World News Through the Third Lens

News headlines are relentless; they just keep coming and coming and coming; day after day, they never stop. The Bible, on the other hand was written by 40+ authors, from various backgrounds, over a 1500 year period, and hasn't had one word added to its contents in about 1915 years; yet it is never outdated. It is as current as tomorrow's headlines, and much more accurate. It provides a crystal-clear lens through which we can view the things happening around us at breakneck speed. The Old Testament prophet described this time of the end with these words, "...many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased." (Daniel 12:4) How's that for a description of the jet age and the information age?

Today we'll examine a few news items you may not have seen in the main-stream media (MSM), as reported by Koenig International News on www.watch.org. "The handling of foreign policy by the Obama Administration is showing various threadbare exposures from China to Afghanistan to Lebanon. It all seems to center around the lack of support for Israel - which has been the longstanding centerpiece of America's foreign policy that has affected trade relationships, military alliances, peace and war. Since the US has taken the strategy to pressure Israel to make nice with terrorists, the wheels have come off the economy, and the fuel tank appears to be empty with regard to longstanding relationships as well as those that are tenuous. There are various areas of foreign policy problems developing like a storm cloud on the horizon."

A Scriptural commentary on this is found in the opening words of a covenant made between God and the patriarch Abraham, over 4,000 years ago. "The Lord said to Abram, 'Leave your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples of the earth will be blessed through you.' " (Genesis 12:1-3) This writer believes that the USA's traditional support of Israel may be the only thing that has forestalled God's had of judgment against this nation for the daily shedding of innocent blood in the land (50 million abortions since 1973), among many other amoral atrocities.

Speaking of President Obama's precipitous slide in the polls over the past 4-5 months, Koenig states: "Obama reached out to the Islamic world in a TV interview with Al Arabyia 72 hours after taking office; he gave a speech to the Turkish Parliament on April 6; And spoke to the Islamic world from Cairo, Egypt on June 4. [I might add that in those speeches he was apologetic of US actions over the decades and embracing of Islam's contributions to the world]. The result: The Middle East is at one of the most dangerous times in its history. CIA Director, Leon Panetta, says he expects a major Al Quaeda terror event in the United States within the next three to six months. Obama's efforts to stop Iran's nuclear development [by negotiations] has not worked. The result: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says he has a surprise for the world on February 12in honor of the 31st anniversary of Iran's Islamic Revolution.Efforts at meaningful sanctions have been stalled or blocked by China and Russia.

Scriptural commentary concerning President Obama, "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord; He directs it like a watercourse wherever He pleases." (Proverbs 21:1) "....The Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone He wishes." (Daniel 4:25) And concerning the saber-rattling of the deranged Iranian president, consider that in Ezekiel 38 it says that Iran, some of the North African countries, and former Soviet countries from around the Black Sea "...will advance against my people Israel like a cloud that covers the land..."(v. 16)

Fear not! Do not waver through unbelief regarding the promises of God, but be strengthened in faith and give glory to God, being fully persuaded that God has power to do what He has promised. (Romans 4:20-21 paraphrased)