Mr Security?
In yesterday’s edition of Israel Today Online a headline read; “Infuriated by Deadly Terror Attacks, Israelis Demand Netanyahu Act, or Resign.” The article went to say; “Hundreds gathered in Paris Square opposite the official Prime Minister’s Residence in Jerusalem this week in protest following a string of deadly Palestinian terror attacks in Samaria. Many of demonstrators demanded that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu either act forcefully to bring an end to Palestinian terrorism or resign his post, having failed to live up to his title of “Mr. Security.”
Collateral damage
Prime Minister Netanyahu is a compassionate man and there is no doubt he is dedicated to the security of Israel. Also it is clear he loves Arabs and Jews alike and wants to see them living in harmony with each other. Sadly the media never focus on the Arabs and Israelis working and studying side by side in Israel in business, education, hospitality, medicine and technology and living peacefully with each other. He is doing his best to destroy Israel’s enemies. Taking out the Hezbollah and Hamas tunnels is most probably the most effective way to paralyse these terrorist networks at this time. These tunnels are their line of supply. An all-out attack would see many innocent civilians on both sides killed. The Collateral damage would be enormous.
A Powder Keg
The overall situation in the while Middle-East is obviously on the mind of Prime Minister Netanyahu. He knows there is a lot at stake. I am sure when the time is right he will take decisive action. He has already done this against Iranian missile bases in Syria and has had Israeli air strikes against Hamas operatives in Gaza. He is doing something. Do the Israelis protesting realise the situation that Prime Minister Netanyahu faces right now? At present the whole situation is a powder keg. Hezbollah backed by Iran with Russia supplying arms and weapons to Syria. Turkey is moving their military forces into Syria with designs on invading Jerusalem and the Temple Mount area and then there is Hamas and many, but not all, of the ‘Palestinian’ Arabs with their militant aggression towards all Israelis.
God is still in control
We need to remember what the prophet Daniel wrote…”Then Daniel praised the God of heaven and said: “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are His. He changes times and seasons; He deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with Him.” (Daniel 2:19-22)
Salvation
I am sure that Prime Minister Netanyahu has faith in God. He may not as yet know the Lord Jesus the Messiah as His personal saviour and Lord but I am sure he does believe in the God of Israel and in Torah and the Tanakh and that God has a prophetic purpose for Israel. We need to pray that he will have a revelation of the person and atoning work of the Lord Jesus and cry out to Him not only for salvation but to fulfil his promises made to Israel through Abraham and the prophets. Daniel tells us that the LORD in His infinite power and wisdom still has control over the times and seasons and that He raises Kings up and deposes them. He is still a sovereign God who knows exactly what He is doing and how it will all turn out. While He allows for the free will of man He still works everything out according to His plans and purposes.
The God of history
He is the God of history as He Himself says; “Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure.” (Isaiah 46:9-10)
God’s wisdom
There is no doubt that the time of the Gentiles is coming to its close very soon and that God is moving His purposes for the salvation of Israel back towards His ancient people in the last days as He said He would in the writings of the prophets. If Prime Minister Netanyahu seeks the LORD’s face and embraces his Messiah our Lord Jesus, then God will give to Bibi His wisdom and discernment as to how to deal with Israel’s enemies. Having said this God is still the God of Israel and the God of the armies of Israel. We are told in the Word of God that at the end of the Time of Trouble for Jacob the LORD will return and fight for Jerusalem and that Israel will be reconciled to their Messiah. (Zechariah 12:1-9; 14:1-5) We are also told that Judah will also fight at Jerusalem! (Zechariah 14:14)
David their King
Israel is yet to pass through the time of Trouble for Jacob but they will be saved out of it when God raises up their Messiah King who will reveal Himself to them as He comes back to reign over them in the character of King David and to destroy all of their enemies arrayed against them. (Jeremiah 30:1-10) We must continue to pray for the salvation of the Jewish people and for Prime Minister Netanyahu as those of his cabinet as he seeks to walk circumspectly through the maize and the minefield of middle-eastern politics.
