Shimon Peres

Shimon Peres by Joel Rosenberg

The eyes of the world were once again focused on Israel this week. Leaders of more than 70 nations -- including President Obama and, to his credit, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas -- arrived in Jerusalem Friday to attend the funeral of former Israeli President and Prime Minister Shimon Peres.

Some 50,000 Israelis passed by the casket to pay their respects to the last of the founding fathers of the modern nation state. By God's grace, the Israeli security plan was excellently designed and executed and there were no terrorist attacks or incidents. Thanks to all of you who were praying this week for the peace of Jerusalem. As I watched the memorial service and followed the news coverage generated by the event, I found myself grateful for -- even heartened by -- a moment of calm in the Middle East storm.

Many of the leaders who attended have been highly, even brutally, critical of Israel over the years. Many of them have voted against Israel at the U.N. and sought various ways to penalize or punish Israel over the years. Yet this week they set all (or most) of that aside to honor the memory of a man who for all his many flaws and virtues will be remembered for his valiant efforts to make peace. 

 

Now, the funeral services are over. The leaders have left. Life will soon return to normal -- and yet the "new normal" in the Mideast is one of evil, savagery and despair. Whenever and wherever I speak, I'll discuss this "new normal," but my emphasis will continue to be "the big untold story in the Middle East" -- the story of how the Holy Spirit is opening hearts and minds to the Gospel and drawing more Jews and more Muslims into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ than at any other time in human history.

Please continue to pray that the children of Abraham will move beyond their disdain for one another and experience together the love that JESUS has for them.