BARBARIANS AT THE GATE

In the first half of the 8th century BC, the prophet Jonah crossed the fertile plains of Assyria and arrived at the capital city of Nineveh, which is modern-day Iraq.  He was carrying the gospel to a barbaric people who struck terror into the hearts of neighboring nations.

The cruel Assyrians were famous for skinning their enemies and stretching the skin on conquered city walls, as well as impaling heads on stakes by the city gates.  It's no small wonder Jonah needed coaxing to be obedient to God's task.

The prophet straightened his back and went into Nineveh to proclaim God's generous offer of peace with Him.  It is said that the kindness of God leads to repentance...and it was true in Nineveh as all the people (from the king on down) put on sackcloth and ashes to show they were sorry for their sin.

In those days Nineveh was a sprawling capital on the eastern bank of the Tigris River.  The city was powerful and rich and 60 miles in circumference, but she also was full of idol worship.  Her founder was Nimrod, the builder of the Tower of Babel which represented rebellion against God.  The Ever-Gracious Lord was giving them another chance.

Less than 150 years later, Ninevites were back to their old ways.  Their self-confidence precluded the need for God.  And they NEVER thought their powerhouse city could ever be headed for destruction.  But in 612BC, this Bible prophecy of Nineveh's destruction was fulfilled.

The people went across the river and built another city, Mosul, which has since had a Christian presence for 2,000 years.

Until now.

Now "modern" barbarians have come into Mosul and have blown up  Jonah's tomb. LINK  

And while Jonah's message offered a way to peace with God, the ISIS loudspeakers broadcast a hateful message throughout Mosul.  
Their ultimatum called Christians to choose: either they could convert to Islam, pay an impossible tax in gold, leave, or die.  

ISIS took the cross down from cathedrals and from the Syriac Orthodox archdiocese, and replaced the cross with their black flag.  

The ISIS darkness that has enveloped Iraq has smothered freedom and ushered in punishing oppression.    

The beheadings and crucifixions reveal a complete lack of respect for life.  There is no mercy or justice in summary executions or the chopping off of a hand. They wage a REAL war on women as they subjugate through beatings, genital mutilations, and rapes...and a real war on homosexuals by hanging them from a crane in the public square.

Civilization strains under ISIS as they bring terror just as their fathers did so long ago.

Have you heard the expression "First they come for the Saturday people, then for the Sunday people"?  

The Saturday people (the Jews) are now in a fight for their lives in Gaza as anti-Semitism also rises in Europe.  At the same time, there is a growing exodus of the Sunday people (the Christians) from the Middle East.  

The world watched as the Syrian Christians fled the mountains around Damascus for their lives. That people-group had spoken Aramaic since Jesus' day.

The Copts in Egypt (who could trace their lineage back to the apostle Mark) have suffered church bombings and killings.  

Now we see 10,000 Iraqi Christians come flooding out of their country, only to be stopped at roadblocks and robbed of all they have.

It is heartbreaking to watch this "religious cleansing" as the Arab Spring empties the cradle of Christendom.  Who will speak for these persecuted Christians in the Middle East?  

Is there ANYONE in authority to speak up for them and declare the moral high ground?

America was at one time that voice for right.  But on page 261 of his book, THE AUDACITY OF HOPE, President Obama writes "I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction."  The winds are shifting, all right.  While his office has offered much in the defense of Muslims...the crickets are chirping where the defense of Christians is concerned.

What does this conflict teach us?

*GOD IS MERCIFUL.  Before Christ, I used to think of all the reasons God should be enamored with me.  That was pretty bodacious, but God's truth says "none are righteous".  There was nothing good in me that drew Him to me, but only His sovereign choice.  And just as He kindly gave the barbarian Ninevites a chance...in the same way He also gave this poor sinner a chance.    

*OLD BARBARIANS, NEW BARBARIANS.  There's nothing new under the sun.  Men without God rail for control over their own lives and the power to rule over others.  That usurps God's place and will not end well (see Nineveh).  

*GOD'S OFFER HAS A SHELF LIFE.  It's not that God has limited mercy...or His patience runs thin.  He IS mercy.  He IS long-suffering.  But He's also omniscient, reading hearts and knowing that if He waited into eternity, the person would not turn to Him.  Moses wrote down what God said in Deuteronomy 30:19:  "Today I invoke heaven and earth as a witness against you that I have set life and death, blessing and curse, before you.  Therefore choose life so that you and your descendants may live!"

*MEN CHANGE, BUT GOD DOESN'T.  Last week we've seen demonstrations in the streets of London and Paris against the Jews; perhaps Europe's population of Muslims can account for that.  But SHOCKINGLY there were 10,000 in the streets of Chicago and thousands more on NYC streets protesting against Israel.  What happened to America's whole heart for Israel?  Men can turn on a dime, but God remains steadfast and true to His promises.

*GOD PROMISES HIS KINGDOM TO THE ONES PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.  If all else is stripped away (as it has been for the Christians of the Middle East), what will you have?  The Christians from the Middle East have assurance and comfort from God's Word.... "Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."  

George Orwell said "The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it."  The barbarians may be at the gates of civilization, but we remember Nineveh.  It is the Sovereign God who will accomplish every word He has spoken; it is He who stands at the end of time.




"Lord, it hurts us to see the Holy Land turned into killing fields, yet that must be part of what Jesus saw as He looked down at Jerusalem and wept.  We remember what You have said the end will be like when it comes. We thank You that You are a sanctuary for Your people and You will take us home.  We pray for the peace of Jerusalem because You've asked us to do that.  We ask that you would raise up a voice of influence to speak for Christians in trouble.  Help us to focus in prayer for our brothers and sisters in need and reach into our pockets for them.  We lean back on You in confidence that Your power will ultimately bring You glory both in Jerusalem and around the world.  Maranatha!"