Moment in the Word

Lamentations 1:3 ...all her persecutors overtook her between the straits. (KJV)

 

After hearing about the destruction of the century-old viral research facility - the Pasteur Institute of Iran, I wondered, "Did anyone think to check what live cultures the Islamic Revolutionary Guard might be growing in their laboratory before we scattered the contents to the four winds?" Granted, their government scientists would never consider biological warfare (extreme sarcasm), but the Bible does suggest the possibility of pandemics during the appearance of the "Pale Horseman" by mentioning the involvement of "beasts of the earth," a diminutive form of a Greek word - thēríon or thay-ree'-on (i.e., dangerous animals in Revelation 6:8). However, since thēríon or thay-ree'-on is diminutive,  John was signifying small, tiny beasts that will ravage the planet with disease (i.e., Jesus's reference to "pestilences" in Matthew 24:7).

 

Since no one probably checked first, I guess we'll just have to wait and see what the Iranian Pasteur Institute actually specialized in.

 

But, concerning other current events, what do the mysterious words of Lamentations 1:3 foreshadow, "...all her persecutors overtook her between the straits?"

 

During this present global dilemma of Mid-Eastern maritime blockades, let us not overlook the poignant fact that world commerce is caught between two vital straits - the Strait of Hormuz at the mouth of the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Bab el-Mandeb at the mouth of the Red Sea. The first is blocked by Iran, and the second is threatened by the Houthis - clients of Iran.

 

Similar to my first concern about the destruction of the Iranian microbial research facility, I wonder if there is a deeper significance to the history and geography of the area into which we have possibly stumbled. To find out, one of the first techniques for Bible study is discovering the etymology (origin) of words and names.

 

So, if the world's persecutors have us trapped over barrels of crude oil between two straits, what exactly do the names of those waterways mean?

 

In English, the first narrow passage is translated "the Strait of God" since "Hormuz" is based on the ancient Zoroastrian Middle Persian pronunciation for God: Ahura Mazda - "lord of wisdom" (Ohrmazd/Hormazd,). WISDOM is truly a divine quality that American government could actually benefit from!

 

In English, the second restricted sea lane - the Strait of Bab el-Mandeb, means the "Gate of Tears" or the "Gate of Grief." Due to our obvious lack of wisdom, I believe we are genuinely learning the sad implication of Bab el-Mandeb.

 

Although not a Scripture, an old adage says, "Fools rush in where angels fear to trod," but the time-tested axiom is almost Bible, "The wise are cautious and avoid danger; fools plunge ahead with reckless abandon." (Proverbs 14:16)

 

Too bad America didn't seek counsel from the Lord of Wisdom (James 1:5) before "her persecutors trapped her between the straits."