A rainbow in the sky of Jerusalem

After a week of touring in Jordan and in the northern region of Israel, we entered into Jerusalem on 28 December 2008, late in the evening.

Our entry into Jerusalem was delayed because of a huge traffic jam on the road leading into the Holy City. The crisis in the Gaza strip was escalating. As a result, security checks on vehicles entering Jerusalem was stepped up.

At 5.55pm, while our bus was slowly making its way toward the entrance of the Holy City, we prayed for the peace of Jerusalem, and declared "Grace, grace!" and "Shalom, shalom!"

On 29 December 2008, the eastern part of Jerusalem was closed to tourists by the police because some protests were taking place in the area. Thankfully, our itinerary was not affected, as the museums we were scheduled to visit were not located in the affected area.

On 30 December 2008, to our delight, the closure of eastern Jerusalem was lifted. It was a beautiful sunny day with a clear blue sky, and we gladly proceeded with our itinerary as planned.

After visiting the Mount of Olive and the various sites (including the Garden of Gethsemane) on and around the Mount, singing in the Church of St Anne, walking through the Via Dolorosa (The Way of Suffering) in the Old City of Jerusalem in the morning, we proceeded next to Mount Zion just outside the walls of the Old City.

When we reached the entrance of the Upper Room on Mount Zion, because of the large number of visitors at the site, we had to wait for the crowd in the Upper room to clear, before we made our entry.

The area where we waited was an un-shelthered space just outside the Upper Room entrance. It was a relatively small area and had just enough space to hold our group of about 50 people. The other groups before us and those after us were in the roofed areas of the Upper Room or the staircases, and they had no view of the sky.


As ours was a relatively big group, it took several minutes before everyone made it through the covered stairway and was gathered in the open space under the sky. After a couple of minutes of standing and waiting, Natasha, a young girl in our group suddenly pointed to the sky and shouted, "Look!" We all looked up, and saw this beautiful inverted rainbow hanging over our heads.

It was as if God was smiling at us and telling us, "Dear beloved children, take heart, I hear you. I heard your prayers for the peace of Jerusalem. Look now and see the sure sign of My convenant of peace. Remember my love for my people. Remember my love for you. And let your heart and mind be at peace."

"I set My Rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth." (Genesis 9:13)

"For as I have sworn that the waters of Noah would no longer cover the earth, so have I sworn that I would not be angry with you, nor rebuke you...My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My convenant of peace be removed." (Isaiah 54:9-10)

As many among the group started to pull out their cameras and took pictures of the rainbow, I just felt so loved by God. I believe many of us in the group who were from New Creation Church felt the same way too, because just about a month ago, our Senior Pastor preached a message about rainbow. (read blog entry here: http://lipkee.multiply.com/journal/item/103). On the day our Senior Pastor preached the rainbow message, a double rainbow appeared in the sky outside Suntec City Tower Four, where our church services are held every Sunday.

I also found out subsequently that quite a number of the NewCre people in the group had in fact prayed before embarking on the trip that they would get to see a rainbow in Israel.

What made our experience in Jerusalem more amazing was that the "smiling rainbow" did not remain in the sky for too long. Within a minute or so (within a few clicks of the camera), it faded away, even while the crowd in the Upper Room was clearing away and it was time for us to enter into the room.

It was as if God had specially prepared the rainbow just for our group to see. God knew we would be spending a few minutes waiting outside the Upper Room, so He used that few minutes to show us His love, with a beautiful sign in the sky. If we had arrived at the entrance of the Upper Room just a couple minutes earlier or later, we would have missed the rainbow.

He made us feel so special.

We are so loved. He is so good!

A sandstorm in Jordan

On Christmas Eve, 24 Dec 2008, which was Day Three of our Jordan/ Israel trip, while en route to Mount Nebo our bus met with a huge sand storm.

The sand storm was so bad that at certain times, the bus driver could not get a clear view of the road just a meter ahead of him. The police stepped in to control the traffic and our bus had to stop for about 45 minutes on the highway, along with many other vehicles ahead of us and behind us. We could feel the bus shaking from side to side because of the strong winds.

We also saw the wreckage of a vehicle by the road side, apparently the result of a serious accident caused by the sand storm.

After the people were done with taking photos and recording videos of the sand storm around us, sing some songs and playing a couple of games in the bus, a sister came forward and suggested that we should take spiritual authority over the situation and pray about it.

So, we prayed.














And God be our witness, within seconds after we prayed, the sand storm started to clear. And it cleared totally within a few minutes, afterwhich it was a smooth journey all the way to Mount Nebo.

Could it be a mere coincidence that the sand storm just happned to clear after we prayed?

I am convinced that it was God demonstrating to us once again that He is One who hears and answers our prayers.


Later in the day, we crossed over the Jordan River and set foot on the land of Israel and celebrated Christmas Eve in Tiberias.

In the morning of Christmas Day, while taking in the beautiful view of the Sea of Galilee in a fishing boat, I thought about the gospel accounts in which Jesus rebuked the winds and the sea, and calmed the storm, and I couldn't help but gave thanks to Him for calming the sand storm for us just the day before.


We may be experiencing all kinds of storm and turmoil around us or within us. Others may not see or know or care about what we are going through, but Jesus sees and knows and cares.

In the midst of it all, we can take heart and have good courage because Jesus is the One who rebukes the wind and the sea and says, "Peace, be still!" (Mark 4:39), and Jesus is the One who says to us, "Be of good cheer! It is I: do not be afraid" (Matt 14:27).

Rain in Israel

When we traveled in Israel, we were told time and again by the guides and the people we met that rain is a blessing for Israel. Besides praying for the peace of Jerusalem, the next most important prayer to the Israeli people, it seems, is to pray for rain in Israel.

Interestingly for our group, it rained on two of the days during our trip. The first time it rained was on Christmas Eve and the other time was on New Year's Eve.

Christmas Eve was the day that our group crossed over the Jordan River and first set foot on the land of Israel. New Year's Eve was the last full day we spent in the land of Israel before we crossed over to Jordan on the next day on New Year's Day.

I find it interesting that it should rain in Israel on those two special days. Somehow, it made us feel that our group was special - that we were a blessing that brought the blessing of rain, a precious gift, to the land of Israel.

And what more appropriate time to bring gifts than on the eve of Christmas Day and on the eve of New Year’s Day?

On Christmas Eve, as we remembered Jesus and exchanged gifts with one another, God remembered His people and blessed their land with rain from Heaven.


On New Year’s Eve, when we visited the Garden Tomb, the Garden Tomb guide told us that the people have been praying for rain to fall in the land. He said that it was a miracle that it was raining and he was very happy about it.


As we parttook of the Holy Communion in a sheltered area in the Garden Tomb, with the sound of rain drops falling in the background, I shared with the group that although the rain caused a little inconvenience for us, we ought to be glad. Glad to remember the Jewish Man who hung on the cross and cried in the rain some two thousand years ago; glad to know that He was cursed so that we might be blessed; glad to see that the land of Israel was blessed with rain; and glad that we could walk in the rain, a blessing from God for Israel, while we were in the land.

And I was glad when I heard a good “Amen!” from the people.

Why pray?

DOES GOD NOT GIVE TO US IF WE DON'T ASK OF HIM?

Question:
God won't give to us if we don't ask?

God is always giving

Lip Kee's comments:
There are preachers and teachers out there who teach that we have to ask or else God would not give. Personally, I don't subscribe to that kind of teaching.

The God I know is always loving, always caring, always giving and always providing.
He knows what we need, and He takes pleasure in satisfying our needs.

"Your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him." (Matthew 6:8)
"...your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Matthew 6:30-32)

Then why does the Bible teach us to ask of God in prayers? Why is there a need for us to ask at all?

God does not need to be arm-twisted or reminded for Him to give

I believe our "asking" is not to meant to arm twist God to remind Him to give to and provide for us. He is always giving and providing. Rather, our "asking" serves to remind us and the people around us that God is our faithful and gracious Provider.

God is not forgetful of His covenant. He does not need to be told or reminded of what He needs to do.

Prayer is meant as a reminder for us, not for God

We are the ones who are always forgetful and distracted. We are the ones who are un-faithful and unfocused. That is why God graciously provided us with a reminder tool called "prayer". Because we need it to remind ourselves of how He is always there for us - ever caring for us and providing for us.

To elaborate: Imagine someone who does not pray. She was facing a difficult situation which lasted 6 months. God eventually delivered her from the situation. But because she did not use the "reminder tool" (i.e. prayer), she is unlikely to be conscious of how God helped her out of her challenge. She would be filled with much stress and anxiety during those 6 months.

Also, in the absence of any prayer offered to God. She and the people around her will mostly likely credit herself, other people or mere good luck for the good outcome, when the whole challenge was over.

Now, imagine the same person, when faced with her situation, chose to pray to God, and to ask her friends to stand in faith with her. What difference would it make to her and to the people around her?

The benefits of praying

First, she would have a sense of hope, assuredness and restfulness, even in the midst of her 6-month long challenge. And when the breakthrough finally comes, she and her friends would be conscious of God's help. Their hearts will be filled with thankfulness to the Lord, instead of pride arising from the belief that their self efforts made the difference, or a vague sense of good fortune.

In the scenarios above, God intervened and helped, regardless of whether anyone prayed. So prayer did not affect how God acted. Like I mentioned, He does not need arm-twisting or reminder.

However, prayer did affect the quality of life, and the quality of the response of the people, don't you agree?

God meant for prayer to be used as a tool of reminder for us, not for Him. :-)

The Giver has given. Has the receiver received?

Besides, when a person is not conscious of God and His constant provision, God could be giving and giving, but she may not benefit because she is not receiving. Even though the giver has given, many a times, the receiver needs to actively receive what has been given in order to enjoy the benefits. A simple example would be that of someone who inherits a fortune but is ignorant of it or refuses to believe it.

Hope you will find my comments helpful in one way or another.

Pardon my long-windedness. I thought the questions you raised deserve more than just a cursory treatment. :-)

Shalom,
Lip Kee