ISRAEL AT THE
CROSSROADS
April
2006 article by David Sanders
Ariel Sharon
once a military man turned full circle to try and achieve peace with his
Palestinian neighbours, is now in a coma unable to continue in politics. Who
would have thought that Middle East politics would change so dramatically and quickly with Ariel Sharon? Hamas has become the leading and controlling
force in the Palestinian Authority. Even
the media called it a political earthquake.
What will happen next? Only the
Almighty God knows.
“
the most
High ruleth in the kingdom
of men , and giveth
it to whomsoever
he will , and setteth
up over it
the basest of men
.”
This
statement is used 3 times in Daniel chapter 4, telling us emphatically that God
is in control. As we know man certainly
not. Israel is about to go to the electorate
for the 17th time in their 58 years after the establishment of the
State of Israel. With 39 years after the reunification of Jerusalem, leading parties have abandoned the
vision for a united capital. The
international community are unrelenting in their pressure that peace in the Middle East cannot happen without the division
of Jerusalem.
Israel at this time needs a strong leader like a
Moses or a Joshua. However none of the 3
candidates has these qualities to lead the nation in this critical period of
their history, neither Ehud Olmert (kadima party), nor Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud), nor Amir Peretz (Labour). They may
be talented politicians
but they lack
a vision for
their people .
Israel is in turmoil within and without
its borders. Even a top Palestinian official, Mohammed Abu Tir who claims state benefits for his 4
children calls “for the annihilation of the Jewish state” and “will continue to fight for the liberation
of Jerusalem up until the day the Jews leave our
city.” The city of Jerusalem holds the key to the Middle East problem but also the whole of the world’s
problems.
The city of
Jerusalem is close to the heart of The Almighty
and His Son, Jesus. Even Jesus wept over
this city as He knew her fate under the hands of the Roman Empire, but Jesus is about to return
to this city and set up the Kingdom of God as foretold in the Old and New Testaments.
No matter what the Palestinians, the
Pope or the UN think about the status of Jerusalem, the Almighty has always mapped the
future of this great city.
The thing
is, we can be a part of it, being associated with the Almighty and His Son if
we take to heart the gospel message as preached by Jesus. The gospel is the glad tidings, the good news
of the coming kingdom of God.
It is not far away; time is running out.
Your future is bound up in this city.
When you “see Jerusalem compassed with armies” as the New Testament tells us, the Kingdom of God is virtually upon us. Don’t leave it till then to make a decision
on your salvation - it will be too late.