JERUSALEM - A scan of Ariel Sharon's brain showed improvement Sunday, and doctors will start bringing the Israeli prime minister out of his medically induced coma Monday, a hospital official said.

Hadassah Hospital director Dr. Shlomo Mor-Yosef said Sharon remained in critical condition, but his vital signs, including the pressure inside his skull, were normal.

"His condition is still critical but stable, and there is improvement in the CT picture of the brain," he told reporters outside the hospital.

Read the rest here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/08/AR2006010800145.html

Deuteronomy 34: (excerpts) MOSES went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho. And YHWH showed him all the land, Gilead as far as Dan ... And YHWH said to him, "This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, 'I will give it to your descendants.' I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there."  So Moses the servant of YHWH died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of YHWH.

We have been reading the opinions of religious leaders about the unexpected falling of Ariel Sharon, leader of Israel.  One said YHWH struck him because he was splitting Likud.  Another said he was stricken because of his liberal view toward a Palestinian State.  One prominent religious leader said G-d got him for giving away Israel to the Arabs.

And many are more reasonable - he is seventy-seven years of age (a prophetically significant number), he does have circulatory disease, he is very overweight, has lived a hard life, and has one of the most stressful jobs in the world.

From a prophetic point-of-view, Sharon has set up the events necessary to fulfill: Zephaniah 2:4,5. Gaza shall be deserted ... Woe to you inhabitants of the seacoast, you nation of the Cherethites! The word of YHWH is against you, I will destroy you till no inhabitant is left.

I think few thinking believers would deny that we are in "the generation that will see it all."  We haved lived to see a great deal of end-time prophecy come to pass.  As with Moses on Mount Pisgah, he had fulfilled his role in the destiny of the world.  He wanted to know what he did wrong that he wouldn't be able to cross into the promised land.  I really think YHWH must has assessed that he did very little wrong - YHWH throws him a bone - "You struck the rock too many times." 

But perhaps the real reason that Moses didn't go in was that he had fulfilled what needed to be completed all his missions toward Yah's plan and thus set up all things for his spiritual progeny to go in.  Had Moses been given leave to enter, would he have quietly retired to the suburbs of Jericho?  No way.  He would have been like so many other great men and women who over-live their usefulness to society.  He would probably have become a meddler in the affairs of a much more aggressive man, Joshua.  YHWH would compassionately take him home instead: but YHWH would give him a glimpse!

Maybe it's the same way with Sharon.  He's taken the plan as far as he could, devoted his life to it, and, if he dies, died for it.  There certainly is a Joshua or two waiting in the wings - another who's been along for a generation in the wilderness. 

As for Sharon: we may be premature here, but let's look back top the wisdom of Sirach 44: Let us praise illustrious men, some wielded authority as kings, were renowned for their strength, uttering prophetic sayings. Others directed the people by their advice, by their understanding of the popular mind, and by the wise words of their teaching; All these were honored by their contemporaries
and were the glory of their day.

Let's join our mind in praise for a mighty man who has been stricken, join our hearts in prayer for his quick recovery, join our hope that the will of YHWH will be done for Israelite and Arab alike in these days in which wise leadership is at a premium.