A Wall St. Journal, IBD and an Associated Press news story tells President Obama opened talks with Mideast leaders this Thursday morning September 2. Is Hurricane Earl waiting off the coast to see how Israel is treated? President Obama is quoted as saying: “I am hopeful, cautiously hopeful, but hopeful.” Gathered in the White House our president is meeting with the heads from Jordan, Egypt, Israel and the Palestinians. As Hurricane Earl was approaching the East Coast I wondered if this had anything to do with the meeting taking place at the White House.

If you have been following my blogs I have written: “Worst hurricane season in American history could be possible.” It contained a book review of: “As America has done to Israel”. It pointed out that beginning with President H. W. Bush requiring Israel to give up their covenant land for peace; the “Perfect Storm” hit America. On October 30, 1991 the day he made his requirement the storm went 1000 miles the wrong way and 30 foot waves hit his home at Kennebunkport, Maine and it was heavily damaged. From then on each time our presidents made the same requirement a natural disaster would occur that same day or within days. These occurrences were based on Genesis 12:3 – “I will bless those who bless you and whoever curses you I will curse; and all people on earth will be blessed through you.”

President Obama practically ignored Prime Minister Netanyahu in March 2010 and later the oil began spurting out off the coast of Louisiana. As our Bible study group met we believed we may be able to determine how the meeting develops with these heads of state based on the degree of damage that Hurricane Earl causes. After our Thursday’s meeting was over and tonight as I am writing, the news states that an offshore oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico west of the April explosion. Do you believe God is giving wake up calls or are you skeptical of these disasters as having nothing to do with God’s promise of cursing those who deny Israel’s ownership of its covenant land? Mark 15:37 – 38 – “With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.” The curtain was in front of the Holy of Holies and separated God from sinful people. The religious leaders at Jesus’ death did not connect the two either.

Zechariah 12:9 – 10 – “For on that day I will begin to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the family of David and on the people of Jerusalem. They will look on me whom they have pierced and mourn for him as for an only son. They will grieve bitterly for him as for a firstborn son who has died.” (NLT)

It is reported that these heads of state had dinner together Wednesday evening. It was cordial as they talked about a Palestinian state besides a secure Israel. They began serious talks Thursday morning despite their differences. The Palestinians want covenant land as part of their negotiations. The previous Tuesday four Israelis were killed by the militant Hamas movement, which rejects Israel’s right to exist and opposes peace talks. The day before, Wednesday two people were injured as bullets were shot into their car as they were driving on the West Bank. How President Obama reacts and what his demands are on Israel may affect Hurricane Earl waiting off the east coast.

The conflict between Israel and Palestine has caused tremendous resentment in the Muslim world. Each side has had demands that the other is unwilling to accept. There is no way that Palestine’s Abbas’ administration and Hamas will ever agree. Israel will never accept giving up land as long as the Muslim nations are unwilling to make peace with Israel. Iran has stated numerous times that they plan to wipe Israel off the face of the earth. The newspaper article stated: “We left Lebanon, we got terror. We left Gaza, we got terror. We want to ensure that territory we concede will not be turned into a third Iranian-sponsored terror enclave aimed at the heart of Israel,” Netanyahu said.

My prediction is that there will not be a peace treaty at this time based on my understanding of Scripture. If there is, it wouldn’t last more than months until nations would try to destroy Israel. There are just too many times in Scripture that God promises to protect Israel. I do not believe God will let it happen at this time; unless we are at the beginning of the Tribulation when the beast (Antichrist) moves into the Israeli Temple that is yet to be built. I believe too many things must occur prior to that happening.

II Thessalonians 2:3 & 4 – “Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for (that day will not come) until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.”

Revelation 13:5 – 7 – “Then the beast was allowed to speak great blasphemies against God. And he was given authority to do whatever he wanted for forty-two months (3½ years). And he spoke terrible words of blasphemy against God, slandering his name and his dwelling—that is, those who dwell in heaven. And the beast was allowed to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation.” (NLT)

Here is what the Palestinians want: They want to make East Jerusalem capital of their state. They want to be able to return to territories in Israel. Israel can no longer build on the West Bank. They must stop the blockage of Gaza. What we see are Israelis threatening to begin rebuilding on the West Bank. Hundreds of Palestinian protesters turned out to denounce the peace talks. Here is what President Obama is up against: The terrorist group Hamas controls Gaza and parts of the West Bank. Their charter and covenant calls for the destruction of Israel. Abbas is a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization and is determined to destroy Israel. The two, with America’s help, have tried to obtain peace in 1991,92,93,94,96,2000,01,03 and 05. A lot of talking but never peace. You may think I am being cynical. There will come a day when Israel will accept peace but this is not the time. Thus, President Obama and anyone believing peace will happen will be disappointed.

During the weekend Hurricane Earl kind of fizzled out. The oil rig that exploded didn’t seem to cause much damage. May we read from this that our president probably was more of a mediator than adamantly demanding Israel cedes covenant land? Like the three previous presidents I believe Obama will end up no better off making an agreement between Israel and the Palestinians than they did. I believe the only reason Israel has been protected is not because of their relationship with God. It is because of God’s original promise to Abraham and to prove the accuracy of the Bible.