NOTE: When writing about God and Jesus, The Daily Jot means YHVH as God and Yeshua Ha Mashiach as Jesus–the actual original names and the true nature and character of them.
Monday, September 23, 2019
With the Israeli election turmoil, Iran stepping up its attacks, and another US attempt at a so-called peace plan waiting in the wings, events in Syria have become an ongoing speculation of prophecy watchers. Turkey, Iran, al Qaeda, the Muslim Brotherhood, Islamic State, Hezbollah, Hamas and other enemies of God and of Israel in the Syrian theatre have many wondering about the Isaiah 17 prophecy, the destruction of Damascus, and whether we are now entering into the end time scenario written so much about by the prophets in the Bible. Certainly, the crucible of prophecy is being stirred and heated, but we must pay close attention to the actual words and context of the prophets to discern current events.
According to the prophet Isaiah, 17:1, “The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.” Many point to this verse to speculate when and how Damascus will be destroyed. If we study the context of the prophecy, Chapter 10 begins with prophesying judgment on Assyria and Ephraim (one of the tribes of Israel) for attacking Israel. Damascus is named as one of the Assyrian’s vassals. Damascus also is included in end time judgment accounts of Egypt, Babylon, Moab, Assyria, Ethiopia, Tyre, Philistia and others. This demonstrates the near and the far of prophesy. Some of this was fulfilled historically; other parts of it are yet to be fulfilled.
There has been a lot of talk that this is the time that perhaps Isaiah’s prophecy will be fulfilled. Damascus, after all, is hardly a city nowadays. It is maintaining a heartbeat after years of civil war and fighting that includes various al Qaeda terrorist groups, Hezbollah from Iran, Russian interests, American interests, Turkey, the Islamic State, and, of course the Assad government. The ingredients are there for the total destruction of Damascus. Damascus may be devastated by this massive gathering of many forces, but it is not the total destruction prophesied by Isaiah. As with most prophecy, it often appears to be fulfilled, but in types and shadows, layers, and signs before it is ultimately fulfilled.
The context of Isaiah 17 is judgment on nations that come against Israel, beginning in Chapter 9 and continuing through Chapter 24. The phrase “In/At that day” is mentioned no less than four times in Isaiah 17, a short chapter of 14 verses. This phrase is an indicator for the Day of the Lord, meaning when the Lord returns to judge the nations that came against Israel. Verse 7 says, “At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel.” Verse 11 speaks that the harvest shall be a day of grief and of desperate sorrow. Context is key. It’s irresponsible to take just one verse and develop a scenario or doctrine around it. In Syria, we are seeing prophetic movement, but we will know when God fulfills the prophecy. It will be clear. And all will know that God is God.
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
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For the children in rural Ghana, the need is great
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By Pastor William Agbeti
“Father, we have a huge challenge!” That was the alarming prayer that sprung up in my heart when we registered the 181st child that showed up for our feeding program this month, against an invited number of 150! The makeshift auditorium of the local rural church, Bread of Life Sanctuary, that we are supporting and where we fed the children, was packed to full capacity by both invited and uninvited rural children. These started showing up in their numbers, with great excitement, hours before the announced time of 1:00 pm! They came from poor rural communities spread miles apart.
As a result, we were compelled to set up an overflow area outside the auditorium to contain the extra numbers that kept pouring in! Many were reported to have come very early in the morning to survey the area to assure themselves that the feeding program was for real! We ran out of rented chairs and could not get any to rent in the whole of the Kojonya community where the program was held, forcing us to go for benches and other types of chairs for the children. An hour before the official start of the program, which was held under the theme, JESUS – OUR BREAD OF LIFE!, we had 200 rural children on our hands to feed with both spiritual and physical food!
Naturally, I started panicking! How could we possibly feed all these needy children? And we were still counting! Just then, definitely by divine intervention, a volunteer stepped up unto the platform where the musical instruments were and started singing: “We serve a Miracle working God who never fails!”
Immediately, the spirit of panic left me and I dashed down to where the cooks were. I asked the chief volunteer cook if we have enough to feed all the children. She reported they had noticed the situation and had reduced the size of the fried chicken by half, thereby creating 300 pieces! Thankfully she confirmed also there was going to be enough rice for all, if the intended portions were also reduced by half! Thank you Father, I exclaimed silently! Half a portion is better than no portion at all! I tried to convince myself!
It turned out to be a
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The Daily Jot supported ministry in Ghana feeds, clothes and provides clean water for hundreds of children |
first-time experience for the 200 children. Many of these had never eaten fried rice! They were treated to a popular nutritious local drink called SOBOLO, made out of the hibiscus flower. They also had popcorn and a received donations of clothing. Our regular musical chairs and dancing competitions were held and the winners were presented with Bibles. At the tail end of the program, majority of the children took decisions to accept Christ and were invited to attend church. These were given summarized lessons about the Old and New Testaments. They learned there are 66 books in the Bible, with 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New.
The need for them to have their own Bibles and carry them at all times was emphasized. We had a head count of the children who had Bibles and it turned out only a handful of them had bibles. Well over 150 had no Bibles. We promised to organize Bibles for distribution to them.
As usual, I observed four developments that greatly humbled me and brought tears to my eyes! First, the portions of meals were obviously not enough for some of the children! Secondly, many did not have popcorn to eat and were openly disappointed! Thirdly, when we assembled to have a group photograph, scores of children came over to cling to me, and will not let go; making me almost fall down! I had to control the tears welling up in my eyes! Lastly, after it all, a small boy aged about four walked to me and pointed out to something on a table somewhere.
It was another child’s pair of shoes! I checked his name on the register of names, asked a volunteer to find out where he came from, and promised to bring him a pair of shoes! How can I ever fail to deliver on this promise? Meanwhile, I am still thinking about how to address the overwhelming food needs of the children, with a regular monthly, if not weekly, feeding program for at least a year! This is my newest burden I have chosen to carry, so help me God!
Against above backdrop, we have purposed to have follow up activities to help establish the children in local churches, give them Bibles, supply some of their personal needs and win them and many more away from the reach or influence of Islam, traditionalist and other pagan and oppressive religions!
Hopefully, with a rippling effect and impact on our target children and rural communities, we would make a profound mark on rural Ghana with the feeding program! On the whole we had two local rural churches and two local NGOs supporting the program with children they bused to the venue, biblical literature and volunteers! To God be the Glory for a power-filled program like this!
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The Daily Jot is totally reader supported. My wife, Chris, and I do not take a salary or receive any remuneration for this work. Your gifts go directly to assisting us in maintaining this column, the website, outreach, and the Lord’s work we do in Ghana, West Africa. Thank you for your prayers and support.
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day,
Bill Wilson
The Daily Jot |
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