Balaam's Oracle

On May 8th, 2008, Stephen Harper stood before the United Jewish Appeal Federation, gathered to celebrate Israel's 60th anniversary, and declared that Canada's support for Israel would be "unshakeable".  This is pretty bold, considering that in 2006 his comments concerning Israel's counterattack on Lebanon for kidnapping two Israeli soldiers came under a great deal of criticism.  It was considered to be a mistake by those who maintain we need to keep a neutral stance in the Middle East if we wish to make any headway in the peacemaking process.   Two years later, our government's position has not changed as evidenced in Mr. Harper's speech which I've drawn from here: Unfortunately, Israel at 60 remains a country under threat – threatened by those groups and regimes who deny to this day its right to exist. And why? Make no mistake; look beyond the thinly-veiled rationalizations: because they hate Israel, just as they hate the Jewish people. Our government believes that those who threaten Israel also threaten Canada, because, as the last world war showed, hate-fuelled bigotry against some is ultimately a threat to us all, and must be resisted wherever it may lurk.   Read the whole speech here. These are strong words, but remember Balaam's oracle over Israel:   Like a lion they crouch and lie down,  like a lioness—who dares to rouse them?  "May those who bless you be blessed and those who curse you be cursed!"  (Numbers 24:9)  Please thank God for a government that is honouring the Word of God and boldly standing with Israel in its right to exist.