Washington, DC, USA, June 26, 2002 — When U.S. President George W. Bush revealed his long-awaited new Middle East policy at a White House news conference June 24, he chose to conclude his speech with a quote from the Bible's Old Testament.
Summarizing the current situation as "both an opportunity and a test for all parties in the Middle East: an opportunity to lay the foundations for future peace, a test to show who's serious about peace and who is not," the American President then emphasized the element of choice involved for Israelis and Palestinians alike, by quoting Deuteronomy 30:19.
"The choice here is stark and simple, the Bible says, 'I have set before you life and death, therefore choose life.' The time has arrived in this conflict to choose peace and hope and life," Bush said.
Deuteronomy 30:19 -- a fitting end to a speech
It was a fitting end to a speech in which the President called for all parties involved on both sides of the Mideast conflict to "break with the past and set out on a new path" and to "overcome the darkness with the light of hope."
Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Bible, and the final book of what is known as the Pentateuch (a word that means five books), and includes the first four books of the Old Testament as well: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers. The Pentateuch books are also called books of the law because they contain God's instructions and laws for the nation of Israel. They are believed to have been written by Moses, a man revered by Christians, Jews and Muslims alike. Deuteronomy means, "second law", and it contains Moses' personal challenge to the people he loved and had led out of captivity in Egypt towards the Promised Land.
The passage Bush used to conclude his policy outline is revealed in Scripture to have been spoken by Moses just prior to his death, in a passionate address to the Israelites. The Israelite nation was coming to the end of the fortieth year of their wilderness wanderings when Moses reminded his people that a choice for God and His ways was necessary, and that upon that choice, hung their very destiny.
Source: Patricia L. Paddey, Bible Network News
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