Yes, the world was certainly surprised when they heard that United States President Barack Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The predominant world reaction was, "What for?" Most commentators felt the prize was premature, because Obama has not actually accomplished anything yet to bring about peace anywhere.

US President Barack Obama.
Photo: AP

For us Christian supporters of Israel, a better word than "surprised" would be "stunned." We gasped in disbelief. My first reaction was to ask, "Has the world gone mad?" And my second question was, "What does this mean for Israel?"

I consider this award to be a devastating blow to the state of Israel in her battle to protect Israelis from an Iranian nuclear attack. It seems to be a ruse to silence Obama and keep him from supporting an Israeli attack against Iran and the terrorist Ahmadinejad regime. How can the winner of a Nobel Peace Prize support such an attack and possible war? The award provides strong support for Obama's Muslim appeasement efforts.

But that isn't all. The Nobel Peace Prize could also serve to trigger a devastating domino effect in favor of the world's effort to eliminate Israel and to destroy the West. The next crippling step could be for OPEC to change from the US dollar to the Euro as the monetary standard for purchasing oil. If this happens, it will send the US into a tailspin toward bankruptcy. Then China could possibly step up to demand payment of America's debt. And when America cannot pay, the US and the world economy could be in serious danger of collapse.

Actually, the Obama award generated mixed reactions from national leaders all over the world, with many shaking their heads. The Nobel committee virtually admitted that the award was not for Obama's peacemaking accomplishments but, rather, for his goals - which include forging a Middle East peace, ridding the world of nuclear weapons and halting climate change. Whatever happened to awards for deeds?

Many commentators, especially conservatives, just shrugged and said the Nobel Prize was simply an expression of the leftist ideology of the Nobel people, just like that of the people of the United Nations. Others declared that the award was "a kick in the leg" to former President George W. Bush, who the leftists detest because of his war against terrorism, the war in Iraq and his opposition to global warming.

Jewish American columnist Charles Krauthammer declared, "The award is a farce! They've gone overboard, over the top!" He asked, "Where has Obama brought peace?" And he added, "We need to bring the Nobel Peace committee to be on Saturday Night Live," a popular TV comedy program.

Conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh also could not believe Obama was lauded in such a way, when "he is intent on destroying his own country as a superpower." He added, "How now can he send more troops to Afghanistan?"

Conservative media also drew attention to the fact that the Nobel decision was made way back in February, when Obama had been in office only two or three weeks. Certainly, he had not accomplished anything by then.

The Nobel people indicated that Obama had pushed for peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians. But what effect has he had on either side? Virtually no progress has been made deserving of any award. And of course, there are many who interpreted his Cairo address last summer to be strong confirmation of a pro-Arab and pro-Muslim bias.

Many are also still asking why the supposedly peace-promoting Obama said nothing to support the masses in Iran recently when they demonstrated against the fraudulent election of the Muslim tyrant Ahmadinejad. And why hasn't this peace-promoting president ever condemned this same Muslim tyrant for the many declarations of his plans "to wipe Israel off the face of the map?"

At the same time, why has Obama so often and so strongly railed against the relatively minor issue of continued construction of Jewish homes in the so-called "settlements" in Judea and Samaria? And how can he continually pressure Israel to freely give the Palestinian Arabs land for their own state when the Arabs have deliberately defied every so-called peace agreement they have made with Israel over the past 16 years?

Never before in history has there been a greater need for prayer for the peace of Israel by those who believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.