60 Years or 3,060?
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ISRAEL! - A barren landscape transformed into a fertile land that filled the world with fruit
- Millions of immigrants, many forced to leave behind all their possessions, united in a young nation
- An ancient language renewed
- The economy transformed by front-line advances in medicine and hi-tech
- Institutions of a vibrant democracy established in a region of dictatorships
- Jews and Arabs both represented in Parliament
- A free judiciary and a free press both subjecting government to scrutiny
- Higher education open to Jews and Arabs with world-class research facilities
These are some of the miracles of Israel's rebirth as a modern state. Of course there are challenges, too. Internally, the education of the next generation and equality of opportunity for all sectors of society present a continuing challenge. Externally, Israel has to fight for its existence everyday. Once the independence celebrations are over Israel will have to confront the daily rocket bombardment in the south and a growing threat from Syria and Iran in the north. Yet, agreements have been signed with Egypt and with Jordan, and Israel is recognised by increasing numbers of states in the community of nations. For a nation just sixty years old, faced with unremitting hostility, it is an astonishing record. For the People of the Book, it is another chapter in the story that begins with Abraham more than 3,000 years ago in Genesis Chapter 12. From 1948, the founders recognised they were expressing the hopes and high calling of their people from Biblical times. The emblem they adopted is simple: a candlestick (or menorah) between two olive trees above the word Israel. It evokes the prophet's words in Zechariah 4. The candlestick reminds us of the Temple as a sign of God's presence among His people. Theirs is the calling to shed the light of His knowledge on the world. The olive trees, with golden pipes running from them to each lamp, remind us that the power for the light is a heavenly fountain of oil with inexhaustible supplies. On this special birthday we join with our brothers in Israel to thank the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob for the restoration of the Jewish people to their land and government. World powers may be arrayed against them. Enemies may send their rockets. But the God of Israel is the Lord of Hosts and His word will stand - ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the Lord of Hosts. Geoffrey Smith ~ Director, CFI-UK
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Balance of World Powers Against Israel
Imagine that you are a pair of scales. When your arms are outstretched the scales balance. Now, place in one hand the Jewish population of Israel - the World's one Jewish state with 6 million people - and in the other hand the population of the 22 members of the Arab League with 314 million people or 50 times as many people. Then add into the scale on the one hand the land area of sovereign Israel at 21,000 square kilometres and into the other scale the Arab League at 14 million square kilometres or 666 times as big. (By the way, decide for yourself whether that multiple is significant or not - I did not choose it - the sums just worked out that way). Now feel the weight of the uneven scales. What about representation in the United Nations Security Council? Apart from the five permanent members, countries elect each other to be represented on two year terms: currently Belgium, Burkino Fasso, Costa Rica, Croatia, Indonesia, Italy, Libya, Panama, South Africa and Vietnam - not Israel. Indeed, Israel has never been elected to the Security Council in its sixty years as a modern state - it is a permanent non-member of the Security Council. The newly reformed UN Human Rights Council established in 2006 has voted 16 condemnatory resolutions against Israel and not one against the perpetrators of rocket attacks from Gaza, nor against human rights abusers in Congo (where 1,500 people die daily because of war), nor against China in Tibet, nor against Saudi Arabia, nor against Zimbabwe. No other country, apart from Israel, has been the object of so many UN sponsored resolutions of condemnation. Nor has any other country been treated so unfairly by the media. On the day in April when I was writing these notes, terrorists in Gaza fired 32 mortar rounds and 3 Qassam rockets into Israel. The same day Israel delivered 127 humanitarian aid truckloads of medical equipment and basic food products to the Palestinian population in Gaza. Yet Israel was being pilloried in the press as if it had held Gaza under siege. On the day after, Palestinian terrorists attacked and killed two Israelis who were delivering fuel to Gaza. Did the UN protest? Of course not. Instead, UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency) complained about Israel's failure to deliver petrol to Gaza. Its ambulances were at a standstill. In fact there was a million litres of fuel at the Nahal Oz depot for use in Gaza but it was the Gaza petrol station owners who were on strike preventing its use. When Israel made special delivery arrangements with UNRWA a demonstration was arranged by Hamas in Gaza to block the road intersection so the tanker driver could not reach the fuel depot. It was a heartless use of humanitarian suffering to mobilise world opinion against Israel. Under UN auspices in Geneva preparations have now begun for a Second Durban conference in 2009 on racism. The first in 2001 was a hate-fest against Israel. The Chair of the Durban II preparatory committee is Libya which has already lashed out at Israel comparing the situation in Gaza to the Nazi Holocaust. Iran is the co-chair of the preparatory committee. With help from the Organisation of the Islamic Conference - an association of 56 Islamic states - the planners are preparing for a forum decrying Islamophobia and demonising Israel. The United States, Canada and Israel intend to boycott next year's meeting, but it is already turning into another demonstration of world power against Israel... Geoffrey Smith - Director of CFI-UK - was invited to speak on this subject at the May 2008 CFI Celebration Conference in Jerusalem. The above text is the opening part of his talk. To obtain the full audio recording on audio cassette or CD, please tick the enquiry box on the enclosed Response Form or contact CFI-UK at the usual address.
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CFI - On The Road
‘I have posted watchmen on your walls O Jerusalem...' Having two non-residential Prayer Conferences this year was a new venture for CFI-UK. The format for these conferences was an experiment to see whether it was feasible to use a local church as the main venue, leaving participants to book their own accommodation. The two venues used were Silver Street Baptist Church in Taunton from March 3rd-5th, and Emmanuel Christian Centre in Llandudno from April 1st-3rd. By using local church facilities in this way we hoped it would be an encouragement to Believers in the area, and also a recognition of our desire to be supportive of our prayer partners. Both conferences were held at a critical time for Israel and our burden was very much taken from Isaiah 62:6 -7. We felt we were called at this specific time to be watchman on the walls, and that we were in the very privileged position of being able to join with countless other Believers who ‘take no rest and give him no rest' until His purposes for Jerusalem, and indeed all of Israel, to be a ‘praise in all the earth' have been fulfilled. We were joined in Taunton by Gerald Gotzen and this led into a time of intercession for Ethiopia and the Ethiopian Jews. We were all very touched at the plight of so many of these folk and it was a great privilege to cry out to the Lord on their behalf. (See the article in "In Touch" No.147 for further details of Gerald's ministry among the many thousands in Ethiopia who are still waiting to go "home" to Israel) At Llandudno it was a real treat to have Pam Bird with us from CFI Jerusalem. Pam is responsible for the Bridal Salon Project, based in the CFI Distribution Centre, and as a result of her joining us we were able to pray into the various situations affecting Jews returning to the land and for the Messianic fellowships. At both venues we were burdened for the young Believers who are in the IDF, and also for the families of those whose lives are lost or marred through terrorist activity. Praying for the Church in this nation was also very important at both Taunton and Llandudno and there was great concern regarding the stronghold that Replacement Theology has within the Church. We had some very precious times of sung worship, as well as beginning each day with a Biblical meditation which then became the focus for our morning prayer time. It was so refreshing to see the way the Holy Spirit led each one of us through the Word to praying what we believed was on the heart of God. Our time of Communion at both venues was very special and although we cannot measure what was achieved in the heavenly realms by our being together we do know that we had a unity and a settled purpose to intercede together which enabled the Lord to ‘command the blessing'. We are most grateful to the folk in Taunton and Llandudno for the incredible hospitality that was afforded to us. We were so well catered for in every sense of the word! We believe this is an experiment we should repeat, so are seeking the Lord as to when and where this should happen in 2009. Jenny Forbes ~ CFI-UK Trustee
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Hatikvah Films
Christian Friends of Israel-UK is a member of an umbrella group of pro-Israel ministries called "Love Never Fails" (LNF). We thought it might be helpful, from time-to-time, to introduce our readers to some of the other LNF members and the vital work they do in support of Israel and the Jewish people. So in this edition we are throwing the spotlight on Hugh Kitson (pictured left) and the work of the Hatikvah Film Trust and their growing range of informative and challenging documentaries. A New Release From HATIKVAH FILM TRUST
To Mark Israel's 60th Anniversary Celebrations The latest release from Hatikvah Film Trust had its World Premiere screenings in Jerusalem last month as part of modern Israel's 60th Anniversary Celebrations. "From Exile to Restoration" was premiered at Christ Church in Jerusalem on 13th May, followed by a second screening at the Anglican International School in Jerusalem on 15th May. "From Exile to Restoration" was filmed last year simultaneously with "The Destiny of Britain" and is presented by Australian author and historian, Kelvin Crombie. The two films basically tell the same story and share common scenes, but with a slightly different emphasis. Where "The Destiny of Britain" is specifically intended for a Christian audience, "From Exile to Restoration" is designed for a more general audience and contains slightly less on the Christian vision and more of the general history that eventually led to the Balfour Declaration. In Israel the 114-minute film has been released with Hebrew subtitles. For ‘Aussiephiles' the film also includes an interview with Australian Bill Hyman who took part in the re-enactment of the charge of the Australian Light Horse on the 90th Anniversary of the Battle of Beersheva last October. His grandfather, Eric Hyman, was in the lead during the original charge in 1917. Both films are prequels to "The Forsaken Promise" produced by Hatikvah Film Trust and released in 2006. "From Exile to Restoration" (without Hebrew subtitles) like the other films is a double DVD set and is available from CFI Communications (£20.50 each ~ see enclosed Response Form for further details). A New Production Under Way After many years in the pipeline the documentary film "Curse or Coincidence?" began principal photography in late April with Lance Lambert as presenter. "Curse or Coincidence?", based on the Lord's pronouncement to Abraham: "I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you. And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed" (Genesis 12:3), will trace the fate of empires, nations, and even individual people, who have come against Israel from the time of the Exodus from Egypt to the present day. "I sense this could be the most important film we have yet made," says producer Hugh Kitson. "The Lord first put this film on my heart 30 years ago, after the completion of "The Last Generation". First released in 1978, "The Last Generation" was one of Hugh's first films about God's purposes for Israel, and was made for David House Fellowship based in Melbourne Australia, then under the leadership of Joseph Hunting who was the author of the original book "Curse or Coincidence?" "The documentary film will be much more than just a history lesson," says Hugh, "it examines the spiritual roots of anti-Semitism in the light of God's calling for the nation of Israel and the Jewish people which, as Lance so often says, is ‘irrevocable'. Among other things it is a warning to those who mess with Israel and God's purposes for her. In many respects this film will be more similar to "Jerusalem, The Covenant City" in that it focuses on the prophetic Scriptures." That two-hour documentary, also presented by Lance Lambert, was released in 2000 and is still available from CFIUK. "Curse or Coincidence?" is scheduled for release in 2009. Hugh Kitson ~ Hatikvah Film Trust
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The End Of The Exodus
From God's point of view, what was the end of the Exodus? Was Passover's redemption complete within itself or did it point to a purpose beyond itself ? How we answer this question bears significantly on how we see the place of Israel in God's covenant story. The word end is used here in the Greek sense of telos, aim or goal: What was the goal of the Exodus? Here are five answers to this important question, each of which is worth pondering. 1. Redemption: "Let my people go!" (Exodus 8:1) the Lord God of Israel demanded of Pharaoh. Keeping His covenant promise to their forefathers, God rescued Jacob's children from Egyptian enslavement and set them free from bondage to an evil taskmaster. Freedom was the first objective of the Exodus and is the divinely ordained destiny of God's people. 2. Relationship: "You have seen ... how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself " (Exodus 19:4). The Israelites were set free in order to draw near. Too often we think about the God of Israel only as a "Lawgiver". We forget that first and last the Lord is a Lover. He is passionate for the people engraved upon His hands and betrothed to Him in lovingkindess. The second objective of the Exodus was to bring the children of Israel near to their Beloved in the fullness of covenant relationship and intimacy of knowledge. 3. Revelation: From Egypt God led the Jewish nation to Sinai, where He called for the congregation of Israel to assemble at the Mountain (Exodus 19:10ff). Accompanied by the awesome sounds of the great shofar, the Almighty descended in a cloud of glory to speak the Ten Words (Commandments) to His newly redeemed people. Passover and Pentecost are inseparably linked in Jewish tradition and are connected by counting the fifty days between them. Shavu'ot, when the Spirit-inspired Torah was first given to Israel, is considered the atzeret or completion of Pesach. God redeemed His people in order to reveal to them His life-affirming will and wisdom. This was the third objective of the Exodus. 4. Responsibility: "Let my people go, that they may serve (worship) me" (Exodus 8:1). Redemption led to revelation which entails responsibility. Israel was set free so they could be set apart as a holy nation to serve the Lord as a kingdom of priests. At Sinai Israel received her redeemer as King. Like a bride she willingly entered into the obligations of a monogamous covenant relationship with the true and living God by affirming: "Na'asei v'nishma" - "We will do and we will obey all that the Lord has commanded!" (Exodus 24:7). The embittered slaves to Pharaoh were set free to become beloved servants of the Most High God. This was the fourth objective of the Exodus. 5. Residence: "Have them make me a sanctuary, so that I may dwell in their midst" (Exodus 25:8). The redeemed children of Israel were commissioned to be righteous builders, constructing a suitable habitation on earth for the King of Heaven. Their enterprise began with the mishkan (Tabernacle) in the wilderness, housing the glory of the Lord throughout Israel's pilgrimage. But the intent of the mishkan was consummated in the construction of Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem - the only event in the Bible linked by elapsed years to the Exodus from Egypt (1 Kings 6:1). The ultimate end of Israel's Passover redemption therefore was to prepare a place for the God of Israel to take up residence and to reign in the midst of His covenant people, to the blessing of all the nations. We rejoice this month in the State of Israel's sixtieth anniversary. In view of the objectives of the Exodus, however, we would do well to remember that political Zionism - the establishing of a secure and successful nation on Israel's ancestral land - should not be an end unto itself. The remarkable redemptive events of 1948 were one giant step toward the ultimate restoration of authentic spiritual Zionism - in which Zion once again becomes the place where the King of the universe dwells in the midst of a holy people. This is the end of the Exodus for which all creation awaits and toward which we all must build. Dr. Dwight Pryor Thought of Joining Haverim? Haverim (Friends) is the name of the worldwide community who prayerfully and financially support the ministry of Dwight and Keren Pryor. In part this is done by taking out a yearly subscription to their regular monthly update. Along with the Haverim Newsletter, every member receives via CFI-UK a monthly audio recording (on either cassette or CD) of one of Dwight's challenging and uplifting messages. If you would like to know more, please Visit www.cfi.org.uk/haverim where you can download a short MP3 audio "taster" from his May 2008 message.
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Shacah
This is the first of a two-part study in which we will consider two Hebrew roots, commonly translated as ‘worship': in this issue shachah, and next time avad. Love is closely associated with worship, and roughly speaking these two verbal roots-shachah and avad-express the twin aspects of worship, in much the same way as there are two essential ingredients to love: devotion, expressed in word, sentiment, adoration, tenderness, giving of gifts, spending time together, etc; and service, expressed in action, practical care, help, support, cooperation (‘obedience' or ‘submission'), etc. Just as authentic Biblical love includes both devotion and service, so too authentic Biblical worship includes both shachah and avad. Before we examine shachah, let's first define the English word, ‘worship'. It derives from Old English weorðscipe, which is comprised of two terms: weorð meaning ‘worthy', and scipe meaning ‘state' or ‘condition of being'. Hence dignitaries, such mayors, Justices of the Peace, and magistrates, being considered worthy (weorð) of honour because of their status (scipe), are formally addressed as ‘Your Worship'. Thus ‘worship' is related to the status, or worthiness, of its object, in contrast to ‘respect'. We can, and indeed ought to, show respect to anyone and everyone: it is our duty, for instance, to obey and submit to authority (Romans 13:1ff; Hebrews 13:17); and to honour one another above ourselves (Romans 12:10). But we can only truly worship one who is worthy of honour. For instance, fans ‘worship' their stars and idols on account of their outstanding abilities, attributes or qualities. Ultimately, however, there is only One Who is completely worthy, Who deserves, indeed commands, our wholehearted worship. Not surprisingly, the Adversary is constantly attempting, by any means possible, to deflect worship away from Yahweh to himself. His approach is often subtle and crafty: "Just a small token of respect or obedience is all I ask". For instance, all that was suggested to Eve was that the forbidden fruit was not, in fact, forbidden. In trusting the words of the Adversary in place of God's decree, Eve and Adam, placed themselves in submission to him, and became slaves. The God-ordained order was to have been: Yahweh in authority over mankind; and mankind in authority over creation. But in submitting to the nachash (serpent, snake), mankind swapped dominion for servitude. (Thanks be to God, however, that through the redeeming, sacrificial death of Messiah Yeshua, this curse has been undone: "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil" (I John 3:8).) All that was requested of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego was a ‘small token' of honour: to bow to the ground and show respect to King Nebuchadnezzar's golden image (Daniel 3:5). They could have argued that this was an insignificant thing, so long as in their hearts they worshipped Elohim; but they knew in their spirits that any token of submission to a foreign god, no matter how small, is an abomination to the only true God. The Enemy tried to trick Yeshua into a ‘small token' of honour, in exchange for power and dominion (Matthew 4:9). Significantly, in his tempting, he deliberately omitted any mention of ongoing servitude, yet this is precisely what he desired. Instead he suggested that Yeshua simply pipto (Gk: bow down, lower oneself, descend) and proskuneo (Gk: kiss the hand, fall on one's knees, prostrate oneself)-both terms speak only of an outward gesture. But Jesus saw through the deception, and retorted that God alone was worthy of both proskuneo and latreuo (Gk: serve, minister). Here we see the twin essential elements of worship: the outward tokens of devotion (proskuneo) and the ongoing practical works of service (latreuo). Note the stark contrast. The Adversary, who is utterly unworthy of worship, lies: he promises what he will not deliver; he requests far less than he intends to take; and he attempts to enslave a person against his or her will. But Yeshua, who is utterly worthy of worship, speaks truth: He promises what He is faithful to deliver; He requests only what He intends to take; and He never forces His way, but rather seeks voluntary submission! Now we can understand the importance of the first of our two Hebrew words for ‘worship'. The verb hishtachavah, derived from the root shachah, means ‘to bow down, to prostrate oneself, to worship'. It speaks of humbling oneself in complete submission to God. Yahweh spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying: "Do not hishtachavah to another god, for Yahweh, Whose name/character is Jealous, is a Jealous God" (Exodus 34:14). There is to be no compromise! All other tokens of idolatry- alters, cultic stones, sacred poles, etc.-are to be destroyed (Exodus 34:13). All worldviews demand submission, whether we realise it or not. (Indeed, the term ‘Islam', for example, is derived from an Arabic verb, meaning ‘to submit'.) But you cannot submit to both Yahweh and another! If you submit to a false ‘god' or ‘religion' or ‘worldview', the Enemy will pin you down; but if you humble yourself and submit to God, He will raise you up! So, let us allow the Spirit to search us as we honestly ask ourselves: To whom will I submit? Are my loyalties divided? Have I renounced all allegiance to foreign ‘gods' and ungodly practices? Am I willing to submit completely and unreservedly to Yahweh? John C.P. Smith is Director of Jot & Tittle, a ministry enabling Christians with Bible-based Hebrew teaching, products and services: PO Box 21, Sawtry, PE28 5WD; (01487) 830-092 (weekdays, after 2pm); www.jotandtittle.co.uk.
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