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Worthy Brief - 11/8/2024

Friend, don't look back!

Luke 17:32 Remember Lot's wife.

When Yeshua (Jesus) was describing the societal atmosphere of His return, he said these peculiar words … “Remember Lot’s Wife.” It was a warning … especially to the generation of believers just before His return.

In Genesis 19, we read of God’s destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and specifically of how Lot’s wife turned to look at the destruction and was turned into a pillar of salt. [Genesis 19:26]

She turned around … and the warning to us is … don’t look back!

This past Tuesday, the United States witnessed a historic election, with Donald Trump winning the presidential race by a landslide. He launched his political career with the slogan, "Make America Great Again!"

This powerful slogan, reminding many Americans of the nation's dramatic decline since their youth, inspired them to vote in hope of witnessing a restoration of former glory. For some, this was a nostalgic longing; for others, a passion for something that seemed almost irretrievably lost. However one recalls or defines it, America's greatness does seem to be irrevocably fading, and our view is that looking back and longing for its recovery is looking in the wrong direction.

While some call this nation modern "Babylon" or even "Sodom," what we see is a nation of paradox, full of tremendous blessings and, sadly, real wickedness. But however you view her, we believe it is unwise and even dangerous to look back to America's past in hope of that kind of restoration. Since the "Days of Noah" are again upon us, we're not expecting or focused on political solutions but looking toward the Kingdom that is soon coming!

When I worked for the Christian Coalition in the early 2000s, I began to realize that the real issues America faces could not be remedied by politics. Political realities simply reflect a nation's and its people's internal moral and cultural climate. In their drive for power, most politicians are simply responding to or manipulating the current passions of the populace. Laws can be changed, but they will reflect the mores of the people, shaped by media, music, art, and culture. Those influences reveal a nation's true soul. While some leaders are morally superior to others and may seem to offer hope, the real problems which plague society are internal and reflect the deeply rooted sin in human nature. The Gospel of Yeshua, the Messiah (Jesus Christ), is the only path and hope for any degree of national restoration. Anyone who has studied revivals can see this.

So nostalgically looking at the past with a view toward political transformation might not turn you into a pillar of salt but may seriously deflect us from the real hope and task of transformation: the Gospel, which points to the coming Kingdom and the coming King. Any reclamation of greatness, individual or national, will depend utterly on the transforming power of the Messiah and the profound inner work of His Holy Spirit.

Friend, let’s not look back as Lot's wife did toward whatever the "good life" was in Sodom or America; [Luke 9:62]. Any "greatness" that's worth regaining will come from looking UP, not back! Our calling is to make disciples, anticipating the coming Kingdom where politics will not be "as usual" but everlasting righteousness in the presence of our King Yeshua.

Shabbat Shalom and have a great weekend!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Obadiah and Elianna
(Melbourne, Florida)

Editor's Note: Latest YouTube video published: Election Season, Noah's Ark and a Flood

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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.

Around the World
Hungary: ‘Trump Will End War In Ukraine’ (Worthy News Radio)
Hungary's controversial prime minister has expressed joy that Donald J. Trump will become the 47th president of the United States in part because it could help end the Russia-Ukraine war.
Pro-Palestine, Pro-Israel Supporters Clash in Amsterdam
Pro-Israel and pro-Palestine supporters clashed in Amsterdam, where the Dutch capital’s soccer club Ajax played against Maccabi Tel Aviv from Israel amid tight security.
Cubans Face New Total Power Outage as Hurricane Rafael Storms In
All 10 million residents of Cuba were hit with another total power outage on Wednesday, as Hurricane Rafael made landfall on the island’s western coast as a powerful Category 3 storm with sustained winds of 115 mph (185 kph). The hurricane had swept by the Cayman Islands as a Category 1 storm before quickly strengthening to a powerful hurricane on its way to southwest Cuba.
UN Nuclear Watchdog Chief May Soon Visit Iran to Discuss Unresolved Issues
The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog has announced he may travel to Iran in the coming days to discuss unresolved questions about Tehran’s nuclear ambitions and long-suspected intention to build an atomic bomb, Reuters reports.
Chad Struggles to Fight Increasingly Entrenched Islamic Jihadism
The north-central African country of Chad is struggling to fight the increasingly strong presence of jihadist terrorists in its midst, the US State Department has reported. Most of the terrorism in Chad is perpetrated by the Boko Haram Islamic extremist insurgency group that is also active in the neighboring countries of Sudan, the Central African Republic, Cameroon, Libya, Nigeria, and Niger.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israeli Airstrikes in Lebanon Kill 60 Hezbollah Terrorists
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated on Thursday morning that sixty Hezbollah terrorists were killed in Israeli airstrikes targeting 20 locations north of Lebanon's Litani River over the past day.
Former State Dept Envoy Says 2020 Israeli-Palestinian Peace Plan Still Relevant
The 2020 Israeli-Palestinian peace plan put forward by President-elect Donald Trump is set to be revisited upon his return to office in January 2021, according to a former senior aide who is reportedly part of Trump's transition team.

Inside the United States
McCormick Wins U.S. Senate Race, GOP Majority Now at 53
Pennsylvania voters will send Dave McCormick to Washington after all.
Federal Reserve Confirms Quarter-Point Interest Rate Cut
The Federal Reserve confirmed a quarter-point interest rate cut on Thursday, lowering the target range from 4.5% to 4.75%, the second cut made in 2024.
California: Court of Appeals Rules in Favor of Firefighters Placed on “Involuntary” Unpaid Leave for Refusing COVID-19 Vaccination
The US Sixth District Court of Appeals on November 1 ruled in favor of and awarded costs to a group of firefighters in California who were placed on "involuntary, unpaid leave" for failing to comply with COVID-19 vaccine mandates on religious grounds, CBN News reports.

Christian News
Africa Missions Association Aims to Establish Missions in Every African Nation
With headquarters in the US, the Africa Mission Association (AMA) works to unite churches in establishing new Africa-led and funded missions in all 54 African countries, Christian Daily International (CDI) reports.
Egypt Approves Legal Status for Nearly 300 Churches and Christian Centers
In an apparent effort to improve its relations with Egypt’s Christian community, the Islamic Egyptian government last month approved the legalization of 293 previously unlicensed churches and service buildings, All Arab News (AAN) reports.
Sudan: Internally Displaced Christians Forcibly Expelled From Place of Refuge
More than 30 Sudanese Christian refugees were last month forced out of their temporary homes in Sudan’s River Nile state by Islamic residents who said they did not want Christians or black people in their neighborhood, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.

Worthy Insights
Israel signs $5.2 billion deal for next-generation F-15 fighter jets
The Defense Ministry signed a $5.2 billion agreement with Boeing on Wednesday to purchase 25 advanced F-15IA fighter jets, funded through U.S. military aid.
Governing Gaza after War: Israeli Attorneys Explore Plan to Keep Israel Secure
As fighting continues in Gaza with no ceasefire deal in sight, many wonder about the future of the region.
DOJ moving to wind down Trump criminal cases before he takes office
Justice Department officials have been evaluating how to wind down the two federal criminal cases against President-elect Donald Trump before he takes office to comply with long-standing department policy that a sitting president can’t be prosecuted, two people familiar with the matter tell NBC News.
America Has Become a ‘Surveillance Prison’ – Our Devices and Our Government Are Spying on Us
Many of us are under surveillance, at this very moment. No warrants are needed, and no laws are broken.
43 monkeys escape South Carolina research facility; police warn residents to secure doors and windows
Authorities in South Carolina on Thursday warned residents to lock their doors and windows after more than 40 monkeys escaped from a research facility.
Franklin Graham Says God Spared Trump’s Life to Turn America ‘Back to God’
Evangelist Franklin Graham said Wednesday he believes God spared the life of Donald Trump from an assassin's bullet so the former president could reclaim the White House. Graham made the remarks hours after Trump himself raised the possibility of divine intervention as he spoke to the nation on Election Night. Trump won back the presidency thanks to a strong showing in the South, Southwest, and industrial heartland.