Day 269 Hope

 

9/26/2025

 “In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The
Assyrians will go to Egypt and the Egyptians to Assyria. The
Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together. In that day
Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing
on the earth. The Lord Almighty will bless them, saying,
“Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel
my inheritance.” 

Isaiah 19:23-25 

 

This morning Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York City. Prior to his speech, Israel's UN envoy warned of the Palestinians organizing a mass walkout, so as PM Netanyahu was being escorted to the stage, delegates were lining up and marching out in total disrespect. The chair continued to bang his gavel for order to no effect. This is not the first time this Prime Minister has been treated so terribly by supposed dignitaries. It was a very shameful act, and I do not feel that any appointed envoy should be allowed to behave so deplorably regardless of personal feelings.

Regardless, PM Netanyahu had an impressive speech, accurately describing the situation in Gaza and presenting the truth regarding the war's continuation, the truth about Hamas and the truth about the Palestinian people. He also included misinformation surrounding the lawfare against Him in the Knesset. He addressed the problem with false representation through the media, and he presented his topics articulately with sound and compelling supporting documentation. The Prime Minister is set to visit with President Donald Trump Monday.

Today is the 5th day of the 10 Days of Awe, and the focus is A House Divided, with the focus city of Beirut, Lebanon and the 110 cities of the Middle East and North Africa. This prayer certainly comes on an opportune day when so many countries attending the UN General Assembly have voted in favor of the existence of a Palestinian State, demanding Hamas to end the war against Israel and return the hostages. These countries do not realize that to do recognize a Palestinian state would be rewarding Hamas for the evil they committed against Israel on October 7, 2023. But Hamas is not interested in a Palestinian state, nor is it interested in the people of Gaza. All they want is the destruction of the Jewish people. The interesting part about all of this is that Gaza should never have been given to the Palestinians in the first place, and the same with Judea Samaria known as the West Bank. These areas are part of the original boundaries of the land given to Israel by God, and it is supported in scripture (Numbers 34-36; Ezekiel 47-48). God warned repeatedly not to remove the ancient boundaries, or the people would be cursed (Proverbs 22:28; Deuteronomy 27:17). We are seeing the ramifications of this disobedience today. But Israel is a nation of peaceful people, so this division of the land was for the purposes of living in peace with their neighbors, which they did prior to Hamas' assault. I will never understand hatred, especially to extent I am seeing, but this hatred stems back to the original feud between Isaac and Ishmael; Esau and Jacob. Nonetheless, there is hope that one day the Muslim nations of Assyria and Israel will be at peace as noted in our focus scripture in Isaiah 19.

In the meantime the ugliness has spread across the nation and the world, as we see more protests against Israel - antisemitism and anti-Zionism, those who stand with Israel, against Christianity at large, but also anger, rage, and chaos being incited over any thing and every thing. It has been well planned and executed over several years, but we have also been witnessing unsurpassed movement among the younger generation for truth and the desire to have a different life, the one God intended for them to experience and enjoy. Revivals and baptisms were already on the rise prior to the assassination of Charlie Kirk, but since then it has become unparalleled. Younger people are purchasing Bibles and going to church, some for the first time. Thousands of requests for Turning Point USA chapters on universities and high schools are being received. The enemy knows his time is short, and at last, he has overplayed his hand. 

But the end result is in large measure dependent on the response of the church, as God is calling for the body of Christ to repentant and turn back to Him. The world has been witnessing the testimony of members of the President's cabinet and administration unreservedly sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with thousands of people across the world. As the gospel is being proclaimed by Christians in prominent positions of leadership, the church should take heart and be encouraged, find their own courage and boldness and become active participants as Jesus called us to be. When the children of Israel was going into the Promised Land, and Moses was preparing to die, he gave his successor, Joshua, son of Nun, this message: "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you." (Deuteronomy 31:6) He repeated the words "do not fear" three times in consecutive verses. And the Lord calls us to walk in the same manner, trusting Him, not fearing man, but having a respect and fear in the Lord God, because He is holy. This is where our hope comes from.