America, Terrorism, and Israel

Most of us will never forget the moments just before 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time, September 11, 2001. The images and messages coming from our televisions and radio broadcasts on that fateful morning has left an indelible scar that may never heal in our lifetimes.

If you were like most Americans, you struggled to grasp the reality that our beloved nation of freedom loving people was under attack. How could other human beings be so cruel and ruthless as to slaughter innocent men, women and children? Why would anyone ever do such a thing?

The attack on the World Trade Center in New York, combined with the subsequent assault on our nation’s military base of operations, the Pentagon, in Washington, DC, and yet a fourth hijacked jet, that crashed outside Pittsburgh, PA, an apparent failed fourth terrorist attempt, has left hundreds dead and thousands presumed dead or missing. Again we might ask, “How could this happen?” “Why did this happen?”

I am amazed at the relevancy and timing of God’s word to us. For as we have read our assigned 10 chapters of Genesis 11-20 this week, whether we realize it or not, the answers, at least in part, to the how and why questions are clearly understood.

SLIDE 1

Today, I want to spend a few minutes sharing a message with you concerning the following subject: America, Terrorism and Israel.

It is impossible to understand the meaning of all that has transpired this past week, why America is under the assault of terrorists from the Middle East without understanding something about the history of the nation of Israel and the relationship our country shares with Israel. And that’s where Genesis 12 begins.

SLIDE 2 – GENESIS 12:1-3

Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you.2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” NKJV

Now the first thing we must see this morning is God’s Call of Abram.

I. GOD’S CALL OF ABRAM

Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you.

Notice the grace of God in the call or selection of Abram. At the time of Abram, idolatry was at its zenith. Ur, of the Chaldees, Abram’s home city practiced “Moon” worship. Abram and his family were idol worshippers.

It was the grace of God that Abram was selected by God. But God chose Abram.

II. GOD’S COVENANT WITH ABRAM

God established a Covenant relationship with Abram. In Genesis 12, God promises to Abram, the Father of Jewish nation of Israel, seven things.

1. I will make you a great nation

2. I will bless you

3. I will make your name great

4. You will be a blessing

5. I will bless those that bless you

6. I will curse those that curse you

7. In you shall all the families of the earth be blessed

Look at Genesis 17.

1When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. 2“And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.” 3Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying: 4“As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. 5“No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. 6“I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. 7“And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. 8“Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”

What God is saying here is going to help us to understand what is happening this day, this tragic time period we’ve been forced to accept. A. The Promise Now, there are several things I want you to notice. First of all I want you to notice the promise in the first three verses of Genesis 17. The bible says that God is going to make a covenant in verse two between God and Abraham. And it is to be an unbreakable covenant. It is an unchangeable covenant. It is an immutable covenant. It is a promise that will last unconditionally. B. The Principle Not only do I want you to notice the promise but, I want you to notice the principle. It is a covenant promise that is based on the principle of grace. It is not due to anything that is inherent in Abraham. Not anything that Abraham has done, or will do. As a matter of fact, God is doing all of the talking. Abraham is on his face just listening as God makes with Abraham a covenant that is based upon the principle of grace. C. The People I want you to notice also not only the promise and , but the people. Notice in verseseven he says, " “And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. Now, what “descendants” is he talking about. He's talking about the Hebrews, he's talking about the Jewish race. Look if you will in verse twenty-one of this same chapter, "But my covenant will I establish with Isaac which Sarah shall bear at this set time in the next year." He's talking not about Ishmael, who is the progenitor of the Arab race, but he's talking about Isaac, who is the progenitor of the Jews. D. A Period Not only is he talking about a promise, a principle, of people, but he's also talking about a period, a period of time. Notice in verse seven. It should be an everlasting covenant. That is, it'll never grow old. it'll never wear out. It'll never be changed. It is everlasting, therefore an irrevocable, unchangeable covenant. E. The Place And I want you to notice one other thing. I want you to notice the place that is involved, because not only does it involve the people, it also involvesa place. Look if you will in verse eight. “Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” God said I'm going to give this land, the Middle East, Palestine, as some call it,the Holy Land, as others call it, Israel as others call it, God says, I will give it to you Abraham, and to your seed, your descendants through Isaac for an everlasting possession. Now that my dear friends is what all the fuss is about. That is what all the fighting is about. What an important place is Israel, the state of Israel. I'm talking about that real estate that God calls here the Land of Canaan, that he gave to Abraham and to Abraham's descendants. I want you to see how it is the very center of the earth. There's an interesting verse over in Ezekiel chapter five, verse five where God says I have set you in the midst of the nations. You see, this little insignificant, seemingly insignificant parcel of ground is the hub of three mighty continents, Africa, Asia and Europe. It is an ancient military and economic crossroad and it is, has been called by some the naval of the earth. It is the geographical center of the earth. It is the revelationary center, or the revelation center. It was from this place that Moses wrote. It was from this place that the prophets spoke. It was from this place that we receive the bible. And, not only is it the geographic center and the revelation center, it is therefore the spiritual center because it was here that Jesus Christ was born. It was here that Jesus Christ lived and walked and taught. He never left this place until he left it to go to heaven. It is here that Jesus died, here that Jesus rose, was buried, here that Jesus rose, and to the land of Canaan, Jesus Christ is coming again. It is, I wantto tell you, the prophetic center. You take this land, the Palestine, this land of Egypt, this nation, it is the only place, and the only people where their prophecy is minutely foretold centuries before it would come to pass. It, dear friend, is the storm center of the entire world. And we're seeing now, on our own homeland, some of the terrible rage that other nations have toward Israel. The Bible says that one day the nations of the world will line up against this little nation of Israel. The clouds are gathering and I believe that we're seeing even in our day the fore gleams of the battle of Armageddon, which will be fought in this place that we're preaching about today. It is the storm center of the world. But, it's also the peace center of the world. There will be peace upon this earth. One of these days the lamb and lion will lie down together. One of these days, the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, his waters that cover the sea. One of these days the desert will blossom as a rose and one of these days Jesus will reign for a thousand years from this place and there will be peace. That's the reason the bible tells us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. There will never be peace on earth until there's peace in Jerusalem and there will never be peace in Jerusalem until Jesus Christ rules and reigns there. And so when you're praying for the peace of Jerusalem, you're also praying for the prince of peace, the Lord Jesus Christ to come again. And so dear friend, it is the peace center of the world. And it will be the glory center of the world as Jesus, the Lord, the Savior, the Messiah will rule and reign from the throne of his father David as he is the true seed of Abraham, the one who will sit upon the throne of his father David and dispense the covenant blessings of Abraham. How grateful we are for what God is doing in keeping his promise to Abraham so long ago as we think about our friends, the Jewish people. And I want to say very clearly today, it is for no other reason today that America is under attack, because we are the friends of Israel, and we’d better remain the friends of Israel. Whenever you hear in the future a politician begin to say we need to rethink our position of support and alliance with the nation of Israel, you get on your phone right away and call to express your support for God’s covenant people, the seed of Abraham. Oh there is so much more. Look at Genesis 17:15-21. 15Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. 16“And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her.” 17Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” 18And Abraham said to God, “Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!” 19Then God said: “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him. 20“And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. 21“But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year.” III. A CHALLENGE TO THE COVENANT Issac was the promised seed, the promised son. God chose Issac, the son of Sarah, the son of the free woman, to be the progenitor of redemption. Ishmael was the seed born out of fleshly, carnal sin, and disobedience, and faithlessness.

Listen to a portion of Galatians 4. 22For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. 23But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, 24which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— 25for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children— 26but the Jerusalem above is free,

28Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. 29But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. 30Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.” 31So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free. Oh the conflict and challenge to the seed of promise down through the ages between the promised seed of Issac which is Israel and the seed of Ishmael, which is the Arab nations today. Evidently these two siblings contested each other on a regular basis. The scripture says that Ishmael was seen "scoffing" at Isaac. The verb tense used means he was always scoffing. Galatians 4:29 reveals this scoffing involved "persecution." The descendants of these two are still antagonists. The perpetual conflict within the West Bank and Gaza as well as the constantly contested borders of Israel is an outgrowth. The Arab-Israeli conflict began in Hagar's bedroom. Throughout history, these brothers have been struggling for supremacy. The Arab League of Nations are jealous or Israel’s legacy from Abraham. Although they too are sons of Abraham, they are not sons of promise. Through Issac Moses descended and the great world-religion of Judaism came. Through Issac,came the promised seed of redemption, Jesus Christ, and our Christian faith was born. And through Ishmael came Mohammed, and the Islamic faith was begun. Ishmael grew to be a desert-dwelling archer. Our last glimpse of Hagar was her act of securing an Egyptian wife for Ishmael. She found for him a wife from her own land of idols and worldliness. Untaught faith in Jehovah by Abraham and influenced by a pagan wife, a different lifestyle and code of beliefs emerged. This is an illustration of the fact the extension of the faith is only one generation away. If one fails to pass it on to another, it is lost. Never say sin does not have serious consequences. The sin of Abram, with the consent of his wife, in taking Hagar, the Egyptian handmaid into his own tent, has produced more heartache, sorrow, tragedy and grief than anything I know. And now, our peace-loving people, have been caught up in the family-feud. What do we do? First, if you are not a Christian today, I would say look to the promised seed of redemption, Jesus Christ. Come trusting Him today. Second, for we who are saved. Remember that we are also safe and secure, no matter what the future holds. This present evil world may hold much more suffering in days to come, but we rest securely in the promises of our Covenant God. (Ill. Father who e-mailed his son after the first plane had hit his WTC. “I’ll be in Heaven.”) Billy Graham said this week, “Many of those who were killed this week are in Heaven. And they would not want to come back.” I took great comfort in Psalm 27 this week. From the New Living Translation it reads this way:

The Lord is my light and my salvation—

so why should I be afraid?

The Lord protects me from danger—

so why should I tremble?

2 When evil people come to destroy me,

when my enemies and foes attack me,

they will stumble and fall.

3 Though a mighty army surrounds me,

my heart will know no fear.

Even if they attack me,

I remain confident.

4 The one thing I ask of the Lord—

the thing I seek most—

is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,

delighting in the Lord’s perfections

and meditating in his Temple.

5 For he will conceal me there when troubles come;

he will hide me in his sanctuary.

He will place me out of reach on a high rock.

6 Then I will hold my head high,

above my enemies who surround me.

At his Tabernacle I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy,

singing and praising the Lord with music.

7 Listen to my pleading, O Lord.

Be merciful and answer me!

8 My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.”

And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.”

9 Do not hide yourself from me.

Do not reject your servant in anger.

You have always been my helper.

Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me,

O God of my salvation!

10 Even if my father and mother abandon me,

the Lord will hold me close.

11 Teach me how to live, O Lord.

Lead me along the path of honesty,

for my enemies are waiting for me to fall.

12 Do not let me fall into their hands.

For they accuse me of things I’ve never done

and breathe out violence against me.

13 Yet I am confident that I will see the Lord’s goodness

while I am here in the land of the living.

14 Wait patiently for the Lord.

Be brave and courageous.

Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

FBI Sermon Notes

TEXT: Genesis 12:1-3

TOPIC: America, Terrorism and Israel

Pastor Bobby Earls, First Baptist Church – Icard, NC

September 16, 2001

I. GOD’S CALL OF ABRAM

Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you.

II. GOD’S COVENANT WITH ABRAM

In Genesis 12, God promises to Abram, the Father of Jewish nation of Israel, seven things.

1. I will make you a great nation

2. I will bless you

3. I will make your name great

4. You will be a blessing

5. I will bless those that bless you

6. I will curse those that curse you

7. In you shall all the families of the earth be blessed

Look at Genesis 17.

1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. 2“And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.” 3 Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying: 4“As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. 5“No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. 6“I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. 7“And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. 8“Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”

A. The Promise It is an unchangeable covenant. It is a promise that will last unconditionally.

B. The Principle It is a covenant promise that is based on the principle of grace.

C. The People “And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. What “descendants”? The Hebrews.

D. The Period An everlasting covenant.

E. The Place “Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”

Ezekiel 5:5 I have set you in the midst of the nations. · It is the geographical center of the earth.

· It is the revelationary center of the earth.

· It is the spiritual center of the earth.

· It is the prophetic center of the earth.

· It is the storm center of the earth.

· It is the peace center of the earth.

· It is the glory center of the earth.

Genesis 17:15-21 15 Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. 16“And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her.” 17 Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” 18 And Abraham said to God, “Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!” 19 Then God said: “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him. 20“And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. 21“But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year.”

III. A CHALLENGE TO THE COVENANT

For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, 24 which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— 25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children— 26 but the Jerusalem above is free,

What do we do?

Psalm 27

The Lord is my light and my salvation—

so why should I be afraid?

The Lord protects me from danger—

so why should I tremble?

2 When evil people come to destroy me,

when my enemies and foes attack me,

they will stumble and fall.

3 Though a mighty army surrounds me,

my heart will know no fear.

Even if they attack me,

I remain confident.

4 The one thing I ask of the Lord—

the thing I seek most—

is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,

delighting in the Lord’s perfections

and meditating in his Temple.

5 For he will conceal me there when troubles come;

he will hide me in his sanctuary.

He will place me out of reach on a high rock.

6 Then I will hold my head high,

above my enemies who surround me.

At his Tabernacle I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy,

singing and praising the Lord with music.

7 Listen to my pleading, O Lord.

Be merciful and answer me!

8 My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.”

And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.”

9 Do not hide yourself from me.

Do not reject your servant in anger.

You have always been my helper.

Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me,

O God of my salvation!

10 Even if my father and mother abandon me,

the Lord will hold me close.

11 Teach me how to live, O Lord.

Lead me along the path of honesty,

for my enemies are waiting for me to fall.

12 Do not let me fall into their hands.

For they accuse me of things I’ve never done

and breathe out violence against me.

13 Yet I am confident that I will see the Lord’s goodness

while I am here in the land of the living.

14 Wait patiently for the Lord.

Be brave and courageous.

Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

The New Living Translation

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America, Terrorism, and Israel

I. GOD’S CALL OF ABRAM

II. GOD’S COVENANT WITH ABRAM

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FBI Sermon Notes

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I. GOD’S CALL OF ABRAM

II. GOD’S COVENANT WITH ABRAM