Shalom from the cool and beautiful Jezreel Valley! When you look around, especially at the fertile farmland below where I live, it’s not hard to figure out why the Israelites called this nation a land of milk and honey.
Before we get into the MidEast news, I feel that I need to take a moment to clarify what it is that I do with this newsletter, with the online updates, and with my Telegram posts. First, did you know that Behold Israel began as a news service? My whole goal was to share with the world what was taking place in the Middle East region, and, when possible, to filter it through the lens of Scripture. As time went on, the ministry expanded. Many of my teachings from around the globe went online. We provided materials, led tours, and began to publish written resources, including books. But through it all, Behold Israel never left its roots as a purveyor of Israel-related news.
Unfortunately, the news part of the ministry has sometimes gotten me into trouble with people who are only connecting with Behold Israel for the Bible teaching. “Amir, quit talking about politics and ‘left and right’ and just teach the Word.” If you only tune in to Behold Israel for my messages, then fantastic! It’s wonderful to have you as part of the family! But you also need to realize that there is this other side of the ministry – the news side – that I am called by God to carry out.
The election of Donald Trump has been especially trying for this news/bible tension. Everyone has an opinion about the returning president, and not all those opinions are favorable. This dichotomy of views extends within the church. Recently, there has been a diaspora of followers from various Behold Israel medias. Some say that I’m too pro-Trump. Others say that I’m not pro-Trump enough.
Wouldn’t it be easier to simply not report about the U.S. president? Absolutely not. In fact, it would be impossible. How could I discuss Israel and Gaza without referencing Trump’s policies? The nuclear program in Iran, the Houthis in Yemen, the relationship with Saudi Arabia, our future with Turkey, Israel’s tension with Russia, our connections to the Lebanese, the Kurds, the Druze, the Jordanians, the United Nations, Western Europe – when it comes to Israel, every one of these issues is tied to the United States, some to a great degree and others less so.
At the moment, if it comes across like I am strongly pro-Trump, it is simply because right now Trump is strongly pro-Israel. It’s true that I said a lot of negative things about the previous administration, but that was because many of their policies were strongly anti-Israel. When their decisions were good for my nation, I was quick to point that out.
The great Reverend Clarence Larkin once said that “Bible prophecy has nothing to say about the nations as such in their affairs with one another, but rather in their relations to Israel – the people and the land.” That is how I try to report the news. My focus is on Israel. Right now, the White House is very closely tied in with Israeli affairs, so it is often mentioned in my Telegram updates. When I think good things are being done that will positively affect my nation, I’ll praise them. When I think decisions are being made that could be deleterious to Israel, I’ll call those out and condemn them. It’s the actions that count to me, not the party. I am not a Republican, a Democrat, or an Independent. I’m an Israeli, and it is from that perspective that I report the news.
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