Worthy Brief - 5/4/2016
Friend, don't lose the wonder!
Exodus 16:15 And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.
When Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt I'm sure several million people were wondering, "How am I going to be fed? How am I going to survive in this wilderness?" Imagine the logistical nightmare. An incalculable quantity of food and water were needed to survive in the desert. Where would it come from? Yet, in this seemingly impossible situation, God provided!
He provided Manna from heaven. When the people first saw the Manna on the ground, they wondered in amazement saying to each other, "What is this?", which is exactly what "Manna" means in Hebrew -- "What is it?" They were receiving the food of angels, [Psalm 78:24-25] which sustained them the entire time in the desert.
But we know what happened as time passed...the people got used to this miraculous provision, began to take it for granted, and even be bored with it, and, of course...the wonder of God's supernatural provision evaporated. Israel lost sight of the miracle that God was doing in their lives each and every day.
Friend, each and every day is a miracle from God. Each day of our lives we walk through a world filled with the wonders and glory of the Lord. But we, too, can become dull and lose the wonder of all that He has done and provided for us, even our very salvation. We need to awaken to the daily miracles of life, and to the never ending opportunities the Lord is opening, to pour His love into us, and through us. As we do, may we always be saying to ourselves, "Wow -- what amazing love is this that's been given to me!"
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
U.S. Defense Secretary Carter says Russia is ‘nuclear saber-rattling’
Defense Secretary Ash Carter used a U.S. military changing-of-the-guard ceremony Tuesday to blast Russian aggression in Europe, saying Moscow is “going backward in time” with warlike actions that compel a U.S. military buildup on NATO’s eastern flank.
Germany pushes for European army
Germany is pushing for a European army in the 28-member EU bloc, according to a white paper put forward by the German government. The army is envisaged to have a joint headquarters and shared military plans.
IS Threatens to Publish British Military Secrets
Islamic State has claimed to have hacked Britain's Ministry of Defense and threatened to publish details of British military personnel.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Differences over missile defense, fine print snag U.S.-Israel aid deal
Negotiations meant to enshrine U.S. defense aid for Israel over the next decade have snagged on disputes about the size, scope and fine print of a new multibillion-dollar package, officials say.
Israel seizes tons of chemicals used for rockets on way to Gaza
Israeli security services recently thwarted an attempt to smuggle some four tonnes of chemicals into Gaza, claiming they could be used to manufacture long-range rockets, it was cleared for publication Tuesday.
3 soldiers wounded in vehicular terrorist attack near Talmon
Three soldiers from the Kfir Brigade were wounded, one seriously, in a car-ramming attack in the Binyamin region of the West Bank on Wednesday evening when a Palestinian driver drove his vehicle into them while they were standing near a checkpoint between the settlements of Dolev and Talmon.
Palestinians in Gaza fire mortar shell at soldiers on border, IDF returns fire
Palestinians in Gaza fired a mortar shell at an IDF unit carrying out operational work on the Gaza border fence on Wednesday.
Inside the United States
In N.Y., White House poised to create first monument to gay rights struggle
President Obama is poised to declare the first-ever national monument recognizing the struggle for gay rights, singling out a sliver of green space and part of the surrounding Greenwich Village neighborhood as the birthplace of America’s modern gay liberation movement.
'Cease and desist' order on Bert & Ernie STD, HIV testing promo
Within hours of Washington Secrets posting a story about a new STD and HIV at-home testing firm using Muppets Bert and Ernie in a promotion, 'Sesame Street' said it was issuing a 'cease and desist' letter to the company, Mately.
House of Representatives Bill Would Recognize Magic as 'National Treasure'
A bill to recognize magic as a 'rare and valuable art form and national treasure' was introduced into the House of Representatives Tuesday.
US combat death in Iraq reflects intensifying war
The combat death of a U.S. Navy SEAL who was advising Kurdish forces in Iraq coincides with a gradually deepening American role in fighting a resilient Islamic State, even as the Iraqis struggle to muster the military and political strength to defeat the militants.
Dem AG Targets 90 Conservative Groups in Climate Change Racketeering Suit
The attorney general of the U.S. Virgin Islands is targeting dozens of conservative and libertarian organizations in a racketeering lawsuit against climate change skeptics that has been widely described as an effort to silence political opponents.
U.S. Politics
Ted Cruz Suspends Presidential Campaign
Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas) suspended his presidential campaign Tuesday evening following disappointing results out of Indiana.
GOP donors: Not a dime for Trump
The Republican donors who helped Mitt Romney raise $1 billion in 2012 have a target figure in mind for Donald Trump: zero.
Donald Trump wins in landslide in Indiana, Ted Cruz drops out
Trump was headed to a 53 percent to nearly 37 percent victory, even with John Kasich winning less than 10 percent of the vote. Sanders was defeating Clinton by 53 percent to 47 percent.
Donald Trump ousts Ted Cruz from race
Donald Trump won Indiana's primary Tuesday, forcing Sen. Ted Cruz from the race and solidifying himself as the GOP's' presumptive presidential nominee -- a result that was unthinkable to most Republicans just a few months ago.
Bernie Sanders Upsets Clinton in Indiana
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) was declared the winner of the Democratic primary in Indiana Tuesday, dealing an upset to Hillary Clinton.
Christian News
59 Percent of Millennials Say Sunday Is Religiously Insignificant; Only 22 Percent Attend Church, Study Finds
The percentage of Americans who believe that the Sabbath is a religiously significant day has sharply declined since 1978, according to a recent poll.
Missouri State booted student from counseling program over Christian beliefs, says lawsuit
Should Christians who oppose same-sex marriage based on religious beliefs be allowed to obtain degrees in counseling?