It is hard to believe that just a year ago was the Hamas attack on Israel that killed over 1,200 civilians and led to 251 being taken into Gaza as hostages. This deplorable act has led to a year of war and the loss of countless lives with still many hostages killed or still in captivity. I have a dear friend who lives in Israel. He is our guide on our Biblical Study Tours to the Holy Land when I take groups from church. He is an incredible man of God and a dedicated scholar. He is an amazing husband and father to four children. Three of his children are in the IDF - the Israeli army. Therefore, I have been praying for him and his family specifically, as I pray for the entire nation of Israel.
Currently, Israel is being attacked by three sides. Iran, and other Islamic states, have made a vow to blow Israel off the face of the earth. Their goal is the total destruction of Israel, and they will do everything to see this happen. Iran does not want to fight Israel head-on (they deep down know that Israel is the people of God and God is on their side). Think about how many nations have tried to destroy Israel and they themselves have ended up destroyed - the Philistines (ever hear of them today?), the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Persians, the Greeks, the Romans, the Nazis and today the Muslims. Yet - God always triumphs. Even though Israel is only 15 million people (and only 9 million living in Israel) and Israel’s land is only about the size of New Jersey, Israel always wins because God is their Defender and fights for them.
Iran doesn’t want to fight head-on with Israel, so Iran uses their proxies - Hezbollah, Hamas and Houthis. You have Hezbollah fueled with weapons and ideology from Iran fighting Israel from Lebanon in the North. You have Hamas, again fueled by Iran, fighting Israel in the South, and the Houthis coming from the Red Sea and through the East. Israel is surrounded by these and war rages on every side. This has been everyday life for those in Israel. Rockets would be fired from Hezbollah, sporadic flare-ups from Gaza and skirmishes from the West Bank. When in Israel, you go through big walls, and multiple checkpoints and notice almost everyone has a machine gun. Being surrounded by people who want to kill you is a way of life.
However, the war took a turn in a big way with two major events - October 7, 2023 (one year ago) when Hamas infiltrated into Israel in the South killing over 1,200 Israelis and taking 251 as hostages. Can you imagine in one day armed soldiers killing this many people in America? The second big turn was just a month ago when Iran began firing rockets directly into Israel. This was the first time this had happened and means that all-out war is coming. Israel (and the US and Britain) will respond.
People wonder if this is the End Times. I’m not sure, but I know we are closer than ever before. We are truly living in the “Last Days.” The joining together of Iran with Russia, China and North Korea against Israel, the US and Europe makes this feel like an entirely different level. We must fight. We must fight against evil whether Nazis in the Holocaust or Hamas on October 7. We must know that, as my friend in Israel says, “Islam is not just coming after the Saturday people, but also the Sunday people.” The “Saturday people” are the Jews and the “Sunday people” are the Christians.” Islam’s ultimate God is to have Sharia Law over the entire world. Just look at what happened when the US pulled out of Afghanistan (the treatment of women, children, etc.). Therefore, we fight physically and spiritually. However, we don’t have to live in fear. We know the end of the story - God wins. He does every time.
Let’s pray for Israel - God’s chosen people - since we, as Christians, are the “ingrafted branch” (Romans 11). Pray for God’s protection and for victory in this war. Pray for other nations to join in the battle against evil. Pray for peace in the Middle East. Ultimately, Jesus, our Savior and Messiah, is coming back. He will walk through the Eastern Gate in Jerusalem and say, “Enough! Enough pain, enough suffering, enough war.” And, He will take His own home. There, God’s people, those who profess the Name of Jesus as Messiah overall, will spend eternity with Him in Heaven. It will be incredible! But, until that day comes, let’s put on the full armor of God and take our stand against the evil in this world today. Pray for Israel.
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