First, let me say that it was a tremendous blessing to hear Benjamin Netanyahu (Israel’s Prime Minister) live via satellite on Tuesday morning! He is a man who speaks with conviction, and who is steadfast in his determination to keep Israel safe. He is a true leader who commands respect.
Secondly, my journey to AIPAC was a “God thing,” and quite an experience. I was invited to join a group of 30 Arizona pastors and ministry leaders, and the Lord provided miraculously and abundantly at every turn. From the string of circumstances that connected me to the leader of this group, to smaller details such as ending up in a hotel room of my own, to flying standby and seeing God pull off a divine appointment, I was fully blessed.
Last Saturday (prior to the start of the conference on Sunday), I took a prayer walk around the White House/Capitol/National Mall area and shared thoughts about the sense of oppression there. Thus, it was refreshing to find strongly like-minded people at the AIPAC Policy Conference. However, this was not a Christian event, but a pro-Israel event. While I thoroughly enjoyed it and am impressed with its purpose, I found myself void of the degree of excitement seen in some others. One reason AIPAC is so large and successful is that they encourage membership. I am definitely not against membership, and have not even ruled it out. But I see where this “good” might detract from God’s “best” for me. He has called me to be a voice of Biblical truth regarding Israel, and I never want to depart from that! Perhaps I will become somewhat involved as a political activist on behalf of Israel, but not at the expense of my focus on Biblical truth.
A highlight, though, was seeing committed sub-groups of Christians vibrantly showing support for Israel. I went to a Christian Delegates Dinner and a couple of breakout sessions designed for Christians and was blessed. I also sat next to a pastor from Alabama on a shuttle bus ride to Capitol Hill. We chatted about Christian support of Israel and then, right there on the bus, we prayed for the Spirit of the Living God to fall upon our Congressmen. We will likely never see one another again this side of heaven, but we will be partners in prayer…and I bet we will unknowingly meet at the throne of grace as we pray persistently for Israel.
I had various other “divine appointments” with Christians and Jews young and old. But I want to tell you about a special divine appointment as I prepared to fly home. I was originally scheduled on a flight at 8:00pm. However, since we were done earlier than expected, I headed to the airport. I was re-booked on an earlier flight, but through a series of circumstances, I had to go through security twice. Bummer, huh!
Not in God’s economy! It was Spring Break (not a good thing if you’re flying standby), the airport was jammed, security was at a heightened level due to that morning’s terror in Brussels, and lines were atrocious. Beyond that, on my second trip through security I also got shuffled to two different lines where, “coincidentally” I met Leah. (FYI – nothing in this world is “coincidental!” God is in full control of even the tiniest details. Luke 12:6-7, Psalm 139, Isaiah 46:10-11, Job 31:4)
Leah is Jewish, had also been to the AIPAC Conference, was also flying home (to Boston), and our gates were “coincidentally” next to one another. We immediately engaged in deep and enjoyable conversation, as she told me about her family and taking trips to Israel, and I shared my love of Israel and the Jewish people. There was an immediate bond and we committed to remain in contact.
But suddenly, I realized I was not at the gate of the flight on which I had been re-booked. Thus, I had to make a rather abrupt departure….back to the other terminal! I found, though, that I didn’t have to go through security if I took a shuttle bus across the tarmac. So I realized that, with other options available, God had orchestrated a second trip through security and an error in gate assignment to cause a divine appointment that never would have happened otherwise! I believe that “coincidental” encounter could be very significant for us both!
In my haste to get to the right gate, though, I neglected to get Leah’s contact info. However, I had given her a card with my info on it. (Leah, if you are reading this, please email me!)
BTW, I made it back across the tarmac to the correct gate just in time and, despite a full flight and two airline employees prioritized ahead of me, I got the last seat on a direct flight (rather than a connection through another city, as originally planned), and I arrived home at 7:30 rather than midnight! After several action packed days and very little sleep, that was a gift from God!
Friends, God does not always make our paths so simple…but He often gives us divine appointments. So, I’m learning not to complain when circumstances send me twice through security and seem to lead me in a direction that I didn’t plan! This fabulous experience, all because my precious Lord provided the opportunity and the means to take a gigantic stand for Israel by going to Washington DC for a conference! What a God we serve!
Blessings friends!
Looking for the Blessed Hope 