Sunday, December 29, 2013

A HIGHWAY

Suggested Reading: Isaiah 17-19

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

 

Looking from Israel towards the East, a highway leads down to the lowest point on earth, the Dead Sea, which you can see in the distance with the mountains of Moab and Mount Nebo, Jordan, further behind. Today's reading tells us about a "Highway." This was a steep gravel road when my parents were here in 1924 on their honeymoon. They had to back up this hill because otherwise their 1914 model T Ford, with gravity feed for the gas, would run out of gas.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

 

Key Verses: Isaiah 19:20, 23, 25b

And it will be for a sign and for a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the Lord because of the oppressors, and He will send them a Savior and a Mighty One, and He will deliver them…In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian will come into Egypt and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians will serve with the Assyrians… Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.

Our key verses about Egypt, Assyria, and Israel are most surprising! Isaiah, the prophet of Judah, could be accused of aiding and abetting the mortal enemies of Israel. Assyria had destroyed the northern ten tribes, and Judah had been invaded and harassed again and again by Egypt. Yet here, inspired by the Holy Spirit, Isaiah looks beyond the past and present to a glorious future when people from every nation would be called, “The people of God.” That’s true today, and someday soon, the nations themselves will acknowledge the God of Israel, His Son and our Saviour and Lord!!! For a New Testament reading concerning people of all nations, check out Ephesians 2:11-19 and Matthew 25:31-34!!!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, Isaiah carried a deep concern for all people and nations. I pray for a greater concern for their well being. May I have a greater heart for world missions, and may I pray and give more sacrificially than ever before! I even state in Your presence, as Isaiah did, “Here am I, send me!” I pray this in the Name of the One Who gave Himself to all people and to the whole world, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I read the key verses several times when I served as an accredited reporter to President Jimmy Carter’s last and most crucial visit to Jerusalem. In my mind’s eye I could envision the highway from Egypt to Assyria when I heard President Carter say to the Israeli Parliament, “The people want peace!” I won’t tell the whole story here, but it is sufficient to say that for the only time in my life, when I was approached by live radio hosts in both the Hebrew and Arabic languages for a interview, I believe I experienced a prophetic word such as Isaiah received. I encourage everybody to get my latest book entitled, This far by Faith, and find this story on page 48 (click here for information on how to get one of these books). Crossroads Christian Communications is reaching all peoples and nations in various ways under the inspired leadership of Dr. John Hull, a true missionary statesman. As the Global Chief Executive Officer of our ministry, John, who served as Pastor of the People’s Church, Toronto, in the footsteps of that other great missionary statesman, Dr. Oswald J. Smith, is my leader in fulfilling the Great Commission given by Jesus, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature!” John was only 35 years old when Dr. Paul B. Smith found him in a local church pastorate and sensed John’s burning passion to reach the world for Christ. Now at 55, John is equipped in heart, mind, experience and total commitment to reach the world for Jesus using all the amazing tools of 21st century communications. I guess it’s obvious that I’m excited, as is my family, about the future of Crossroads. Norma-Jean and I are committed to praying more and giving more than ever.

Yours for the highway, not just between Egypt and Assyria, through Israel, but to the east, the west, the north and the south, into all nations!

David

P.S. Help us build highways which allow us to communicate the message of Jesus by praying and giving special offerings before the year end. The offerings tucked in envelopes which are mailed and postmarked before midnight, December 31st, will qualify for tax deductions for 2013 in both Canada and in the U.S.A.

P.P.S. The photos below were taken by my son Ron through a helicopter window above the Crossroads Centre in Burlington, Ontario (a good friend of the ministry, Tony Ketalaars, took Ron for a flight over the city a while back). Next to our building, the one closest to the the highway, you can see the busy intersection of three major highways…403, 407, and the Q.E.W. From here at this crossroads, the Word of the Lord goes out to the whole world. Your prayers and support puts in the fuel, not in a model T ford, but in the most futuristic means of moving throughout the whole world! Thanks for helping to keep our gas tanks full! Amen!!!

9 thoughts on “Sunday, December 29, 2013

  1. I have read that there actually is a pillar dedicated to God in Egypt. I think it was set up after the Macabean wars. It is clear that God foreshadows the fulfillment of prophecy with paradoxical events to them. Antiochus was a figure of the antichrist as was Hitler and they seem to be two of the seven kings of the beast yet they are tiny compared to the eighth king which is of the seven and is dead yet lives. That king is the spirit of that beast and is taking it’s power to rule the whole world. It is the legacy of Babylon, Rome and Greece, Persia, and the Nazis. The second beast glorifies the first and it is Nazi and Islamic. Yet, it is not openly representing itself as a dragon because it is a snake and sneaky. As the evil is greater, so will God’s fulfilment be immensely greater than the past events in history. As bad as nazi germany was, the eigth king is global. As Hitler caused a whole country to support what he did yet people denied he was doing it, so the eighth king will try to do. These small things such as the fall of physical Babylon are nothing to the fall to come of this world which is the spiritual Babylon. Likewise, the Maccabees is only a shadow of the victory and blessing Jesus will bring when He returns.

  2. We all hit crossroads in our lives and the Holy Spirit leads us to go the way tne Lord God plans
    His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts but He will always lead us in greener pastures
    Trust in the Lord with all your heart lean not on your own understanding in all your ways aknowledge Him and He will direct your path .
    Thank you David and Norma Jean and your family
    May God continue to give you strength and complete healing as we approach 2014 God Bless and keep you and shine His face upon you and give you peace
    Happy New Year to every one God grant floods of favor in Jesus name Amen 😉

  3. There are many cataclysmic events portrayed in Isaiah, but what stands through clearly is that God is in control. Ultimately, peace will reign as nations turn and yield to our Heavenly Father. No astronaut has returned to earth and not mentioned how beautiful earth appears and how our borders are invisible from space ! As events unfold in 2014, Crossroads will certainly be there with our prayers and support. Have a great day, to all!

  4. David and fellow blogger
    Will you pray for me I came down with a cold and I havn’t had one in a long time. I feel miserable although I had a good christmas despite it .
    Thanks
    Lianne Hogg
    I had a good christmas despite it all.
    Thanks everyone

    • Heavenly Father please strengthen Lianne’s immune system to quickly fight off this cold. Help her to be patient with her symptoms because they are a sign her body is fighting off the virus within her, in accordance to the way You designed our bodies to do, so we thank you for that mechanism that protects our bodies. Yet, help her to manage those symptoms so they do not rob her of her joy and give her relief as needed. In Jesus’s name we pray. Amen

  5. Yes, it is comforting to know that in all and always, God is in control, He is faithful and we can trust Him in all ways and in all things. Praise His Holy Name!!!!

    Have a Glorious and Prosperous New Year!!!

  6. Dear Rev. David M,
    Just finished reading page 47 and 48 of your book this far by faith .
    What a wonderful example you give us on the power of prayer and especially
    when two or more come into agrement .It all comes back to being still and letting the Holy Spirit guide us through the intrecate highway of life .
    PS, Keeping you in prayer sister Lianne just got over a bad cold myself .
    Leave it all to our Great Physician .

    Have a blessed day everyone

    XXXX Carole.

Leave a Reply to Carole Pony Meunier Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.