Praise for the God of creation after being ‘flattened by the evolution steamroller’

Messianic believer and church leader, David Hoffbrand, begins the series by sharing his journey to encountering Jesus

Trust and testimony

Jewish woman finds herself in conversation with God

Running with perseverance the race set before us

Strategy and structure

Testimonies, prayers and inspiration for witness

Why I am still proud to be South African

Christian envoy pays tribute to music teacher whose harmonica saved him from the Holocaust

The appointment of Israel’s first ever Christian Arab ambassador is partly thanks to a Jewish musician who, alone among his family, survived the Holocaust.

In a recorded speech following his installation as the Jewish state’s top envoy to Muslim-majority Azerbaijan, George Deek paid tribute to the man he named only as Avraham who became his music teacher.¹

It was because he played the harmonica so beautifully that his life was spared; a Nazi officer took him home to entertain his guests.

When he finally found refuge in Israel, he chose to use the means of his rescue – his music – to bring hope to others including Arab children like George, who duly learnt both flute and clarinet.

Responding to Tragedy with Hope

George’s moving story contradicts much of the narrative spewed out by the mainstream media about the Arab-Israeli conflict, especially the refugee crisis.

His family, who have lived in Jaffa (or Yafo) for 400 years, fled the city in 1948 in response to the warning from Arab leaders that Jews would turn on them when the new-born nation was attacked by the surrounding states, but that they would be free to return when Israel was defeated.

His grandfather, also George, had married in haste before fleeing to Lebanon, but when he realised that Israel had not been defeated and Arabs were not being persecuted, he managed to return and even got his electrician’s job back from Jews he had befriended before independence.

While acknowledging that it was indeed disastrous for the 700,000+ Palestinians who subsequently became unwanted refugees, he noted that 800,000 Jews had been more or less forced out of Arab nations at the same time – a fact that is now conveniently forgotten.

George’s moving story contradicts much of the narrative spewed out by the mainstream media about the Arab-Israeli conflict, especially the refugee crisis.

The Jews were absorbed into Israel, but the Arabs were not accommodated in the same way by the very states whose leaders had persuaded them to leave, thus creating an ongoing UN-backed stalemate in which the refugees are being used as political pawns.

“The Palestinians are held captive by chains of resentment,” he said.

By contrast, the Jews had responded to the tragedy of the Holocaust by securing their future. With respect to his music teacher, “he chose life, not death; hope rather than despair” and began teaching the very thing that saved his life to bring hope to others – especially amidst the tension that existed in Jaffa between Arabs and Jews.

Referring to the way in which Avraham spoke little and reluctantly of his tragic past, which he suggested was reflective of the general response of Jews to the Shoah, he said: “Only when they had secured their future did they allow themselves to look back at the past.”

By God’s Grace

Under the shadow of that great tragedy, Jews were able to build a country that leads the world in many areas. At the same time Israeli Arabs are the most educated Arabs in the world, occupying highly influential positions as judges, doctors, MPs enjoying the right to criticise the Government, and diplomats like him.

George is not Israel’s first Arab ambassador – that distinction went to Ali Yahya, who was appointed Ambassador to Finland in 1995. And I have personally met Ishmael Khaldi – Israel’s first Bedouin diplomat.

Towards the end of his speech, George quoted the words of the Jewish patriarch Joseph, who reacted to the betrayal of his brothers in selling him to slavery by forgiving them and saying: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Gen 50:20).

Israeli Arabs are the most educated Arabs in the world, occupying highly influential positions

Joseph emerged as saviour of his people, rescuing them from famine after becoming Prime Minister of Egypt. He was a picture of the Messiah to come, who would be given over by his brothers to being nailed to a cross but who will also one day reveal himself to them as “the one they have pierced” (Zech 12:10), forgiving and cleansing them of their past sins.

Like so many of his cousins, George might well have become a Palestinian refugee without rights or citizenship, but – through God’s grace – he is an Israeli diplomat representing one of the most thriving economies on the planet.

Joppa: Start-point for Reconciliation

Jonah's Jaffa - a tribute to the whale that brought him back. Photo: Charles Gardner

I particularly like this story because of the crucial part played by the harmonica, an instrument I love to play myself and which can wonderfully enhance worship of God. And I also like it because of its setting in Jaffa, known in Bible times as Joppa.

It was this time last year that my wife Linda and I got to know the city, which lies at the southern end of the Tel Aviv metropolis. And it was an awesome experience to discover afresh the vital role it had played in the biblical era.

It is where the Prophet Jonah caught a ship for Tarshish in his vain attempt to run away from God’s call to preach to the cruel Ninevites – there is a life-size sculpture of a whale (complete with fountain) near the seafront.

Jonah too was a picture of the Messiah to come. For Jesus declared to his opponents that his credentials would be proven through the ‘Sign of Jonah’ (Matt 12:38-40), who was buried for three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish before being resurrected on the beach.

Joppa could hardly have been a more strategic place, leading to reconciliation at the Cross for both Jew and Gentile.

The harbour at Jaffa where Jonah boarded ship. Photo: Charles GardnerJoppa was also a key location for the early Church, and of another resurrection – Tabitha (or Dorcas) was raised from the dead there through the prayers of Peter (Acts 9:36-43). It was also the town of Simon the Tanner, in whose home Peter had the heavenly vision that was to open the way for the Gospel to the Gentile world with his visit to the Roman centurion Cornelius some 40 miles up the coast in Caesarea (Acts 10).

It could hardly have been a more strategic place, leading to reconciliation at the Cross for both Jew and Gentile. And now, 2,000 years later, an Arab Christian there finds hope – and status – in a Jewish world.

Who would have thought a Jewish state would appoint a Christian envoy to a Muslim country! Pray for George. God is surely at work.

Watch George Deek’s testimony here.

References

1 Israel appoints its first ever Christian Arab Ambassador. Christians United for Israel, 16 November 2018.  

Even in the ashes, the Lord is at work.

We are delighted to feature a testimony this week from the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire. Sally Richardson, who co-ordinates London’s Israel and Prophecy Group, visited the area with a friend to pray; they were taken by surprise there as they discovered wonderful stories of God at work.

My visit to pray in the area near Grenfell Tower

Sally Richardson (Israel and Prophecy Group, London)

Dear friends,

After having attended the excellent Intercessors For Britain Prayer and Bible Day in Central London yesterday (Saturday 17 June), where prayer was made for the aftermath of the terrible tragedy of the Grenfell Tower fire and the victims and their loved ones, my friend Ralph Brockman and I went to the area of the tower to pray there in person.

We walked there from White City station, near my home on the nearby White City Estate. From North Pole Road, we walked down Latimer Road towards the Westway flyover, and the Tower. We could see its blackened hulk coming nearer and nearer as we walked towards it.

Halfway down the road, we saw a church, the Tabernacle Christian Centre, where we could see people gathered inside and out. Ralph and I went over to them, and asked them if we could go into the church and pray for the victims of the fire.

We were welcomed with open arms and hugs and warmly invited in, where we were told we could pray wherever we wanted. We found two chairs near an open door, and prayed for the victims and for the aftermath of the fire.

The church itself was small and simple, with a large wooden cross centrally displayed, and nearby, a table with a menorah on it. We both really felt the presence of the Lord in this precious little church.

We both really felt the presence of the Lord in this precious little church.

After we had finished praying, members of the church, including the Pastor, Pastor Derrick, came to talk with us. They again thanked us for coming, and told us how they had opened the church at 2am on the night of the fire, and that people had almost immediately began to come in for refuge and shelter. Soon after that, donations of food and clothing, blankets, items of furniture, etc. began to arrive, so much so that the whole church, the rooms off it, the yard at the front and the garden, were full of donations. People had come from all over the country to give, and some had been divinely directed there; arriving in the area, and not knowing where to go, the Lord had then spoken to them and said, "Go to Tabernacle Christian Centre!". So they had done just that.

Pastor Derrick also told us that, on the Tuesday evening as they were praying and having their Bible study, the Lord broke in and gave a word, which was that they must be prepared, as the Lord was going to bring many people to the church. The fire broke out a few hours later; how this Word has been fulfilled, and still is being!

The church has seen a steady flow of victims and survivors of the fire, most very traumatised and in a state of shock. They have come alongside each one in love and compassion, giving them food, water, goods and money, and offering a listening ear and prayer, which some have accepted - including Muslims. We are praying that some of the victims will return to attend the services there and turn to the Lord and be saved; may He be their solace.

As we were speaking, Pastor Derrick pointed to the large wooden cross, so centrally displayed, and said, "The cross is central here; we preach Christ crucified." This is a church which really lives out the Gospel; they practice what they preach.

They also love Israel and the Jewish people and pray regularly for them, as Pastor Derrick told us when we asked him about the menorah. He also told us that their oldest member is a dear Welsh lady 100 years old, who is still very active in the service of the Lord.

Hours before the fire, the Lord warned the church that they were to prepare, for he was about to bring many people.

Family members of those still missing have also come to the church, asking for help in finding their loved ones, and leaving pictures of them on trees and lamp-posts all over the area, including at the church, asking if anyone has seen them and to contact them if so. Some of them also asked for prayer.

Later, as Ralph and I walked round the area, we saw the pictures of the missing, from the the young, including small children, to the elderly, whom, in all probability, have perished in the inferno. We prayed that they had cried out to the Lord as the flames consumed them. It was truly heart-wrenching seeing these pictures, and the tears were never far away.

We finished by going underneath the Westway flyover to a grassy knoll overlooking the tower to pray. As we began, we could see firemen on the roof, obviously conducting part of their investigation. We brought all the members of the emergency services who will be investigating the causes of the fire before the Lord; they will be undoubtedly be seeing some terrible sights in the next few days and weeks.

We can thank God for all the local churches that have opened their doors, day and night, to the victims of the tragedy. They have provided a listening ear, comfort both spiritual and practical, and have fed, clothed, and watered all those who have come to them; what a contrast to the local Council and TMO, whom, according to the victims, have done absolutely nothing and were seemingly deaf to their oft-expressed concerns as to the safety of Grenfell Tower. In the rich borough of Kensington and Chelsea, it seems that North Kensington, where the tower is situated, is very much the poor relative whom everyone ignores.

I also want to mention another church in the area, which I visited for a meeting a few weeks before the tragedy, and which has also been open 24/7 to victims, family members and friends of those missing and which has given continuously and unstintingly. That church is Latimer Christian Centre.

We thank God for the local churches that have opened their doors to the victims of the tragedy, providing a listening ear and both spiritual and practical comfort to all who have come to them.

We also prayed that people's very understandable anger at the lack of response and action by Kensington and Chelsea council, and the TMO, which is real and palpable, would not turn to rioting and civil disobedience such as we saw in Tottenham and other areas following the shooting of Mark Duggan nearly six years ago in 2011. "Lord, contain their anger", we prayed.
I am reminded of the words of the Oxford martyr Latimer, whom, as they burned at the stake, turned to his fellow martyr Ridley, and said, "Play the man, Master Ridley; we shall this day light such a candle, by God's grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out."

Grenfell Tower has burned, but let us pray that a candle will burn in North Kensington that will NEVER be put out.

May the surviving victims of the tower tragedy find Him to be THEIR tower of refuge and strength (Proverbs 18:10).

In Him,

Sally Richardson
18/06/17