Denis Hart

28 February 2007

Joel 3:2 (Amplified)  'I will gather all nations......I will deal with them and execute judgment upon them for the treatment of My people and of my heritage Israel whom they have scattered among the nations and because THEY HAVE DIVIDED MY LAND."

Matthew 15:10 "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel"

For a while I have wanted to share something simple, that we all know, but profound.  It is hard to convey in words when something enters your heart in a deep way.  In this letter I will try to do this.

Comet McNaught was a wonderful sight in the southern hemisphere and I spent some nights at the local oval watching it descend behind the mountains that surround Canberra (Australia).  Not many took the time - nor did many take the time to see the star that marked the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.  This was a powerful heavenly witness to the birthing of God's purposes in the earth and, I feel, of the darkness (some combination of natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war and economic turmoil) that is now imminent.

In this time of reflection I realised at a deep level that to divide the land of Israel is to pierce the life and ministry of Jesus, to cause His heart to bleed (albeit recognising the importance of the Abrahamic and other covenants).  He limited His earthly ministry to this land.  This is where His footprints are, His sweat poured into this earth, His blood fell on the earth of Israel - even His 'waste' is buried there.  His cross was placed in the earth of Israel.  Every day of His earthly life was carefully planned and almost all of his human interaction, His childhood (apart from a time in Egypt) - all in this land.  The land has been consecrated by His life - the Word become flesh - and His death, resurrection and ascension.  His physical body - that of a strong carpenter- so weakened by depression and the weight of my/our sins - His last bit of human energy, His last breath - no land is so consecrated.  We have to prayerfully watch over this 'investment' - the highest price Our Heavenly father could ever pay!

Why not do miracles in Egypt, or Athens or Rome - why not be a global evangelist.  He was sent to the lost sheep of the House of Israel who, through pain, will one day come to know how precious they are in the father's heart.

The verse in Joel is in the past tense and, I believe (in view of the judgment indicated) has to be for those in our generation and, sadly, more than Gaza.  I am concerned about the 'turbulence' in the near future - but there is the dawning of a whole new day ahead.  Perhaps that saying 'It's always darkest before the dawn' will have its greatest fulfilment in the days ahead.

Isaiah 44 has some insights into the coming times (v9 "Fear not, nor be afraid in the coming violent upheavals"), but those who are anchored in the Rock of Ages are secure.  Those who trust in other gods (v9 'All who make graven idols are confusion, chaos and worthlessness"  and v25 "I am the Lord Who frustrates the signs and confounds the omens upon which the false prophets' forecasts of the future are based.

I appreciate this site and know that we are acutely aware of the 'machinations' to divide the land.  But God is speaking through many signs, and His purposes will come to pass.  Just last night in Canberra we had a thunderstorm with hail a metre high in places - one on may unusual weather events we have had in the past couple of months.  My workplace was damaged and we had to relocate today.  Finally, in this letter, I would like to encourage those who are finding it tough.  It is!!  We are going on in His strength - we have died to ours!  My adult daughter has been in hospital three times in just over two years, most recently for one week.  At the end of 2004 she was in hospital for three and a half weeks - we didn't know for much of that time whether she would live or die.  And the disease left its mark.  But His promises are sure!!  Maranatha