The Shout of a King Is Among Them

Israel's enemies have long sought her destruction going back to the days of Balaam. Modern Israel finds herself in the same place today as men seek whoever they can find to curse Israel so she will die. This is a foolish and futile effort because "there is the shout of a KING among them," and that King is King Yeshuah Himself, Messiah Jesus. Israel's King is coming soon to reclaim Her for His own and restore the land the enemy has taken from her. God's promises and plans are "yea and amen." No amount of political posturing or positioning will ever change that. Those who curse Israel will be cursed - even the United States of America. Those who bless Israel will be blessed.

 

By Chris McDonald

 

TEXT: Numbers 22:1-8  - And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho. [2] And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. [3] And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel. [4] And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time. [5] He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me: [6] Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blesses is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed. [7] And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak. [8] And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the Lord shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.

 

            This journal deals with events leading up to the prophecies Balaam the prophet gave concerning Israel. These prophecies are recorded in the 23rd and 24th chapters of Numbers, which we will look at in detail in future journals.

 

Balaam was an old covenant prophet during the days of the wilderness wanderings under Moses. The son of Beor, Balaam lost his way with God, gave heed to seducing spirits, and fell victim to the enemy’s seduction and the world’s allure. His reputation of being able to bless and curse people at will made him a huge target for Balak, king of Moab, who found the existence of Israel “troubling” and “distressing.” Balaam gave into Balak’s offer because of covetousness and wound up being slain by the sword of the Israelites during the conquest into Midian and eventually the entire Promised Land.

 

Josh 13:21-22 - And all the cities of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses smote with the princes of Midian, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, which were dukes of Sihon, dwelling in the country. Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among them that were slain by them.

 

            It’s a sad epitaph for one to have known God, to prophesy under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, yet wind up dying with the enemies of the Lord. Such though was the end this once mighty prophet turned soothsayer.

 

            His prophetic utterances concerning Israel are pictures of her future exaltation and restoration, which will take place in fullness under the rule of Messiah during the Millennium Kingdom. Yeshua is the “STAR” that has already come out of Jacob to redeem fallen humanity from their sins and who will rule and reign over Planet Earth from His throne in Jerusalem. Friend, that time is approaching us very rapidly. Soon and very SOON, we’re going to see the KING! Maybe morning, night or noon, the wedding of the bride, the crowning of the groom, we shall SEE the KING when He comes. Israel has the shout of a KING among her today. That shout is the echo throughout the ages that Israel’s time of trouble will soon end with the advent of Messiah and her day of healing, salvation and restoration are soon at hand. Oh Praise God.

 

            Israel’s immediate future looks bleak and to be frank her darkest days are still ahead of her prophetically as a nation. There is a great harvest of souls taking place in Israel right now and that will continue to increase in its intensity into the Millennium. This harvest is a prelude to a great outpouring of judgment that will take place simultaneously with harvest during the Great Tribulation period at the hands of Antichrist. This judgment will not destroy Israel, even though many will think that it will. It is not going to be a good time to be Jewish or a believer in Messiah on Planet Earth under the rule of Antichrist.

 

The Great Tribulation will be God’s ultimate effort to reach His hand out one last time to His chosen people, to reveal to her the salvation He has given her through Yeshua HaMashiach. The day will come toward the end of those dark days when Israel WILL cry, “BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!” The day will come when Israel will see the One whom she pierced so long ago and realize the one with the nail-prints in His hand is their only hope of salvation.

 

            I believe the events leading up to Balaam’s prophesies concerning Israel’s restoration are a foreshadowing of events taking place today setting the stage for these events. We see a concentrated effort by the entire world to curse Israel just as Balak, the king of Moab, did so long ago. The Bible says Balak sought to curse Israel was “because they were many,” and Moab was “distressed because of the children of Israel.”

 

            That underscores to the proverbial “T” the attitude of the Arab world today, which wishes Israel “would just go away.” The very charter of the Palestinian Liberation Operation lists as one of its goals “the utter destruction of the entity of the Zionist entity.” In another statement it declares that the final act of Jihad against Israel will be to drive her “into the sea.” These ruthless cowards and terrorists do not even call Israel by name.

 

            But regardless of what the Arab world wants or seeks to pressure the United States to squeeze concessions from modern Israel today, Israel will not go away! God’s word declares through Jeremiah that there will not be a sun or a moon before “there is no Israel.”

 

Jer. 31:35-37 - Thus saith the LORD, which gives the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divides the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name: If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me forever. Thus saith the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD.

 

            Back in the late 1980s I believe we witnessed right here in America just what happens to a leader and/or even a nation when a person or group seek to curse Israel. When Sadaam Hussein invaded Kuwait in August 1990, it was President Bush the father who mobilized coalition forces and led the attack to liberate Kuwait in operation Desert Storm. However, it was the French and Saudis who pressured Bush Sr. not to finish the job by marching into Baghdad and toppling Sadaam.

 

            Mr. Bush the father betrayed the Shiites of Iraq by calling on them to launch a popular revolt against Sadaam, but later stabbed them in the back by not coming to their aid when Saddam crushed their uprising.

 

            Nevertheless, Bush Sr. was extremely popular in the United States as a result of the victory in Desert Storm. It was also at this time that a tidal wave of one million immigrants started coming to Israel from the former Soviet Union. Israel requested 10 billion dollars in loan guarantees to build homes and create jobs for the newcomers. Instead of offering help, then President Bush 41 gave Israel an ultimatum: there would be no loan guarantees without a halt to Jewish settlement activity in the “occupied territories,” as some call them.

 

            Former Secretary of State James Baker cursed the Jews using the “F” word, saying, “Hey the Jews don’t vote for us anyway,” justifying the Bush administration’s tough stance against Israel.

 

But it was the undoing of Bush 41. In just 18 months his approval ratings slipped from record highs in the spring of 1991 to a humiliating defeat at the hands of an unknown Arkansas governor named Bill Clinton in the fall elections of 1992. Most political strategists said Mr. Bush’s defeat happened for two reasons. One was the Ross Perot factor, which drew votes away from Mr. Bush, but more importantly he lost millions of Jewish votes because of his anti-Israel stance. The Jewish vote went to Mr. Clinton who plunged this nation into 8 years of moral and spiritual anarchy even though we saw some of the greatest prosperity in years during that same time. It’s a horrible indictment on a nation that rejoices at prosperity and praises ungodly leaders who supposedly bring it while destroying that nation’s godly foundations. 

 

            Victor Mordecai, author of “A Tale of Two Masters,” says in a recent article that in April 1991 he was at a national Christian convention in Dallas, Texas where he was told 18 months prior to the elections of 1992 that Israel would be sacrificed by the previous Bush administration for a barrel of oil. At this same “Christian” convention, the rallying cry was heard that America was great because of America’s ability to get oil.

 

“America is tired of paying for Israel’s wars,” was another one of the convention’s themes stated over and over again. This “lobby” was dedicated to telling the Bush administration to listen to the Saudis and do what it needed to do to bring cheap oil to America. The Bush people listened wholeheartedly, especially Baker, who was not going to let the Jewish race get in the way of their steady oil supplies and prices.

 

            America’s greatness is not tied into her financial power – which is slipping every day – it is the foundation of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Word of God! Bible-believing Christians are not Israel’s best friends – they are Israel’s ONLY friends! True Christians who serve the Master are the allies of Israel while those in America who serve the master of mammon are those who will more than likely betray the Jewish people when the heat rises in the end times.

 

            Call it a faulty family tree or just a demonic pattern but it seems the current President Bush has followed the same path as his father. Two weeks before 9/11/2001, President George W. Bush embraced the same Saudi “peace” plan his father did that would have forced Israel back to 1967 borders. Two weeks later, the same Islamic terrorists to whom Mr. Bush had promised Israel’s capitulation hit America. The very morning of 9-11-2001 the United States was set to announce in the United Nations it’s support for a Palestinian state. That meeting was originally scheduled for 10:30 A.M. It never took place because at 8:50 A.M. and 9:10 A.M. two planes struck the World Trade Center buildings and at 9:30 another plane hit the Pentagon. America’s deal with the devil backfired.

 

            During Mr. Bush’s first two years in office we have seen his efforts to liberate the people of Afghanistan from the Taliban and now the Iraqi people during this past spring. He has promised to deal with his two other declared axis’ of evil – Iran and North Korea – in coming years. We believe Mr. Bush has tried to be as obedient to God as possible as the President of the United States. It’s not an easy office and we do not remotely seek to criticize him because the burden he is under is I’m sure extreme at times.

 

But the success or failure of his administration will rise or fall on his efforts to either protect or pressure Israel. If he leaves Israel alone then he will in the minds of many go down as the greatest president in United States history. Tough times require tough people. Those who do nothing but criticize the President (coughing – DEMOCRATS) have had their 10 minutes on the stage and need to crawl back in their cowardly holes and let the people with the guts and fortitude to lead during tough times, lead.

 

            But the Israel issue looms LARGE in Mr. Bush’s reelection efforts for 2004. ISRAEL MUST BE LEFT ALONE. Otherwise, I firmly believe President Bush will lose the 2004 elections just like his father did to Mr. Clinton in 1992. He then will  go down in history as yet another man in the U.S. White House who challenged God by going against Israel.

 

            U.S. National Security Adviser Condaleeza Rice declared three months ago “the roadmap is not open to negotiation.” Well, as we enter into the High Holiday season of 2003, the road map has collapsed because from the beginning it was a blueprint for Israel’s ultimate destruction, which in itself puts it in direct conflict with God’s plan for Israel and His covenant land.

 

            These events today shadow a similar event in Israel’s history when the Arab world of that day (Balak, Moab) sought out a backslidden prophet to curse her so her enemies could gain advantage over her. That was foolish because Israel has the “shout of a KING” among them. I want to say it again – the SHOUT OF A KING is among them.

 

Moab Was So Distressed

 

Numbers 22:1-4  - And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho. [2] And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. [3] And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel. [4] And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.

           

This setting of this journal takes place after the defeat of Sihon, king of the Amorites (Numbers 22:2). The Amorites possessed all the land north of the River Arnon, the northern border of Moab. Israel camped east of Jordan opposite Jericho, and stood ready to enter Canaan itself (Joshua 2:1-6:27). Their existence and position threatened the Moabites and Amorites who had heard what God had done to the Egyptians when Israel was liberated years before.

 

The Book of Deuteronomy was spoken and written here, between the conquest of Sihon and Og and the conquest of Jericho (Joshua 2:1-6:27). It was here that the experience of Balaam and the other events of Numbers 22:1-36:13 took place, as well as all the events of Deuteronomy.

 

Balak was extremely afraid after seeing others so easily destroyed by Israel, so he schemed to get the nation cursed by Balaam, hoping they could then be defeated.  Although the plan failed, Balak eventually learned the secret of how Israel might truly be defeated—by causing them to sin so God Himself would curse them.  We see an example of this in Numbers 25:1-9, which tells of the time 24,000, were destroyed in a plague. Moab, Midian, Balak and Balaam are mentioned 116 times in these passages we plan to cover in this current series of journals for Rosh Hashanah.

 

Moab was a son of Lot (Genesis 19:37), and Midian was the son of Abraham (Genesis 25:2).  Balak was a Moabite (Numbers 22:4), and Balaam was an Edomite, a descendant of Esau, a son of Isaac (Genesis 36:31-32). Many believe Balaam was a mere soothsayer, temporarily used by God; but actually he was a genuine prophet of God until he finally betrayed Israel for reward.  It is evident that he became a soothsayer after the Lord left him because of his sin and refused to inspire him by the Holy Spirit.

 

He had a reputation for making predictions that were markedly fulfilled.  His fame had either reached Balak hundreds of miles away, or he had this reputation while still in Edom and before settling in Assyria.  Balaam's father was, or had been, king of Edom (Genesis 36:31-32). So he already had animosity in his heart toward the Jewish people dating back to the days of his ancestor Esau.

 

The Lord deals with this “ancient” animosity in the writings of Ezekiel. We will deal with that directly soon in a future journal. The root of that ancient hostility is found here in the story of Balaam and Balak. Esau has always hated Israel. But scripture clearly tells us that the joke has always been on Esau even though no one is nor ever will ever be laughing – God hates Esau. I know that is hard to comprehend because we are taught from a child that God loves everyone. Scripture records though that God has weighed Esau’s heart and has seen the contempt he has towards Israel and for that reason the Lord declares Esau an many of heaven. Friend, that sends chills up my back as I write this.

 

Mal 1:3 - And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.

 

Jer. 49:8-10 - Flee ye, turn back, dwell deep, O inhabitants of Dedan; for I will bring the calamity of Esau upon him, the time that I will visit him. If grape gatherers come to thee, would they not leave some gleaning grapes? if thieves by night, they will destroy till they have enough. But I have made Esau bare, I have uncovered his secret places, and he shall not be able to hide himself: his seed is spoiled, and his brethren, and his neighbors, and he is not.

 

Heb 12:16-18 - Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,

 

Rom 9:12-14 - It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.  What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.

 

Balaam (the Greek form) means subverter, or devourer of the people. His Hebrew name means "not of the people; devourer, or foreigner"  (Numbers 22:5). He had a widespread reputation of being able to prophesy and pronounce a curse or blessing on people, and was called by Balak, king of Moab, to curse Israel (Numbers 22:5-6).  Elders or princes of two nations were sent to offer him rewards for cursing Israel  (Numbers 22:7; 2 Peter 2:15) would do to Moab in the latter days (Numbers 24:14-24).

 

From the above we conclude that Balaam was a prophet of God to begin with, being used by Him to make the prophecies of these chapters, after which he went into error and became a soothsayer (Joshua 13:22; Jude 1:11), like Saul who went into witchcraft after the Holy Spirit left him (1 Samuel 10:9-14; 1 Samuel 16:14; 1 Samuel 28:1-25; 1 Chron.  10:13-14). Inquiring of the Lord whether he should go or not; his willingness to go back when he met the angel, and to say exactly what God told him to; sacrificing to God and meeting Him after every sacrifice; having the Spirit of God come upon him; receiving words of prophecy like other true prophets; falling into a trance; being called a prophet,
and calling the Lord "my God" (Numbers 22:18)—these and other facts prove Balaam was a true prophet until he forsook the right way, and went astray into error.

 

We have stated this so many times but it bears repeating again. We are eternally secure in Christ but if we by our own choice CHOOSE to walk away and willfully reject the Lord, we can lose our souls. Nearly 60% of the New Covenant is complete with warnings about one falling away. With the apostasy of the current days these warnings must be taken even more seriously. You CAN fall into error if you are not grounded in the truth. You ARE NOT above being sidetracked and deceived by Satan if your faith is resting in anything other than the cross of Christ. You are NOT able to stand by yourself in this battle for eternity if your heart is easily pulled to the world’s allurements and Satan’s pull. This is the battle of the ages and we are involved in it. Israel will be a vital part of this end time drama. We as Bible believing Christians are also a vital part of this end time drama. BOTH WILL WORK TOGETHER in the culmination of the coming of the Lord.

 

No matter how many efforts are made to curse God’s chosen people we can be sure of one thing – “the shout of a KING is among them!” Glory to God.

 

On May 13, 1948, U.S. General George Marshall wired David Ben-Gurion that if he declared an independent nation of Israel, five Arab armies would march, and within 48 hours not one Jew in the land would be left alive. The rest is well-documented history. In the wake of the 1948 Jewish war for independence, most of the free world, including the United States welcomed the new state of Israel. Finally, after 2,000 years the Jewish people now had a safe place to rest. Here they would no longer fear the massacres as the Hitler Holocaust in which over six million Jews, including over a million children, were exterminated. Yet, more than 50 years later, there is no peace in Jerusalem.  The mindset of the Arab world – the same world as that of Balak the Moabite who offered Balaam the world to curse Israel centuries ago – is that it can lose 99 wars; all they have to do is to win the 100th. 

 

As we see in this narrative Balak never stopped trying to get Balaam to curse Israel even though Balaam’s response was always the same – God has BLESSED Israel and what He has BLESSED, man cannot curse! Balak didn’t get it then and we don’t get it today in America I’m afraid.

 

 

 

Whom God Blesses Is Blessed, Whom He Curses Is Cursed

 

Numbers 22:5-10  - He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me: [6] Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed. [7] And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak. [8] And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the Lord shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam. [9] And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee? [10] And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying,

 

            What we see here is Balaam’s first steps in backsliding.  For Balak there was so much at stake that he would not give up easily. Failing to secure Balaam's services, he sent more princes than before. These were more honorable and had greater offers of reward—whatever Balaam asked (Numbers 22:15-17). Again, Balaam answered as a true prophet of God, refusing to go beyond the word of the Lord for any reward.  But he failed to send the new messengers back, though he already knew God's will.  Furthermore, his willingness to ask the Lord again (to see if He had changed His mind) showed a weakness—the love of money (Numbers 22:18-19).  These were his first steps in backsliding.  They weakened his will to resist and caused him to conclude that there would be no harm in going if he spoke only the word of God.

 

He hoped, no doubt, to convince God there would be no harm in his going if he promised to speak only His words.  This shows Balaam's true character.  He was afraid to disobey God, yet he was anxious to get the reward.  He had probably never had such an opportunity to make his gift pay in a material way. God saw the struggle he was having and knew he would eventually go regardless of the outcome, so He gave Balaam permission to go with two conditions:

 

1.   That the men would come and call him while he was resting that night

2.   That he would speak the words, which God would give him

 

This story reveals the doctrine of the perfect and permissive wills of God.  Balaam already had the perfect will of God; through further efforts he secured the permissive will of God as well.

 

The distance from Pethor to Moab was between 500 and 600 miles, about a 20-day journey.  Balaam had plenty of time to consider the reward—at least 40 days, allowing the first messengers 20 days for the journey home and the second messengers 20 days to come to Pethor. I can’t help but wander how many days America has had to consider it’s position on Israel. What is happening these days is truly remarkable. Over the last 10 years many major world figures have been involved in Middle East and the peace process concerning Israel’s land. These are some of the most influential political and business leaders in the world. They have ALL pushed Israel, at the request and bribery of the Arab world, to give up God’s covenant land. Their influence has persuaded Israel to participate in what is called now the “land for peace” scheme. Israel is NOT to give up her covenant land; the land was a gift from God to Abraham and his descendants through the Abrahamic covenant. It has greatly failed and this nation – the apple of God’s eye – is now at the most dangerous point in her history.

 

Today, the Muslims have pressured the world powers to help in the “land for peace” plan so they can close in on Israel to destroy her. They have brought her time and time again to the edge of war. The Bible says GOD will be Israel’s protector. The same scriptures gives us indication that in the end times the world at large (more than likely that includes America) will side with the Arab nations and that God will stand with Israel. Zechariah tells us that those who come against Israel will be destroyed:

 

Zech. 12:9

And it shall come to pass in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

 

            The church world has joined in this foray of public position against Israel as well. I believe Balaam in this journal is a type of the backslidden church who is also being bribed by the world system to curse Israel. Why do I say this? Because the church has been called by God to be the prophetic voice to the world! WE have been called to be HIS VOICE speaking truth and life to a world lost and dying in sin. Instead we have gone after the doctrine of Balaam, which pushes worldly gain and riches instead of obedience to God. Many churches believe they have replaced Israel in significance and have taken over all of God’s promises originally given to Abraham for the Jewish people. Instead of us recognizing we are grafted into the vine, we have succumbed to the “error” and the “doctrine” of Balaam.

 

It’s a doctrine that is called in many circles “replacement” theology. Recently the Vatican, representing 900 million Roman Catholic followers, signed an agreement with the Palestinians, who represent 1.2 billion Muslims, about the future of Jerusalem. They are attempting to force Israel to share Jerusalem, but in essence they are publicly coming against the covenant of Israel.

 

While the U.S. seems to be the only nation to be standing with Israel, THIS nation has also given into the spirit of Balaam seeking to sponsor the “land for peace” plans as a result of pressure and bribes put on us by the Arab world as well. Balak’s spirit is alive and well today on Planet Earth. The bribe today is now OIL and oil will be the noose around America’s neck.

 

Since 1989 the U.S. sponsored the Madrid, Oslo, Wye, Tenet, and Mitchell “land for peace” plans, which are all contrary to the word of God. We have a fair and loving God. He has allowed this process to play out for nearly 15 years now on the world stage. He seems to be silent each day listening to the arrogance and threats on the world stage, especially the voices of the PLO. But sadly some of those voices have not only been Arab voices – they have been American and even more sadly – Christian.

 

The restraining hand of the Lord is the only thing that has kept America from total destruction over the past 5 years especially on September 11th. The events of 9-11-2001 were a mere wake-up call, which cost nearly 3,000 people their lives. Just as the Lord sought to restrain Balaam from going along with Balak, He has sought to restrain America from following this path of destruction. There were close calls before 9-11-2001, which was a direct hit. But even the 9-11 attacks could have been much worse. Many prophetic voices have spoken since 9-11 and said this attack was not God’s direct judgment on America – it was just a loving warning from our spurned Heavenly Father.

 

The Lord’s patience is beyond man’s comprehension, including mine. I know though that His patience is a righteous patience that seeks to bring us back as nation to true repentance with a heart only for Him. He does not wink at the shedding of innocent blood through abortion, the confrontation and intimidation of the gay agenda, the materialism, and the debauchery of the United States pressuring Israel at times to make deals with the terrorists that we claim are enemies of peace. I can guarantee you this one thing about the PLO. AMERICA would not put up with one SECOND of suicide bombings in America if it was proven the PLO was behind it. We’d have forces in Gaza City before nightfall. But we are hell-bent on making Israel release terrorists from jails that are committed to Israel’s destruction because we don’t want to offend Arabs who are begging us to curse Israel as Balak did Balaam so long ago.

 

Don’t come against the land of Israel and don’t touch Israel – the apple of God’s eye. You will pay the price.

 

Before we move on let me make an important statement here. I know some read this and say, “well Israel is not perfect and she doesn’t believe in Jesus as the Messiah.” That is true. I can’t explain the heart of God but I will say this. Israel has always had a special place in God’s heart and plan. No matter whether she has been backslidden (where she is now) or in obedience to God, He has always had a special plan of protection over her. When nations were brought against her in the Old Covenant to chastise her for her sins, God Himself would later destroy those nations. I can’t understand that. You can’t understand that. I don’t know how to explain how God raises up a nation to chastise his people, then turn to destroy that nation later for its acts. It sounds unfair on the surface but we know God is never unfair nor unjust. That is the ONE thing we CAN be sure of. But that is how God has dealt with Israel since she came out of Egypt.

 

 

The Word That I Shall Say Unto Thee, That You Will Do

 

Numbers 22:11-20  - Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out. [12] And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed. [13] And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the Lord refuses to give me leave to go with you. [14] And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuses to come with us. [15] And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honorable than they. [16] And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me: [17] For I will promote thee unto very great honor, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people. [18] And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more. [19] Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night that I may know what the Lord will say unto me more. [20] And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.

 

After God restrains Balaam long enough to see that Balaam is set in his ways, the Lord finally relents yet puts a huge condition on Balaam’s march to Balak – “speak only what I tell you to speak.” Again, Balaam was not a heathen soothsayer at this time – he was a prophet of God. America so needs a prophetic voice today that is not in bed with the world. Let me clarify that even more - the American church needs a prophetic voice that is not in bed with the world. We in the church cannot say God has not prewarned us of the days ahead. Anyone with eyes to see or ears to hear see the events around us and KNOW that the days of harvest and judgment are rapidly approaching.   The World Trade Center and Pentagon terrorist events of 9-11 opened the eyes of some to the true nature of radical Islam. But even the terrorist events of 9-11 have not prevented this nation from returning to its sinful, divisive, rebellious, arrogant ways just two years later. The hatred for the things of God and Christianity is at a fearful high pitch right now. Men are blaspheming the foundations and the Creator that are protecting us from future attacks.

Balaam was headed to see Balak without God’s approval yet with God’s permission. It speaks to us of God’s creation of man’s freewill. We are free to make our own decisions. It is God’s will that we follow righteousness and reap goodness and peace. But if we willfully disobey God by an act of our will – we will reap destruction.

 Much of what America is doing today is not being done with God’s approval but it is setting in order the events for the plan of God on Planet Earth in the very near future. That’s one possible reason why we have not been judged harsher, at least in direct terms. There would be a purpose to Balaam’s prophecies, which would come later, but this prophet of God was headed for a meeting with men seeking to curse God’s chosen people.

 

In the plan of God Israel will one day be the center of the nations. She is the apple of God’s eye. She is also the anvil by which God will judge nations.

 

Zech. 12:1-3 - The burden of the word of the Lord for Israel, saith the Lord, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him. [2] Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.  [3] And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.

 

With the rebirth of Israel and Jerusalem the capital, the nation of Israel becomes an anvil for false views of God and Bible doctrine. Most religions of the world do not recognize God’s covenant over the land of Israel. Some believe the Jewish people had a covenant, but this covenant is no longer in effect. God is using Israel to now show the literalness of His Word. The rebirth of Israel confronts false teaching, doctrine and prophets. Israel has become an anvil to break the false doctrines and misunderstandings of the Bible.


            Even though Balak recognized Israel’s greatness, he did not recognize her God-ordained right to possess the land around him. For that reason he was willing to pay whatever price – even to a mad prophet – to curse Israel at any cost. Islam today does NOT recognize the same covenant God has made with Israel. Most Muslims believe God made a covenant with Abraham and Ishmael and believe the Koran, not the Bible, is the word of God.

 

            The Koran fails to mention Jerusalem even once, and it does not mention the rebirth of the nation of Israel. Jerusalem is mentioned 811 times in the Bible. The rebirth and ultimate exaltation of Israel and Jerusalem is mentioned on page after page in the Bible, while the Koran is silent. The rebirth of Israel as a nation shows the authority of God’s word. His covenant with Israel, which He made prior to her exodus out of Egypt, is still in effect today. It is the anvil against the Koran. Israel is PROOF that the Koran and Mohammed are wrong!

 

            This tension between Israel and the Muslim world can never be peacefully resolved. For Islam to recognize the nation of Israel would be an admission that the Koran and Islam are wrong. Muslim fundamentalists refer to Israel as the “Zionist entity.” They will not even recognize the nation of Israel. There is a huge confrontation coming between the God of the Bible and Islam. The heart of the confrontation will be the Jewish control of Jerusalem. God is using Israel as His anvil against Islam. When the Islamic nations come against Israel they will be destroyed – along with any other nations assisting them.

 

            God is also using Israel as an anvil against the false teachings within the Christian church. There are doctrines called replacement theology and covenant theology that have many branches to them. In both, believers hold that the church has now replaced Israel in the everlasting covenant. These doctrines hold that God has no future plan with the nation of Israel and when Israel was destroyed in A.D.  70 it ended the everlasting covenant. According to the replacement teachers, Israel fell under the curse of the law, but all the BLESSINGS in the Bible now belong to the church. How demented and demonic can we be? But it you listen close to the prosperity message being preached by many today, the root of what they teach rest in this ungodly doctrine.        

            These doctrines are in stark contrast to what the prophet Jeremiah states:

 

Jeremiah 31:35-37 - Thus saith the Lord, which gives the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divides the sea when the waves thereof roar; The Lord of hosts is his name: [36] If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the Lord, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever. [37] Thus saith the Lord; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the Lord.

    God has used the rebirth of Israel to prove that what He says is truth and not error. He commanded Balaam to speak the words of the Lord. The prophecies Balaam would utter about Israel are prophecies along with words from other prophets that stand today. Man-made doctrines and false prophets have tried to alter this covenant but it will never change the word of God! God is very serious about His Word. Jeremiah declares that the Lord will “hasten my word to perform it.” That hastening is taking place in these latter days.

Many well-meaning believers have fallen victim to the false doctrines of today to the point they find themselves working against the move of God on Planet Earth. Many fail to support God’s covenant nation and can be against it because of a false understanding of Israel and the everlasting covenant. Others don’t fight against it – they are just willfully ignorant of it. Others wind up like Balaam – selling out for profit to curse God’s people.

 

No matter the case friend, it is a very serious thing to be on the wrong side of God when He is defending His everlasting covenant. The wrong doctrine can cause a person to be apathetic toward Israel and the Jews. This can lead to the failure to pray for and support Israel in a time of crisis. This incorrect doctrine blinds a person’s ability to see God’s judgment falling on America for forcing Israel to give up her land. It was imperative Balaam speak only the words God would put in his mouth concerning Israel. It is imperative America do the same. Our national existence rests on it.

The Madness Of A Prophet, The Wisdom Of A Donkey

Numbers 22:21-31  - And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab. [22] And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the Lord stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him. [23] And the ass saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way. [24] But the angel of the Lord stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side. [25] And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he smote her again. [26] And the angel of the Lord went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. [27] And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff. [28] And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? [29] And Balaam said unto the ass, because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee. [30] And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? Was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay. [31] Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.

            The distance from Pethor to Moab was between 500 and 600 miles, about a 20-day journey.  Balaam had plenty of time to consider the reward—at least 40 days, allowing the first messengers 20 days for the journey home and the second messengers 20 days to come to Pethor.

            God allowed Balaam time to think this over more yet Balaam’s heart continued to be perverse, or stubborn before the Lord. There were ten main reasons for the Lord’s anger against Balaam:

1.   Balaam's disrespect for God's word and integrity in forbidding him to go (Numbers 22:12-20)

2.   His covetousness for reward (Numbers 22:7,17,37; Numbers 24:11)

3.   His hypocrisy in trying to persuade God to let him go (Numbers 22:19)

4.   His seeming desire and attempt to curse Israel (Numbers 22:14; Deut. 23:4-5; Joshua 24:10)

5.   His stubbornness about going in spite of God's command (Numbers 22:19-35)

6.   His lack of desire to do God's perfect will (Numbers 22:12-22)

7.     His perverseness (Numbers 22:32)

8.   His refusal to wait until the men called for him, and arising early to go with the enemies of Israel (Numbers 22:20)

9.   His trying to persuade God to cooperate with him, through repeated sacrifices, so he could get the reward (Numbers 22:19; Numbers 23:1-3,14-15; Numbers 24:1)

10.     His willingness to use every means in seeking to get the reward (Numbers 22:8,19; Numbers 24:1; 2 Peter 2:15-16; Jude 1:11; Rev. 2:14)

 

God foresaw the backsliding of His prophet through covetousness, and how the destruction of many people would ultimately result from the doctrine of Balaam. He sees what we as a nation are doing to pressure Israel into giving up her land and sees how the destruction of many people will result from this madness we are engaged in unless we repent. Our actions always have consequences. Sin never is stagnant and rebellion never goes childless. Seeds or rebellion will reap horrible, eternal consequences.

 

            In one last ditch effort to deal with Balaam’s heart God sends an angel to stand in his way “for an adversary against him.” Balaam was blind to the angel drawn with a sword in his hand but the donkey he rode on was not. Upon seeing the angel, the donkey turns out of the way and runs into the field. Balaam beats the donkey to get it on the right path only to have it the second time thrust itself against the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot. Balaam proceeds to beat the donkey with his staff when the Lord opens the donkey’s mouth and it begins to speak to the prophet.

Now friend, you know you’re having a bad day at the office when your donkey starts talking to you! You know you’re having an even worse day when you find yourself talking back to the donkey like Balaam did!

As both donkey and prophet engage in conversation, Balaam tells the donkey he wished he had a sword so he could kill it. Upon those words, God opened Balaam’s eyes to see that what he was about to receive was what he had wished for the donkey (Numbers 22:29) and perhaps Israel—a sword drawn against them (Numbers 22:31-33; cp. 1 Chron. 21:16).

A similar type experience occurred in the life of another prophet of God – David. In both cases, both men of God had caused God’s anger to be kindled because of pride, arrogance and rebellion. David’s adultery cost him his son; his pride in numbering the people cost him 85,000 men. Balaam’s willful rebellion and resistance against God cost him his donkey; his covetousness would cost him his soul. In both cases the angel of the Lord was sent with a sword.

I believe the death angel is standing at attention over America today. I believe that the time is very close when he once again will draw his sword and men will perish. Joel declares that God will judge the nations that have touched the Jewish people and parted the land of the nation of Israel.

 

Joel 3:1-2  - For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, [2] I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.

 

            The prophet Zechariah says that God will defend Israel and Jerusalem and will destroy ANY nation that comes against Jerusalem.

 

Zech. 12:2-3  - Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. [3] And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.

            God caused the donkey to smash Balaam’s foot against the wall. It could have been worse. God could have caused the donkey to smash Balaam’s head and kill him. But in mercy he warned Balaam to turn around and not do this perverse thing. Peter said the donkey spoke “forbidding the madness of the prophet.” It speaks to us today of the fact that God is using whatever means He can to warn America and the church world that any doctrine or movement opposed to the nation of Israel is madness.

2 Peter 2:13-17 - And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the daytime. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; [14] Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: [15] Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet. [17] These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.

            The Lord has sent America warning after warning since 1991 about its handling of Israel. Since November 1991 when then President George H. Bush (41) started the land for peace process we have suffered calamity after calamity yet our madness continues. There is a growing number of leaders in this nation who really believe Israel is our enemy not our hope. President Clinton continued Mr. Bush’s tactics and now George W. Bush (the son of the first President Bush) has at times used his office to do the same.

            These decisions have brought us to a confrontation with God over the land of Jerusalem and Israel. President Bush has condemned Israel for building settlements on land and get back to peace talks with terrorists. As America has pressured Israel to give up land, warning judgments have hit. Just as Balaam’s foot was crushed in an act of mercy from God, America has suffered warning judgments in hopes it will stem the madness coming from our leaders. Some of the greatest natural and otherwise regular disasters in the entire HISTORY of the United States have occurred during the last three presidencies. Some of these have fallen on the very day we have sought to force Israel to give up her land.

           

            God calls Israel the “apple of His eye.” The pupil is one of the most delicate and sensitive parts of the body. A person will immediately move to defend the pupil from an object that comes near to it. This is the picture God gives to His reaction of touching His covenant nation. There will be reaction from God.

 

At the writing of this journal in early fall 2003, the United States of America took a direct hit from a Category 2 hurricane called Isabel. The storm was a Category 5 storm at one point aimed directly at the East Coast of the United States but more importantly showed signs of a track that would take the center of it directly over Washington, D.C.!

 

Just a few days prior to landfall, the U.S. vetoed a UN Security Council bill that called on Israel to guarantee Yasser Arafat's security. America's U.N. Ambassador John Negroponte stated that the United States does not support the elimination or forced exile of Arafat and believes that his diplomatic isolation is the best course.

He said the United States was forced to use its veto because the resolution failed to name groups such as Hamas and the Al-Aqsa Martyr Brigade, which have claimed credit for numerous suicide bombings and other attacks against Israelis. That same day, the U.S. told Israel they would deduct money spent on settlements from their $9 billion loan guarantee. The U.S. also stated they were considering whether to reduce money spent on the security fence from their loan guarantees. U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Snow reminded Israeli Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel is required to reduce its debt as another contingency of their loan guarantees. Due to Bush Administration pressure, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon delayed his cabinet meeting on Wednesday. The meeting would have discussed the course of the security fence.

            In orchestrated fashion, moments after the U.S. vetoed the UN resolution, Hurricane Isabel dropped from a Category 5 storm down to a weak Category 1. The 3:00 Associated Press radio news headlines were the UN Vote first then the news of the hurricane weakening. Within 24 hours though after the United States pressured Israel on finances the hurricane regained strength and slammed into North Carolina and Virginia with 110 mph winds, causing billions of dollars in damage and killing 38 people. Millions were left without power and thousands were left homeless.

            Believe what you want to but the U.S.’s decision to stand with Israel on one front weakened a potentially catastrophic storm. But our dictates to pressure her on financial matters has caused the President’s critics to reign in on him over one main issue – the nation’s FINANCES! The resurgent storm gained strength prior to landfall and took another bite out of an already weak economy.

The U.S. strategy it seems it to continue to use her money to maneuver Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to do what we say, but only to the point of not angering Jewish and Christian voters. Most Jews want peace and have no problem using covenant land for it, but they also do not want to see Israel in danger. Sixty one percent of the members of Congress attend replacement theology churches and seven percent attend Jewish synagogues. This sixty eight percent favor peace using Israel's land, as long as there are peace and security guarantees from the Palestinians.

It’s a horrific mirror of how Balak bargained for Balaam’s services to curse Israel in exchange for promises of honor and peace.


 

Isabel And The Effects On A Recent Visit By Jordan’s King Abdullah

Sophisticated computer models defined the hurricane on target for the D.C. metro area, which coincided with a visit to America by Jordan’s King Abdullah II. The purpose of Abdullah’s visit was to discuss how to proceed with the Road Map effort, Iraq and bilateral relations.

During Mr. Bush’s meeting with Abdullah, he stated this:

“Mr. Arafat has failed as a leader. And as I mentioned, Prime Minister Abbas was undermined at all turns by the old order -- that meant Mr. Arafat. And the people of the Palestinian territory must understand if they want peace, they must have leadership who is absolutely 100 percent committed to fighting off terror. I believed Prime Minister Abbas when he told me at Sharm el-Sheikh, then at Aqaba, then in the Oval Office, he would do everything in his power to fight terror, that he would work to consolidate the security forces so that he could fight terror. And his efforts were undermined, and that's why we're now stalled. I'm still committed to peace, because I believe the vast majority of people want peace; I'm committed to the road map.

But I'll remind those who focus on the road map that the first thing the road map said was that there must be security in order for peace to advance, that there must be a collective effort to fight off terror. Mr. Arafat has failed in that effort. And, hopefully, at some point in time, a leadership of the Palestinian Authority will emerge which will then commit itself 100 percent to fighting off terror. And then we'll be able to consolidate the power necessary to fight off terror.

And when that happens, the world will come together to provide the conditions for hope. The world will come together to help an economy grow so that the Palestinian people can have a hopeful future. The first thing that must happen is an absolute condemnation and defeat of those forces that will kill innocent people in order to stop a peace process from going forward. “

 

President Bush has expended a great deal of political effort on the Road Map. He does not want to fail. He has assessed that Yasser Arafat is the main reason the peace process has not worked so we will probably see more pressure on Arafat going forward.

To President Bush's credit, he has never invited Arafat to the White House. He has refused both to meet with him and to negotiate with him. He attempted to isolate him in his dealings with Mahmoud Abbas but Arafat continued to interfere until Abbas finally resigned in frustration, on September 6.

 

Now, Arafat has chosen his new prime minister, he is choosing his Cabinet and has called for a cease-fire.

 

President Bush has a lot riding politically in Israel and Iraq. He needs the world community's support for Iraq. Israel had been pressured previously due to that fact. At this stage, the emphasis looks like it may be the elimination of Arafat either obviously or subtly. The White House will probably take the subtle approach, so as not to anger the other Muslim leaders.
It is obvious Arafat is an obstacle to the peace process, and the U.S. has had enough of him, but the world community continues to want to deal with him. The peace process might finally be at the point, after the Abbas resignation that the U.S. will try to isolate Arafat even more. The State Department, along with the world community, have propped him up or turned their head over the past few years.

Now, Bush knows Arafat is an obstacle regardless of who the Palestinian Prime Minister is.   The Arafat situation has been complicated further by Friday's UN General Assembly vote where they passed a resolution that demands Israel halt threats to expel Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and condemns Palestinian suicide attacks against Israelis.  Reuters reported 133 UN General Assembly members voted for the measure, with four opposing and 15 abstaining. The United States, Israel, Micronesia and the Marshall Islands voted against.

 

Under amendments offered by the European Union, the assembly voted to condemn "the suicide bombings and their recent intensification." It also reminded the Palestinian Authority that under the U.S.-backed "road map" for peace, it is obligated to "take all necessary measures to end violence and terror."

Resolution wording also deplored Israel's "extra judicial killings and their recent escalation" and says those killings are both violations of international law and an impediment to relaunching the peace process. 

As Michael Ledeen, Contributing Editor to the National Review, stated recently in a 700 Club interview with Pat Robertson; no peace agreement has ever been agreed to that did not first have a war. In other words, until the terror infrastructure in Israel is dealt with (which could bring in other Arab nations per Psalm 83 and Isaiah 17) the Antichrist will not be able to rise upon Planet Earth and offer the false covenant of Daniel 9:27.

Hurricane Isabel – America’s Foot Being Crushed Against The Wall Again?

North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland took the brunt of Hurricane Isabel's intensity.  The storm was a major event, and a tragedy for those losing friends and family members, but fortunately it didn't hit Washington D.C, Baltimore, Philadelphia or New York City straight on, which would have killed many people and caused billions of dollars in property damage. Initial insurance estimates have the damage at $1 billion (that figure does not include flood-related damage covered buy federal flood insurance), which will place Isabel as the tenth most costly U.S. Hurricane according to the Insurance Information Institute (table below).

 

Things could have been much worse. God’s mercy was seen over America once again because the hurricane’s cost was minimal compared to recent hurricanes that have hit the United States over the past 10 years. The storm still hit the U.S. and it was still a warning judgment from God over our handling of Israel.

Costliest Hurricanes in U.S. History in 2002 Dollars

Estimates of insurance related costs
Storm Name - Year - Cost - In 2002 Dollars

  • Hurricane Andrew 1992 -- $15.5 billion - $19.9 billion
  • Hurricane Hugo 1989 -- $4.2 billion - $6.1 billion
  • Hurricane Georges 1998 -- $2.9 billion - $3.2 billion
  • Hurricane Opal 1995 -- $2.1 billion - $2.5 billion
  • Hurricane Floyd 1999 -- $2.1 billion - $2.5 billion
  • Hurricane Iniki 1992 -- $1.96 billion - $2.1 billion
  • Hurricane Fran 1996 -- $1.6 billion - $1.8 billion
  • Hurricane Marilyn 1995 -- $875 million - $1 billion
  • Hurricane Frederic 1979 -- $752 million - $1.86 billion
  • Hurricane Alicia 1983 -- $676 million - $1.2 billion

    Source: Insurance Information Institute      

The name of the hurricane is very interesting as well. The most famous Isabel in history is Queen Isabella I of Spain, who sent Jews out of her country for not accepting the Catholic faith. It was estimated that 120,000 to 150,000 Jews were sent from Spain the last leaving on the 9th of Av in 1492. The Queen also funded the journey of Christopher Columbus to the New World. Some historians believe the money, gold and possessions confiscated from the Jews helped fund Christopher Columbus. Ironically, America became the nation that sponsored Israel becoming a nation, became a home to 5.5 million Jews and Israel's only friend in the world.

In 1480, Isabella and Ferdinand instituted the Inquisition in Spain, as one of many changes to the role of the church instituted by the monarchs. The Inquisition was aimed mostly at Jews and Muslims who had overtly converted to Christianity but were thought to be practicing their faiths secretly -- known respectively as morranos and moriscos -- as well as at heretics who rejected Roman Catholic orthodoxy, including alumbras who practiced a kind of mysticism or spiritualism.

Queen Isabella and Ferdinand proceeded with their plans to unify all of Spain by continuing a long-standing but stalled effort to expel the Moors (Muslims) who held parts of Spain.

In 1492, the Muslim Kingdom of Granada fell to Isabella and Ferdinand, thus completing the Spanish Inquisition. That same year, all Jews in Spain who refused to convert to Christianity were expelled by royal edict.
Ferdinand and Isabella were given the title "the Catholic" by the Pope, in recognition of their role in "purifying" the faith. Among her other religious interests, Isabella also took a special interest in the order of nuns, the Poor Clares. 

Also in 1492, Isabella was convinced by Christopher Columbus to sponsor his voyage of discovery. The lasting effects of this were many: by the traditions of the time, when Columbus discovered lands in the New World, they were given to Castile.

On March 31, 1492 the Edict of Expulsion (also called the Alhambra Decree) was signed. Every Jew in Spain was forced to choose between conversion to Christianity or leaving the country forever without their possessions. 150,000 Jews left Spain many first went to Portugal, and following expulsion to the Ottoman Empire.

On July 31st (7th of Av), the last Jew left Spain according to some sources and August 2nd (9th of Av), according to others. Columbus sailed on August 3, 1492. He did insist, however, that all of his crew be on board August 2nd, which was the not only the day all Jews had to leave Spain but also the 9th of AV.

            The name, Isabel, in Hebrew is the same as Jezebel. It is the name of the false prophetess. This name has several meanings, one of them is, a ruined dwelling place. Jezebel was called of God to torment the rebellious house of Israel. Any time God's people have rebelled against Him, the Lord always sends something - a messenger or catastrophe - to get their attention. For the judgment or God must begin in the house of the Lord. For Balaam it was the donkey. For Israel under Ahab and Jezebel it was Elijah. For Israel prior to her dispersion it was John the Baptist and the Lord’s Son Himself, Yeshua. Who will be the prophetic voice of the Lord today?

Israel and the United States of America were founded on the Word of God. The enemies of God in both countries have tried to nullify the promises of God. Could the hurricane called Isabel be that something that God has allowed to come to our shores because of this nation's rebellion against God and Israel? Is it possible that the terrorist attacks in both countries have their roots in the nations who have turned their backs against God and His laws?

The history of Jezebel is recorded in 1 Kings, chapter 16-20, 2 Kings 9th chapter, and revelation 2:20. In the 9th chapter of the book of Kings, there are insights that read: the hand of Jezebel: the raging storm; created by God. Could this hurricane reflect these imbedded phrases in the original Hebrew? Are these tragic events that they have been taking place in our country prophetic shadows of things to come? Remember, judgment must begin in the house of the Lord.

When we think of the many, unborn babies who have been murdered in the name of self-serving choices, and the changing of our laws, which were inspired and established upon the Word of God, it is no wonder, then, that the wrath of God is now on the horizon to respond, to a godless people, such as the United States of America.

Are these the beginning of sorrows about which the Scriptures speak?

The Lord Is Trying To Stand In Way Of America’s Perverseness So We Will Repent

Numbers 22:32-41 - And the angel of the Lord said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me: [33] And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive. [34] And Balaam said unto the angel of the Lord, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again. [35] And the angel of the Lord said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak. [36] And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost coast. [37] And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? Am I not able indeed to promote thee to honor? [38] And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak. [39] And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kirjath-huzoth. And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him. [41] And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost part of the people.

As we close this lengthy journal, we see Balaam before the angel of the Lord who asks him why he smote the donkey three times. The angel tells Balaam that the donkey saved his life by crushing his foot because had the donkey not turned away the angel had come to kill him because of his perverseness. The word perverseness here means “headstrong.” America, like Balaam, seems to be headstrong in this effort to pressure Israel into giving up her covenant land.

Balaam was reluctant to go back, but would do so if required.  He should have known he was out of God's will, and should not have started on such a journey in the first place (Numbers 22:12-35). Though given final permission to go to Moab, he was restricted to speak only what God would give him to speak.

Balak apparently went up to the high places of Baal for sacrifice, leaving Balaam and the princes below at Kirjath-huzoth. Kirjath-huzoth means “city of streets.” There is no evidence that Balaam was a worshiper of Baal.  It was to these high places that Balaam was taken for obtaining his first glimpse of the Israelites (Numbers 22:40-41) and from where he will make three prophetic utterances we plan to devote the next three journals in this series to.

 The mad prophet makes three statements to the angel I believe America must make corporately and we must make individually to avert God’s further chastisement and possibly ultimate judgment. He first confesses to the angel, “I have sinned.” America has sinned grievously against God and needs to confess that. This repentance needs to take on more than just patriotic songs and flag buying. It needs to take on the form of a contrite nation on its face before an offended Creator crying out to Him for mercy, rending our hearts and yes even getting in sackcloth and ashes to illustrate our utter depravity without Him and the ugliness of our condition.

Repentance is an ugly business. In a time of utmost arrogance and sickening division in this nation between that which is godly and that which is ungodly, it’s a concept foreign to most, including many in the modern rich church. This repentance needs to start with us individually in the church first, then the church corporately and then the nation corporately. Judgment must begin at the house of God.

Secondly the prophet says, “I didn’t know you were standing in the way against me.” I can’t help but wander if America is doing what she is doing in ignorance right now because we don’t realize the Lord is against us. The sad footnote to September 11, 2001 is that many Americans (and many in the church) thought that all our patriotism was pleasing to God. God was not looking for us to go out and buy flags after 9-11. He was looking for us to rend our hearts.

He was looking for the American government to recognize the fact that America IS Israel’s only friend and when a friend betrays that friend to her enemy over oil – it hurts God deeply. Why? Because when we betray Israel we are betraying HIM. Balaam’s sin was more than just covetousness, even though that was the root of these issues we read about. The thing that almost got him killed was the fact he was co-horting with Israel’s enemies. America is doing the same thing today. We are in bed with the Arab world seeking ways to bring blessing to our shores and curse Israel at the same time. Friend, it won’t work! Why? Because there is the sound of a KING among them! The sound of a KING protects Israel from those who would destroy her. This King is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah Himself – the Lord Jesus Christ.

Lastly, Balaam said “I will get myself back again from this place if it displease you.” America needs to turn around and get herself back to Her Creator. Whether she will do this corporately no one knows. Some predict she will; others predict she won’t. All I know is that we as individuals have a responsibility for our own souls either way. There may not be any hope for America as a nation. But if judgment falls on this nation and a nuclear disaster takes out millions in one swoop, the question then will no longer be how much money we have in our pocket books, it’ll be whether we’re ready to face eternity with God or die lost and spend eternity in hell. It pays for us all to be ready to go into eternity at any second.

Friend, it’s getting late. Some of you are like Balaam, selling your soul to Satan for a little bit of fleeting honor and fame from the world. The wages of that exchange neighbor is death. You and I both are one breath away from eternity each day. As Balaam says in the end of this discourse with Balak – “the words I speak are only the ones the Lord has put in my mouth to speak.” As these journals or warning and exhortation for the hour we live in are but words the Lord has put in our mouth to speak.

            I pray they touch your heart today neighbor. I pray the Holy Spirit is using them as an anvil to break down the resistance some may have against the will of God. Israel is the anvil God is using to break nations. We can either bless Israel and be blessed or we can curse Israel and be cursed. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and the continued hand of mercy of God upon America.

Shalom.

 

My thanks to John McTernan and Bill Koening for use of some of their book Israel, the Blessing or the Curse,” in this journal. Also, information concerning Queen Isabella was sent to us via an email from Bill Koening. Blessings.

 

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Shalom.

 

 

Pray For The Peace Of Jerusalem And The Continued Hand Of God's Mercy Upon America!

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