By Gary H. Kah
What a difference one year can make! When Barack Obama left office twelve months ago most Christians breathed a collective sigh of relief. Obama had devoted himself to undermining America’s Judeo-Christian heritage, chipping away at our most cherished beliefs, values, and structures. His actions resulted in a long overdue backlash from Evangelicals, who had finally had enough. While Donald Trump was not the first choice of most Christians, he promised them many things and was the last Republican standing; and so with some trepidation, Christians threw their support behind him in order to stop the blood-letting against their faith – and to prevent Hillary Clinton, an anti-Christian globalist, from taking the White House. Of course, no one knew for certain whether the newly elected president would keep his promises. After all, how many times before had we been let down?
Predictably, before Trump even took office, the far-left media declared war on him. Their attacks have been unrelenting, vicious and shameful. This assault against a sitting U.S. President is unprecedented in American history and there is no end in sight, as the Left will stop short of nothing to force Donald Trump out of office or into a crisis that will diminish his presidency. The more they attack him, the less he will be able to accomplish – so they reckon. However, despite the all-out attempts by Liberals to derail the President’s initiatives, he has made some significant strides toward undoing their one-world, socialist agenda. The fact is, there’s a new sheriff in town, and he’s managed to achieve a great deal amidst the continual opposition and obstructionism. Consider the following partial list of President Trump’s accomplishments during his first year as commander-in-chief.
- Appointed a conservative judge, Neil Gorsuch, to the Supreme Court.
- Appointed numerous Christian-friendly federal judges throughout the U.S.
- Slashed burdensome “red-tape” regulations – imposed by federal bureaucrats – that have been strangling U.S. businesses.
- Pushed through a tax bill that will fuel economic growth and create more jobs.
- Expanded the 529 college tax deduction to include deductions for families who send their children to private primary and secondary schools – a huge benefit to many Christians who’ve placed their children in Christian schools. They can now deduct the cost of tuition (up to $10,000 per child per year).
- Accelerated the move toward American energy independence.
- Taken steps to reduce illegal immigration (down more than 50 percent since Trump’s election).
- Apprehended and prosecuted many violent gang members belonging to criminal gangs such as MS-13.
- Freed the U.S. military to do its job by allowing its leaders to make more spontaneous combat decisions. (Over 98% of territory once held by ISIS has been taken back.)
- Held Kim Jung Un’s feet to the fire. North Korea, for the first time in three decades, is facing serious consequences for its actions. (However, the U.S. must prepare vigilantly for a surprise attack by N. Korea, as its leader is irrational and nihilistic.)
- Put the heat on Iran by making it more difficult for parties to assist and do business with that country’s terrorist-supporting regime.
- Stopped appeasing the pro-world government leaders of the European Union and the United Nations who have consistently worked against U.S. interests and have sought to dismantle our sovereignty.
- Withdrew the United States from the UN-backed Paris Climate Accord (an agreement intended to move the world toward a system of global government by building the necessary legal, economic and political infrastructure for it).
- Officially withdrew the U.S. from UNESCO – the UN’s propaganda arm.
President Trump and Ambassador Haley challenging the United Nations
Renewed U.S. Support for Israel
Along with his achievements in these areas, President Trump took steps to shore up our alliance with Israel which had become severely strained under Barack Obama. To win back the confidence of Israeli citizens, he:
- Bolstered our support of the Jewish state by agreeing that Jerusalem is its rightful capital.
- Announced that the U.S. embassy will be moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem to reflect this position.
- Cut U.S. funding to the UN by nearly $300 million (about 5 percent of the UN’s annual budget) because of its persistent stance against Israel and any country that supports Israel.
U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, played a critical role in presenting the Trump administration’s position on Israel before the United Nations. Yet, despite her best efforts, nearly 130 countries opposed President Trump’s position in last month’s UN vote concerning the status of Jerusalem. Another 35 countries abstained. Following the vote, Ambassador Haley warned that the United States would remember which countries voted against the U.S. and Israel on this matter when considering any future assistance to those nations. When it comes to financing the UN itself, the United States has been providing 22 percent of its annual funds, and over 30 percent of its “peace-keeping” budget.
Why should U.S. taxpayers be forced to fund international organizations, hostile nations, and terrorist groups that continually oppose the United States and threaten Israel – such as the UN, Iran, Hamas, and the Palestinian Authority? It makes no sense whatsoever. Iran, Hamas (the rulers of Gaza), and various leaders of the PA have repeatedly called for the complete destruction and annihilation of Israel. They aren’t willing to even recognize Israel’s right to exist. Yet we have funneled hundreds of millions of dollars to these regimes over many years. In the case of Hamas, rather than using our money to build hospitals, roads and much needed infrastructure to improve the lives of Gaza citizens, they have directed it toward building secret tunnels and equipping and training their terrorist forces to attack Israel. Therefore, I urge our President to go one step further by cutting off all U.S. funding – direct or indirect – to each of these regimes.
While there is no guarantee that President Trump will continue down this path, he is off to a good start. We must keep praying that he heeds the counsel of his wisest, most trustworthy advisors. He will need incredible discernment in dealing with the UN and navigating through the Mideast mess.
Christians Must Do Their Part
If there is any silver lining in all of this, it lies in the fact that seven small nations are standing with the U.S. and Israel. They include Guatemala, Honduras, Togo, Nauru, Palau, Micronesia and the Marshall Islands, each of which voted against the recent UN resolution. Guatemala even announced that it would follow the U.S. lead by moving its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. My guess is that a few more countries will join the U.S. and Israel but most member nations of the UN will continue to support the Palestinian cause against the Jewish state. Israel has become the world’s scapegoat – “the reason why peace cannot be achieved.” Therefore, at this critical hour in history it is vitally important that Christians throughout the world make their voices heard. We must stand with Israel. It is the right thing to do before God.
The reasons for supporting Israel are laid out in a declaration which was issued in December by Ebenezer Operation Exodus – a Christian organization dedicated to assisting Jews in making Aliyah (helping them return to their God-given homeland). Please take a few minutes to prayerfully review this declaration (immediately following this article); then consider sending copies of it to your Christian friends and family members. At a time when worldwide hatred toward Israel is on the rise it is more important than ever for Bible-believing Christians to take a stand.
In case you are wondering about the organization responsible for this declaration, here is some background. Since being established in 1991, Operation Exodus – which has been functioning under the corporate banner of Ebenezer Emergency Fund International (EEFI) – has helped more than 160,000 Jewish people from over 50 countries make the trek to Israel. This involves assisting them in completing the required paperwork, providing financial support to offset travel costs, and working closely with the Jewish Agency (which represents the Israeli government) to locate appropriate jobs and residences to ensure their success once they’ve arrived in Israel.
In 2017, approximately 23 percent of Jews who moved to Israel from around the world did so with assistance from Operation Exodus – an average of over 17 Jews (or Olim, as they are called) per day. The organization is currently helping an average of eight Olim per week to make Aliyah from the United States.
Operation Exodus receives letters of gratitude on a daily basis from Olim who’ve been helped. Here is a touching letter that was received in November from an elderly holocaust survivor. She writes:
Shalom,
My flight to Israel leaves tomorrow morning. As I look around at my packed suitcases and empty apartment, I marvel at the long, long road that has brought me to this day.
When the Nazi’s invaded my hometown in 1941, I was 14 years old. In an instant, everything I had known and loved was obliterated, replaced by hunger, cold, privation, and the constant fear of being discovered or betrayed as a Jew, a certain and swift death sentence.
During those dark days of engulfing evil, it was hard to imagine that human decency and kindness still existed.
Prevented from entering Israel after the end of the war, I made a life in the USA. And now, at the age of 91, I have decided to “close the circle” and join my daughter and her family (including my first great-granddaughter) in Israel.
The help provided by Operation Exodus friends and supporters is invaluable – not only from a material standpoint, enabling me to take this momentous step, but also as an affirmation that we are not alone, that there are good and decent souls who stand with Israel.
I am so very grateful for this support and encouragement and look forward to starting my new life in Israel.
Here are excerpts from another recent letter. This Jewish family is also making Aliyah from the United States. The father writes:
We’re making Aliya based upon many reasons, but if I had to state just one reason, I’d say that my wife and I have a strong feeling that it’s time. I can’t say why it’s time. I can’t even say with any certainty what it’s time for. I suppose it’s a feeling that’s based upon a combination of scripture and keen observation of world events. I’m 57, and to be honest, somehow I’ve had this feeling inside of me all my life.
There are so many evidences from scripture that are chillingly relevant to what is happening today that anyone who is truthful with himself, simply cannot ignore. It feels as if something big is about to happen and that makes sense if one takes the time to learn about the forces at work today that are actively seeking to destroy Christianity and America, currently the largest center of Godliness in this world.
We are religious Jews, but not strictly observant. Not at this time at least…As politically conservative Americans…[and] as moderately observant Jews…it’s only natural that generally speaking, these days, ideologically I am much more comfortable with believing Christians than I am with the people I grew up with.
Grateful Olim on their way to Israel
Many of the Jews making Aliyah from the United States are politically conservative, with strong family and moral values and an appreciation for Christians, who they realize are the ones helping them. I believe that the number of Olim making Aliyah from the U.S. will increase as anti-Jewish sentiments continue to grow. This trend toward hatred of Jews is one of the reasons why some Jews are returning to Israel. They are seeking refuge.
Over 40 percent of all Jews are now back in the land of Israel. Of the remaining 8 million Jews who are scattered around the world, approximately 6 million, or 75 percent, live in the United States. As one who recognizes this fact, I believe that American Christians have been blessed by God with a unique opportunity of not merely standing with Israel, but also of helping His historic covenant people return to their promised land.
There is an interesting proclamation found in Isaiah 49:22.
This is what the Sovereign Lord says:
“See, I will beckon to the Gentiles,
I will lift up my banner to the peoples;
they will bring your sons in their arms
and carry your daughters on their shoulders.”
When considered in light of more than 50 other similar passages found throughout the Old Testament it becomes clear that the Lord has a special end-times plan to restore His people to their original homeland. To fulfill His purpose the Lord has raised up an army of Gentile Christians who are literally helping to carry His people back to their promised land. One of the organizations that has been front and center in this holy endeavor is Operation Exodus, for which I have the greatest respect.
If you feel led by the Lord to undergird the efforts of Operation Exodus, you may donate online at www.operationexodususa.org. You might also be interested in providing prayer support or becoming a volunteer. If so, simply contact the staff at the address provided on the website. For those of you reading this article overseas, you may assist Olim who are making Aliyah from other countries by contacting the international office in Bournemouth, U.K. via their website: http://www.operation-exodus.org.
I can personally vouch for the integrity of Operation Exodus. It has been my privilege to serve as an advisor to this organization for many years and to serve on the U.S. board of directors since 2013. In 2016, I was invited to join the international board as well. The people are first rate and strongly committed to the Lord and His purposes. Working side by side with these godly men and women to fulfill Scripture has been one of the greatest honors of my life.
Summary
It is truly amazing to see how God is moving the hearts of the Jewish people – calling them home. Meanwhile, our adversary, Satan, is striving to undermine what the Lord is doing. He hates Israel and Jews in general, and longs to eradicate them from the earth. Satan hates the Jewish people because God chose to overthrow his kingdom of darkness and bring salvation to the world through the Jews – Jesus the Messiah. The Lord also delivered His message of truth and hope through the Old and New Testaments penned by Israel’s prophets and apostles. It was the Jews – despite their wandering and shortcomings – that He used to bring His light into this fallen world. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that the devil will use everything in his arsenal to deceive and destroy God’s chosen people.
There will be tough times and persecution ahead for Israel as well as Christians who support her and remain faithful to the Lord. This opposition will come primarily from anti-Christian/anti-Jewish globalists who are pushing for an occult-based New World Order. However, we know from the promises of Scripture that God will have the final say (Joel 3, Zechariah 12 & 14, 2 Thessalonians 2, Revelation 19 – to name just a few). Jews and Christians have this in common – they are despised and hated by Satan and his followers. But, they are also loved by the Lord, and He will keep His promises. Just when things look bleakest and the battle appears to be lost, He will intervene on our behalf.
At a time in history when the forces of darkness are gathering against us, let us wisely seize every opportunity to share the good news of God’s Word with all who will listen. Jesus came into the world to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10). He is the hope of the world!
Article: Declaration of Ebenezer Operation Exodus Regarding Jerusalem UN Resolution