FIGHTING BACK

We all know that in 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. But did you know that at the same time he was leaving Spain to find the new world, thousands of Jewish families were leaving Spain to save their lives? On March first 1492 they were kicked out by the joint Catholic Monarchs of Spain ordering the expulsion of everybody jewish from Spain and its territories by July 31st of that year. From that day forward it was illegal to be a Jew and live in Spain and the law was called the Alhambra Decree. What is even more amazing to me, is the edict was not formally revoked by the Vatican council until December 16th, 1968. Let me say that again, 1968! Something I plan to take up with the Pope when I visit Rome this year.

FAST FORWARD REPEAT

470 years later the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany, was interrupted by an event that would be known as the Munich massacre. Members of the Israeli Olympic team were taken hostage and eventually murdered by a Muslim terrorist group backed by Yasser Arafat’s Fatah. By the end of the ordeal, the terrorists had killed 11 Israeli athletes and coaches and 1 West German police officer. Five of the eight terrorists were killed by police officers during a botched rescue attempt. The three surviving terrorists were captured, but later released by limp wristed West Germany following the hijacking of a Lufthansa airliner.

The bodies of the five terrorists killed during the gun battle were delivered to Libya, where they received heroes’ funerals and were buried with full military honors. As Muslim nations throughout the world celebrated the murder of the innocent athletes, King Hussein of Jordan — the only leader of an Arab country to publicly denounce the Olympic attack — called it a "savage crime against civilization… perpetrated by sick minds."

It was an unspeakable injustice.

FAST FORWARD VICTORY

Twenty years later, the 1992 Summer Olympics was held in Barcelona Spain. In contrast to the failures of West Germany, Spain had it’s act together. As expected, it was really an amazing event that you will probably remember if you were around and coherent back in 92. That was the year the “Dream Team” played basketball. The Line up and gold medal winners included names like David Robinson, Patrick Ewing, Larry Bird, Scottie Pippen, Charles Barkley, Magic Johnson and even Michael Jordan himself.

It was the year that Dereck Redmond tore his hamstring during the 400 yard sprint. He hobbled to a halt, and then fell to the ground. Stretcher bearers made their way over to him, but Redmond decided he wanted to finish the race and he jumped up on his left leg. He began to hobble along the track, when his Dad, Jim Redmond, barged past security and helped his son move forward. Jim and Derek completed the lap of the track together, with Derek leaning on his father's shoulder for support. As they crossed the finish line, the 65,000 crowd rose to give Derek a standing ovation. Remember?

The United States won 108 medals that summer and the nation of Israel, well the nation of Israel won 2, but they were bigger winners than you might think.

See, this was the 20th anniversary of the Munich massacre where Muslims murdered Jews at the olympics. This was also the 500th anniversary of the Alhambra Decree, where Spanish Catholics murdered and cast out Jews for over 450 years. And this was the olympics in Spain. It was at this event, in this location and on these anniversaries that Israel won its very first Olympic medal.

Yael Arad became the first Israeli to win an Olympic medal. She took the silver in, of all things, Judo. The next day, Oren Smadja became Israel's first male medalist, winning a bronze in the same sport.

I think this says something about taking the fight back to the place where you have been defeated. By the grace of God, all of us eventually find our selves on the winning platform in the very places where we have been hatted if we will just keep fighting. Know that God sees you today my friends, and know that if you will keep fighting, by the grace of God, the day will come your enemies will see you blessed.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Psalms 23:5

Troy pastors Open Door Ministries near Joshua and can be found at www.opendoorministries.org