U.S. - Israel divide grows

There has been a lot of rhetoric going back and forth between Israeli leadership and U.S. leadership this week, and taking a step back to review the situation reveals a big divide developing between the two traditional allies. It started last week when it was revealed that president Obama was demanding that Israel stop all settlements in the West bank and Jerusalem. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu was vague about expanding settlements and stated clearly that existing settlements would be allowed to have "natural growth". Apparently this didn't sit well with Mr. Obama.

A couple of days later, Mr. Obama punched back, by stating that Iran should be allowed to have nuclear power, but verification should take place that they would not develop nuclear weapons. This is absurd, because Iran sits on a huge lake of oil, and is obsessively working to develop nuclear arms. This isn't exactly a well-kept secret in the Middle-East. Additionally, it would be virtually impossible to determine if nuclear arms are being developed in Iran, as such development takes place in deep underground facilities, in scattered locations throughout Iran.

Now with his trip to the Middle-East (he is not visiting Israel, interestingly) it seems clear that he is turning away from Israel and turning towards partnership with the Islamic states who are sworn to destroy Israel. The U.S. administration also threatened to pull any UN support from Israel this week. Relations between the U.S. and Israel are ice cold right now.

Prophetically, this is a very important development. We know from Ezekiel 38-39, and from Zechariah 12, that in the last days Israel would stand alone against the entire world. It seem evident that God has set the stage for this isolation of Israel for one reason: Only HE will protect Israel. Just like so many times in the Old Testament, and more recently in 1948 when Israel was invaded within days of their formation as a nation, God will come to the rescue of Israel - and again - it will be seemingly against all odds.

The U.S. is turning their backs on Israel, and is strongly favoring the enemies of Israel.

It had to happen. Now the stage is set for the next developments in the region. Israel has no allies now, just as bible prophecy predicted - all nations on earth are gathered against the tiny country. But God will watch over His people.

Several months ago, before giving a talk on prophecy, I was looking for some scriptures to close the discussion of Ezekiel 38-39. I opened my bible to the Psalms, and Psalm 33 appeared. This Psalm is SO germane to these discussions, in the context of "the nations", who think they can change God's overall plans:

"The Lord foils the plans of the nations;
He thwarts the purposes of the peoples
But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever
the purposes of his heart through all generations

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord
the people he chose for his inheritance

From heaven the Lord looks down
and sees all mankind
from his dwelling place he watches
all who live on earth"

(v 10-14)

"We wait in hope for the Lord;
he is our help and our shield
In him our hearts rejoice
for we trust in his holy name.

May your unfailing love rest upon us O Lord,
even as we put our hope in you."

(v 20-22)