ENHANCE - 2nd Quarter 2023

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Christian Friends of Israel United Kingdom Editorial Run with perseverance About us CFI UK seeks to bless Israel through practical and moral support, and serve the Church in teaching about God’s purposes for Israel and the Hebrew heritage of our faith. CFI UK also produce a monthly prayer letter, a weekly audio Middle East report and distribute Haverim teaching. Please contact us for full details of projects in Israel and the teaching resources available. As an educational charity, we carry a variety of resources relevant to our purpose. We do not necessarily endorse every view expressed by our guest writers or authors. Encouraging understanding in the Church of Israel in context of the Bible, history and today. Challenging prejudice against Israel and antisemitism alongside the Jewish community in the UK. Assisting cross-culturally in Israel with charitable projects - medical, educational and social. What’s in a name? ENHANCE means to increase, or further improve the quality, value, or extent of, in our instance, Christian friendship of Israel. It also emphasises that when God’s faithfulness to Israel is included and understood by the wider Church, it truly is ‘faith enhancing.’ ENHANCE Magazine Published by: CFI Charitable Trust, PO Box 2687 Eastbourne BN22 7LZ Tel: 01323 410 810 Email: info@cfi.org.uk www.cfi.org.uk Registered Charity, No. 1101899 Registered Office c/o Caladine, Chantry House, 22 Upperton Road Eastbourne, BN21 1BF Company No: 04984515 VAT Registration No: GB678780275 Front cover photo: Tel Aviv Towers, Israel Jacob Vince When reading the books of the Bible in the Jewish sequence, we might notice extra connections. Take for example the books of Judges and Samuel (the Book of Ruth being located with the Psalms). As the Book of Judges draws to a close, the last judge focused on is Samson. In the Book of Samuel, the next two judges are Eli and Samuel. So, we see that both Samson and Samuel are judges. In many ways they are similar in that they arise out of barren wombs in answer to prayer, they are both Nazarite, neither cutting their hair, and they both challenge the Philistines in their day. They are both also involved in physical warfare with their enemies, Samson on a much greater scale, though Samuel, as a result of King Saul’s failure to do so, carried out the judgement on King Agag of the Amalekites. Later in the Bible, as we come to the Apostles’ teaching, we find they both feature amongst those who exercised faith, towards the end of a long list found in the Letter to the Hebrews. Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah feature from the Book of Judges. Then the list goes on to David and Samuel. Clearly there are also significant differences between them. Samuel perhaps better exemplifies the qualities of a judge; yet struggles with bringing up his own children, in a similar way to Eli and indeed Samson’s parents – who specifically asked for God’s help in that. Yet, despite their failings, God uses them both to further his purposes, with Samuel anointing David as Israel’s king, who unites the north and south of Israel as one nation, eventually bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. Shortly after the list of the judges and King David, followed by the prophets in general, we find it said that they, ‘through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice and gained what was promised’ (Hebrews 11:33) – presumably, at this stage, the ‘promised land’, as mentioned earlier where ‘Abraham made his home … like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs of the same promise’ (Hebrews 11:9). Despite this there remained some unfinished outworking of the second part of the two-part covenant promise made to Abraham, this time not the promised land, but the hereditary line, which eventually continues through to Israel’s Messiah, and Saviour of the world, Jesus. Hence the writer continues, ‘these were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect’ (Hebrews 11:39-40). Notice first, the word ‘together’. But how can this be that God ‘planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect’? Most, if not all, despite being ‘commended for their faith’ in the ‘hall of faith’, were far from perfect. But then neither are we. Even after professing faith in Jesus as God’s son, we cannot claim to be without sin, hence provision is made for its ongoing confession (see 1 John 1:8-9). The next chapter begins, ‘Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses’ (Hebrews 12:1), with ‘therefore’, there for a reason. Here we find an analogy of 2 ENHANCE • 2 nd Quarter 2023 facebook.com/cfiuk twitter.com/cfi_uk youtube.com/cfiuk
an athletic sports stadium, as we are encouraged to run the race with perseverance. The race seems less a sprint and more a long distance one, perhaps a steeplechase with obstacles to clear at intervals along the way. At times we may need to speed up and at others slow down. Along with those who have gone before, we are representing a country and a kingdom that cannot be shaken – which Jesus refers to as the kingdom of heaven, or kingdom of God, in contrast to the kingdom of this world. Nonetheless, we must run the race on an earthly track, as did those who have gone before. So, it is how we run the race and what resources we draw upon that will count. May we then likewise, in the days God has chosen for us to live, ‘throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us’ And ‘Let us fix our eyes on Jesus the author and perfector of our faith’ (Hebrews 12:1-2). Israel Forum Conference Jerusalem At a conference held in Jerusalem at the end of February, the following six subjects were covered by expert panels. DEFENCE: The Iranian nuclear threat is high on the agenda. Iran requires three elements: (1) Material – uranium enrichment presently running around 60 percent, but briefly rose to around 85 percent, close to the required level of 90 percent; (2) Warhead – essentially a ‘treadmill’ exercise estimated at 18 to 24 months for completion; (3) Missile – already tested. What are Israel’s options? There are no good options. Economic sanctions are entering the red zone for diplomacy but may give more time to plan. A military strike requires more in-flight refuelling aircraft. Israelis don’t want to act alone and feel the need for US involvement. They also desire a greater international consensus. There is some progress on this due to the war in Ukraine and the growing axis of Iran and China with Russia, and hence scope for an alliance of moderate European states with the USA and UK alongside increasing middle eastern support. DISCREDIT: Recent anti-Israel campaigns from companies such as Booking.com, Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream were thwarted by legal means. The long-term campaign to discredit Israel was kicked-off by the notoriously erroneous declaration at the Durban conference in South Africa which falsely equated Zionism with racism. This was later rescinded, but the campaign continues, seeking to deny space or place for Israel academically, culturally and economically. This is high on Israel’s list of strategic affairs. DISTORT: There is a reassessment of the war on Jew hatred and its effectiveness. Despite immense effort to stem the flow, it continues to grow steadily and irrationally, even in western countries. Increasingly widespread Holocaust memorial events and monuments fail to influence campaigns against Israel, which are increasingly obvious and merging into Jew hatred. DEVELOP: Israel has progressed from its reputation for Jaffa oranges to a new national identity as a startup nation with its climate and ecosystem of innovation. Since the mid-eighties when fledgling fibre-optics were being developed and there was zero venture capital available, Israel has become the leading venture capital funder worldwide. A recent gathering in Israel saw over eighty countries represented by 9,000 delegates covering subjects from quantum computing to space, food and health technology. Fifty four percent of Israel’s exports now come from the technology industry. DIPLOMACY: Prior to the Abraham Accords some 200 Israeli businesses were already operating behind the scenes in the Gulf countries. Following their announcement, the growth of connections has continued exponentially, along with warmth in relations, running alongside mutual curiosity exemplified in the growth of Gulf tourism that led to the opening up of airspace over Saudi Arabia. The momentum has encouraged a warming in relations with long-term peaceable neighbours who don’t want to be left out or behind. DIASPORA: Presently challenged by the proposed laws for judicial reform. News from Israel increasingly has a direct impact on Jewish relations in the diaspora. There is a need for a better flow of accurate information – getting it out quickly. There is continued concern at outbursts and underlying anti-Semitism, particularly amongst students on campus and on the fringes of political parties. Jonathan Medved CEO of OurCrowd being interviewed at the Forum @christianfriendsofisrael_uk 2 nd Quarter 2023 • ENHANCE 3
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Page 5 and 6: Hebrew Word Focus Melissa Briggs MA
Page 7 and 8: Psalms 90:2; 106:48 Conference Feed
Page 9 and 10: Feature Hidden Treasures Back to ba
Page 11 and 12: Event Report From Monday 10 th to F

ENHANCE - 2nd Quarter 2023

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