Persecution

May 2024

   It was tough being a Hebrew in the days of slavery under the North African rule in Egypt. Their journey from Hebrew to Jew would be a dangerous trek. God forewarned Abraham. 

   Genisis 15:12-14, “Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, terror and great darkness fell upon him.  God said to Abram, ‘Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years.  But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with many possessions…’”

   The Hebrews, descendants of Abraham, started off pretty well in Egypt, thanks to Jacob’s son, Joseph. Joseph, a victim of sibling rivalry, was sold to desert travelers and taken to Egypt where he was sold to a man named Potiphar, a prince to Pharaoh. Potiphar liked Joseph’s work ethic and attitude; and before long Potiphar put him in charge of his other slaves. 

   Potiphar’s wife took a liking to Joseph too; but she was rejected. Feeling scorned, she told Potiphar that Joseph tried to seduce her; but she declined. A short time later, Joseph was in jail. Because of his uncanny ability to decipher dreams, Pharaoh finally got word of Joseph’s gift and sent for him.

   Joseph deciphered some of Pharaoh’s troubling dreams; and Pharaoh promoted him to be his right-hand man, second in command. When Joseph is later joined by his father and brothers, a convoluted story in itself, his family is quite surprised at the living conditions. Royalty was something they had never experienced.

   As things happen, a new Pharaoh came along, Joseph and his descendants were enslaved; and 400 years later, Moses freed them with the help of God’s great miracles. And the future Children of Israel complained.

   It was also tough being a Jew in the days of Roman rule. 

   The Judahites (first use of the term Jews) were a feisty group, and the Roman centurions put up with little. There were no Miranda Rights, and the life of a Jew was not considered of value to many. Persecution of a people who had only one God by a group who had many gods. 

   Jesus came to save the Jews from themselves, and many of the Jews believed Him. With their own eyes they saw miracles that man had never seen and has never seen since. When Jesus cured the man’s blindness, He did not slam him in the head and knock him to the ground; He simply commanded. There was little drama like we see on TV, which, of course, is false prophecy that deceives even the most elect.

   The Jews that saw Jesus and believed, were ostracized by the Pharisees and “normal” Jews who knew for sure that the Messiah would ride in on a big, white horse with lots of armor and weapons; and kill all their enemies. Did not happen. It was not predicted to happen at that time. That would be Armageddon, the war that would end war.

   In 132 AD, the Jews were exiled by the Romans and scattered throughout the known world. They suffered death by Muslims and death by crusaders. It had been a long and arduous trek, and this journey would end in Germany. 

   Much of the news in Nazi Germany looked like much of the news in the world right now. Hatred of Jews, blocking Jews from entering schools and grocery stores, threatening Jews. One has to wonder — what’s with the sudden love of Islam in the US?

   The Jews faced their Holocaust while the world looked the other way, like now. Since colleges do not teach true history anymore, we are doomed to repeat it. Is God judging the United States? He is particular about the descendants of Jacob.

   “On that day, when all the nations of the earth gather against her, I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who would heave it away will be severely injured.” (Zechariah 12:3).

   The first time I read this Scripture, I wondered what Israel could possibly do to turn the US against them. I never thought of October 7, 2023. All they had to do is defend themselves, and now we want Israel to stop before they kill the cancer. Let them do their job! Terrorism is a malignant cancer. A lot of well-educated college kids do support the cancer instead of the cure. Programmed by their professors and Tik Tok. Social media is the devil in disguise.

   Is God judging the United States? Are times good? Is the economy good? Gas prices? How about crime? Mortgage rates? Pandemics? It’s getting like Dodge City out here. Many people are even afraid to go out at night in large cities.

Unfortunately, the same persecution will come to Christianity, as hatred grows. There does not seem to be much repenting going on, and anti-Semitism is worse than ever.

   “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (Geneses 12:3).

   JL Robb is author of the 7-book series, “The End The Book,”

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