Israel’s ground invasion on Gaza is still on hold for now. With Iran’s threat to open another attack upon Israel from the North, it is apparent that leaders in Israel are studying all their options before they invade the Hamas stronghold in Gaza. They must be ready to fight on more than one front.
The Times of Israel gives the following update: “It seems inevitable that Israel will embark on a massive ground operation in Gaza in the coming days, potentially its largest in four decades.
“Israeli leaders haven’t exactly tried to hide what’s coming. The IDF said on Saturday it was finalizing its preparations for a ‘coordinated attack from the air, sea and land.’
“The Israeli Air Force has been flying top ground forces commanders over the Gaza Strip to familiarize them with the territory and provide them a bird’s eye view of the territory in which the military is expected to maneuver, … Brigade and battalion commanders were shown, from combat helicopters, where ground troops are expected to enter and advance during the looming ground offensive.
‘“Our responsibility now is to enter Gaza, to go to the places where Hamas is preparing, acting, planning, launching. Attack them everywhere, every commander, every operative, destroy infrastructure,’ IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi said while visiting soldiers in southern Israel. ‘In one word: win’” (www.timesofisrael.com, October 16, 2023).
For 75 years the nation of Israel has been a nation that has had a proven track record of being militarily strong. Their military forces have been powerful enough to win the victory over nations and terrorists that were stronger and had the backing of a population that significantly outnumbered the tiny nation of Israel. Israel’s intelligence gathering and analysis has been impeccable. However, the recent attack by Hamas has come as a shock to Israel and the entire world. What happened to Israel? How did they fail to anticipate Hamas’ surprise attack?
Many are asking these kinds of questions. However, the bottom line is that the One who keeps Israel, and neither slumbers nor sleeps (Psalm 121:4) permitted the enemy of Israel to successfully attack His people. Why would the God of Israel do this? We cannot pretend to have a complete answer to this question. Israel did fail in many ways. However, the real answer lies in the hands of the God of Israel. Perhaps He is allowing His people to suffer to teach them to be humble and trust Him. Most of the people in Israel are secularists, who reject the Word and are not longing for Messiah to come. This was the foundational problem for the last 10 months that brought deep division and hatred in Israel, that brought the nation to the brink of civil war.
According to the Word of God, during the wars of the last days, the Lord will display His power to defeat the overwhelming forces that will come against Israel. This work of God will humble Israel. It will be a display of power in which the Lord will glorify Himself before the eyes of Israel and all the world. Read Ezekiel 38:23; 39:7, 21-22. This work will ultimately bring tens of thousands of Israelis into a personal relationship with Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God (Ezekiel 36:25-27; Joel 2:28-32; Revelation 7:1-8).
In light of this, would you please join me in prayer? I am praying that the Lord will continue to lovingly humble His people. This humility is important to bring them to repentance to be saved. Repentance is not produced in a heart of pride. Repentance grows out of a personal spirit of brokenness over our personal weakness and sins.
In addition to this, pray with me that the Lord will demonstrate His powerful presence and help to the Israeli soldiers as they enter into battle with the enemy. Help them, and all of us, to learn that the battle belongs to the Lord (1 Samuel 17:47; 2 Chronicles 20:15). Pray that the Lord will show His power and presence to the entire world (1 Samuel 17:45-47).
I want my Lord and God to demonstrate to all the wicked, unbelieving world that He is on the throne in heaven!