Taking God at His Word to Bless – and Not to Curse – Israel CBN News Tzippe Barrow

Taking God at His Word to Bless – and Not to Curse – Israel

06-12-2017

CBN News Tzippe Barrow

JERUSALEM, Israel – Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump gave a stirring speech in Saudi Arabia on the necessity of defeating Islamic terrorism. Leaders of Muslim-majority nations, including Egypt and Jordan, came to hear him speak on forming an international coalition to fight the spread of terrorism worldwide.

From Riyadh, the president flew to Israel where he expressed his deep friendship with the Jewish state. Israelis, nonetheless, were disappointed when he decided not to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, at least for now.

Trump reasoned such a move could impede progress in peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. The president has been told – and may believe – that resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would have a ripple effect throughout the region.

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But what does the Bible say about God's plan for the Jewish nation?

The story of Balaam and Balak in Numbers 23-25 is about much more than a talking donkey. It reveals God's eternal and unchangeable plan for Israel.

Balak, the king of Moab, didn't want the Israelites settling next to him. He'd heard what they'd done to the Amorites and it made him "sick with dread." So he got word to Balaam, a diviner with a powerful reputation who lived near the Euphrates River, and invited him to come and curse the Israelites, promising it would be well worth his time.

It didn't work. Balaam couldn't curse the nation God had blessed, though he tried three times. Apparently God had set Israel apart for His own purposes.

How shall I curse whom God has not cursed? And how shall I denounce whom the Lord has not denounced? For from the top of the rocks I see him and from the hills I behold him; There! A people dwelling alone, not reckoning itself among the nations. (Numbers 23:8-9)

And again God spoke through Balaam.

God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said and will He not do? Or has He spoken and will He not make it good?
Behold, I have received a command to bless. He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it.

It's futile to curse His chosen ones, the diviner, summoned by the king, learned.

For there is no sorcery against Jacob, nor any divination against Israel. It now must be said of Jacob and of Israel, 'Oh, what God has done! (Num. 23:23)

Instead, God opened Balaam's eyes to see His plan for Israel.

How lovely are your tents, O Jacob! Your dwellings, O Israel! Blessed is he who blesses you, and cursed is he who curses you. ((Numbers 24:5, 9b)

Then Balaam foretold what will take place in the latter days, mentioning both Israel and Jordan's future in the prophecy.

I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near. A Star shall come out of Jacob, a Scepter shall rise out of Israel and batter the brow of Moab and destroy all the sons of tumult. And Edom shall be a possession; Seir also, his enemies, shall be a possession, while Israel does valiantly. (Num. 24:17-18)

Fast forward to the 21st century.

President Trump's plan may be a good one for now, and God may prosper his efforts. But when the nations stake claim to Jerusalem, to divide the city, God will intervene, as only He can, in what promises to be a divine light show unlike anything the world has seen.

So no matter what it looks like or how it unfolds, God will fulfill his plan for Israel. It's fascinating to watch it play out in the headlines. He turned Balaam's cursing into blessing. May He grant the nations ears to hear, eyes to see and a heart to understand what the Spirit of the Lord is saying today.

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When the Arabs Shuttered Al Jazeera, but Israel Couldn't - Israel Today

When the Arabs Shuttered Al Jazeera, but Israel Couldn't

Tuesday, June 13, 2017 |  Israel Today Staff

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The current regional crisis with Qatar has again demonstrated the bizarre position in which Israel often finds itself in the volatile Middle East.

Israel is often the victim of media slander, and even incitement. Sometimes, those media voices slander and incite against Arab governments, too.

One of the biggest differences is that the Arab governments, authoritarian as they are, quickly shut down the offending media, while Israel, the region's only true democracy, must endure the slander.

Such is the case with Al Jazeera.

Founded and largely owned by the rulers of Qatar, Al Jazeera has become a thorn in the side of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and other "moderate" Arab states.

Using the crisis with Qatar as an excuse, Saudi Arabia and Jordan this week shuttered the local Al Jazeera bureaus in their respective states.

Israel wishes it could do the same.

"Al-Jazeera is not media, it’s not journalism. It’s an incitement machine. It’s pure propaganda, of the worst variety, in the style of Nazi Germany or Soviet Russia," said Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman during a Knesset meeting on Monday.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly convened the relevant government agencies to explore the option of shuttering Al Jazeera's office in Jerusalem.

But for a nation that holds to true democratic rule of law, such things aren't so simple as they are in neighboring countries.

For starters, if the government moved against Al Jazeera, the network's first move would be an appeal to Israel's Supreme Court on the basis of freedom of the press. Even if the court ultimately sided with the government, the spectacle of an Arab news network suing Israel over freedom of the press wouldn't play well on the international stage.

And that's if the court sided with the government.

Israel's Supreme Court is notoriously liberal when it comes to the right of detractors to slander the Jewish state. Losing such a case would look even worse.

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Joel C. Rosenberg's Blog - At Arab Summit, President boldly urges Muslim leaders to “drive out the terrorists and extremists”

New post on Joel C. Rosenberg's Blog

At Arab Summit, President boldly urges Muslim leaders to “drive out the terrorists and extremists” from their nations and houses of worship. (My analysis of the historic and well-crafted speech.) by joelcrosenberg   May 22, 2017 (Washington, D.C.) -- Wow. Readers of this blog know I have never been shy about expressing my concerns about President Trump when necessary. But the President deserves a great deal of credit for the speech he delivered yesterday in Saudi Arabia. The address was well-crafted and respectful, even nuanced, at times. But it was also clear, honest, and bold. Indeed, it was unlike any speech any American President has ever delivered face to face to the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the Gulf Cooperation Council, Egypt, Jordan and several dozen other Muslim-majority countries. Below, you'll find key excerpts, a link to the full transcript and a link to the video of the full 34 minute speech. I would encourage you to both watch and read the address in full. A few first impressions: The President rightly thanked America's Sunni Muslim allies for their friendship and hospitality, he honored their historic achievements, rich culture and heritage, and he reached out a hand of friendship and support against common enemies. The President made it clear that the U.S. seeks "partners, not perfection—and to make allies of all who share our goals" -- he thanked specific countries by name for working with the U.S. to fight terrorism. It was good to see the President be so respectful of the vast majority of Muslims who are not jihadists and want to fight terrorism -- this was particularly notable given that as a candidate he called for a ban on all Muslims entering the U.S. (though he has since rightly modified that position). At the same time, the President was commendably clear and refreshingly honest that the region must confront "the crisis of Islamist extremism and the Islamist terror groups it inspires." I was stunned but pleased to see the President dramatically warn that the souls of the radicals who kill innocents will be "condemned." It was a line that echoed the brilliant and courageous speech given by Egyptian President el-Sisi at Al-Azhar University several years ago. This is no small matter. No other American President has ever made such direct statements on "Islamist extremism" in the heart of the Muslim world. The President rightly singled out Iran and ISIS as the most dangerous and destabilizing forces -- he called for "eradicating ISIS," then put special emphasis on working closely with the Sunnis to counter the Iranian threat. This was a sharp and very welcome contrast to President Obama's approach of appeasing Iran. The President rightly noted the history of coexistence of Muslims, Christians and Jews in the region's past, and urged the Muslim world to make peace with Israel -- then explained he was headed to Jerusalem and Bethlehem to advance between the Israelis and Palestinians. He offered no specifics. Perhaps he can create a breakthrough in the peace process -- he certainly believes he can -- though I concede I'm somewhat skeptical for reasons I'll write about soon. Overall, the speech will likely be very well received in the region -- in addition with the President's individual meetings with Arab leaders at the White House, the visit and speech will help re-set America's alliances in the Arab Muslim world, which were terribly strained and dishonored during the Obama years. These are all positive developments. Let's pray the administration can carefully and wisely build on what was accomplished. Key Excerpts: I stand before you as a representative of the American People, to deliver a message of friendship and hope. That is why I chose to make my first foreign visit a trip to the heart of the Muslim world, to the nation that serves as custodian of the two holiest sites in the Islamic Faith. In my inaugural address to the American People, I pledged to strengthen America’s oldest friendships, and to build new partnerships in pursuit of peace. I also promised that America will not seek to impose our way of life on others, but to outstretch our hands in the spirit of cooperation and trust.... To the leaders and citizens of every country assembled here today, I want you to know that the United States is eager to form closer bonds of friendship, security, culture and commerce.... There can be no coexistence with this violence. There can be no tolerating it, no accepting it, no excusing it, and no ignoring it..... If we do not stand in uniform condemnation of this killing—then not only will we be judged by our people, not only will we be judged by history, but we will be judged by God. This is not a battle between different faiths, different sects, or different civilizations. This is a battle between barbaric criminals who seek to obliterate human life, and decent people of all religions who seek to protect it. This is a battle between Good and Evil.... America is prepared to stand with you – in pursuit of shared interests and common security. But the nations of the Middle East cannot wait for American power to crush this enemy for them. The nations of the Middle East will have to decide what kind of future they want for themselves, for their countries, and for their children.It is a choice between two futures – and it is a choice America CANNOT make for you. A better future is only possible if your nations drive out the terrorists and extremists. Drive. Them. Out. DRIVE THEM OUT of your places of worship. DRIVE THEM OUT of your communities. DRIVE THEM OUT of your holy land, and DRIVE THEM OUT OF THIS EARTH.... [T]here is...much work to do. That means honestly confronting the crisis of Islamist extremism and the Islamist terror groups it inspires. And it means standing together against the murder of innocent Muslims, the oppression of women, the persecution of Jews, and the slaughter of Christians. Religious leaders must make this absolutely clear: Barbarism will deliver you no glory – piety to evil will bring you no dignity. If you choose the path of terror, your life will be empty, your life will be brief, and YOUR SOUL WILL BE CONDEMNED.... We must seek partners, not perfection—and to make allies of all who share our goals.... From Lebanon to Iraq to Yemen, Iran funds, arms, and trains terrorists, militias, and other extremist groups that spread destruction and chaos across the region. For decades, Iran has fueled the fires of sectarian conflict and terror. It is a government that speaks openly of mass murder, vowing the destruction of Israel, death to America, and ruin for many leaders and nations in this room.... Responsible nations must work together to end the humanitarian crisis in Syria, eradicate ISIS, and restore stability to the region.... Today, billions of faces are now looking at us, waiting for us to act on the great question of our time. Will we be indifferent in the presence of evil? Will we protect our citizens from its violent ideology? Will we let its venom spread through our societies? Will we let it destroy the most holy sites on earth? If we do not confront this deadly terror, we know what the future will bring—more suffering and despair. But if we act—if we leave this magnificent room unified and determined to do what it takes to destroy the terror that threatens the world—then there is no limit to the great future our citizens will have. ------------------------------- President Trump’s Speech to the Arab Islamic American Summit (official White House transcript) Video Replay: President Trump Addresses the Arab Islamic American Summit In Riyadh (full 34 minute video) Video Clip -- Trump to Arab Leaders: Drive Extremists Out Of Your Lands And Your Holy Places; "Drive Them Out!" —————— Without Warning — my new thriller about ISIS operatives launching catastrophic terrorist attacks inside the U.S. using chemical weapons captured in Syria, and the hunt for the ISIS leader by a secret coalition of Israel, Egypt, Jordan and the UAE — is now available in hardcover, e-book and audio formats from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, CBD, Lifeway, and your favorite general market and Christian bookstores. To order online, please click here. Pastors and ministry leaders:  to begin planning your own tour of Israel in July 2018 that allows you to bring your people to the Epicenter Prayer Summit, please click here. Lay people: to learn more about The Joshua Fund’s next tour of Israel and attend the Epicenter Prayer Summit in Jerusalem — and to register while there is still space — please click here. ——————— Would you like to make a secure, tax deductible investment in The Joshua Fund (www.joshuafund.net)? This is the non-profit organization that my wife, Lynn, and I founded in 2006 to educate and mobilize Christians to bless Israel and her neighbors in the name of Jesus, to care for the poor and needy in Israel (both Jews and Arabs) with food and other humanitarian relief, care for Holocaust survivors, care for Syrian and Iraqi refugees, and strengthen the Church in Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt. The Joshua Fund is a member in good standing of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. Please click here to learn more. Thanks so much! Click here to read the 2016 Joshua Fund Donor Report — and watch the short videos, as well Subscribe (free) to the RSS feed (click here) and receive every new posting on this blog directly via email.

Joel C. Rosenberg's Blog - President arrives in Saudi Arabia to meet with Arab & Muslim leaders. Here’s the latest, including his itinerary.

New post on Joel C. Rosenberg's Blog

President arrives in Saudi Arabia to meet with Arab & Muslim leaders. Here’s the latest, including his itinerary. by joelcrosenberg (Washington, D.C.) -- No one would have predicted that the candidate who called for a "Muslim ban" would, upon becoming President of the United States, make Saudi Arabia the first stop on his first international trip. Or that he would turn the trip into an opportunity to meet with dozens of Arab and Muslim leaders from all over the world. That said, the President is absolutely right to work hard on building American relationships and alliances throughout the Muslim world. He's also right to deliver a major address on the threat posed by radical Islamism and the need for all Muslims to strongly oppose and counter the radicals. To his credit, he will then travel to Israel -- and specifically to Jerusalem -- to strengthen U.S.-Israeli ties, and explore ways of making peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Then he heads to Rome to meet with the Pope, and onward to meet with NATO leaders. No other President has specifically designed a foreign trip -- especially his first -- to reach out to Muslim, Jewish and Christian leaders. In the days ahead, I hope to provide analysis of his trip, his meetings and his speeches. For now, let's be praying for the President's safety and for the trip to have a positive impact. Here's what we know so far. ITINERARY: Friday: President departed Washington Saturday: Arrive in Saudi Arabia, meet with the King, dinner with royal family Sunday: President to meet with leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates; meet with Islamic leaders from all over the world, including the leaders of Egypt, Jordan and Indonesia; and deliver major address on threats to the region from radical Islamists Monday: President arrives in Israel, meets with President Reuven Rivlin, meets with Prime Minister Netanyahu, visits the Western Wall and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, has dinner with the Netanyahus Tuesday: President meets with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, lays a wreath at Israel's Holocaust memorial museum, and delivers a major address at the Israel Museum Wednesday: President meets with Pope Francis in Rome, then flies to Brussels Thursday: President participates in NATO Summit. Friday: President is in Sicily, Italy, participating in G7 Summit Saturday: G7 Summit, then return to Washington NEWS COVERAGE: President Trump’s Schedule for His First Foreign Trip (New York Times) Trump Receives Regal Welcome in Saudi Arabia (AP) Saudi leaders hail Trump visit as ‘reset of regional order’ (UK Guardian) Trump excerpts show moderate tone on Islam (Politico) Trump signs Saudi defense, economic deals (Politico) Trump to summon Muslim nations to confront ‘the crisis of Islamist extremism’ (Washington Post) ANALYSIS BY MIDEAST EXPERTS: Trump can set big things in motion on his Mideast trip: It's an opportunity to begin to correct our flawed foreign policy. -- Robert Satloff, Washington Institute for Near East Policy A Mideast peace gameplan for Trump -- Amb. Dennis Ross & Dennis Makovsky —————— Without Warning — my new thriller about ISIS operatives launching catastrophic terrorist attacks inside the U.S. using chemical weapons captured in Syria, and the hunt for the ISIS leader by a secret coalition of Israel, Egypt, Jordan and the UAE — is now available in hardcover, e-book and audio formats from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, CBD, Lifeway, and your favorite general market and Christian bookstores. To order online, please click here. Pastors and ministry leaders:  to begin planning your own tour of Israel in July 2018 that allows you to bring your people to the Epicenter Prayer Summit, please click here. Lay people: to learn more about The Joshua Fund’s next tour of Israel and attend the Epicenter Prayer Summit in Jerusalem — and to register while there is still space — please click here. ——————— Would you like to make a secure, tax deductible investment in The Joshua Fund (www.joshuafund.net)? This is the non-profit organization that my wife, Lynn, and I founded in 2006 to educate and mobilize Christians to bless Israel and her neighbors in the name of Jesus, to care for the poor and needy in Israel (both Jews and Arabs) with food and other humanitarian relief, care for Holocaust survivors, care for Syrian and Iraqi refugees, and strengthen the Church in Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt. The Joshua Fund is a member in good standing of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. Please click here to learn more. Thanks so much! Click here to read the 2016 Joshua Fund Donor Report — and watch the short videos, as well Subscribe (free) to the RSS feed (click here) and receive every new posting on this blog directly via email.

Joel C. Rosenberg's Blog - Confirmed: President will visit Israel, Saudi Arabia & the Vatican this month. Trip designed to reach out to Jews, Muslims & Christians, strengthen U.S. alliances, advance peace.

New post on Joel C. Rosenberg's Blog

Confirmed: President will visit Israel, Saudi Arabia & the Vatican this month. Trip designed to reach out to Jews, Muslims & Christians, strengthen U.S. alliances, advance peace. by joelcrosenberg (Central Israel) -- President Trump made it official yesterday: his first foreign trip will begin with stops in Saudi Arabia, Israel and the Vatican where he will meet with the Pope. From there, he will participate in a NATO Summit in Brussels, followed by the G-7 Summit in Sicily, Italy. He will depart the U.S. on May 19. Mr. Trump made the announcement of his "historic" trip on an already big day. The House passed a bill to "repeal and replace" Obamacare after months of painstaking negotiations on Capitol Hill. It was also the National Day of Prayer. The President met with Evangelical leaders and signed an Executive Order advancing religious freedom. The President's decision to visit Israel on his first foreign trip keeps a campaign pledge. It also further underscores the warm and close bonds this White House is intentionally building with the Israeli people and government, a sharp contrast to the last eight years. President Obama skipped Israel on his first visit to the Mideast in June of 2009. I'm very encouraged that the President is coming here to the epicenter. He will meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Reuven Rivlin, visit key religious and historic sites, and outline his vision for peace. He may also meet with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem, though that has not been confirmed. He just met with Abbas in Washington on Wednesday. The decision to visit Rome -- and meet with the Pope -- will underscore the President's efforts to strengthen ties to Christian leaders. His emphasis, so far, has been with Evangelical leaders, many of whom helped him win the presidency. The decision to visit Saudi Arabia first was dramatic for a leader who consistently attacks "radical Islamic terrorism" and called for a "Muslim ban" during his campaign. But Mr. Trump has been intentionally -- and rightly -- reaching out to Arab Muslim leaders in recent months to forge a working alliance against Iran and ISIS. He recently met with the Saudi Deputy Crown Prince, along with Jordanian, Egyptian, Iraqi and Palestinian leaders. “Saudi Arabia is the custodian of the two holiest sites in Islam, and it is there that we will begin to construct a new foundation of cooperation and support with our Muslim allies, to combat extremism, terrorism and violence,” Mr. Trump said, “and to embrace a more just and hopeful future for young Muslims in their countries." "Our task is not to dictate to others how to live, but to build a coalition of friends and partners who share the goal of fighting terrorism and bringing safety, opportunity and stability to the war-ravaged Middle East,” he said. “Tolerance is the cornerstone of peace,” Mr. Trump said at a ceremony at the White House, in which he said he would go to “Saudi Arabia, then Israel, and then to a place that my cardinals love very much, Rome.” "The Saudi stop will consist of three meetings for Mr. Trump: one with the current monarch, King Salman; a gathering of the Gulf Cooperation Council, which consists of Saudi Arabia and other Persian Gulf countries; and a broader meeting with Arab and Muslim countries," reports the New York Times. —————— Without Warning — my new thriller about ISIS operatives launching catastrophic terrorist attacks inside the U.S. using chemical weapons captured in Syria, and the hunt for the ISIS leader by a secret coalition of Israel, Egypt, Jordan and the UAE — is now available in hardcover, e-book and audio formats from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, CBD, Lifeway, and your favorite general market and Christian bookstores. To order online, please click here. Pastors and ministry leaders:  to begin planning your own tour of Israel in July 2018 that allows you to bring your people to the Epicenter Prayer Summit, please click here. Lay people: to learn more about The Joshua Fund’s next tour of Israel and attend the Epicenter Prayer Summit in Jerusalem — and to register while there is still space — please click here. ——————— Would you like to make a secure, tax deductible investment in The Joshua Fund (www.joshuafund.net)? This is the non-profit organization that my wife, Lynn, and I founded in 2006 to educate and mobilize Christians to bless Israel and her neighbors in the name of Jesus, to care for the poor and needy in Israel (both Jews and Arabs) with food and other humanitarian relief, care for Holocaust survivors, care for Syrian and Iraqi refugees, and strengthen the Church in the epicenter. The Joshua Fund is a member in good standing of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. Please click here to learn more. Thanks so much! Click here to read the 2016 Joshua Fund Donor Report — and watch the short videos, as well Subscribe (free) to the RSS feed (click here) and receive every new posting on this blog directly via email. joelcrosenberg | May 5, 2017 at 4:33 am | Categories: Epicenter | URL: http://wp.me/piWZ7-7G6