It will
come about on that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the
peoples; all who lift it will injure themselves severely. And all the nations
of the earth will be gathered against it. Zechariah 12:4 (NASB)
When Satan realized that salvation would come through the Jews (Jn. 4:22) it became his mission to destroy them completely. This appetite for slaughter was present in him from the start for Jesus said he was a murderer from the beginning (Jn. 8:44). No Jews mean there will be no group over which the Messiah can reign. The destruction of the Jews would be a great victory over God.
If you are
following current events, you are aware that after a vicious and unprovoked
attack on the state of Israel by the terrorist group Hamas, Israel has
declared all-out war on the groups attacking it. Those who wanted complete annelation of the Jewish state initially
achieved an attack of total surprise at the end of the 2023 Jewish feast of Sukkot.
The breaching
of Israeli defenses was followed by savage and bloody rampages. At this
writing, close to 1,400 Israeli deaths, mostly civilians, with perhaps 4,000
wounded have been accounted for so far. Many of the dead were women and
children.
At the
Hamas-attacked kibbutz at Kfar Aza, outside Gaza, 40 babies were discovered brutally
murdered, with some having been decapitated. The dismembered bodies of adult Jewish
citizens have also been found with whole Jewish families bound and tortured in their homes before being murdered. This entire outbreak has all the signs of an unrestrained
and vicious demonic attack fueled by Satan himself. Not since the European
holocaust by the Nazis have so many Jews been killed at one time.
How is it that
a capital city in a nation the approximate size of New Jersey, became such a heavy
and immovable stone of contention among the nations? The prophet Zechariah predicted
this some 2,500 years ago. Armies throughout the millennia have tried to
destroy this city and yet it returns, thrives, and grows heavier by the year.
When God
opened the graves of European Jewry after the Holocaust and commanded their dry
bones to return to the land given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, He fulfilled His
promise to restore the nation (Ezekiel 37:1-14). Suddenly the small stone of this
lowly city began to grow. The war between the Arab Ishmael and the Jew Isaac
(Gen. 21:9) that had smoldered for years reignited. The weight of this stone is
messianic and grows year-by-year. It can no longer be ignored or dismissed as irrelevant.
Those who come against it will be severely judged.
Throughout
the ages, God’s hand has caused the children of Abraham to triumph through dire
situations and impossible odds. Looking back, we marvel at how His miraculous
power kept the identity of the Jewish people separate and undiluted for nearly
1900 years, restoring them back as a national presence, with the same language
and moral values. That has not happened to this extent to any nation in the history of the world. The
LORD declares if there is sun, moon, stars, and waves that roar Israel will
exist (Jer. 31:35-36). His prophetic word to His city and nation has stood the
test of time.
Israel has
begun its first phase of neutralizing and destroying all the terrorist cells
and proxies aligned on all its borders. Israel needs our prayers now more
than ever as it begins its military infiltration into the Gaza Strip to
permanently destroy these vicious entities. Hamas was surprised that Israel
declared war and now understands their total destruction will be the only outcome. Posting
videos of their own atrocities has only tarnished their image before the
nations. Those things are in the public domain forever and once seen can never
be unseen. These terrorists have documented the intent of their hearts to the world and are
their own hostile witnesses. The greatest worry is the Iranian proxy Hezbollah's current involvement and the very real threat of an intervention by the Iran/Russia/Turkey triumvirate from Syria's southern border.
I encourage
all of us to continue to pray for the nation of Israel and to support it in any
way possible. Let us also remember while the terrorists must stand accountable
for their barbarous acts, that Christ’s blood was shed for them, too. Pray for a
Christ-given moral clarity for them and that the convicting and life-changing
work of the Holy Spirit will be evident in their lives.
For those
worried and anxious over all this, do not fear. God is faithful to those He
chooses. He will be faithful to you; He will be faithful to His people Israel,
and Satan’s power is being brought to nothing. As Jerusalem stands so stands the
nation. This stone will never be broken.
To Israel I
offer the words the LORD gave to Joshua,
“No man
shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with
Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.” Joshua 1:5
Amen. As we wait
for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13), we pray, even so, come quickly Lord Jesus!
Maranatha,
Ken
