The World - Still Waiting for the King!

What an incredible last few days around the world!  From the election in Iran to the decision by the Obama Administration to arm the Syrian rebels to Russia's determination to continue support for the Assad regime in Damascus to the ongoing sagas of the NSA and IRS investigations.  All are worthy of our attention.

Let's begin with the Iranian election this past Friday.  The surprising winner was Dr. Hasan Rowhani, who, among the Iranian candidates, was considered to be the most moderate.  He is fluent in Arabic, Russian, German, French, English, and Farsi (the native language of Persia).  In a cabinet meeting at the Knesset, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said, "We are not deluding ourselves.  We need to remember that the Iranian ruler at the outset disqualified candidates who were not in line with his extreme world view, and from among those whom he did allow, the one seen as least identified with the regime was elected.  But we are still speaking about someone who calls Israel the 'great Zionist Satan'" (The Jerusalem Post, June 17, 2013).  Although Rowhani is President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the real power within Iran continues to be that of the ayatollah, especially Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country's Supreme Leader.  He will continue making decisions regarding the Iranian nuclear program.  Perhaps the most that can be said about Rowhani's election is that it might provide for some domestic stability.  You might remember that five years ago, when Ahmadinejad was elected to his second term, the near revolution it brought.  Friday's election resulted in very little, if any, domestic response.  Time will tell if Rowhani will allow a greater measure of cooperation with the West or not.  But, least we forget, when Mohammed Morsi was elected President of Egypt, he was considered to be a moderate.  Yet look at the turmoil Egypt has been in since because this "moderate" has attempted to bring radical Islamic rule into Egypt, even so far as appointing as governor of the Province of Luxor (home to the ancient Egyptian temple at Karnak) a member of the radical Islamist group that murdered 62 tourists in 1997.  Personally, as I read the accounts of the new Iranian President, I am not overly optimistic.  He still has bought into the need for the destruction of Israel and for the continuation of Iran's nuclear program.  I don't have cause for any exuberance. 

Now let's turn our attention to the continued civil war in Syria.  Last week our local Minneapolis paper featured a picture of a group of tourists standing atop Mount Bental on the Golan Heights watching the fighting going on near the city of Kuneitra below.  I have stood on that same mountain many times.  The Syrian civil war has now reached the borders with Israel.  Russian President Putin has indicated that he will continue sending arms to the Assad regime.  The Iranians are sending 4,000 Revolutionary Guards to assist the Syrian army in their battle with the rebels.  And Hezbollah, Iran's proxy, based in Lebanon, is actively supplying soldiers for the conflict.  And, depending upon what news source one reads, it would appear that the Syrian regime is regaining the upper hand in the conflict. 

Now, after nearly a year of saying that if Assad crosses the "red line" on using chemical weapons against his own people, the Obama Administration has now said that he has and is now willing to supply weapons and some training to the Syrian rebels.  But many in Washington are rather hesitant to send weaponry to the rebels because their ranks have been infiltrated by Al Qaeda fighters.  The question is asked if we want our weapons to fall into wrong hands?  (You might remember that we armed the Taliban in their struggle against the Russians in Afghanistan; look what it has caused us).  We also know that presently several thousand US forces are on the northern border of Jordan, joining with British and Jordanian units in military exercises.  Could this be a prelude to American troops entering into Syria?  One would hope there would be some caution exercised before such would happen.  Are we ready to engage in another Middle East war? 

Meanwhile, the Egyptian government has severed all ties with the Assad regime, closing its embassy in Damascus and expelling the Syrian ambassador to Egypt.  One wonders if other Arab states will follow Morsi's example.  This mess in Syria is not going away any time soon.  Could it be merely the prelude to the destruction of Damascus as foretold by Isaiah 17?  Time will tell.

This past weekend riots and demonstrations occurred in several Turkish cities, young people protesting against the Erdogan government.  Turkey is considered to be a secular Islamic state with freedoms not present in most Islamic countries.  Many have felt that Prime Minister Erdogan and his government have been slowly eroding those freedoms while attempting to expand the Islamic teaching in Turkey.  Although still popular, the demonstrations this past weekend show that the secular influence in Turkey is still strong. 

The Middle East continues to be a region that could explode any moment.  Yet we know that that will not happen until the Lord determines that it should.  I have been reading through the prophecies of Isaiah this summer and have once again been excited and encouraged to know that nothing happens ahead of God's timetable.  God has everything planned.  Nothing surprises God!  Nothing sneaks up on God!  God has everything under His control!  And I continue to trust Him with that!  I remember reading these words of promise to the people of Israel, but I believe they have significance for us today as well: "But now, this is what the LORD says - he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mind.  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.  For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior'" (Isaiah 43:1-3).  God is in control.  We can dare to trust Him!