Headed for home!

Tomorrow, as most folk will be aware, marks the 100th anniversary of the end of "the war to end all wars" - that, later, became known as the First World War. Towards the end of that war, the 308th regiment of the 77th Division of the United States Armed Forces launched an attack into the Argonne forest in north-west France. They believed that French forces were supporting their left flank, and fellow-American soldiers protecting their right flank. Sadly, these forces were delayed and, in an age in which the instant communication, which we take for granted, was not available, and the 308 found themselves surrounded by enemy forces, and under severe mortar, and machine-gun, fire.

As every 'runner' dispatched by the Commanding Officer either became lost, or ran into enemy patrols and was captured, carrier pigeons became the only method of communication with HQ. In an infamous incident on Oct 4th, 1918, inaccurate co-ordinates were delivered by one of the pigeons and, on top of all of their other difficulties, the 308 began to suffer shelling - from their own artillery (what is now referred to as "friendly fire"!!). In desperation, a sergeant released the last pigeon available with a note that read: "We are along the road paralell (sic) 276.4. Our artillery is dropping a barrage directly on us. For heaven's sake stop it."

As soon as the pigeon - named "Cher Ami" ("dear friend") lifted off, a stray bullet grazed the side of its head, and tore out its left eye. Then, a piece of shrapnel hit its chest, shattering its breastbone. However, the homing instinct was strong, and the pigeon struggled on! Somewhere in the flight, another piece of shrapnel tore off its left leg, leaving the message canister dangling from torn ligaments. The pigeon did, eventually, reach its 'home' loft, and the order to cease the shelling went out immediately. Cher Ami had travelled 25 miles (40 km) in just 25 minutes - and was responsible for the survival of almost 200 soldiers.

This week, my wife and I were informed of the death of a very dear friend - a "chère amie" - of almost forty years. She had been diagnosed, about a year ago, with multiple cancers - and that in spite of the fact that she had never been involved in any drug scene, legal or illegal; led a healthy lifestyle; and had no other significant illnesses. She had worked, with her husband (both of them qualified and experienced nurses) in Papua New Guinea, serving people who suffered from leprosy. They have provided hospitality for many, over the years, including my wife and me. Now, she is no longer with us.

However, she was a disciple of Jesus. During the past year, she has undergone much in the physical realm. Medication and chemotherapy caused different physical problems. Nevertheless, from the time of the diagnosis she had the faith-filled attitude that was able to say: "If I am cured, I will have more time with my husband and family; if I die, I shall see my Saviour sooner." She could have sung, with Jim Reeves, "This world is not my home, I'm just a-passin' through. My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue. The angels beckon me from heaven's open door, and I can't feel at home in this world anymore."

My friend has now reached her true home. I don't know how many people survived various medical conditions because of her tireless work as a nurse. I do know that she is now receiving her reward from the Saviour she longed to see, face-to-face.

As I take part in the Armistice Day Ceremony in the village, tomorrow, I shall think of, and be grateful to, all of those who, in two World Wars, and innumerable other conflicts, suffered and died that we might enjoy the freedom that we do - even if that freedom appears to be being steadily eroded by a political élite who care, primarily, for themselves. I shall also be thinking about my friend and, of course, her now-widowed husband, and the whole family circle.

I shall also be praying for those who, today, do not have the same assurance that my friend had. May all who read this post seek that relationship with the Lord Jesus, that she enjoyed. It will be for your good, and will bring glory to His Name.

The root cause.

Any student of history is aware that many major conflicts can be traced back to a single event.   So the First World War was the result of a single pistol-shot, by a man named Gavrilo Princip.  That shot fatally wounded the Arch-Duke Franz-Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, when he visited Serbia on June 28th, 1914. 

In my personal devotions, I am currently reading in Paul's letter to the early believers in Galatia. This letter is sometimes referred to as an introduction to his letter to the early Roman believers.  It's a letter that I have studied before - so much so that even my wide-margin copy of the Bible that I use for my devotions, has little space to accept additional notes!  However, as is so often the case, it is when one reads a passage for the umpteenth time, that one sees something that has never occurred to one before!

None of what I read this morning was actually "new" to me.  I didn't receive any wonderful revelation - a direct word from the Lord to me.  However, something became more real to me.  It is that the current, ongoing, conflict between Israel and the Arab nations, started with a single event - an event that took place some 4,000 years ago!  That event was the physical union of Abraham with Hagar, his wife Sarah's maid.  It was from that union that Ishmael was born.

Paul writes: "Tell me, you who desire to be under law, do you not hear the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave and one by a free woman. But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, the son of the free woman through promise." (Gal 4:21-23).   

This was the great difference between Abraham's two sons - one was born of a servant, the other of a free woman; one was born "according to the flesh" (that is, 'naturally'), the other "through promise" (supernaturally).  If we go back to Genesis 15, we see God's clear promise to Abraham - the promise of an heir.  All very well, except for the fact that, even then, both Abraham and his wife, Sarah, were well past the normal age of producing children!  The years passed; neither of them was getting any younger; and no child was born.  Eventually, Sarah suggested that Abraham father a child by her maid, Hagar - culturally quite acceptable.  However, although it may have been acceptable, it was bad advice!  Out of that union, Ishmael was born.

It was some 14 years later that the miracle took place when Sarah, now 90 years of age, conceived and gave birth to Isaac.  This, of course, was a supernatural birth!  We read, later in the Genesis account that "... Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, playing with her son Isaac. So she said to Abraham, "Cast out this slave woman with her son; for the son of this slave woman shall not be heir with my son Isaac." And the thing was very displeasing to Abraham on account of his son. But God said to Abraham, "Be not displeased because of the lad and because of your slave woman; whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for through Isaac shall your descendants be named." (Gen 21:9-12).

That is the beginning of the enmity between the descendants of Isaac - the Children of Israel (the Jewish people); and the descendants of Ishmael - the Arab nations.  We might say that the current Israeli-Arab controversy actually started in Hagar's bedroom (or tent)!  A single act - with results that were to be far-reaching, and totally unexpected.  The feud continues - each group looking back to Abraham as their progenitor; and each claiming the land of Israel as their own.

However, the Biblical record makes it absolutely clear.  The "Promised Land" is given by Almighty God to those who are the descendants of, not only Abraham, but of Isaac and Jacob as well.  That is why so many of the disciples of Jesus - Himself a Jew! - are firm supporters of the modern State of Israel.  If we believe the Bible to be true, we can be no other.  Of course, we may not agree with every political policy followed by the Israeli government - any more than we agree with every policy of our own national governments.  But I believe that we must stand by the Jewish nation - particularly in the light of the current rise in anti-Semitism.  To that end, I encourage anyone to become part of Christians United for Israel (http://www.cufi.org.uk/).  If you are not resident in the UK, then you may prefer to join the "parent" organisation at http://www.cufi.org/

When Jacob received the blessing of the first-born (even although he did so by deceiving his father, Isaac), that blessing ended: "Cursed be every one who curses you, and blessed be every one who blesses you!" (Gen 27:29).

In Zech 2:8-12, we read "... thus said YHWH Sabaoth, after His glory sent me to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye: "Behold, I will shake my hand over them, and they shall become plunder for those who served them. Then you will know that the YHWH Sabaoth has sent me. Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion; for lo, I come and I will dwell in the midst of you, says YHWH. And many nations shall join themselves to YHWH in that day, and shall be My people; and I will dwell in the midst of you, and you shall know that YHWH Sabaoth has sent me to you. And YHWH will inherit Judah as His portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem." 

The Jewish people are still "the apple of His eye"; and those who curse them will be cursed, even as those who bless them will be blessed.  Choose blessing, not a curse!