Now is the Time for Prayer... Not Over-Confidence

I was going to write to you a little bit about my retreat with 20 European brothers last week. But that was before Israel’s daring strike in Lebanon. First, it was the pagers and the next day it was the handheld radios. It looks like this was Israel saying to Hezbollah, “We’re done playing games… If you really want to war, we will give you a war.”

Just today, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) took out more than 100 Hezbollah launchers that were loaded with roughly 1,000 rockets, in addition to other airstrikes in Lebanon. A high-value Hezbollah Commander was targeted in Beirut just about an hour ago.

The Times of Israel is reporting that “Several buildings and a weapons depot belonging to Hezbollah were also struck in several areas of southern Lebanon, according to the military.”

The Jerusalem Post is saying that this was the second largest IDF attack on Hezbollah, since the war began one year ago. “This many rockets mostly in southern Lebanon significantly impacts what Hezbollah can do to counter strike Israel for the events of this week.”

With the loss of more and more rocket launchers, Hezbollah’s ability to use the tens of thousands of rockets and missiles in their possession is greatly limited. It’s not a time for arrogance or cockiness, but it would appear that the Iran-backed terrorist group has suffered several crushing setbacks this week.

This is a time for prayer. The enemy wants to destroy Israel. Hamas has been largely defeated, and the focus is now on Hezbollah. Their militia groups in Iraq, not to mention the Houthis in Yemen who fired a ballistic missile at Israel earlier this week. And let’s not forget Iran, who is still focused on building nuclear weapons that would change the balance of power in the Middle East.

I was just reading today the story of Daniel. In chapter 10, he turns his heart to fasting and prayer. When the angel comes to him, he comments on his humility—not his prowess and spiritual warfare jargon. Prayer, fasting and humility somehow strengthened the archangel Michael, to overcome the prince of Persia, commonly believed to be the demonic stronghold over Iran (ancient Persia).

Satan hates Yeshua. He hates the Jewish people. He is jealous of Jesus, and that jealousy lead him to rebellion and losing his place in heaven. He cannot defeat the Messiah, so he wants to destroy Israel. He knows that Jesus cannot return and set up his Messianic kingdom if there is not a body of Jewish believers in Jerusalem to receive him (Matt 23:39, Rev 1:7).

Just look at what has happened since we had three weeks of prayer and fasting for Israel in May 2023.

• The primary organizer of the prayer and fasting effort lost his position because of multiple affairs.

• On October 7, Israel was hit with the worst terrorist attack in the history of the country.

• A few months later, the leader, who is probably the most influential and encouraging generosity towards Israel and Messianic Jews, resigned in disgrace because of a multi-year sexual relationship with a 12-year-old girl when he was younger.

• Israel found herself in a war that won’t end.
  

I don’t believe these things are unconnected. What are the chances that the two individuals most responsible for prayer for Israel and giving to Israel are both exposed in sexual scandals within months of each other? It makes me fear the Lord all the more. To be clear, there’s no place for sexual sin in the life of a believer, much less a leader. None of this caught God off guard, but what are the consequences?

If you add this to the worldwide hatred of Israel and the global increase of anti-Semitism, it feels that the deck is stacked against Israel. But then again, isn’t that just like God? He doesn’t deal in “easy.” This is the God, who rescued the children of Israel out of Egypt, and parted the Red Sea. He is the God, who empowered a shepherd boy to defeat a giant. But now we need an army of Annas and Simeons to rise up and pray for Israel.

Will you answer the call? Will you pray right now?

PS … just as I was about to send this to my assistant, a barrage of rockets targeting northern Israel was launched by Hezbollah. As I’m writing, my phone is still alerting me of incoming rockets. It is crazy. Pray for those in our northern communities who have not been evacuated.