Worthy Brief - 12/2/2024
Friend, excuse me, could you direct me to the promised land?
Isaiah 43:19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
It is among popular "Christian" belief that an abundance of material and other blessings follow those whose hearts are truly after God and that those who seem to consistently struggle to that end, cannot possibly be in God's perfect will. I want to submit to you a realization I had about this very thing. I think we might have it all backwards.
Almost all the great men of faith I've read about in the Bible had to spend some time in the wilderness. Abraham, Moses, John the Baptist, just to name a few.
God had to make them desperate. He had to cause them to be quiet and undistracted enough to hear His still, small voice. He had to make them hungry and thirsty enough to cry out for a miracle.
Interestingly, the word for wilderness, in Hebrew, is "meed-bahr". And meed-bahr comes from the word "leh-da-behr", which means to speak. Hmmm.
Some of us are walking through the desert right now. It's hot by day -- there is only rugged, thorny, sandy terrain for miles and miles and there seems no end. By night, the wind is unbearably cold and we stumble over things we can barely see. Snakes and scorpions live here. It seems like a lonely place.
But this is actually a place of blessing! It is for our growth, and ultimately for our prosperity that God has brought us here! Like it or not, the wilderness is where He can speak to us most effectively. It is the place He can most easily get our attention. It is the place we will cry out to God and truly listen for His voice.
Friend, know that God is with you today! He is walking along with us through this wilderness and longing to comfort us! Let's cry out to Him and heed His voice! The promised land awaits!
Your family in the Lord with much agape love,
George, Baht Rivka, Obadiah and Elianna
(Melbourne, Florida)
Editor's Note: Latest video: Syria Collapses; Is Isaiah 17 on the horizon?
Editor's Note: Feel free to share any of our content from Worthy, including Devotions, News articles, and more, on your social platforms. You have full permission to copy and repost anything we produce.
Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out!
Editor's Note: Dear friends — we are going to be heading WEST!!! Now booking in the following states: Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, and Arkansas …. If you know Pastors, Rabbis or Ministry Leaders who might be interested in some powerful Israeli style Hebrew/English worship and a refreshing word from Worthy News about what’s going on in the Land, please let us know how to connect with them and we will do our best to get you on our schedule! You can send an email to george [ @ ] worthyministries.com for more information.
Iran In Race To Develop Atomic Bomb, Warn Intelligence Chiefs (Worthy News In-Depth)
Iran held a key national military ceremony Sunday amid mounting concerns it could have an atomic bomb soon.
Ukraine Suggests Giving Up Territory In Exchange For NATO Umbrella (Worthy News In-Depth)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has, for the first time, publicly suggested bringing Ukrainian territory he controls under the NATO military alliance umbrella while all Russian-occupied areas could remain under Moscow’s control until a diplomatic settlement is reached.
Flood-Stricken Malaysia, Indonesia Face More Deaths
Malaysia and Indonesia faced more suffering Friday, with Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim barring his cabinet members from going on leave after the displacement of over 90,000 people in a growing flood disaster that authorities fear could be the country's worst in a decade.
Insurgents Breach Syria’s Second-Largest City
Syrian opposition groups have breached Syria's second-largest city, Aleppo, after blowing up two car bombs and fighting with government forces on Friday in clashes that have killed some 200 people, a Syria war monitor and witnesses say.
Australia Bans Social Media For Minors Under 16
Setting a benchmark for jurisdictions worldwide, Australia has banned social media for children under 16. with the government saying that " the safety of our kids is a priority.”
Serbs: ‘15 Minutes of Silence For Victims Of Roof Collapse’
Protesters in Serbia stood in silence for 15 minutes on Friday for the victims of a roof collapse in a northern city that killed more than a dozen people and underscored concerns about corruption in the Balkan nation.
Clashes Erupt As Georgia’s Premier Halts EU Membership Talks
Tensions remain high in Georgia’s capital, where police and protesters clashed after the country's ruling party suspended negotiations to join the European Union until 2028
British Legislators Take First Step Toward Assisted Dying
British legislators have agreed to legalize assisted dying for some terminally ill people, despite concerns the law could be misused to pressure patients deemed ‘unfit’ to live longer.
Starbucks Overlooking Nuclear North Korea
One may be forgiven for thinking twice about enjoying a coffee here. Yet a South Korean border observatory overseeing a quiet North Korean mountain village was precisely where the Starbucks coffee chain decided to open an outlet on Friday.
Romania’s Top Court Demands Recount In Presidential Poll
A pro-Russian presidential candidate has condemned Romania's top court's decision to order a recount of votes in the first round of the presidential election.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israel Strikes Hezbollah Facility in Syria Amid Intense Fighting in Aleppo
Amid intense fighting in Aleppo, Syria's second-largest city, Israeli Air Force fighter jets tested the fragile ceasefire in Lebanon on Saturday with strikes targeting infrastructure in Syria near a border crossing with Lebanon. Israel stated the site was "actively" being used by Hezbollah for weapons transfers.
Hopes For Normal Saudi-Israeli Relations
Saudi Arabia has softened its position on Palestinian statehood, telling Washington that “a public commitment” from Israel to a two-state solution “could be enough” for the Gulf kingdom to normalize relations with the Jewish nation, according to Saudi and Western officials.
Inside the United States
ICE: Nearly 180,000 Noncitizens Deliberately Not Detained, Roaming Free in US Cities
In the second and third quarters of fiscal 2024, U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement agents removed nearly 68,000 illegal border crossers, ICE says. ICE claims the number “reflects a 69% increase over removals during the third quarter in fiscal year 2023, and is more than 140% of ICE removals for all fiscal year 2023.”
Trump Pledges To Defend US Dollar Against BRICS Currency
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump warned Saturday that he would impose 100 percent tariffs on imports from BRICS countries if they threaten the U.S. dollar as the world’s reserve currency.
Christian News
Christians Mourn Passing of Hal Lindsey, Author of ‘The Late Great Planet Earth’
Evangelical Christians have plunged into mourning after Hal Lindsey, who explained the Biblical “signs of times” to millions worldwide, passed away at the age of 95.
Worthy Insights
Attacks in Aleppo ‘ostensibly good news for Israel,’ JISS senior research fellow says
The Islamist attack on Aleppo is “ostensibly good news for Israel,” Daniel Rakov, a senior research fellow for the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, said in a Saturday post to X/Twitter.