A War on Four Fronts
Pray for Israel, yes, but for America also.
While there is concern about a second front in Israel with Hezbollah threatening in the north of Israel we may be watching the wrong front. There is also concern Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon might get involved. That would cause us to get involved with missile support. Thus, a third front. However it would not be in Israel.
China might get involved in Taiwan, or North Korea in the South, thus opening a major third front for us involving Israel, Ukraine, and one or both of those. This would greatly over stress our defense resources. There is no way we can supply enough missiles for a third front with Russia and China gleefully watching.
Compounding this is a fourth front. It is one we might very well expose ourselves to within our own overrun border. Hopefully there are not terror cells within that have developed by illegal immigrants coming in.
Pray for America. This all seems ominously threatening, and it is.
We have no adequate way of defending ourselves – – – other than our often overlooked ally, the Lord God of heaven. He is described as: “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint” Isaiah 40: 28 – 30. Call on Him NOW.
Thomas Jefferson opined: “Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just: that his justice cannot sleep for ever: that considering numbers, nature and natural means only, a revolution of the wheel of fortune, an exchange of situation, is among possible events: that it may become probable by supernatural interference!”
“Supernatural interference” is needed not that we may continue on the carnal road on which we are traveling, but that we may recognize our profligate way and turn from it to the God of our fathers who saw His supernatural interference on several occasions.
The fact that God has intervened on our behalf means He can do so again, but that does not mean He will do so again. I, too, tremble for our nation as did Jefferson.
The Lord intervened in August 1776 when British General Howe engaged, outflanked and smashed Washington at the Battle of Long Island. With the river to his rear and Howe at his front Washington was in an impossible position. Inexplicably Howe paused and did not deliver the crushing blow. Overnight an unseasonable fog covered the area. Under the cover of night and the fog Washington rushed to ferry his forces across the river. At the break of day the fog lifted as the last boat distanced itself from the range of the guns of Howe and survived to win the War of Independence.
The God who provided the fog is the same God awaiting our current response.
WAKE UP AMERICA. There is a great civil war of values being waged and we dare not sleep through it. If we attempt to, we will die in our sleep.
A Holy War
“I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem. On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves. On that day I will strike every horse with panic and its rider with madness,” declares the Lord. “I will keep a watchful eye over Judah, but I will blind all the horses of the nations. the Lord Almighty is their God” Zechariah 12:2 – 5 (NIV)
In light of current global unrest that is one of the most significant texts for the hour. If you didn’t read it, go back and read it before going further.
What Israel is doing in Gaza is horrible.
The Islamic Resistance Movement, known as Hamas, first released their Covenant August 18, 1988. It is a comprehensive manifesto consisting of 36 separate articles which actively promotes the annihilation of Israel by means of Jihad, a holy war.
The preamble of the Covenant is unequivocal in its declaration of the destruction saying, “Israel exists and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it.”
Article eight of the Covenant serves as a slogan for Hamas, “Jihad is its path.” Further resolve is contained in the Covenant: “There is no solution for the Palestinian problem except by Jihad. Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are but a waste of time, an exercise in futility.” (Article 13)
Yes, again I say what Israel is doing in Gaza is horrible. But, in light of the Covenant what is Israel to do, wait until Hamas complies with the intent of its covenant and does to Israel what Israel is having to do in Gaza in order to preempt being annihilated?
The above text has several aspects. Nations will aggressively come against Israel posing an ominous threat. God will supernaturally intervene. He will stupify the nations that come against Israel. What He can do is substantiate earlier in the text by identifying Him as the creator of all things. If He could create the universe surely He is sufficient to act?
Whether this text applies to this war or not might be debatable. However, conditions are ripe for the fulfillment. Read the entire 12th chapter of Zechariah to see the followup.
What are we to do? Hamas has declared this is Jihad, a holy war. We are to do what the Lord God, Jehovah has commanded and “to pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (Psalm 122:6).
Prayer Warriors – Really
2023 is a microwave year. Things are happening fast.
The current Israeli/Hamas War is certain to be devastating as previous wars have been. In World War II 30,000 civilians died in an air raid in Dresden Germany. Eighty thousand died in one night in Tokyo. War is devastating.
Well-trained and well-equipped, highly motivated young Israelis using sophisticated high tech weapons have undertaken an effort to purge the Gaza Strip of Hamas. Smart weapons, military genius, and dedicated personnel are the means of achieving victory.
Regardless of how skeptical you might be regarding prayer it has often been the essential component for victory in past events.
Historically, the Lord has turned more than one major battle by the weather. Deborah’s victory over the ancient Canaanites, Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo, Lord Nelson’s victory at sea over the Spanish Armada, and Washington’s victory over the British are classic examples.
A great concern is that the present generation might presume on the grace of God and inadvisably depend upon sophisticated weaponry. Our gratitude for past blessings should not be replaced by complacency regarding prayer.
Pray for Israel. The potential of Iran, Syria, and Lebanon joining to attack them is real. The forces now in Lebanon pose a real threat. Having the others join with them would be a significant threat.
Pray for America. There is no telling how many threatening forces have crossed the border and are poised to carry out omni destruction weakening us for further destruction.
Here is a third group for which to pray. That is, the innocent Palestinian people in Gaza. There is no nation of Palestine, only a territory. Hamas has taken them over without them having any desire for conflict.
Abraham had one son too many. Hagar bore a son by Abraham. She and her son Ishmael were banished to the desert, though God promised that through Ishmael would raise up a great nation of his own. To them God said, “And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation” (Genesis 17:20). The Palestinian people are his heirs. Their oil rich home lands are their blessing. Pray for the innocent ones in Gaza.
It appears America has a farmable armada poised to aid Israel if needed, and they are sure to be needed if Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq join the fray. Compounding the complexity is the potential of our own homeland made vulnerable by unknown numbers of likely terrorists who have entered by crossing our open border.
Likewise, let’s not become self-critical. There is a tendency in America for some to be self-condemning of America.
President Bush said it well in his address to the nation, “War has no certainty, other than the certainty of sacrifice.” Foremost are the lives sacrificed.
As an aside, when Joshua and the Jews crossed into the promised land they killed the inhabitants of the land. From our perspective that poses some questions. God has a different perspective. He knew the inhabitants of the land and that they all had a mind set opposing His will that would never change; it was permanently fixed. He had Joshua purge the land and provide a homeland free of spiritual and moral contamination. The purpose was for Israel to become a model for all nations. They did for a time before they began to fail in their role.
The present war is for the same reason, a homeland for the descendants of Abraham through Sarah, Isaac.
The Hamas Covenant
It is imaginative to think the forces in Gaza and those in Israel will ever be at peace. It simply never would be, never. One will inevitably best the other. The time has come that when provoked they decide it is their time to prevail. Several times they have tried to establish a tolerable existence, but have had their hand slapped every time they have tried.
World War II American General George Paton got it right when he said, “War is hell.” It has now surfaced.
When the good day comes this conflict is over and the festered evil is revealed that will be Israel’s hour of vindication in the eyes of most logical people. It will then be obvious the horror of war was enjoined in order to prevent a greater evil and far more deaths and destruction. If Israel’s actions preempt such devastation they will be worth the grievous cost of their efforts. If that scenario plays out then the uninvolved nations who have demurred will have cause to have a collective conscience — a guilty conscience.
When this war is over Israel’s national leaders will be vindicated and their military efforts validated. More importantly a sinister evil will have been averted.
One of the most valuable forms of support is prayer. Through the millennia the outcome of more than one war has been determined by what insurance policies refer to as “an act of God.” Let’s ask the Lord for His divine guidance.
A friend who was a general in the Persian Gulf War introduced me to the term “mag force.” It refers to using the maximum force to achieve the maximum result. Israel’s military is using it. We here at home need to employ mag force in trying to pull our nation together and make it more cohesive in this difficult time.
The Islamic Resistance Movement, known as Hamas first released their Covenant August 18, 1988. It is a comprehensive manifesto which actively promotes the annihilation of Israel by means of Jihad.
The preamble of the Covenant is unequivocal in its declaration of the destruction saying, “Israel exists and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it.”
Israel was provoked into attempting to preempt a new holocaust in the only way possible.
Article eight of the Covenant serves as a slogan for Hamas, “Jihad is its path.” Further resolve is contained in the Covenant: “Initiatives, proposals, international conferences, are all a waste of time, and vain effort.”
Within the hoard that has streamed across our border it is highly likely there are sinister forces bent on injuring America and making us vulnerable to a greater evil. It is so likely we need now to pray for divine guidance.
Make no mistake this is a holy war being fought over a contested territory, but the holy aspect is primary. Americans, especially Christians need to earnestly engage in the conflict by praying. Our interest is very much at risk.
Wimps and War
War has been best described by one who knew how to wage it, General George Patton, who said, “War is hell.”
Israel and America have been thought to be close allies for years. A popular item for sale on the streets of Jerusalem is a t-shirt showing a tank and jet posting the message: “America don’t worry Israel is behind you.”
I have another popular item, a lapel pin consisting of crossed American and Israeli flags indicating the closeness.
However, in light of the current war between Hamas and Israel there have been rallies in support of Hamas in several American cities. At Harvard University 31 student groups have shown support of Hamas and blamed Israel for the war. These young intellects don’t know the long standing history of Hamas aggression and the numerous efforts made by Israel to try to improve relations. Israel conquered the Gaza Territory in their Six Day War and set it free after the war rather than investing resources trying to govern it. It was hoped Gaza would be the Singapore of the Mediterranean.
Since that war there have been conflicts between the two interests inside Israel with both sides at fault at times. In most instances the Jews have been right. With two opposing interests living in close proximity within Israel conflicts are inevitable. The Palestinian demand for conquered territory to be given back to the Palestinians is a major source of conflict. There is an applicable adage that explains the situation: “To the victor goes the spoils.” Israel has developed major cities in those territories consisting of hospitals, schools, banks, roadways, waterworks, expansive housing and numerous other amenities in these areas. These are Jewish cities occupied by Jews. Palestinians occupied these territories for years and let them exist as undeveloped desert.
There are numerous global examples of national boundaries having changed long ago due to war. The losers accepted their defeat and loss and have abided by the change. Hamas has not abided by this practice.
At the end of the Six Day War Jews and Arabs could cross former borders into the other’s section. Traffic lights in the Jewish section which had been unknown in the Arab section were so fascinating to young Arabs many stood on the street corners applauding when the lights changed. Jerusalem has since been developed by Jews as a major modern metropolis. The concept of giving it back is unthinkable.
If Israel does what it says it must do to destroy Hamas a grievous side effect will be the killing of many innocent people. If they don’t there will later be the killing of many Jews in subsequent wars. This is part of the horror of war. Israel will be represented as over reacting and acting unjustly. In turn, much of the press will feature this. The result will be negative and critical of Israel.
There is a statement that has been attributed to a number of Israelis, among those cited in slightly different forms are Golda Meir and Benjamin Netanyahu: “If the Arabs put down their weapons today, there would be no more violence. If the Jews put down their weapons today, there would be no more Israel”. Based on the record that appears to be true.
All of my contacts in Israel ask for prayers. Please respond positively with their entreaty.