Operation Northern Shield

In yesterday’s edition of Israel Today Online a headline read; “IDF Finds Another Hezbollah Tunnel Under Northern Border.” The article went on to say; “It’s been more than a week since Israel launched “Operation Northern Shield” to identify and destroy tunnels dug under the northern border by Lebanon’s Hezbollah terrorist militia. On Tuesday, a third such tunnel was discovered in the mountainous region. Yesterday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu paid the soldiers on the northern border a visit and was briefed on the progress of the operation. He praised the soldiers for their efforts, and warned Hezbollah against any attempts to oppose the Israeli operation: “If Hezbollah makes the mistake, and decides, in any way, to attack us or to oppose our operation, they will be hit with unimaginable blows.”

Prepared for any surprises

In a public statement, the Israeli army reported that just as with the first two tunnels it found, the third has now been booby-trapped with heavy explosives so that it cannot be safely used from the Lebanese side. Israel holds the government of Lebanon directly responsible for these cross-border infractions, which constitute a gross violation of UN Resolution 1701. Netanyahu also explained that the operation had been carefully planned in secret, and that Israeli officials knew of the tunnels, but were careful not to let Hezbollah know of their plans. So far, Operation Northern Shield is going according to those plans, but the IDF remains prepared for any surprises.”

UN Resolution 1701

Once again the UN has proven to be totally ineffective dealing with the violations of the Lebanese government and in dealing with Hezbollah militancy. “In August 2006 UN Security Council Resolution 1701, adopted unanimously, established an open-ended embargo on all arms transfers to Lebanon not authorized by the Government of Lebanon or UNIFIL, the UN peacekeeping force. This was part of the attempt to solve the conflict between Israel and Lebanon. The prohibition covers the provision of any technical training or assistance related to the supply, manufacture, maintenance or use of arms and related equipment. The ban formed part of a broader set of measures designed to help the Lebanese Government exercise full sovereignty over all Lebanese territory and to facilitate the deployment of Lebanese troops to the South of the country following an Israeli military withdrawal.” (Source- Stockholm International Peace Research Institute) This ‘Resolution’ is a non-event in Lebanon today. When will the UN learn that you cannot make peace with Islam.

The Voice of the LORD

God will deal with Hezbollah. As the psalmist writes; “The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic. The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.” (Psalm 29:5)

The Mashal and the Nimshal

In the Bible you have two terms that apply to many texts and whole passages in the Bible You have the Mashal and the Nimshal. The Mashal is the contextual and literal meaning of the text or passage of scripture and the Nimshal is the deeper spiritual meaning and application in the text or passage of scripture. The Mashal in this text is that the cedars in Lebanon grow majestically and stately and can grow to great heights. The Nimshal is that these cedars represent all those militant leaders and princely men who lift themselves up in arrogance and pride against God and his people. When the lion roars the jungle shakes. When the Lion of the Tribe of Judah roars those who have grown as tall as the cedars in Lebanon in their power and arrogance will be broken!

The LORD roars from Zion!

As the prophet Joel declares; “The LORD will roar from Zion and raise His voice from Jerusalem; heaven and earth will tremble. But the LORD will be a refuge for His people, a stronghold for the people of Israel.” (Joel 3:16) May the Israelis find many more of these tunnels and destroy them! Whether it is Hezbollah or Hamas their tunnels must be destroyed. These tunnels are the network and infrastructure of these militant and evil terrorist organizations. Take out the tunnels and you paralyse their operation! There are still hard times ahead for Israel but after God has done His sanctifying work with His people and they have been reconciled to the Messiah our Lord Jesus they will inherit what was promised to them from the LORD when He spoke to His servant Abraham; “And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”(Genesis 17:7-8)