Shalom from a very tense Galilee! Iran said that one of their revenge strategies is to create uncertainty within Israel. The resultant fear of many of my fellow citizens as they wait for the missiles to come flying over our borders causes great satisfaction for the ayatollahs and their minions.
The question is whether Iran will decide to do more. There are many reasons why they should think twice. Israel has already promised severe retribution if Tehran strikes. These are not empty threats as we have already proven multiple times that whether it is flying in for an airstrike or carrying out a targeted killing, there is no place in Iran that is out of our reach. Other nations have also warned the Islamic regime against attacking Israel. Chief amongst these allies is the United States, who have brought the fresh USS Abraham Lincoln strike force into the region to give the USS Theodore Roosevelt strike force a break.
As the ayatollahs consider their next move, there is one truth that I now believe might stay their hand to an extent. They are not going to risk their existence just because some Arab Hamas leader got blown up in their capital. In fact, this really has nothing to do with Hamas. It’s all about the Ayatollah saving face. When Persian Iran strikes, it will be in a manner that they believe will show that you can’t just waltz into Tehran and kill someone, even if it is just an Arab.
Where I think that Israel needs to be most focused right now is in Lebanon with Hezbollah. There is no other path to a lasting peace except through war with the terrorist organization. I pray that one morning very soon I will wake up to discover that Israel has made a preemptive strike. Undoubtedly, it will lead to at least two difficult months ahead. There are ten times more tunnels in Lebanon and ten times more hostages, although the hostages there are the innocent Lebanese people. But if we are eventually going to be able to send our 80,000 refugees back to their homes along the northern Israeli border, then Hezbollah must be gone.
The problem we are facing is that everyone is tired of war. Hamas and Hezbollah are tired of it. They were sure that Netanyahu would be gone by now and that his replacement would have signed some sort of agreement putting everything back to how it was before. That’s how it was always done in the past. Why wouldn’t it be that way now? But October 7 crossed a line. Israel is not going to surrender, and we are not going to settle.
But it isn’t just the terrorists who are tired of war. Israelis have serious war fatigue also. It has been ten months that this has been hanging over us. The wars of the past were over in days or just a few weeks. For a majority of Israelis, though, those battles belonged to the previous generation. This is all new to them. They’ve never experienced this kind of constant stress, wondering if today will be the day that a horde of terrorists pours over the borders and they are now the ones who are being attacked in their homes. Or, more likely, whether they will go to bed one night and never wake up because a rocket will land on their house.
Everyone just wants this to be over. However, once again, in a post-October 7 world we realize that it will not be over until Hamas is wiped out and Hezbollah is either destroyed or seriously crippled. I strive to remain calm. But I am also a husband and a father of four children, one of whom is active service and two others who are reserves, called up every few months. It is a heavy burden to bear, but only when it comes to the small picture. When it comes to the big picture, though, I know the end of the story. I know how this is going to work out. That knowledge sets me apart from a vast majority of those around me, because most Israelis are not sitting and reading the Bible. They are watching television and listening to news sources and reading social media. That kind of click-bait, fake news input only brings fear and anxiety.
Thousands of people have lost their jobs, particularly in the tourism industry. Tens of thousands remain evacuated from their family homes. It sounds surreal to say, but many of us in Israel are looking forward to another war. Actually, what we are really looking forward to is the peace that will finally come after the war. But to get to “after the war”, you’ve got to go through “the war”.
Lord, if it’s going to come, please let it come now.
Exodus 15:6-7
“Your right hand, O Lord, has become glorious in power;
Your right hand, O Lord, has dashed the enemy in pieces.
And in the greatness of Your excellence
You have overthrown those who rose against You;
You sent forth Your wrath;
It consumed them like stubble.”
Mideast Update
Just a reminder that you can find the most complete coverage of the Middle East and the rest of the world on my Telegram channel. Updated throughout the day and much of the night, you’ll find all the news that you need to know. Just make sure you sign on to the one with more than 560,000 subscribers. Any others are scammers.
Gaza
Last Friday, Israel conducted a surgical strike on the Al-Taba’een school compound in Gaza City. The world went nuts. The United Nations immediately condemned Israel for bombing children, while other countries were quick to condemn the Israeli Defense Forces’ (IDF) actions. What these dogpilers failed to notice was, first, the time of the attack. At 5:00 AM, how many schoolchildren are sitting in their classrooms? They also neglected to take a look at those who were killed in the strike. Thirty-one senior Hamas members were eliminated on those school grounds. However, it’s no surprise that these facts were ignored. If it’s the Israelis who are behind the strike, it’s got to be evil.
Speaking of evil, Hamas continued to torture the families of hostages by claiming that in two separate incidents a hostage was killed and two others were injured by the terrorist soldiers. On the opposite side of the good vs. evil coin, the IDF continues to be very busy in all of Gaza. In the Rafah region alone, Givati forces have killed more than 100 terrorists in recent days.
Lebanon
As I mentioned above, the tensions to the north of Israel increase daily. Many countries have pulled officials from Lebanon in preparation for a war between Israel and the terrorist group, Hezbollah. The United States government says that it has plans to evacuate up to 100,000 citizens from the nation.
Last Friday, Hezbollah launched a massive barrage of rockets and missiles toward the Golan Heights and Upper Galilee. Since October 8, the terrorist group has launched more than 7,500 missiles and 200 drones at Israel which killed 43 Israelis, 19 of whom were soldiers, and wounded 271 more. These projectiles also started 790 fires which have burned 40,000 acres of land.
In preparation for a possible attack, Israel has increased intelligence measures over the skies of Lebanon and Iran. The strikes by the Israeli Air Force (IAF) have been well-planned and persistent as it seeks to soften the capabilities of Hezbollah prior to full-blown war. The ground of northern Israel shook Tuesday when, just across the border in Kfarkela, Lebanon, the IAF dropped three MK-84 bunker buster bombs from an F-35 jet. This was the first time since the beginning of hostilities that these munitions were used. Interestingly, Kfarkela is the southern Lebanese town into which Nir Tavor and his team snuck when they came across the border in my upcoming thriller, The Sick Man’s Rage, releasing December 3.
Syria
A 5.0 earthquake on Monday, and a 4.5 on Tuesday. Yesterday saw a 4.1 temblor. Maybe if God can’t get ahold of the Syrians’ attention through guns and bombs, He’ll choose to shake them up another way. That also sounds like a recent novel of mine.
West Bank
The battle against terrorism is not just to the north and south of Israel. It is within the country. Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ) all have active fighters in the West Bank. Wednesday, in a rare instance of the IDF, border police, the Israel Prison Service’s elite Metzada Unit, and Shin Bet all operating together, five terrorists were eliminated in operations against cells in Tubas, Tamun, and the Far’a refugee camp. Four Israeli troops were wounded in the operation when an IED exploded near their light armored vehicle.
Iran
Last week, it was reported that Jordan said no to both Israel and Iran using their airspace in an attack. A couple days later, Jordan amended their statement saying that Israel would be allowed to fly over the nation if it was to defend itself against an Iranian barrage. Immediately, they were harshly criticized by many in the Islamic world. So, they took it back and said again that neither country could fly across their borders. What both Jordan and Israel understand, however, is that there is a gap between public denials and what is actually allowed.
A report from Iran International yesterday said that Tehran has begun for the first time active secret development and testing on an explosive device for the warhead of a nuclear weapon. This is greatly concerning. Unfortunately for the ayatollahs, they may have a hard time paying for the research. Yesterday also saw a major cyberattack against the Central Bank of Iran and other banking institutions. It caused a major disruption in the system and could be the largest attack ever against Iranian infrastructure.
The Temple and Tisha B’Av
Tisha B’Av, the remembrance day for the destruction of both the Solomonic and Herodian temples, was observed last Monday night and Tuesday. Despite warnings and threats, nearly 3000 Jews visited the Temple Mount to mourn the loss of the holy sites. Last year, the number was only about 1900.
The United States
Secretary of State Antony Blinken approved a deal Tuesday that will supply to Israel F-15 fighter jets and other materiel worth almost $19 billion. In addition, other agreements were made that would supply $774 million worth of shells and $583 million worth of vehicles. Unfortunately, with the U.S. it is always a blessing and a curse. They willingly send us the war materiel, then ask us to promise not to use it without their approval.
While that was taking place in Washington, in Los Angeles on Tuesday a group of antisemitic, pro-Palestine protesters decided to block the 405 Freeway. Nine people were arrested, and, surprisingly for California, no one got run over.
Russia/Ukraine
The incursion of Ukraine into Russia’s Kursk region continues. Since it began last week, Ukraine has taken 74 villages and small towns, even swapping some of the Russian road signs with Ukrainian. Meanwhile, in Moscow, the alert level has been raised and the number of police has been increased in fear of infiltration of Ukrainian special forces into the city. This is following Sunday’s swarm of Ukrainian drones which struck Moscow and a nearby airfield. For his part, President Vladimir Putin has officially ended all peace talks with Ukraine, which is disappointing because they were going so swimmingly before.
Turkey
No matter how much you dislike the grumpy old man, sometimes he does something that will make you smile. On Saturday, the sons of the now defunct Hamas political bureau leader, Ismail Haniyeh, met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who offered his condolences. However, according to some reports, what he didn’t offer them was their father’s $3 billion that was stored in Turkish banks. That kind of money can come in handy to a country whose economy has been failing. The last thing the grumpy dictator was heard saying to the empty-handed brothers as they walked away was, “And stay off my lawn, too!”
Ministry
If you watched my Q&A CONNECT with Pastor Barry Stagner a couple weeks ago, then you know that you absolutely do not want to miss our time together this Monday. When we get going, we fit together like pitas and hummus. Tune in this coming Monday, August 19, at 10:00 AM PDT, and bring your questions with you!
And speaking of great times with my friends, this past Monday saw our first Round Table CONNECT with Jan Markell, Pastor Barry Stagner, Pastor Mike Golay, and me. Entitled “Antisemitism in the Church”, our time together had us diving deep into how the enemy has gotten a foothold into the church causing pastors and other church leaders to turn their backs on God’s people. If you missed it, I’d encourage you to check it out. Also, don’t forget about Explore the Bible CONNECT with Dr. Rick Yohn and me as we dig deep into what makes the Bible the incredible book that it is. While you’re at it, check out our Explore the Bible webpage where you’ll find slides and more information about our topics.
This Wednesday, August 21, at 10:00 PDT we will broadcast live the approximately 20-minute-long video “October 7th – Unfiltered”. Let me warn you in advance, the content will be graphic and very hard to view, so please consider whether you wish to allow your children to watch it. It can only be seen on my Telegram channel, because social media will not allow its on its various platforms. Again, it may be difficult to view, but we must make sure that we never forget.
Our Weekly Prayer Meetings have been moved from Monday to Friday. Join us at 10:00 AM PDT live on Zoom for this special hour of intercession each week. You’ll be blessed as you spend time praying with fellow believers from all over the world! Also, don’t forget about our Public Reading of Scripture that takes place every Thursday night at 6:00 PM PDT. It’s a blessed time where we pause from the busyness of our daily lives just to enjoy listening to the Word of God being read out loud.
I conclude this newsletter the same way I do every week, and that is by thanking you from the bottom of my heart. Your persistent prayers and generous gifts are what keep this ministry going. I am so grateful to you, and I pray that God blesses you with His peace and joy in the week ahead.
Awaiting His Return,
