When God Fights for Israel
“For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle: … Then shall the LORD go forth, and fights against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.” – Zechariah 14:2-3
By Mike Wingfield
While the inhabitants of this world are moving frantically about to fulfill their selfish and sinful desires, God is speaking through the ongoing conflict in Israel. Little does the world know that the hand of God is at work while Israel defends herself against relentless attacks from an Islamic terrorist group known as Hamas.
Yes, we are troubled as we see the graphic images of violence and destruction taking place in Israel and Gaza. But at the same time, these are exciting times for students of Bible prophecy, because we are witnessing sensational testimonies of God’s power and faithfulness to His people.
In this newsletter, I will focus on these exciting reports coming out of the Middle East. First, let us examine the larger context of Scripture to set the stage for grasping how God is being faithful to His chosen people, Israel.
The Bible is the only divine written revelation given to man. When we open this revelation, our attitude should be similar to that of Moses when he stood before God at the burning bush. (Exodus 3) He saw it as a time to humble himself and be still before the “I AM THAT I AM.” (Exodus 3:14) While reading the Bible, we should be in awe and reverence, like taking off our spiritual shoes. We should recognize that we are in the presence of the One and only God. We must never question nor forget that He is the One and only God, and that the Bible is His one and only revelation.
Moses became one of the greatest leaders in Israel’s history. Many years later, the Lord raised up another great prophet, Isaiah, to remind the children of Israel of this truth. Throughout His great prophetic book, this faithful prophet of God repeatedly thundered forth this truth. “I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me.” (Isaiah 45:5) He repeated this in 45:6, 18, 2122; and 46:9. One of Isaiah’s favorite names of God was “the holy one of Israel.” (Isaiah 1:4) He used this special title for God 25 times in his prophetic book. The use of this title for God was a continual reminder to Israel of the holiness of God. This means that God is sinless, and that He alone is set apart from all other pagan idols and gods. He alone is infinite. As the “I am,” He is not dependent upon anything or anyone in all of His creation. He alone is the Creator, Ruler, and Judge of all of creation. He is totally sovereign.
Biblical prophecy is a declaration of the sovereign control of the God of Israel. He controls everything and everyone. (Daniel 4:34-35) In Isaiah 46:9-11, the Lord declared: “… I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: … I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass: I have purposed it, I will also do it.”
In God’s revelation to mankind, He has repeatedly declared the details of His eternal plan. As the student of the Bible examines this divine plan in history and prophecy, it is clear that God has uniquely chosen a land and a people to fulfill His divine purposes here on this earth. The Lord has established an eternal covenant with a chosen people, a promised land, and a holy city, Jerusalem. Therefore, it is vitally significant for all who want to be blessed by God to join Him in promoting and supporting His eternal plan. Those who willfully oppose Him and go to war with His chosen people and the Holy Land and Holy city will be cursed and ultimately destroyed by Him. (Zechariah 12:1-4)
Let us examine the Biblical answers to four very important questions:
(1) Who is Israel?
If the God of the Bible has uniquely chosen the Jewish people for His eternal purposes, then we must identify who they are. The religion of Islam teaches that the people of God began with Abraham, Ishmael, and Esau. This is the exact opposite of the message of the Bible. In the Old Testament, the Lord made it clear that the line of divine blessing would pass through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God’s “everlasting covenant” (Genesis 17:7) did not come through Ishmael, but through Isaac. (Genesis 17) In His sovereign plan, God rejected Isaac’s firstborn, Esau, and declared that Jacob was the son of promise.
(Genesis 25:22-23) Furthermore, the Lord repeated the Abrahamic blessing (Genesis 17:7-8) to Isaac (Genesis 26:3-4) and Jacob. (Genesis 35:10-12)
The identification of Israel as the line of divine choice is repeated in the New Testament. The Apostle Paul, one of the most prolific writers of the New Testament, clearly stated in his letter to the church at Rome that God chose Isaac and Jacob, not Ishmael and Esau, for His divine purposes. (Romans 9:3-13)
The genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Redeemer and coming Messiah of the Millennial Kingdom, is traced through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (Matthew 1:2 and Luke 3:34) It is sad to note that there are certain so-called Christian groups that are attempting to erase the Jewish roots of Jesus. Their hatred for the Jewish people is so great that they are compelled to openly ignore and reject the clear Biblical teaching of the Jewishness of Jesus. Please note that Jesus is called “the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David” in Revelation 5:5. In recent years, some Palestinian pastors have been teaching that Jesus was a Palestinian, not a Jew.
In spite of these false teachings, the Jewish people who are returning to Israel today are the Biblical descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is true that some, or perhaps, many of them have descendants who have intermarried with Gentiles. However, this has not canceled out their connection with Biblical Israel. Note that in Jesus’s Jewish genealogy, three Gentile women are named: Thamar (a Canaanite woman mentioned in Matthew 1:3), Rahab (a pagan harlot listed in Matthew 1:5), and Ruth (a Moabite cited in Matthew 1:5). However, this did not hinder Jesus’ mission as the One who would “save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21) The angel Gabriel told Mary that Jesus “shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” (Luke 1:32-33)
God has chosen the Jewish people to be a very special people with a divine assignment. In Leviticus 20:26, He said to them: “And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, and that ye should be mine.” (Compare with Deuteronomy 7:6-10.) God has chosen the Jewish people to be a unique supernatural sign to the nations of the world. A Biblical sign is a unique supernatural work of God that demonstrates to the world who God is. This sign pulls back the curtain that separates the physical world and the spiritual realm and displays the reality that the spirit realm controls the physical world.
The nation of Israel is at the center of God’s dealings with the nations. The world’s treatment of the Jewish people has been chosen by the sovereign Creator as a test for divine blessing or cursing. (Genesis 12:1-3) Those who hate Israel are Biblically viewed as enemies of God. (Psalm 83:1-4)
In spite of Israel’s rebellion, the God of mercy has chosen to demonstrate to the world who He is through His divine protection and blessing of Israel. God is not motivated to do what He does in and through Israel because of who they are, but because of who He is! While declaring that the Jewish people will return to the Holy Land in spiritual unbelief, the Lord declared: “I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name’s sake.” (Ezekiel 36:22)
(2) Does God fight for Israel?
Once we understand the Biblical identity of Israel and their unique divine position and mission, it becomes clear that God does fight for Israel. In this article, I would like to examine four considerations that demonstrate that God does fight for Israel:
Biblical Statements There are a multitude of Scriptures that declare God will defend Israel and fight for His people. Here are just a few of them:
Leviticus 26:8-“And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.”
Deuteronomy 28:7-“The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: They shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.” Psalm 91:7-“A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.” (See this entire Psalm.)
Also read: Exodus 14:14; Deuteronomy 1:30; 3:22; 20:4; Psalm 121; and Isaiah 29:7-8; 59:19, and Malachi 3:6.
Historical Illustrations In the days of Abraham-After Abraham’s amazing victory over the kings of the east (Iraq and Iran) in Genesis 14, the Lord spoke to Abraham and said: “Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield…” (Genesis 15:1)
In the days of Moses-From the time Israel left Egypt until they entered the Promised Land, God fought for Israel against the great armies of other nations. We must remember that many of these military victories came at a time when God was disciplining the Jewish people during the years of their wilderness wanderings. The impact of Israel’s divine victory over her enemies put great fear in the hearts of its enemies. (For example, read Numbers 22:1-6 and Joshua 2:10-11.)
In the days of Joshua-God knew that dislodging the Canaanites from their land would be a long and difficult task for His people. Therefore, in the very first battle at Jericho, He gave Joshua a battle plan that demonstrated to Israel and all of the inhabitants of the land that the battle belongs to the Lord. (Read Joshua 6.)
In the days of the Judges-During this time of Israel’s great rebellion against the Lord, the Lord raised up judges to lead His people to a military victory over their enemies. Most prominent during this time were Gideon (Judges 68) and Samson. (Judges 13-16) Gideon is viewed as a fore-runner of the Messiah by the Jewish people. Gideon defeated a massive army of “the Midianites (Saudi Arabia), and the Amalekites (an Edomite tribe that eventually settled Mecca in Saudi Arabia) and the children of the east,” who were gathered together in the Valley of Jezreel (Aramgeddon.) (Judges 6:33) Samson, who had many spiritual weaknesses, was divinely empowered to defeat the Philistines (located in the area of the Gaza Strip).
In the days of King David-King David was known as a man of war. With divine help, David was able to defeat the enemies of Israel. David is best known for his personal defeat of the Philistine giant, Goliath, when he was a teenager. (1 Samuel 17) When David approached the giant he declared: “…I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand … that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hands.” (1 Samuel 17:45-47)
In the days of King Jehoshaphat-During the days of King Jehoshaphat of Judah, a massive army from Moab and Ammon invaded Israel. (2 Chronicles 20) When the report of this approaching army reached the king in Jerusalem, he and all of Israel called out to the Lord for help. The Lord raised up a prophet who declared to the king:
“Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor be dismayed by reason of this great multitude: for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” (2 Chronicles 20:15) 2 Chronicles 20:16-30 records how the Lord supernaturally caused the enemies of Israel to destroy themselves.
Modern Testimonies The modern nation of Israel bears the fingerprints of the God of Israel from its inception until now. When Israel became a nation on May 14, 1948 at 4:00 p.m. in Tel Aviv, the armies of seven Arab nations were poised to attack. Humanly speaking, there is no logical explanation for the ultimate amazing Israeli victory in the face of great odds. Israel was outnumber 100 to 1. They were gravely unprepared for the war. However, it is very obvious that God fought for Israel in their War of Independence. Many stories of miracles have been confirmed. Here is one astonishing account: “At Safed, near the Sea of Galilee a small unit of Israeli defenders were holding off thousands of Arabs. A sudden tropical storm broke loose. The Israelis, in desperation, took their remaining gasoline, poured it over 50 empty drums, set them afire and rolled them down the hill. The flaming barrels flying down the slopes, the rumble of hollow barrels striking rocks— together with the tropical storm—created such an illusion that the bewildered Arabs imagining some sort of secret weapon took to their heel and fled.” (www.bible411.com/nationofmiracles) – bad link
In June 1967, Israel was attacked by her Arab neighbors on three fronts. In six days, Israel defeated her enemies.
In the process, Israel captured the Sinai, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights. The entire world was stunned by this amazing Israeli victory. Once again, many stories of miracles are told about the intervention of God on behalf of Israel. A secular newspaper in Israel, Harretz, openly admitted: “Even a non-religious person must admit this war was fought with help from heaven.” (http://ottersandsciencenews.blogspot. com) – bad link
In October, 1973, on the most holy day on the Jewish calendar, Israel fell victim to a sudden tank attack by Syria on the Golan Heights. While Syria was attacking from the north, Egypt launched an offensive in the Sinai from the south. Within a few hours, it appeared that Israel was about to be defeated. The opposite occurred, however, and the story of how the Syrians and Egyptians were defeated and repelled is filled with accounts of incredible bravery on the part of Israeli soldiers. However, many tell stories of divine intervention. Here is one such story: “An Israeli military historian recorded that during the 1973 Yom Kippur war, an Israeli soldier in the Sinai took captive an Egyptian column and led them to where the Israeli troops were. The Egyptian commander was asked why he and his men gave themselves up to the lone Israeli soldier. He responded with surprise; ‘One soldier? There were thousands of them.’ He said that as they neared the Israeli lines, the ‘soldiers’ began disappearing. The Israeli soldier reported that he was by himself when the Egyptian commander and his men surrendered to him. He was totally unaware of the ‘thousands of soldiers’ the Egyptian soldiers saw with him, since he himself did not see them.” (http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=104343) page no longer available, sending you to the front page
In the last few weeks, as Israel has battled Hamas in Gaza, secular Israeli soldiers have witnessed divine interventions. It is amazing that only a few Israeli civilians have not been killed by the 4,500 missiles that Hamas has fired against Israel. It is even more amazing that the Israeli military has suffered minimal casualties during the incursions into Gaza.
Israelis are reporting about many miracles in this war with Gaza. Israel Today gave the following report on one of these miracles: In remarks relayed to an Israeli news site, an Iron Dome battery commander recalled: “A missile was fired from Gaza. Iron Dome precisely calculated [its trajectory]. We know where these missiles are going to land down to a radius of 200 meters. This particular missile was going to hit either the Azrieli Towers, the Kirya (Israel’s equivalent of the Pentagon) or [a central Tel Aviv railway station]. Hundreds could have died.
“We fired the first [interceptor]. It missed. Second [interceptor]. It missed. This is very rare. I was in shock. At this point we had just four seconds until the missile lands. We had already notified emergency services to converge on the target location and had warned of a mass-casualty incident.
“Suddenly, Iron Dome (which calculates wind speeds, among other things) shows a major wind coming from the east, a strong wind that…sends the missile into the sea. We were all stunned. I stood up and shouted, ‘There is a God!’
“I witnessed this miracle with my own eyes. It was not told or reported to me. I saw the hand of God send that missile into the sea.” (Israel Today, August 3, 2014)
The Times of Israel reports another miracle as told by a senior Israeli infantry officer, Givati Brigade commander Ofer Winter. Winter claims that he has never seen anything like this in his military career. “He said that a predawn raid that was intended to make use of the dark as concealment was delayed, forcing the soldiers to move toward their objective as the sun was about to rise. The soldiers were in danger of being revealed in the light but, Winter recalled, a heavy fog descended to cover their movements until the objective was achieved.
‘Suddenly a cloud protected us,’ he said, make a reference to the clouds that the Bible says protected the Israelites as they wandered in the desert. ‘Clouds of glory.’ Only when the soldiers were in a secure position did the fog dissipate, he said.’ ‘It really was a fulfillment of the verse ‘For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to give you victory,’’ he said, quoting a passage from Deuteronomy. (The Times of Israel, July 31, 2014)
As I heard these stories, I was made to remember a sign that I have seen at the foot of a statue of the prophet Elijah on Mount Carmel: “Israel is a living sign in world history that God lives and that His Word is ‘yes’ and ‘amen’.”
Prophetic Promises According to the Bible, some of the most awesome military miracles of God fighting for Israel will take place during the Tribulation Period. Ezekiel writes of a war “in the latter days” (Ezekiel 38:16), when Russia and many other Islamic nations will invade Israel. This massive force will “be like a cloud to cover the land.” (Ezekiel 38:9) Before these invading forces can attack Israel, the Lord will unleash a massive earthquake. This earthquake will be so great that it will cause the mountains to collapse and “every wall [in Israel will] fall to the ground.” (Ezekiel 38:20) This earthquake will trigger an eruption of dormant volcanoes on the Golan Heights, raining down upon these invaders “great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.” (Ezekiel 38:22) In their mass confusion and fear, the invaders will turn their weapons on each other and kill their allies. (Ezekiel 38:21) This supernatural defeat of these enemies of Israel will have an incredible impact upon Israel and all of the inhabitants of earth. (Ezekiel 38:23)
The final battle at the end of this age, Armageddon, will feature God’s supernatural work in defense of His chosen people. This will be the most awesome display of the vengeance of God in the history of mankind. Long ago, the prophet Isaiah wrote: “For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke will flames of fire. For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.”
(Isaiah 66:15-16) The final three chapters of Zechariah features the supernatural work of God in the battle of Armageddon. In Zechariah 12:1-9, God promises that He will destroy all those who come against Jerusalem in this campaign. Zechariah 14:2-3 states: “For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle … Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.” At this time, the most horrific earthquake to ever take place on earth will occur. (Zechariah 14:4-5; Revelation 16:17-20) The armies that fight against Jerusalem will be killed in a most unusual way. “And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume [waste away] while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.” (Zechariah 14:12) “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:31) “For our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:29)
(3) Why does God fight for Israel?
As we look at all of the evidence that God fights for Israel, we are forced to ask why? Why has God chosen to faithfully fight for a people who have rejected His Son, His revelation, and have been a rebellious people?
Once again, the Bible student must understand that God has chosen the Jewish nation and promised to bless them in an unconditional covenant in spite of what they do. (Genesis 12:1-3) He has repeatedly disciplined them, but He will never destroy them and break His covenant with them. (Psalm 89:27-37; Jeremiah 30:11) It is not about their performance. It is not about who they are, but who He is! It is about God’s character. In the good and bad days of Israel, God has chosen to display to the world who He is.
God has chosen Israel to display His glory to the nations. In Isaiah 43:7, the Lord said: “…for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea I have made him.” Later in the same context, He said: “This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise.” (Isaiah 43:21) While rebuking Israel for their past sins and promising to bless them in the last days, the Lord directed the prophet Ezekiel to remind his people why God will bless them. “Therefore say unto the house of Israel, thus saith the LORD GOD; I do not this for your sakes: O house of Israel, but for mine holy name’s sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the LORD GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.” (Ezekiel 36:22-23)
Practically speaking, the Lord has several other reasons for fighting for Israel. First, He wants to reveal Himself to His people and bring them to salvation. “So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel…” (Ezekiel 39:7) However, the same miracles that will bring Israel to salvation, will also bring judgment to the nations. “… and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One of Israel.” (Ezekiel 39:7) The Lord will demonstrate to the nations that He alone is the Creator/Ruler of the universe. All nations will tremble before Him. “Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the God of Jacob.” (Psalm 114:7)
The entire plan of God is centrally focused upon the Jewish people. The Biblical revelation came through the Jewish people. Our Savior and Messiah is Jewish. Biblical history and prophecy are about Israel. The church’s foundation and purposes include the Jewish people. The early church and Great Commission began in Jerusalem. (Acts 1:8) The power of the Gospel is “to the Jew first.” (Romans 1:16) Salvation was poured out upon the Gentiles to provoke the Jews to jealousy. (Romans 11:11) The coming millennial kingdom will be distinctively Jewish. And, the final eternal city is called “the New Jerusalem.”
(Revelation 21:2)
God’s plan on this earth will not reach its intended divine goal until the beginning of the millennial kingdom. The Lord has patiently waited for millennia of time for the Jewish people to finally be a light unto the nations. At the beginning of the kingdom He will announce: “Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.” (Isaiah 60:1) The Lord is passionate about the culmination of His divine plan for Israel. “For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth, as brightness, and salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.” (Isaiah 62:1)
God will fight for Israel because in doing so, He is displaying His character and being faithful to His covenant with them. Furthermore, He will fight for Israel because He must promote, defend, and progress His eternal plan. He cannot do otherwise!
(4) How does God fight for Israel?
God defends Israel naturally and supernaturally. First, the God of Israel has enabled His people to fight for themselves. He has done this by giving them human strength and wisdom. An examination of the entire modern history of Israel will demonstrate that the Lord has endowed the Israeli people with a spirit of determination, tenacity, and creativity to establish, flourish, and defend their nation. No other nation has been able to accomplish in six decades what the Israelis have done while living on the edge of a desert and in the midst of a sea of Islamic hatred that is determined to annihilate them. The making of the nation of Israel is divinely aided. “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee …” (Genesis 12:2)
Within His sovereign will, the Lord gives supernatural enablement to His people. (Zechariah 12:5-8)
In Israel’s recent war with Gaza, even the Israelis have been singing the praises of the Iron Dome system, an antiballistic missile defense system that was designed and manufactured in Israel, with the aid of U.S. financial assistance. Hamas fired over 4,500 missiles into Israel in recent months. Only a handful of these missiles caused any significant damage in Israel and only four Israeli civilians were killed. This is amazing. Israel has many other high-tech weapons. When the right time comes, these weapons will display the wisdom God has given His people.
As mentioned previously in this article, the Lord also directly and supernaturally intervenes in behalf of His people. He can choose to do this through His creation, which is directed by Him. He may choose to use earthquakes, volcanoes, winds, clouds, meteorites, asteroids, sun, moon or anything else within His creation. He can also choose to by-pass the use of His creation and simply speak His will instantly upon the enemies of Israel. Nothing is more powerful than the Word of God. (Revelation 19:15)
The world has once again witnessed God fighting for Israel. In essence, this means two things. First, this is intended to bring about the ultimate salvation of the entire nation of Israel. We are witnessing the beginning of this process that will continue until the end of this age at the Battle of Armageddon. When God miraculously saves Israel in the Battle of Gog and Magog (Ezekiel 38-39), the Lord declares: “So the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God from that day and forward.” (Ezekiel 39:22) When the final moments of the Battle of Armageddon at the end of the 7-year Tribulation come, the Lord will pour out upon His people “a spirit of grace.” (read Zechariah 12:10-13:9) Consequently, all of living Israel will repent and be saved. (Romans 11:25-27)
However, as we witness these “wars and rumors of wars” (Matthew 24:6) involving Israel, we need to know that a horrific time of global judgment is coming upon the nations. In this present war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, Israel has seen the miraculous hand of God. However, Gaza has experience devastation, destruction, and death by the army of Israel –
God’s “battle axe and weapons of war.” (Jeremiah 51:20) In the midst of this, “thewhirlwind of the LORD goeth forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind: it shall fall with pain upon the head of the wicked. The fierce anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have done it, and until he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it.”
(Jeremiah 30:23-24)
Be ready for the shout that will take us out!