George Hunt, in his letter of January 8th, 2009, is disappointed with the Christmas messages in the paper around the Christmas season. I am sometimes, too, but for different reasons.

George wants to bring the message across that Isaac and Ishamel buried their father Abraham together (Gen. 23:9) and so did Jacob and Esau, who buried their father Isaac together. (Gen. 35:29).

They did their duty towards their earthly father.

But this is not the reason of the Christmas season. Christ came into the world to save sinners and that was accomplished n the cross at Calvary. God promised Abraham and Sarah that from Isaac's offspring the Saviour would be born.

Also God chose Jacob, the younger of twin brothers, from whose descendants the Saviour would be born, instead of his brother Esau.

In both cases that was God's sovereign choice.

Neither Ishmael or Esau was rejected from God's plan of salvation.

Both Ishmael and Esau were blessed by their fathers, pertaining to this earthly life.

Today there are probably millions in the Arab world who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour and plead on the blood that was shed at Calvary's cross.

But because of the inherent intolerance in the Koran and of the Muslim religion they keep their faith secret and meet in secret places.

Again we now have war in the Gaza strip because Hamas does not wan to recognize the State of Israel's right to exist in peace but keeps sending rockets into Israel.

We will probably get a temporary peace again but the basic issues are not resolved.

It is the underlying hatred by the world against the Jews who are the natural brothers of Jesus Christ.

I was really proud of Canada when they voted against the resolution drafted against Israel at the United Nations because Hamas has not stopped firing rockets and have not abandoned their goal of obliterating Israel.

The nations may roar but God's purposes will be accomplished.

It is written in Joel 3:16, "The Lord also shall roar out of Zion and utter His voice from Jerusalem and the heavens and the earth shall shake but the Lord will be the hope of His people and the strength of the children of Israel."
Ron Bosman
Orangeville