(A personal update and biblical perspective on the war between Israel & Iran.)
Today is day seven in this war with Iran. Although Israel appears to have the upper hand with air superiority over Iran, the missile attacks from Iran continue to cause fear, injury, and death here in Israel.
Daily life in Israel is fairly limited. As we continue in a state of emergency, only essential businesses are open. Only those who are considered essential workers are working while everyone else remains at home.
Yesterday, I was talking with my neighbors who have three young children and live down the hall from me. Both the husband and wife are trying to work from home but they told me that it is nearly impossible to get anything done between taking care of their children and the constant distractions with the missile attacks and taking cover in the bomb shelter. Most newer apartment buildings, like the one we live in, have a bomb shelter room in each individual apartment. This convenience makes it easier to endure this ongoing war situation. People who live in older buildings in Israel need to either go down to the communal bomb shelter underneath the apartment building or go to a nearby public bomb shelter. This is a glimpse into how we are coping here in the Land of Israel during this time of war.
Where does this war go from here?
In case it is not clear, Israel has one main goal in this war: to destroy the weapons of war of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Israel has been targeting the missiles stock piles, missile launchers, and nuclear sites in Iran. Israel and the USA have a shared goal of keeping Iran from building a nuclear weapon. The greatest obstacle in achieving this shared goal is the location of one the nuclear sites which is deep underground. Only the USA has the military capability to reach the depths of the Fordow nuclear facility in Iran. President Trump is weighing his options and deciding whether or not to assist Israel in obliterating the nuclear facilities in Iran.
I am certain that many of you are following these details in the news as they have been in the headlines for the past few days. Both Israel and the USA have a decision to make about how to go forward with this military campaign against the nuclear ambitions of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Two Voices
As an ultimate decision about striking this nuclear facility in Iran hangs in the balance, I hear many voices in the news as they try to persuade both Netanyahu and Trump regarding this matter. On one side are those who say that this is the right time and the perfect opportunity to finally end the nuclear ambitions of Iran. On the other side are those who say that it is too risky and they fear how the Islamic regime in Iran will respond if the USA joins Israel in this war. These opposing positions remind of what we read in this week’s Torah Portion in Numbers 13-15.
God commanded Moses to send 12 spies from the tribes of Israel into the land of Canaan to tour the land, to return, and to give a report about the land and the people living in it. After the spies returned, the spies testified to the abundant fruit and produce of the land but they also reported about the giants in the land. Ten spies gave a bad report and caused fear in the people while two spies gave a good report and tried to encourage the people of Israel:
Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “We should by all means go up and take possession of it, for we will surely overcome it.” But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are too strong for us.” – Num. 13:30-31 (NASB1995)
Only two men, Joshua & Caleb, had the faith to go forward in the military campaign before them in order to enter the Land of Promise while the other ten spies turned the whole nation of Israel into a state of fear and caused them to retreat.
Both President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu have a decision to make in the coming hours and days. I pray that they will both listen to the voices of faith and not fear when the time of decision comes and, most importantly, they will both listen for the voice of God in this matter.
The 23rd of Sivan
I am writing this email on Thursday, June 19th which is the 23rd of Sivan on the Hebrew Calendar. This Hebrew date is significant because it is on this very day about 2500 years ago that Mordecai and Esther changed the course of history by writing a new law according to the Law of the Medes and Persians with the signet ring of the King of Persia in order to reverse the evil decree of Haman to kill the Jews (Esther 8:8-9). The timing of this date in history is significant. Just as King Ahasuerus of Persia had a choice to make regarding assisting the Jews against an enemy who wanted to destroy them, President Trump is faced with this same decision today. Ironically, the Iranians are descendants of the ancient Persians.
May God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven! Please continue to pray for Israel, Iran, and the leaders who are at the crossroads of a monumental decision.
Daniel Goldstein
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