Morsi, Putin, and the Weather - What a Combination!

We finally have a declared President in Egypt.  This past Sunday the SCAF (the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces) in Egypt declared that Mohammed Morsi, the Muslim Brotherhood candidate, had won the presidential election by a 51.7 to 48.3 percentage margin.  The results echo the margin that the Muslim Brotherhood had declared shortly after the election.  Among the first statements of the new Egyptian President were his desire to strengthen Egyptian relations with Iran so as to "create a balance of pressure in the region."  Morsi also pledged that he would "preserve international accords and obligations" indicating that the 1979 Peace Accords with Israel will remain intact, at least for the time being. 

An immediate roadblock in his pathway is his relationship with the SCAF.  As you remember, even before the presidential elections, the Egyptian Supreme Court dissolved the Egyptian Parliament and the SCAF group of generals assumed major powers.  They have said that they will surrender those powers when Morsi is inaugurated on June 30.  One can only have a wait and see on this one. 

Of course, the election of a Muslim Brotherhood official to the highest office in Egypt did not sit well with many in Egypt.  Christians, Coptics, and secularists are fearful that Morsi will begin the imposition of Islamic Law that will greatly curtail the independence that many in Egypt have enjoyed, especially Christians and women.  And the initial response from Israel was one of coolness.  The Israelis had a strong interest in the outcome of the Egyptian elections.  Now that a Muslim Brotherhood leader is in control, will that give greater power to Hamas, a puppet of both Iran and the Muslim Brotherhood? 

These past two days Russian President Vladimir Putin has been in Israel where he dedicated a monument to the Red Army soldiers who died in World War 2 in their victory over the Nazis.  Included in that number were nearly 120,000 Jewish soldiers out of the more than one millions Jews who served in the Russian army.  This monument is located in Netanya, which is located along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea north of Tel Aviv.  While in Israel Putin had conversations with Israeli President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Netanyahu.  Topics included the status with Iran and their nuclear ambitions - a program that Russia has helped sponsor in the past, and Syria - with Russia being one of the chief arms suppliers to Syrian President Bashir Assad.  One Israeli editorial stated, "Putin's presence in Israel could serve as a warning to Iran that Moscow could cross the line and become closer to Israel if Iran does not cooperate with the United Nations and open up its nuclear sites for full inspection" (IsraelNationalNews.com).  Probably nothing will come from this State Visit other than media highlights, but once again it demonstrates the worldwide attention being placed upon the Middle East.

Have you noticed the dramatic weather patterns this summer here in the US.  Record breaking drought and heat have America's west literally burning up.  Hundreds of square miles of lands in Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and California have been consumed by wildfires.  Property damage is being measured in the hundreds of millions of dollars.  And in the SE, tropical storm Debby has left a mountain of rain in Florida, some places receiving nearly two feet of rain.  And the East Coast has received incredible heat these past couple of weeks.  Could it be that God is using the climate to get our attention?  And how we need to listen to what God is saying!

I was reminded the other day of God's promise that He gave to Israel of old: "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, will forgive their sins, and will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14).  Is it still possible that America could experience a Third Great Awakening?  Yes, but only if Christians will wake up to the realities of sin around us, confess our toleration of those sins, often within our own lives, and then come with humility before God to accept His forgiveness.  Could this happen?  Possibly.  Will this happen?  Probably not! 

God bless you this week in your service for the King!