​The beginning of creation demonstrates the power of God's Word. "And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light." (Genesis 1:3) All of creation is an example of how God spoke the word and the earth came into existence. God assures us in the much-quoted verse of Isaiah 55:11 that His word that goes out from His mouth will not return empty but will accomplish what He desires. God has a purpose for every verse in the Bible, and when it is read aloud, there is power in it. That is one of the reasons I am so encouraged by what happened at our nation’s Capital this past week.
 
As part of the celebration of America's 250th birthday, an organization called "Christians Engaged" arranged for nearly five hundred leaders from our country to read the entire Bible aloud from Genesis to Revelation. The initiative is called "America Reads the Bible." It began on April 19 and ran through April 25 with citizens reading Scripture from the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D. C. One of the event highlights occurred when our President, Donald Trump, read from 2 Chronicles 7:11-22 via video from the Oval Office.
 
In commemoration of this historic event the President sent out a message on April 17. Here is some of what he said: "...In every generation, through every trial and triumph, God's Word has guided our people and our country to incredible new heights...Today, during our 250th year of American independence, The America Reads the Bible initiative invites all citizens to once again acknowledge our Nation's extraordinary Biblical foundations and give thanks for countless ways in which God has been the sacred source of our unity and national strength. This one-week event, during which leaders in faith, government, business, and entertainment will read every verse and chapter of the Bible, will inspire countless citizens to rediscover the Biblical truths that animated our Republic for two and a half centuries and pray that the Bible will continue to guide us—as individuals, as a people, as a nation—for the next 250 years and beyond...Together we will honor Holy Scripture, renew our faith, usher in a historic resurgence of religion on American shores, and rededicate the United States as One Nation under God.”
 
It is reported that the inspiration for this seven-day reading of the Bible came from the book of Nehemiah where Ezra was instructed to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses a few days after the walls of Jerusalem were complete. "So, on the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men and women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law." (Nehemiah 8:2 & 3)
 
Let us remember what is says in Romans 10:17—that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. Statistics from the American Bible Society tell us that forty-two percent of Americans have never opened a Bible and that even professing Christians are increasingly Biblically illiterate. Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, wants to see Americans "rediscover the ancient paths" because "Those who know their history understand that the Bible played a fundamental role in the founding of this nation...We need to return to that understanding of the role that Scripture plays in guiding and directing us individually, but also collectively as a nation."
 
Think about the impact the reading of the Bible could have on our nation as the power of God's Word went forth! Perhaps there will be conviction of sin, a spirit of repentance, joy in the Lord, and/or revival. As the sound of truth permeated our nation, let us pray in agreement with the Lord that it will accomplish what He desires. Rest assured that this was both a historic and holy moment in our nation.

​Much happened during the second month of the Hebrew calendar. It is called Iyar or Ziv (meaning radiance) and is known as a month of transition since the children of Israel were moving from Egypt to Mount Sinai. They were experiencing a new level of relationship with God as they learned about His nature and that He is trustworthy. While traveling through the wilderness, the Israelites encountered God in supernatural ways.
 
As the name of this month indicates, the children of Israel were enlightened in their understanding of who God is. They had a crisis when they arrived at Marah, meaning bitter. There was no drinkable water in the desert. The bitterness the Israelites were experiencing was transformed and redeemed as God showed them a tree to put in the water to heal it. He made it known that His healing power is not only for water but also for people. One day He would send His Son to hang on a tree to bring healing for everyone. The Lord told the Israelites, "If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in His eyes, if you pay attention to His commands and keep all His decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you." (Yahweh Rapha) (Exodus 15:26)
 
God revealed two other important names for Himself while the Israelites were on their journey and during a time when they were grumbling at Him. "So, Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, 'You will know that it was the Lord when He gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning, because He has heard your grumbling against Him.'" (Exodus 16:12) Hence, they came to know God as Yahweh Jireh—"The Lord who Sees and Provides." In the middle of their journey, the Israelites were attacked by the Amalekites. A battle ensued. Moses went to the top of a hill to raise his hands up. This action enabled the Israelites to win their battle. However, Moses needed help when his arms got tired. Aaron and Hur came to his rescue by holding up his hands. They learned that raising their arms as a banner in praise was their key to victory. Thus, God became Yahweh Nissi, "The Lord, my Banner of Victory."
 
If we fast forward 480 years, we can learn another significant event that occurred during the month of Iyar or Ziv. "In the four hundred and eightieth year after the Israelites came out of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, the second month, he began to build the temple of the Lord." (1 Kings 6:1) Another promise from the Lord for the children of Israel appears in 1 Kings 6:12 and 13. "As for this temple you are building; if you follow my decrees, observe my laws, and keep all my commands and obey them, I will fulfill through you the promise I gave to David your father. And I will live among the Israelites and will not abandon my people, Israel." Doesn't this promise sound very similar to the one God gave to the Israelites when they were coming out of Egypt and He was reintroducing Himself to them? "He is the same yesterday, and today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8)
 
This would be a particularly good month for us to build our relationship with God. He stands ready to feed us not only physical manna, but "every word that comes from His mouth.” (Deuteronomy 8:3) The Lord has food for us in every circumstance of our lives. In Exodus 19:4-6 God made it clear that He wants a special relationship with His children. "You yourselves have seen what I did in Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to Myself. Now if you obey Me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." As part of God's family, we are included in this amazing covenant. God is still our healer, provider, and victory over our spiritual enemies. What an amazing God we serve!

​The power of concerted prayer and agreement in faith was overtly demonstrated over Easter weekend. Our Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, summed up the results of the prayer convergence like this: "Shot down on a Friday...Good Friday...hidden in a cave, a crevice, all of Saturday, and rescued on Sunday...flown out of Iran as the sun was rising on Easter Sunday. A pilot reborn, all home and accounted for...a nation rejoices. God is good!" We certainly saw the hand of God in action as one of our American pilots was rescued from the mountains of southwestern Iran.
 
One F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down on Good Friday with two airmen in it. These airmen ejected from the plane but became separated in the rugged terrain where their plane crashed. The pilot was rescued on the same day, but the weapon's operator could not be located. He avoided capture by climbing a 7,000-foot ridge in Zagros Mountains despite injuries, including a sprained ankle. Upon reaching the top of the ridge, he hid in a narrow crevice to evade capture. At this point, he was able to send out a beacon signal. Pete Hegseth reports: "When he was finally able to activate his emergency transponder, his first message was simple, and it was powerful. He sent a message: 'God is good!'"
 
President Trump is calling the airman's rescue "an Easter miracle." The reason for this comment was because of the difficulty of the mission. In addition to our armed forces trying to pinpoint the airman's location, the Iranian forces were also hunting for him. They offered a bounty to anyone who could find him alive. It is reported that the United States rescue mission used one hundred fifty-five aircraft, including four bombers, sixty-four fighters, forty-eight refueling tankers, thirteen rescue aircraft, and more. American air power was used to destroy any Irian advancing units. At the same time, United States special forces made their way toward the stranded officer and lifted him from his hiding place. Regarding the number of personnel and equipment used in the rescue, President Trump said, "We were bringing them all over, and a lot of it was subterfuge. We wanted to have them think he was in a different location, because they had a vast military force out there—thousands of people were looking."
 
The Jerusalem Post reported that Israel's IDF assisted in the operation. They launched strikes designed to act as diversion, drawing Iranian security forces away from the crash site and toward other areas. General Frank McKenzie, a former commander of U. S. Central Command said, "We did in fact lose a couple of aircraft in that mission," but added that he would take that lose "any day" in a situation like this. "It takes a year to build an aircraft—it takes two hundred years to build a military tradition where you don't leave anybody behind."
 
President Trump acknowledged the watchful eye of the Lord in the rescue. "When you go into these areas, you don't come out like we came out. God was watching us." It seems many were led to pray Psalm 91 over the weekend operation. "I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.'" "...He will cover you with His feathers and under His wings you will find refuge, His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart...He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways...I will protect him, for he acknowledges My name..." For those intercessors who may wonder if their prayers are making a difference, this rescue was a demonstration of their effectiveness. Did you know that the U. S. military has a prayer guide written by Gloria Robles of Intercessors for America that is based on Psalm 91? God calls us to partner with Him in prayer. When we do, we will see His miracle-working power.

We are in the middle of Passover week. Included in this week is the celebration of First Fruits or the day of the resurrection of Yeshua/Jesus. This is Nisan 16 on the Hebrew calendar. In 1 Corinthians 15:20 He is called "the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." The New Living Translation says, "But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. So, you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when He comes back." (1 Corinthians 15:20-23)
 
For life to spring forth we must first have death. This was demonstrated with Jesus who willingly went to the Cross to take our sicknesses and diseases, pain and sorrow, sin and guilt on His body. During the three hours between noon and three p.m., He felt the pain of His spiritual separation from His Holy Father because of what He was bearing. The first two verses of the prophetic Psalm 22 is a look at what Jesus would say as He hung on the Cross. "My God, My God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from saving Me, so far from the words of My groaning? O My God, I cry out by day, but You do not answer, by night, and am not silent." 
 
The "groanings" of Messiah are followed by a statement of truth and comfort in verse three of Psalm 22. In this Psalm there is a move from despair to faith in the truth of who God is. "But You are holy, enthroned in the praise of Israel." (NKJV) "Yet You are enthroned as the Holy One; You are the praise of Israel." (NIV) The word "enthroned" or "inhabits" in the KJV is the Hebrew verb "yashab" which means to remain or dwell. God is everywhere! Psalm 139:7-10 makes this clear. "Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast."
 
As we contemplate Christ's crucifixion and resurrection, we should see a call to worship the Lord. That message began as Moses went to Pharoah to obtain the release from slavery for the children of Israel. "So, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him, 'This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews says: How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, so that they may worship me.'" (Exodus 10:3) Today our enemy, the devil, does everything he can to stop us from worshiping the One True God. Just as God broke the bondage of slavery for the Israelites, Christ broke the bondage of sin and sickness for us on the Cross. He was resurrected on the third day with a message of victory over death and a call for us to come near to worship Him.
 
Rabbi Jason Sobel tells us that "Passover reminds us that without God's intervention, Israel would still be in bondage." After the Exodus, Moses realized that what is most important for God's people is His presence. Moses said, "If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here...What else will distinguish us from all the people on the face of the earth?" (Exodus 33:15, 16) This question is still for today. We should be defined by the presence of God. That comes as we open our hearts to worship Him. Today we glory in the resurrection of Christ and His promise of eternal life for those who believe in Him. Let us make today and the weeks to come ones of His Presence through extravagant worship!