Thoughts for Thanksgiving

It is almost Thanksgiving and I have a great many things for which I’m thankful.  But these are trying times with high unemployment, a growing food stamp culture, and an American population that reunited as one in theory only after the recent election. For the Republican standard bearer our enthusiastic support for him lasted less than a week before we began to dismember him for his failure. And our president calls the Republicans back into the fold waving a thorny stick instead of an olive branch.

But we have only to look toward the re-emerging strife in the Middle East to appreciate what we can have. As Christians we have our faith. All things will unfold as foretold in the Bible and according to God’s will. Israel will prevail.

With the American Secretary of State now in the region and pressing for some type of truce, I believe that a truce will occur. I have my doubts as to how long it will last. Nothing is as it seems in the Mideast. The high hopes from the Arab Spring have already been lowered as Islamic radicals assumed power or influence from Yemen to Egypt. Their rallying cry is death to Israel and to Israel’s main supporter, the United States. It is only by reading Biblical history that we westerners come close to understanding this visceral hatred that dates back to Abraham.  But Israel still survives.

In 1948 the current state of Israel began and with that declaration the neighboring Arab nations immediately declared war. Against the desires of the Jews, the Arabs already inhabiting what is now Israel left and chose to be refugees. Since that time, these refugees have been the self-induced basis for this regional bloodbath. This hatred supplies the basis for Hezbollah in Lebanon and for Hamas in Gaza, plus some smaller bands of thugs in both areas. The hatred provides cover for the Iranian quest for nuclear weapons and for the growing strength of the Muslim Brotherhood in Libya, Egypt, and in Jordan, where the seeds of discontent are ripening. The hatred stokes the fires of anti-Israel propaganda in Europe and America and provides the discreet and sometimes illegal funding for terrorist organizations throughout the world. And Israel still survives.

As Christians we know that God uses all things and anyone to fulfill His will. One of these men was Amir Peretz, the former Israeli Defense Minister. Peretz had little if any relevant military experience for his position and one of the more publicized Peretz miscues was his being photographed observing some military movements through a pair of binoculars with the lens covers still attached. He did however initiate the Israeli short-range rocket and missile defense system called Iron Dome. So far this defense system has destroyed over 300 rockets destined for Israeli cities and people. After this fighting subsides, Iran and its proxies will reevaluate how next to attack Israel. Here in the United States we Christians need to strengthen our will through prayer and vigilance. Pray for other Christians, for Arabs who are still God’s children, and for Israel. Everything we have is a blessing from God. Israel will survive and Christians will survive through Jesus Christ. We should be thankful.