| Unreasonable comment? | | | | Testament examples include Ananias and his wife |
| According to televangelist Pat Robertson, Israeli | | | | Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11) and perhaps some of the |
| Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's near-fatal stroke might | | | | Corinthian Christians (1 Corinthians 11:27-33).Strokes |
| well be God's punishment for dividing up God's land. | | | | strike the aged |
| According to the book of Joel, Robertson says, God | | | | It is hard to establish, however, that a massive |
| is jealous for His land. In reaction, officials in Israel | | | | stroke suffered by a 77-year-old is a special |
| have announced that they are refusing for | | | | judgment from God. Many people that age suffer the |
| Robertson to be involved in purchasing land to build a | | | | ill effects of the increasing infirmities of the flesh; this |
| Christian tourist center in Galilee. Robertson has sent | | | | includes the righteous as well as the wicked. |
| a letter of apology for his remark, but it is doubtful | | | | According to a 1993-94 study, for example, each |
| that he will be allowed back into the business | | | | year 2.6 out of 1,000 white males in the age group |
| deal.Certainly God is able to punish whom He wills; He | | | | of 55 to 64 suffer a stroke. Among 65-74-year-old |
| has definitely done so in the past, time and again. | | | | white males, however, the number more than |
| Look, for instance, at the case of Uzziah, whom God | | | | doubles to 6.7 per 1,000. For the age group of Mr. |
| struck with leprosy because he unlawfully offered | | | | Sharon, 75-84, it nearly doubles again at 11. |
| incense in the temple (2 Chronicles 26:16-21). New | | | | |