As Israel celebrated Tu BiShvat (the New Year of Trees) again this week, although in the middle of very different circumstances compared to a year ago, it still reminds us of God’s constant nature, His faithfulness, His promises of loving-kindness.
Life goes on and laws of nature continue to work unaffected, no matter what is going on down here. After all, He says in Genesis 8:22: “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease.”
And just to kick off with a high note, here are a couple of His promises to Israel and to the rest of the believing world.
“Thus says the Lord, who gives the sun for a light by day, the ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night, who disturbs the sea, and its waves roar (the Lord of hosts is His name): If those ordinances depart from before Me, says the Lord, then the seed of Israel shall also cease from being a nation before me forever.” (Jeremiah 31:35-36)
“’For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall my covenant of peace be removed,’ says the Lord, who has mercy on you.“ (Isaiah 54:10)
And seeing the almond trees starting to blossom again here in the Land, certainly calls to mind that the Almighty has promised to watch over his Word to fulfill it (Jeremiah 1:11 -12).
Now to some more earthly news –
As we are nearing the end of our third national lockdown, which should end this weekend but is liable to be extended upon cabinet’s decision, Israel is leading the world charts with its speedy vaccination campaign. Out of the country’s 9,3 million strong population, so far, the Jewish State has managed to vaccinate over 4,35 million, and around 1,5 million twice. Starting with the elderly, we have now reached the 35+ age group and some 16-18-year-olds have also received their doses to allow for them to be ready to take their exams.
Despite the vigorous inoculation tempo and strict movement restrictions, the virus statistics continue to show high numbers and the hopes of some to see the end to the pandemic are starting to dim. The new virus variants are blamed for the unchanging infection rates, wherefore Israel decided to stop all international flights at Ben Gurion Airport this week and close most land borders with Jordan and Egypt to keep the new COVID-types from coming in. The measure is in place until the end of January but could be extended, should the government and health authorities deem it necessary.
Here is some food for thought and prayers –
At the Davos Economic Forum, which was held this week via videoconference, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the world about Coronavirus mutations. “It’s just a matter of time until we hit a strain that the current vaccines are not susceptible to,“ he said and went on to predict that „we’ll have to inoculate ourselves at least annually.”
Netanyahu continues negotiations with Pfizer to quickly acquire more vaccine, proposing that Israel “could serve as a world laboratory for herd immunity” as well as “a global test case” on the vaccine and on reopening the economy.
While all that is going on, despite the worldwide coronavirus pandemic and the consequential economic ramifications, TV7 Israel is blessed to report unprecedented growth, for which we give all the glory to our Heavenly Father. Reminiscent of Tu BiShvat, it also reminds us of Psalm 1 and Jeremiah 17:7-8, where those who put their trust and hope in the Lord and delight in His law, are compared to “a tree planted by the waters, which spreads its roots by the river and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit,” and “whatever they do will prosper”.
We are happy and grateful to announce the addition of two new colleagues to our staff in Jerusalem – Hila Spector is our new Video Director and Video Editor, and Nahtalli Cohen will serve as Jonathan Hessen’s PA and will also help with administration and donor relations. TV7 Israel is also blessed to be joined by three new distinguished show hosts – Dr. (Col. Res) Eran Lerman, Amb. Danny Ayalon and Michael Kerem.
During the past six months we have also been able to add six new 30-minute monthly programs to our menu.
You may have already seen and are familiar with TV7 Israel Editor’s Note and TV7 Israel Watchmen Talk.
The most recent newcomers on our program list are TV7’s Middle East Review, which is a monthly summary of events in the region, introducing our frequent Jerusalem Studio panelists Dr. Eran Lerman, Vice President of the Jerusalem Institute of Strategy and Security and a Lecturer at Shalem College, and Ambassador Danny Ayalon, Israel’s Former Deputy Foreign Minister and Ambassador to the United States, as co-hosts of the show.
TV7’s Times Observer sees Jonathan joined by Amir Tsarfati discussing current events in the Middle East through a biblical lens.
In My Brother’s Keeper, Michael Kerem interviews guests from around the world to discuss the persecution of Christians across the Middle East and North Africa, with the aim to enlighten our viewers about the situation, while encouraging them to pray for their suffering brothers and sisters.
And lastly, Jerusalem Prays, where we encourage believers in the Body of Christ around the world to pray for each other. Viewers are invited to participate by sending prayer requests either in writing via e-mail or by short video clips through the Messenger on our Facebook page, selection of which will be prayed for during the course of the show.
You can find additional information about the TV7 broadcast schedule on our news website and watch the programs on our YouTube channel.
While you are praying for all the above, as well as for the peace of Jerusalem and the salvation of Israel these coming weeks, please entreat and appeal to the Judge in Heaven also for Israel’s upcoming new elections in March, which are the unfortunate result of the ruling coalition not being able to agree on the state budget in the end of last year.
We are exceedingly grateful for your prayers for all of us and your faithful support to all our endeavors. May our Heavenly Father continue to bless you and multiply back to you 30-, 60- and 100-fold all the good seeds you have sown.
And until we meet again, we would like to leave you with the ever-reassuring words of Psalm 91 –
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; for He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.”
–-By Monika Jaaguri