Immanuel's Land

Since the 6-day war in 1967 the Middle East has seldom been out of the news. In the centre of the region lies the State and land of Israel. The eyes of all nations are continually focussed there, and for lovers of Scripture Immanuel's land holds perennial interest. It was the land chosen by God and covenanted to Abraham and his descendants. Here, according to promise, our Saviour was born and grew to manhood. His blessed feet traversed its hills and valleys. In the temple court, in the synogogues, and in the open air His voice, "the voice that tuned the sky", conveyed in human language the inmost thoughts of His eternal Father. The green sward of Gethsemane absorbed His blood-like sweat as He agonized in prayer. On Golgotha's hill, upon the centre cross, His precious blood was poured out for our redemption. From the rock-hewn garden tomb He rose from the dead, and from Olive's mount, watched by the faithful band of chosen apostles, He ascended to heaven, hands lifted in blessing as He vanished in a cloud. On that hallowed spot His wounded feet, according to the sure word of prophecy, will alight once more when the Son of Man comes on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Little wonder, then, that we follow with deep concern present developments there and refer to them frequently on this page.

Earlier this year we commented on the rapid march of events in the Middle East and the changing picture in the region as the global strategy of the Great Powers is unfolded. Since our last comment there has been striking evidence of this in the 4-hour speech of President Sadat of Egypt, on July 24, when he announced to an astonished world his demand that all Soviet military advisers and experts should leave Egypt forthwith. At a Press conference a few days later he underlined the serious deterioration in Soviet-Egyptian relations, and accused the Soviet leaders of breaking faith by disregarding solemn agreements. President Sadat then went off to Tobruk in Libya to discuss with President Gaddafi a union of their two countries. This seemed to be a complete turnabout in Egyptian policy.

An immediate result of President Sadat's announcement was a strong plea from the Israeli Premier, Mrs Golda Meir, for Egypt and Israel to meet as equals and make a supreme effort to arrive at an agreed solution of all outstanding problems. Addressing the Knesset on July 26 she said, "Let us sit down together to discuss the peace settlements. Let us search for a way to break the deadlock, to seek a way out of the ossified situation, lest war be renewed between us. And let us advance towards complete peace".

In the same speech Mrs Meir reviewed Israeli-Egyptian relations since the 6-day war, and gave her view of the present developments. She concluded on this note, "Who can guarantee that they (the Egyptians) will not try to find a solution or a way out of the confusion and internal strife in Egypt by resuming fighting? ... Hundreds of thousands are still under arms. In such a situation, for all our readiness for peace, we must be prepared to meet the danger of. renewed fighting at any time".

It was later announced that the Egyptian Government had rejected Mrs Golda Meir's call for direct peace talks.

There has been a good deal of speculation as to the reasons for this change of front by President Sadat. Was it the result of internal pressures? Will the Soviet withdrawal be total or partial? Will a new military treaty with the Soviet Union be negotiated in due course? These questions, and others, are being asked. No one is able to answer them yet. At the time of writing (August 8) it is reported from both Moscow and Cairo that an estimated 20,000 Soviet military personnel in Egypt have left for home. There is also a report that Soviet leaders are seeking a summit meeting with Egypt to patch up their strained relations. Be this as it may. It is clear, as we said earlier this year, that 1972 will see a re-alignment of the Great Powers to meet the changing pattern of world problems. This is all part of the process. The Middle East remains a focal point of world tensions and its pacification, one way or another, is a major international concern.

It is refreshing to turn from the schemes and manoeuvres of men (how fickle and futile they will be seen to be in due course) to the certainty of God's purposes for Immanuel's land. Its glorious future is secure in the hands of our soon coming Lord:

"Kingdom of Christ! For its coming we pray, Hasten, 0 Father, the dawn of the day, When this new song Thy creation shall sing, 'Satan is vanquished and Jesus is King'."

unknown | Sept 1972
Comment By Torchlight