Let My People Go or
You'll Die:
In the early 1980's
the Lord Jesus got me interested in a movement that I considered a ministry.
During this time the Jews of the former Soviet Union were being persecuted
simply because they wanted to remain Jewish and didn't want to assimilate
into Soviet society. They wanted religious freedom, and real freedom, not
the Soviet style of micromanagement. Most of them wanted to immigrate to
Israel, but were refused that request every time. Many Jews were imprisoned,
sent to gulags all over Russia, especially in Siberia. They were given the
name "Refuzniks." I have always loved the Jews, so I had to do something to
help. There was an organization that allowed people to adopt up to three
Refuzniks and champion for their rights, and the rights of their family
members.
There were three
things that we had to do when we adopted a Refuznik. I would write letters
of encouragement to him or her at the gulag or prison where they were being
held. Second, if they had a family I would write to the family and let them
know that I was keeping an eye on them and their loved one. Third we would
write to the commandant of the prison or gulag. The organization provided us
with a sheet of paper which had an abbreviated story of the Exodus of Israel
from Egypt and it would implore that official to be mindful that they were
being watched and that God's wishes were that they would free their Jewish
Refuznik, or at least treat them with respect and dignity. I would send a
letter every week to the commandant and the prisoner.
In November of 1982
Yuri Andropov became Premiere of the USSR and that was troublesome. He was a
hardliner, anti-Semitic to the core and a former leader of the KGB (the
Soviet Secret Police). I felt a real sense of dread about what he might do
to the Jews in prison and those who wanted to immigrate to Israel. I asked
the Lord what He wanted me to do and He told me to compose a letter to Mr.
Andropov. The letter went as follows:
"A few thousand
years ago another powerful leader oppressed the Jewish people. It was by the
mighty hand of God Almighty that they were brought out of Egypt and into
freedom. I've written you several times before to Let My People Go, That
They Can Serve Me; but you have dismissed my words to you as foolery. This
is My last word to you. Let My People go so that they might serve me. If you
refuse to let my people go, then the very God that you have denied all of
your life will take your life from you and you will find out that I am
indeed real."
On February 09, 1984
Yuri Andropov died of kidney failure. Before he died he tightened his hold
on the Jewish people and made immigration even harder than it was before his
reign. I'm convinced that he read my letter, or had someone read it to him,
that he dismissed me as being just another religious fanatic. But,
ultimately, God told him what to do, he didn't do it and now he's probably
in hell waiting for the great judgment. Too bad.