There is a lack of unity in Israel among the top leadership of the country as to how to proceed regarding Iran. The division is over whether Israel has the military capability to significantly hurt Iran, and deter its nuclear program. Many in Israel’s government and security services do not think Israel can, alone, fight Iran.
What Israel wants to see is the United States lead a coalition of forces against Iran. This would include Western countries (Europe), and Arab nations. Already, Arab Gulf states have secretly sought wisdom from Israeli leaders, as they are threatened by Iran’s aggression – not just Iran’s nuclear capability, or long-range ballistic missile capability, but also Iran’s attempt to cause instability in Sunni states in the region. One example of this is Bahrain where Iran has tried to undermine the Sunni government there. Another example is Iraq, where Iran could try and take-over that government once the U.S. pulls troops out this month.
The U.S. pull-out from Iraq is likely to increase instability in the region. The fight over Iraq by Shiite and Sunni forces is expected to heat up.
Another concern for Israel is the continued instability in Syria. Who will take over if President Bashar Assad’s regime falls? And, who will possess Syria’s large arsenal of chemical weapons?
Israel is fortifying positions on its northern border, not just with Syria, but also with Lebanon. Recently, Katyusha rockets were fired from Lebanon, as a warning to Israel regarding Iran. Hezbollah has tripled its missile arsenal (since the Second Lebanon War of 2006), and now has the capacity to hit Israel with thousands of missiles, some of them long-range.
Iran does not want a direct war with Israel, so the Persian state is expected to use its proxies to start a conflict with Israel when it feels too much pressure from global sanctions or military threats. (Iran’s proxies are Hezbollah in Lebanon; Hamas in Gaza).
Israeli leaders are most worried that when Iran reaches the “break out” stage regarding its ability to develop uranium for military purposes, it will then be only months away from having an atomic bomb. This needs your greatest prayers.
Another concern for Israel has to do with the increase of terrorists infiltrating its southern border with Egypt, including the area of the Sinai. The IDF has been preparing its forces for war in the south. The Israeli government is doing everything it can to preserve its peace treaty with Egypt, knowing that radical Islamists are gaining ground in that country, including the Moslem Brotherhood, Salafists, and others connected to Al-Qaeda.
Israel’s emergency and rescue services; along with the IDF, police and security organizations have been conducting major and intensive exercises the past few weeks, preparing for the possibility of war on several fronts. This has included homeland preparations in the north. Whenever exercises are done, especially if they involve live fire, there is a risk involved.
Recently, during an exercise in the south, two shells fired by IDF soldiers went off-course and almost hit Israel’s Chief of Staff Lt-Gen. Benny Gantz, and Maj.-Gen. Avi Mizrachi. By God’s grace, a major disaster was narrowly avoided!
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently commented that the whole Middle East region is being flooded by an Islamic wave. He spoke of Israel’s concern about the fate of weapons in states that have faced upheaval, such as Libya. Some of those weapons have reached the Sinai and Gaza and are expected to be used against Israel in any future war.
One nation that has avoided the current unrest going on in the Middle East is Jordan. But, biblically, Jordan is going to go through some devastating times in the future. So, intercessors should keep their eye on Jordan. Jordan’s King Abdullah recently met with Israel’s President Shimon Peres signaling that he wants to preserve the peace treaty with Israel. Israel, in return, has signaled to King Abdullah that Israel will protect Jordan from enemies surrounding both nations in the region.
Prayer Points:
· Focus your prayers on Israel’s defense. Entreat the Lord that He would impart to Israel’s army generals, air force commanders, and naval officers a supernatural ability to successfully deter the enemy from his wicked plans. Pray that all evil schemes that threaten the survival of the Jewish nation would be divinely thwarted. Remind God of His promises to preserve Israel, according to 1 Chronicles 17:20-22.
· Declare that the Lord will be the one who defends His holy nation and bring Israel’s enemies to their knees. Proclaim God’s protection over Israel, according to Isaiah 59:19, that “when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.”
· Pray for Israel’s homeland security, according to Joel 3:16, that “the Lord will be a shelter for his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.”
· Pray for Israel’s repentance, and a turning away from all idolatry, immorality, and every other sin that has caused His Chosen People to turn their back on God. Pray that the Lord will intervene and have mercy, taking the blindness from their eyes so that they can see clearly who He is. “All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And, the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6).
· Entreat the Lord for His grace to come to Israel, reminding Him of His promise that “all Israel will be saved.” Proclaim Romans 11:26-27 over the land.
· Pray that God will weaken the influence of the Prince of Persia over the Middle East. Declare that the Lord will send forth His mighty angels to protect Israel. (See Daniel 10:13, 20).
· Intercede for Egypt and Jordan, because both nations face God’s judgment and will experience desolation because of their violence “against the people of Judah.” (See Joel 3:19-20).
· Pray that revival will sweep through Egypt, and that the Egyptians will have dreams and visions of Messiah Jesus. Declare that “there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the Lord at its border.” (Isaiah 19:19).
· Proclaim that Israel’s border with Egypt will return to a time of peace and quiet. Intercede that God will hold back those groups that are trying to take over the Egyptian government. Pray that they will have no power to subject the Egyptian people to harsh Islamic Shari’a Law.
· Intercede and remind the Lord that, though His plan is to eventually strike Egypt, He has also promised to heal the land and bring the people to Himself. Pray for signs and wonders to come to the Egyptians. Cry out for the people who are being oppressed by Islam. Entreat the Lord that as they seek Him, and turn from their false god, He will soon send them their true Savior, Jesus! Pray that the Mighty One of Israel will deliver the Egyptians from their sins and bring them to that saving knowledge of Him. Declare Isaiah 19:20-22 over Egypt.
· Pray for the bloodshed in Syria to cease immediately. Pray for the Lord’s protection over the Syrian people. Cry out to the Lord for His mercy to be extended to those who have lost loved ones. Pray for His grace and healing to come to those who have been seriously injured. Pray that all radical elements in Syria would be weakened by the Lord and rendered useless – those within Bashar Assad’s government, as well as those extreme Islamists that would like to take-over Syria.
· Declare Isaiah 19:23-25 for Israel, Assyria (Syria and northern Iraq), and Egypt.
· Pray for all heads of state in the Middle East, including Arab kings, to fall on their faces before the living God and repent, so they will not lose their positions of power and authority as other leaders have. (See Isaiah 24:21-22; Daniel 4:34-37).
· Pray for nations, worldwide, to fall in line with God’s Kingdom purposes. “Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; and, let them say among the nations, ‘The Lord reigns.’ ” (1 Chronicles 16:31).