October 16, 2026

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, ‘I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed Me.‘” (Genesis 22.12-14)

REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

I saw a post yesterday which said, “The Bible does not say we have to support the 21st century Israel.” I had to shake my head in response, not merely with what I used as a reflection connection between that statement and the scripture which is repeated again today for our consideration, but with the understanding that regardless of the century, decade, week, day, hour, minute or second- we are to “support” Israel. No, I do not mean that such support is the empowerment of military engagement solely or political rhetoric in a wide variety of media or with financial assistance as an absolute. Such things legitimize their belief to have a right to fight upon their own volition against a sworn enemy (of them, God and us) with worldly resources and intentionalities. Do we dare believe that something is too big for God to handle? Do we not read how God saw all that was going to happen in Israel and to Israel for which He had not already resourced, prepared and instructed them to do? God will not allow us to be tempted beyond our God-given capacity and resource. We may certainly put ourselves into a position of self-determination and thus ask God to take a back seat but just because we can do such a thing does not mean we should do such a thing. In truth, the biblical witness say that we should not. It always declares that because God can do a thing, He will do a thing. We know that is not true either. We need only to look at the cross and see the self-determination of Jesus to deny Himself for our sake in order to glorify God and fulfill His promise to His people. Jesus, God’s Only Begotten Son, could do a lot of things but He didn’t. It would have only served Him and not God nor us. We might consider a similar attitude for ourselves.

Does this mean we should surrender ourselves as martyrs to the enemy? Absolutely not. Abraham did not surrender to withholding either of his sons. He surrendered himself to the word and will of God. God had already made a way. It is up to us to follow it. We might disagree with the path and not the journey. But, there is only one door, one way, one entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven both on earth and in Heaven. Jesus is that way. His way was, is and will always be obedience to God’s word and complete trust in it. So, should we support Israel in the 21st Century? Absolutely! Should we support the 21st Century Israel (meaning what it has become today)? Yes, as much as Jesus supported her in the first century. As much as Abraham trusted God in the 21st Century B.C.! Now that is something to think about and consider for yourself. Therein lies the paradigm of how we ought to be living and conducting our lives in response to God and in relationship to others, including our enemies.

Mighty ones of God, you choose; but as for me and my house- we choose to serve the Lord our God.

TODAYS’ PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING:

Father, in these days we are finding the need to believe even more than ever before. We all have known trouble, some in greater ways than others, but You are offering us the assurance that we will not be consumed by it forever. Regardless of the “time” we are in and the “time” we have been given, we ask for Your Holy Spirit which Jesus asked You to share with us, to lead and guide and direct us in the paths we should go. Teach us what we still need to learn. Empower us to put that learning into action. Bless our actions not as a works righteousness endeavor, but as righteous works of faith, hope and love in Jesus’ name. AMEN.