiful. The rivers, the mountains, the the destructive power of sin. trees, the stars in the sky—these certainly reflect His handiwork, as the Psalmist This is all the more reason for us writes, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork” as believers to recognize that God (Psalm 19:1). This also holds true for people.The people God created, though has kept us in this world to be His tainted by sin, are also beautiful.Although this sometimes seems difficult to instruments of mercy, grace and believe, it is nonetheless true. God’s Word says that we have all been created in redemption. It is through us that His image and likeness—and God does not create ugliness. But when the god of God brings a foretaste of heaven to this world takes hold of the people of this world, there is no question that the people by introducing them to the impact is dangerous, destructive and sometimes very ugly. Savior of the world. Messiah’s Redeeming Power Gathering Threats We believe that Yeshua (Jesus) is the Messiah for all people. He died and rose Is there a day that passes that we so that our sins could be forgiven.We can now receive the gift of the Holy Spirit are not reminded of the gathering who transforms our lives so we can be like the One who created us. Isn’t this the threats to our country? We grieve for heart of the Gospel? God is a redeeming God who, for some reason beyond my our soldiers who are dying.We 2 The Chosen People Living by faith is a constant reality for Israelis, including our Chosen People Ministries staff members who live in the West Bank. mourn the innocent civilians who A Word of Hope are killed each day.The rise and land in Israel is given back through I believe God is using these activity of Islamic fundamentalists has negotiation, it will only be a terrible recent events to remind us, changed the character of our national temporary concession. Regardless of from a spiritual perspective, of the life. One perhaps unexpected result is what earthly governments decide, kind of world in which we live. that this has brought our country God will give Israel the land one closer in spirit to Israel. Israel’s daily Dear friend, there is only one day because He promised it dread of the sudden, wrenching loss hope for this world, and it is the (Genesis 12:7). of a beloved family member or same hope for both Jew and non- In the final analysis, it is not our friend is not as unimaginable to us as Jew. Our hope for peace is the Prince land to give away and it is not our it once was.We experienced our of Peace—Jesus, our Messiah. It is land to take. God sets the own baptism of suffering on 9/11, when we are bringing the message of boundaries.And what He has in and we will never be the same. the Gospel of peace to Jews and store is far greater than any of us Gentiles that we become God’s holy The impact of the Islamic can possibly imagine: a kingdom instruments for redemption in a fundamentalists’ declaration of war where the Israelite and the stranger world that is dangerous and upon the Western nations and Israel will dwell in the land in peace. has created a large national ultimately is passing away. But that can only happen when discussion about why this is There are many threats in this the Prince of Peace reigns in happening and what our response world. Some of them are easy to righteousness. should be. In Israel, the problems of recognize; others less so: “...For national security and the tortured Satan himself transforms himself into an I hope that you find this relationship with the Palestinian angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). newsletter helpful, and that it will Authority has engendered a similar, But there is one thing upon which encourage you to be internal discussion (often with we may depend.Although Islamic fervent in prayer and shouting) about Israel’s priorities fundamentalism is a real threat, in your witness to and how to proceed. neither this nor any other the Jew first and also to the Gentile. The remainder of this newsletter movement will keep God from will furnish a look at some of the fulfilling His promises. Your brother in forces that are in play in Israel and This is the perspective we must the Messiah, the issues that are emerging in these have. Earthly decisions stand and fall Dr. Mitch Glaser tense times. according to the will of the Lord. If Mitch President June 2004 3 Quick Facts: NATAN SHARANSKY 290 miles long, 85 wide • Born in Ukraine. Became 6.5 million (77% Jewish) internationally known army chaplain with the rank of National Languages: advocate for rights of captain. Hebrew and Arabic Soviet Jewish people. •Studied at the Kerem Be-Yavne Prime Minister: • Jailed by Russia in 1978 Hesder yeshiva and served as rabbi Ariel Sharon for treason and spying. Cites of the Tiferet Zvi Synagogue in Tel President: Moshe Katsav rediscovery of Jewish heritage as Aviv. key element to survival in prison. • Appointed regional rabbi of • His wife,Avital, immigrated to northern Tel Aviv. Published several Israel and worked for his release, books, two of which were awarded Pray for which took place in 1986. Hailed prizes by the President of Israel. as hero upon arrival in Israel. • In 2003, appointed Ashkenazi Chief •Founded Yisrael b’Aliyah, a political Rabbi of Israel. Israel’s Most party to help immigrants in 1995. SILVAN SHALOM •Now serving as Minister without • Elected to the Knesset in Portfolio, responsible for Jerusalem, Inf luential 1992. social and Diaspora affairs. • As Minister of Foreign ARIEL SHARON MOSHE KATSAV Affairs, he joins such • Born at Kfar Malal in • Born in 1945 in Iran famous predecessors as 1928. Freedom fighter for and immigrated to Israel Golda Meir and Moshe Dayan. Israel from age of 14. in 1951. • Represents the State to foreign Served in the Israel • Served as Member of governments and international Defense Forces for more the Knesset since 1977. organizations; explains its positions than 25 years, retiring with the and problems throughout the rank of Major General. •President of the State of Israel world, and safeguards the rights of since 2000.As President, he bears Israeli citizens abroad. • Elected to the Knesset in the ancient title of the Head of December 1973. Served in high- the Sanhedrin though his duties SHIMON PERES level government offices until are largely ceremonial. elected Prime Minister in 2001. • Born in 1923 in Poland. Family relocated LT. GENERAL BENJAMIN NETANYAHU to Tel Aviv in 1934. MOSHE YA’ALON • Born in Tel Aviv in • Served in military and • Born in 1950 in Kiryat 1949 and raised in government since 1947. Haim. Served as Jerusalem.Attended high Member of Knesset since 1959. paratrooper in various school in the United Helped form the Labor Party in military operations. States when his famous 1968. Served as Prime Minister in father, Professor Ben-Zion •Fought in Operation Peace for unity government in 1984. Galilee and was wounded in Netanyahu, taught history. •Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize Lebanon. Returned to Israel in 1967 and with Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser served in elite commando unit in • Appointed commander of the IDF Arafat in 1994. the Israel Defense Forces. Paratroop Brigade in 1990. • Became Prime Minister and Rapidly advanced to rank of • Elected to the Knesset in 1988 Defense Minister in 1995 after Major General.