Saber Rattling

by Malcolm Blog Hitler Iran Israel North Korea Obama

The Bible affirms that in the spring, kings went out to war (2 Samuel 11:1). This was the “done thing” and thus as spring gave way to the hotter months there was much “saber rattling” in the region as nations prepared to extend their sovereignty or sphere of influence in the earth. Much of the “saber rattling” has to do with testing the perceived enemy …. or “playing on their nerves”. Nothing much has changed in thousands of years!

Just a few days ago, North Korea launched eleven short range missiles with the warning that a long range ballistic one might also be in the works. This, of course, was all “aimed” at the United States of America. With its new President, Barack Obama, it constitutes a game of nerves. When we add to this North Korea’s test explosion of a nuclear device earlier in the year, the “testing process” becomes more acute …. and dangerous.

Then there is Iran, that continues to saber rattle by the use of words and the construction of its nuclear capability. The world in this instance is not sure what to do and, as it hesitates and dithers, Iran is nearing nuclear capability. She already, supposedly, has the delivery system in place! All this is coupled to her constant threats to remove Israel from the map!

This of course requires that Israel do some “saber rattling” just to let Iran know that she will not become a “sitting duck”! So Israel’s air force is preparing for “long haul” strikes and one of Israel’s submarines recently passed through the Suez Canal for the first time in years.

We could go on and talk about America and Russia and of course Pakistan and India. The disputed area of Kashmir keeps these two countries well occupied in the saber rattling business.

Daniel, the Biblical prophet, declared that wars and desolation are determined until the end. The Hebrew prophets have always been proved right. All of this is a sad commentary on human nature. War in itself is a catastrophe but sometimes it is forced upon nations and they have to defend themselves. The Poles, the French, and the Czechs quickly learned this in 1939! Hitler had to be stopped and thus England and the Allies entered the fray. The truth is, Hitler had been saber rattling for years and even documented his intentions in Mein Kampf. No one really listened and took him seriously. Great loss of life was the price the world paid for this folly.

Today Israel faces a similar enemy: Iran. This enemy is self declared and is in league with North Korea and all the other crazies. The problem is that their saber rattling is not merely a game. They are deadly serious and are determined to see through their threats. All the while a new generation of “peaceniks”, who generally deny the existence of evil, are sure that these dictators will listen to reason. Sure!

Thankfully there is a God in Heaven and He watches over Israel day and night. It would be foolish indeed to enter into conflict with Him as He has already published the outcome:

“The Word of the Lord will go forth from Zion and men will learn war no more ….” (Isaiah 2:4).

Obama Mania

by Malcolm Blog Obama

The liberal left world constantly attacks the evangelical Christian world on religious issues. The barrage never stops and they pursue it on the notion that they by contrast are rational, balanced and not fundamental. All this changed when Barrack Obama arrived on the scene. Suddenly their enthusiasm for his presidential aspirations turned quickly into a religious fervor of a type that one will not see in an evangelical gathering. His Democratic Conference organizers read this “heated fervor” and turned their conference facility into a Greek temple so that he could take his place amongst the pantheon!

Who can forget the scenes of adulation characterized by screaming, tears, outstretched arms and mass hysteria. Some people in these vast crowds even claimed to have been healed as they listened to Obama. This was no doubt psycho somatic! The media has also entered this arena as they have printed stories and editorials speaking of Obama in messianic terms. He will save the world and to be honest he claimed that he would! The French Foreign Minister recently called him the President of the world as have other politicians. Everywhere he is being spoken of as a savior, messiah and deliverer but is this true and what does all this say about the world in which we live?

First of all it says that the irreligious world is more desperate and void of answers than they are about to let on. Their constant attack against the evangelical world is thus in reality hypocritical and a commentary on their own notion of hopelessness. They don’t have the answers and thus resist those who demonstrate a peace that says that they do. How else does one understand the vicious attacks against Sarah Palin? She was mocked for belonging to the Assemblies of God, for being a women of prayer, for opposing abortion and for asserting God’s sovereignty over the affairs of nations. The British based Sky Television network actually showed a video of her being prayed for by her Pastor and stated that this made her controversial!

Secondly it demonstrates the age old problem of humanity. That is, we want a savior without the responsibility of a changed life. The biblical notion of the fall and thus of sin is scoffed at today. The world is looking for a messiah who will deliver it and justify it, while at the same time, allowing it to be in rebellion against a biblical standard of righteousness.

And thirdly it is a commentary on how far so called Western nations have departed from the Judeo/Christian values that made them great and civilized their societies. We have turned our backs in the western world on our own foundations, history and culture. These have produced the soul of nations and thus guaranteed our culture of life and freedom. A body without a soul is dead and thus a people that forget God will in the end devalue human life.

To be sure Barrack Obama is no savior, messiah or deliverer and he will not change the world. He is just a man and I think that he knows this full well. As President elect of a great nation he needs our prayers and we do hope that he will lead his nation into better days. Above all he does represent a nation that has the capacity to change and thus, by his election, has the capacity to forever put to rest the charge of racism against it. We salute his remarkable achievement while all the time knowing that the God of the Bible put him there.