Worthy Brief - 4/14/2023
Friend, stand on the wall!
Ecc. 1:5-6;9 The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises. 6 The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes, ever returning on its course. 9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
This week could be prophetically significant as events are unfolding throughout the world.
The writer of Ecclesiastes was aware of cycles in nature, how they repeat themselves. Some have noticed another interesting historical cycle that awakens our awareness at this time of year. The dates April 15th-21th contain an interesting pattern. This is a time frame that has seen the birth of much havoc in the world. Historically this is when the birth of Rome and the Roman empire took place, the birth of Napoleon, and the birth of Hitler and Nazi Germany occurred. Currently, in our day, Iranians will celebrate the birth of their leader Ali Khamenei who has called for the annihilation of the Jewish state on April 19th.
This time frame is also key in American history as these dates mark times when wars have begun; among them, The Revolutionary War, the Civil War, the Mexican-American War, and the Spanish-American War.
Historically, this time frame also includes when Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, the Titanic sank, America abandoned the gold standard, the Waco Branch Davidian debacle, the Oklahoma City Bombing, the Columbine High school massacre, the Virginia Tech shootings, the Boston Marathon bombing, and finally, the ecological disaster of BP Oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Friend, anniversaries can be positive, and awaken joyful memories, or...they can recall difficult moments which cause us to brace inwardly and wonder if some kind of trouble will arrive once again. God is the Lord of history and His purposes stand for our good in any case, so we needn't fear the future under His care. During this season when much trouble has been seen in history, let us be watching and ready to stand in the gap and to unleash prayers as the need arises -- for truly it is the season for believers to standing on the wall.
Your family in the Lord with much agape love,
George, Baht Rivka, Obadiah and Elianna (Going to Christian College in Dallas, Texas)
Arad, Israel
Editor's Note: Worthy Wrap-Up Episode recorded from Israel: Convergence of Events ... Is this a water breaking moment?
Iran exploited Syrian earthquake to smuggle weapons, military equipment
Tehran took advantage of the earthquake that devastated parts of Syria and Turkey in early February, killing tens of thousands, to smuggle weapons and military equipment, according to Reuters.
Efforts to forge Saudi ties said to be on ice as tensions with Palestinians spike
Saudi Arabia’s interest in establishing diplomatic relations with Israel has cooled in recent months amid ongoing violence in the West Bank and clashes at the flashpoint Temple Mount site, US media reported this week.
Mecca hit by “plague of locusts” during Ramadan rainfall
Social media was abuzz with videos showing an infestation of unidentified bugs at the Great Mosque, the holiest mosque in all of Islam. It is the focus of the hajj, the pilgrimage, which draws millions of Muslims a year to Saudi Arabia. The swarm went unreported on Al Arabiya and other Arab media. The bugs appeared after an unseasonal rain that fell four days ago during Umrah, a lesser pilgrimage festival.
Dutch Court Challenges “Obsessive” Sperm Donor With Hundreds Of Children
An “obsessive” sperm donor believed to have fathered more than 550 children in the Netherlands and around the world was challenged in a Dutch court Thursday to force him to stop donating.
French President Macron Defends Taiwan, US Remarks
French President Emmanuel Macron has defended challenging the U.S. superpower status and saying that France should not get caught up in escalating tensions between the United States and China.
Hungary Withdraws From Russian-Controlled Bank After US Sanctions
Hungary's nationalist government has decided to withdraw its representatives from the Russia-controlled International Investment Bank (IIB) and will quit it after the U.S. imposed sanctions late Wednesday and planned more punitive measures.
Ecuador Attackers Kill Nine Fishermen
Security forces in Ecuador are searching for some 30 gunmen who killed nine men working at the fishing port of Esmeraldas, officials said.
Biden “At Home” In Ireland
Saying "I'm at home," U.S. President Joe Biden addressed Ireland’s parliament Thursday, a day after he said that Northern Ireland must “not go back” to the violence that scarred it for years.
Saudi Arabia hosts delegations from Iran and Syria to discuss restoration of diplomatic ties
In a big show of thawing relations with both Iran and Syria, Saudi Arabia on Wednesday hosted delegations from the two countries intending to restore severed diplomatic ties with each of them, the Times of Israel (TOI) reports.
US Sanctions Individuals In Hungary
The United States lashed out at Hungary for its “eagerness” to have friendly ties with Moscow and imposed sanctions on three individuals of a Budapest-based Russian-controlled bank.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Iron Dome on alert in the north for final Friday of Ramadan, Iran’s Quds Day
Israel has readied its air defenses amid fears of a security flare-up on Friday when Palestinian worshipers will throng the Al-Aqsa Mosque for Ramadan prayers and Iran will commemorate its annual “Quds Day” with anti-Israel activities.
Inside the United States
FBI Detains Alleged Leaker Of US Intelligence Documents
Several sources confirmed that a 21-year-old U.S. Air Force National Guard employee has been arrested over the leak of hundreds of pages of U.S. classified military intelligence.
North Dakota passes laws banning transgender girls from playing on female sports teams
North Dakota has now passed two laws which prohibit transgender girls and women from playing on female sports teams in K-12 and at college level.
Christian News
New study reveals hidden portion of the Gospel of Matthew
A new study by the Austrian Academy of Sciences (AAS) has brought to light a previously hidden section of the Gospel of Matthew, Christian Today reports. The study and its findings have been published in the New Testament Studies journal.
India Supreme Court to hear case by Catholic Archbishop requesting disclosure of records of religious rights abuses
In a case brought by the Catholic Archbishop of Bangalore, India’s Supreme Court will on Friday consider harsh anti-conversion laws passed in numerous Indian states and consider the church leader’s request to compel the disclosure of records of religious violations in those states, the Christian Post (CP) reports.