Worthy Brief - 7/4/2016
Friend, just trust and walk!
1 Corinthians 10:1-2 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
Exodus 14:12-14 Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, 'Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians?' For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness." And Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace."
The Apostle Paul's discourse in 1 Corinthians 10 recalls the great miracles God performed for the children of Israel during the time of the Exodus. Delivered from Egypt and Pharaoh's slavery, they were dismayed to discover his maniacal rage pursuing them anew, driving them into a deadly corner and imminent destruction. Humanly speaking, their terror and panic was understandable. With their eyes they could only see the wrath of Egypt succeeding at last to utterly destroy them. In that state of mind, how might they have remembered the consecutive miracles God had wrought against Egypt which had brought them to this very place?
Panic has a way of spreading through a crowd, and as it did, the children of Israel bitterly complained to Moses against the Lord. Yet in that desperate moment, with His people full of terror and miserable unbelief, the Lord spoke through His servant Moses declaring His faithfulness and mighty power to save. Stand still! – and see the salvation of YHVH! Nothing to do but stand and be delivered by the mighty Hand...... But then, miraculously separated by fire from their enemies, the children of Israel also needed to walk, to walk by faith on a seabed with walls of water towering on both sides, trusting that the Red Sea would not come rushing down upon them! Truly they were in His hands – beholding once again, the miracles of the Lord!
Friend, we are standing now on the cusp of eternity, and we too, like the Israelites, are facing our test. The world seems to be teetering on the edge of disaster; so much evil surrounding us, as we wonder how and when can we be delivered from this rising tide of demonic threats? Can we learn from Israel's moment of panic? Or will we succumb to the rampant fear all around us? Will we have the presence of mind, the discipline, and the faith to remember the miracles God has performed in the past? These words must speak to us: "Do not fear – stand still – and see the salvation of our God, for the Lord shall fight for us – and we shall be at peace!" Those words in our minds and hearts will inspire us to walk through this dangerous world with faith, marveling at His power to protect and bring us to safety.
Your family in the Lord with much agape love,
George, Baht Rivka, Elianna & Obadiah
Negev Desert, Israel
Editor's Note: Watch George's message: Which voice will you listen to in the last days?
Around the World
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CIA caught off guard by Islamic State’s rise in post-Moammar Gadhafi Libya
CIA chieftains were caught off guard by the spiraling Islamic violence in postwar Libya, suddenly realizing that analysts had never brainstormed what the country would look like and that the White House had not asked.
Austrian Court Overturns Presidential Election, Orders Rerun
In a move that could turn into the next blow to the EU after Britain's exit vote, Austria's highest court on Friday ordered a rerun of the country's presidential election. The landmark decision gives a right-wing candidate the chance to turn his narrow defeat into victory.
Near Russia's border with the Baltics, soldiers on both sides are practicing for war
When unidentified aircraft were speeding toward northern Estonia one recent day, British fighter jets stationed nearby scrambled to intercept them. Screaming across the country, they quickly identified the targets: two Russian fighters and a spy plane. It was just the latest confrontation between the West and Russia in a region that has fast become a tripwire for conflict between nuclear superpowers.
Vladimir Putin News: Russia Sending Largest Warship To Crush ISIS For Good
The latest Vladimir Putin news sees the Russian president send the largest battleship to Syria in an attempt to rid the world of ISIS once and for all.
China to Hold Military Exercises in South China Sea, Raising Tensions
China's military plans exercises in the disputed South China Sea this week, adding to tensions ahead of an international tribunal's ruling that is expected to challenge Beijing's maritime claims in the area.
Pro-ISIS Group Threatens LAX, JFK, Heathrow
Terrorist threats against several airports -- Los Angeles International Airport, London's Heathrow and New York's JFK -- were posted to what has been identified as a pro-Islamic State Twitter account ahead of what is supposed to be a record-breaking fourth of July weekend for travel out of LAX.
U.S., Russia discuss cooperation against Islamic State in Syria
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke by phone Saturday to discuss potentially working together against the Islamic State in Syria.
At least 83 killed, 176 wounded in separate bombings across Baghdad
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20 hostages killed, 13 rescued in Bangladesh after 10-hour standoff
Twenty hostages were killed in a 10-hour standoff between Islamic State terrorists who took over a bakery in Bangladesh and local police. The police stormed the bakery, rescuing another 13 hostages and killing six terrorists, according to reports.
Thousands march through London to protest against Brexit vote
Thousands of demonstrators marched through central London on Saturday in a loud and colorful protest against last week's vote to leave the European Union, a result that has plunged Britain into political chaos and which most people in the capital rejected.
EU extends economic sanctions on Russia
The European Union extended economic sanctions on Russia for six more months on Friday.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Iranian military official: We have 100,000 missiles in Lebanon ready to hit Israel
Speaking on the occasion of al-Quds Day, Iran's annual commemorat al-Quds Day, Iran's annual commemoration of the country’s solidarity with the Palestinian people, the Deputy Commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard said Friday that Lebanon has 100,000 missiles ready to annihilate Israel.
Israel okays 800 new homes in East Jerusalem, West Bank
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman approved on Sunday construction plans for some 800 new housing units in East Jerusalem and the surrounding area, as well as hundreds of new homes for an Arab neighborhood of East Jerusalem.
Nobel Prize winner and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel dies at 87
Elie Wiesel, the venerated Holocaust survivor, novelist, journalist, human rights activist and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, died yesterday in New York after a prolonged illness.
IAF strikes four Hamas targets in Gaza following rocket fire into Sderot
The IAF struck four targets in the Gaza strip early Saturday, following a Friday night incident in which a rocket launched from the strip landed in a public building in Sderot.
Israeli spy agency head holds meetings with Russian defense officials in Moscow
The head of Israel's Mossad spy agency Yossi Cohen visited Moscow on Friday where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin's national security adviser Nikolai Patrushev and the two discussed security issues related to the Middle East, Israeli daily Haaretz reported.
IDF nabs suspects in rabbi's murder, boosts West Bank presence
The Israel Defense Forces arrested several suspects in the Hebron area of the West Bank in the early hours of Saturday, as part of the hunt for those responsible for Friday's terror attack that killed Rabbi Miki Mark.
Inside the United States
California Drought Causing Trees to Die by the 'Millions,' Scientist Says
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New York Daily News: Ban 'God Bless America' from Ball Games
New York Daily News writer Gersh Kuntzman wrote an article Thursday entitled 'Major League Baseball Must Permanently Retire 'God Bless America,' a Song That Offends Everyone,' where he asserts that ''God Bless America' should be sent permanently to the bench.'
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The agency reported on Sunday that it processed more than 2.1 million gun related checks in June, an increase of more than 600,000 over the previous record set last year. That makes June the 14th month in a row to see a new background check record, including every month of 2016. This year is on pace to break 2015's record for most checks in a year.
Toxic algae bloom blankets Florida beaches, prompts state of emergency
Gov. Rick Scott,declared a state of emergency midweek in Martin, St. Lucie, Lee and Palm Beach counties because of the toxic algae bloom that originated in Lake Okeechobee and spread to the beaches.
National debt jumps nearly $100 billion in one day to record high
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California governor signs 6 new gun control laws restricting assault weapons, ammo
California, already known for being one of the strictest states in the country when it comes to gun control, took additional regulatory steps Friday by imposing new restrictions on purchases for assault weapons and ammunition.
U.S. Politics
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Clinton met with FBI over email probe
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Christian News
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Christian Law School Can Be Denied Accreditation Over Biblical Stance on Homosexuality, Ontario Court Rules
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Russia Seeks to Ban Evangelism Outside of Churches; No Religious Gatherings at Home
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