Day 20 As the Tide Turns

 

1/20/2025

By the time I awakened this morning, the ceasefire had started. I only missed it by an hour, as Hamas provided the names of the three hostages at approximately 4:30 am: Emily Damari, Romi Gonen, and Doron Streinbrecher. It was an exciting morning for me, as I watched these ladies restored to their families. All Israeli citizens in the area gathered to wait for their safe release, a bittersweet moment, because there remains many in captivity. One of the greatest characteristics of the Israeli people is they faithfully demonstrate the scriptural response found in Romans 12:15, "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn."

Notwithstanding the immense cost of the terms to the hostage release to Israel, our morning call was a time of praise and worship, and it was one of great expectation about America's inauguration today. At this writing I can joyfully say that a sense of relief covers our nation for those who realize that only God's great mercy answered our prayers. Now we continue to watch, pray, and stand as watchmen on the wall for Israel and America, that our nation will soon return to one nation under God. There is much work to be done, and we must continue to pray as Paul taught Timothy:

"Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, ² for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence."

1 Timothy 2:1-2

 When asked by the religious leaders, who were trying to trick Jesus into saying something they could charge Him with saying, he responded to their question about the greatest commandment:

"Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.'"

It is my prayer that this will be a time of restoration for our nation, a return to God as the Author and Finisher of our faith. May we stand with Israel as God directs Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his decision making and as he uses Donald John Trump to stand in solidarity with Israel.