Summer War?

August 1, 2010

by: Rebecca J. Brimmer, International President and CEO

Will there be war this summer? This is a topic of much conversation in Israel. One person states it as a certainty, others as a feared outcome; one woman said it couldn’t happen until after the World Cup (Soccer) Tournament. But, one thing is sure—it is on everyone’s mind. Even to the untrained eye, it is obvious that Israel is preparing for the possibility.

• War training exercises occupy the military.
• The civil command works on outfitting all Israelis with gas mask kits.
• A nationwide emergency drill involves the entire population in practicing for unconventional warfare.

Arieh O’Sullivan, reporter for The Media Line, wrote,“Emerging from a briefing…with top Israeli intelligence officers, one Israeli lawmaker quipped, ’If you have a bomb shelter, clean it out now.’ This warning came amid reports of the potential for summer war breaking out between Israel and Lebanon, spilling over into Syria.” The threat level is high. (See pages 6-7 and 10–13.) Anti-Israel rhetoric had increased before the Gaza flotilla incident, and then they sky-rocketed. In most of the past conflicts, there was an increasingly hot atmosphere in regards to the level of hate talk and threatening gestures in the times leading up to the actual outbreak of war.

Historically, many of Israel’s conflicts have occurred during the hot summer months. The 1967 Six Days War and the First and Second Lebanon Wars are a few examples. Perhaps this could be attributed to the fact that a dry ground makes it easier to maneuver with tanks, and clear skies give greater visibility to the air force. From May to October, Israel does not have rain and clear skies are the norm.

The psalmist told us that we need to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem”(Ps. 122:6). Now is the time we need to get serious in prayer for Israel. Let me encourage you to pray in the following ways:

1. Pray for God’s deliverance. “Do not keep silent, O God! Do not hold Your peace, and do not be still, O God! For behold Your enemies make a tumult; and those who hate You have lifted up their head. They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, and consulted together against Your sheltered ones. They have said, ‘Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more’” (Ps. 83:1–4).
2. Pray for God’s protection. “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; the God of my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; my Savior, You save me from violence. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies” (2 Sam. 22: 2–4).
3. Pray for strength and wisdom for Israel’s leadership. “The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken in pieces: from heaven He will thunder against them. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth. He will give strength to His king, and exalt the horn of His anointed”(1 Sam. 2:10). “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye” (Ps. 32:8).
4. Pray for supernatural intervention. Many times in Israel’s ancient and modern history, God has provided a miraculous solution. Let’s pray for His direct involvement on behalf of the people of Israel. When Jehoshaphat was faced with an overwhelming force, God delivered when the people called upon Him. “Now when the people began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated…So when Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude, and there were their dead bodies, fallen on the earth. No one had escaped” (2 Chron. 20:22, 24).
5. Pray that Israel will put their trust in the Lord God and call upon Him in their times of distress.“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the LORD our God” (Ps. 20:7).“For the LORD will not forsake His people, for His great name’s sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you His people…Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth and will your heart, for consider what great things He has done for you” (1 Sam. 12:22, 24).
6. Pray for Bridges for Peace as we stand with the people of Israel in good times and in times that try the souls of men. “You will arise and have mercy on Zion; for the time to favor her, yes, the set time, has come” (Ps. 102:13).

We don’t know if there will be war this summer or not. We see the signs of conflict all around and recognize that wars will occur. In the meantime, we will continue to remind the Lord of His promises to the people of Israel, continue to stand with Israel, and continue to encourage her to trust in the Lord God of Israel. May all Israel remember these words: “I will lift up my eyes to the hills—from whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep” (Ps. 121:1–4).

Photo Credit: Isranet