It is most heartbreaking to have one of our Israel-friends tell us that the Israeli court has imposed a heavy fine of abt. 16,000 dollars on the Messianic kibbutz Yad Hashomona  for rejecting the celebration of a married lesbian couple.

Yes, it just happened not in Denmark nor the U.S., but in Israel!

Another friend who has for 12 years lived in the desert of Sin in Israel (“The wilderness of Sin”, Ex 16:1) together with his hard working co-labourers has right now been ordered to pack up their huge camp and leave the country.  Again a solemn court decision.  The irony of it all is that the authorities will hardly find a more wholehearted friend of Israel than that particular Danish man of honor who has more than anybody else sought and prayed for the welfare of the Jewish people (Jer. 29:7).  But the message is plain and clear.  Israel doesn´t want him nor his testimony.

Do we still stand up for Israel?  Indeed, we do, remembering that in God´s own determined time “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob…”  (Rom. 11:26), and that includes the homosexual abomination.  One day they will sob in repentance at the feet of their pierced Savior (Zech. 12:10).  Their enmity of the gospel (Rom. 11:28) and its witness by faithful followers of Christ (like those now packing up) will also be repented of.

We are not the political spokesmen of Israel, but ambassadors for Christ, a rejected Savior in Israel and in our country.  His followers are sometimes sent packing, and yet the preaching of His gospel is still His program.  And our program.  For Israel and the whole world.

Oct. 20, 2012 – jn