Israelis You Should Know: Golda Meir

IFCJ

     

Lived: 1898-1978

Occupation: Teacher, Politician, Author

Why she’s impressive: After immigrating to Israel from the U.S. with her husband Morris in 1921, Meir served Israel in many key positions, including Israel’s envoy to Moscow, Minister of Labor, and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

After World War II, she traveled around the world to rally support for the establishment of the Jewish state. When she was elected Prime Minister of Israel in 1969, Meir became Israel’s first and the world’s third woman to hold such an office.

FORGIVENESS CAN BRING HEALING AND RESTORATION

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” Matthew 5:43-45

The literal meaning of the word “forgiveness” in the New Testament is “to release; to hurl away; to free yourself.” The only way to break the chain or cycle of hurtfulness is to stop and ask forgiveness. This allows a relationship to start over and begin anew. The Russian writer, Solzhenitsyn, believed forgiveness is what truly makes us different from animals. Only humans can perform the most unnatural act of forgiveness that transcends the relentless law of nature.

A young Iranian lady, we’ll call Fatima, was full of hatred towards her mother-in-law. For fifteen years her mother-in law was her enemy and there was a great deal of enmity in the family.
Several times Fatima had even tried to kill her mother-in-law. Once she put poison in her soup hoping to kill her. The mother-in-law felt very sick after that and was taken to the hospital. The doctors took the poison out of her stomach and were able to save her life. 

What's in Your Basket?

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.   Romans 8:28

Do you like cooking shows?  My family and I like to watch the cooking show CHOPPED.  In that show, several top-notch chefs are given a basket of ingredients with which to hopefully make a savory dish.  The challenge is in the ingredients; there is always an item or two that no chef in his right mind would choose.  How does anyone make a five-star dessert with gummy worms ... or grits ... or baby beets? (I hate beets.)

Amazingly, the master chefs are able to take all the odd-ball ingredients in each course basket (appetizer, entree, and dessert) and work them together to make a great-tasting meal. 

GOD IS THE MASTER CHEF

When it comes to life, God is the Master Chef.  He is the One who is able to take all the difficult experiences and bad-tasting ingredients that befall us in life and work them together for good.  He is the God who is able to give beauty for ashes (Isaiah 61:3). 

I talked to a friend this week who is facing some very tough circumstances.  Complications from a routine cataract surgery ended up costing him his right eye.  And if that weren't enough to deal with, he is fighting prostate cancer that has spread.  Without question, he has found some bad ingredients in his basket.