Hi gang!  I’m breaking away from our Bible study to comment on events in Iraq that are very relevant to our study.  We’ve recently looked at various terrorist groups who wish to do Israel and her western allies harm.  We did not touch on al Qaeda, but I want to share some news regarding them today.

An ultra-radical Sunni Muslim faction of al Qaeda is currently on a rampage through Iraq.  The terrorist group known as ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq & Al Sham) has captured large chunks of Iraq and have their eyes set on Baghdad.  They have obtained hundreds of millions of dollars from Iraqi banks and have commandeered lots of American military equipment left in Iraq when our troops were pulled out.  With sites set on Baghdad, their goal is to over-run the government and institute Sharia law.

There are serious questions that need to be asked, such as:

• How did ISIS suddenly become so dominant right under the nose of the US who spent billions of dollars and risked tens of thousands of American lives to stabilize Iraq?
• Will Iraq fall to the jihadists, and if so, what’s next?
• Will the US intervene, and will anyone else step in as well?
• Who is next?
• Does ISIS have sites set on Israel and, ultimately, America?

The stakes are high for Israel and for other Western interests, including the United States.  And unfortunately, this appears to reveal just how badly US foreign policy has failed in the Middle East.

It was only a few short years ago, during his presidential campaign, that Barack Obama told us that “al Qaeda is on the run,” and that “We decimated al Qaeda.”  Joe Biden even went so far to say that Iraq is one of Obama’s great achievements.  From the looks of things in Iraq at the moment, it appears that nothing could be further from the truth.

So, what’s my point?  The point is that we are facing God-sized issues in our world that only a God-sized reliance upon Him can resolve.  In our study, Looking for the Blessed Hope, the focus has been on being ready and looking anxiously for the return of our Blessed Hope, Jesus Christ.  Friends, the time in now to fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, and to be about His business.  The President can’t solve this mess.  We must seek out and commit ourselves to the One True God, and walk in His ways, for the time is drawing near and His return is imminent.  Will we be found faithful when He returns?

Please pray:

• For the Lord to intervene and stop the progress of ISIS and other terrorist groups.
• For the safety and well-being of Iraqi citizens.
• For wisdom!  Complaining about world leaders does NO good…pray for them instead!
• For protection of Jordan, Saudi Arabia and other “targeted” countries in which terrorists groups desire to overthrow governments.
• For courage of the believers in the Middle East.  The only true hope is Jesus Christ, so let’s pray that the spiritual fire in the hearts and minds of Christians will ignite the region.

Believers, we have plenty to do as we continue to look for the Blessed Hope!  Come back later today when we’ll resume our study of Bible prophecy.

Thanks for stopping by!