THURSDAY DECEMBER 7TH, PEARL HARBOR

 THURDAY, DECEMBER 7TH - A DAY IN INFAMY 

Logic and hatred sometimes work together, and sometimes they don’t.

The Japanese needed resources (and, in particular, oil).  They were an island nation with a growing population.  How do we get resources for Japan?  Find an area that has oil and take it over.  China had some oil, so Japan planned on how to get more Chinese oil.  

Seemingly importing and paying for the oil wasn’t the preferred method,, so invading China became the plan - but the United States was a friend of China.  

Solution - attack Pearl Harbor - put the American Navy in the Pacific out of commission - then invade China, and they would have oil (and more land).  

And it almost worked.  

Thinking back eighty-two years, Hawaii was not an American State - it was an island group a long way from anything in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.  Yes, it did have a good harbor and was an outpost for the Amiercan Navy - and not much more.  Commercial flights to Hawaii did exist - but it wasn’t like today.  Hawaii didn’t mean much to Americans.  

So, the logic was to cripple American  influence in the Pacific, by a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor.

And, it could have worked.  

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Over centuries one country desired something from another country - and attacked.  On a smaller scale, one person might want something from a neighbor and schemed to get it.  

From 1 Kings 21:

 Some time later there was an incident involving a vineyard belonging to Naboth the Jezreelite. The vineyard was in Jezreel, close to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. 2 Ahab said to Naboth, “Let me have your vineyard to use for a vegetable garden, since it is close to my palace. In exchange I will give you a better vineyard or, if you prefer, I will pay you whatever it is worth.”

3 But Naboth replied, “The Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my ancestors.”

4 So Ahab went home, sullen and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my ancestors.” He lay on his bed sulking and refused to eat.

5 His wife Jezebel came in and asked him, “Why are you so sullen? Why won’t you eat?”

6 He answered her, “Because I said to Naboth the Jezreelite, ‘Sell me your vineyard; or if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard in its place.’ But he said, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’”

7 Jezebel his wife said, “Is this how you act as king over Israel? Get up and eat! Cheer up. I’ll get you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”

8 So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, placed his seal on them, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth’s city with him. 9 In those letters she wrote:

“Proclaim a day of fasting and seat Naboth in a prominent place among the people. 10 But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them bring charges that he has cursed both God and the king. Then take him out and stone him to death.”

11 So the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth’s city did as Jezebel directed in the letters she had written to them. 12 They proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth in a prominent place among the people. 13 Then two scoundrels came and sat opposite him and brought charges against Naboth before the people, saying, “Naboth has cursed both God and the king.” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death. 14 Then they sent word to Jezebel: “Naboth has been stoned to death.”

15 As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she said to Ahab, “Get up and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite that he refused to sell you. He is no longer alive, but dead.” 16 When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up and went down to take possession of Naboth’s vineyard. 

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Yes, King Ahab got what he wanted.

GREED - HATRED.

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So, what do you REALLY want? How can you get it?  Lie?  Cheat? Scheme? 

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The old question is “Do the ends justify the means?”

Should I adjust my goals to be reasonable?  Or, if I still desire something, am I willing to pay the entire amount - without cheating?

LOVE WINS
GOD LEADS US BESIDE THE STILL WATER

BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF OUR MINDS

KAREN ANNE WHITE, , © DECEMBER 7TH, 2023