Israel at war for an year: its time to pray fervently

October 7, 2024

By Editorial Team

Then the Rabshakeh said to them, “Say now to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: “What confidence is this in which you trust? I say you speak of having plans and power for war; but they are mere words. Now in whom do you trust, that you rebel against me? Isaiah 36:4,5

It is an year since October 7th, 2023, that black day when hundreds of unsuspecting Israelis were massacred, raped, murdered in Gaza. It’s a black day in history. For an year Israel has been at war. Its fighting a battle on multiple fronts, Gaza in the west, Hezbollah in the North, missiles from Houthis in Yemen, and now Iran directly through missiles and drones. It’s really a morale sapping fight, and the longest war in its modern History of 75 years. Never before have they had to fight such a long and intense battle. Iran is the sponsor of this national terrorism. Inside Israel, daily life has been disrupted, daily threat of sirens, with some family member or two drafted in, son or daughter or husband or dad. To manage daily life – schools, families, offices, agriculture, manufacturing etc is a huge challenge. Many have been killed, Jews and Palestinians. It’s quite heart rending to read these reports everyday. So let us look at an earlier war for encouragement and hope.

Flashback.... this was a war that Judah fought circa 701 B.C. The northern Kingdom of Israel had already been conquered by the Assyrians in 722 B.C, Samaria was destroyed and taken captive (2 Kings 18:10-12). Now the Assyrians came for Judah and Jerusalem. But Judah was a God-fearing nation unlike their idolatrous North. It had Prophets, Pastors, Govt Officers and people who loved Jesus (Messiah). Isaiah, Hosea, Micah were the main prophets during this time. Just before them men of God like Jonah, Amos prophesied. Remember Isaiah prophesied a lot about Jesus, the Cross, Gospel going to gentiles and Jesus Return. Isaiah’s friends, the Church of that time, believed in these truths.

Please read Isaiah 36,37 to get the full news (2 Kings 18,19). Here Rabshakeh (meaning a Commander of Assyria) sent by Sennacherib, comes near the wall of Jerusalem and starts taunting. Hezekiah’s sends his officers, Eliakim, Shebna others to meet them. Rabshakeh asks the Jews, who do you trust in? your war plans are nothing. If you trust in that broken reed Egypt, you will fall flat. If you trust in the Lord, it is not going to work, because so many nations we have conquered and not a single god has saved them from the might of the Assyrians. So they taunt and go, and return later, sending a Letter. Hezekiah reads the letter and tore his clothes. He goes and spreads the letter in the house of the Lord (Temple) and prays, “O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, who is worshipped by cherubim and all heavenly host, you alone are God, and God over all the Kingdoms of the earth. Incline your ear, hear these reproaches and answer them.” It’s a beautiful prayer, please read it (Is 37:16-20). King Hezekiah then sends his officers to Isaiah for prayer.

The Lord answers them,

“He shall not come into this city, Nor shoot an arrow there.

Nor come before it with shield, nor lay siege.

By the same way he came, he shall return

For I will defend this city, to save it

For My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.” Isaiah 37: 33-35

That same night an Angel of the Lord goes forth and slays 185,000 Assyrian soldiers. When it was morning there were corpses all around, the Lord gave a great Victory to Israel. Herodotus and other secular historians also attest to this, some say a bubonic plague (through rats) came overnight and killed the soldiers. We can draw hope from this for our lives and for the current war.

Israel is a very small nation. All through the Bible and even now Israel has been a really tiny nation. Its population (~10million) is less than that of Bangalore. About 7m are Jews and the rest Arabs and others. There is a miniscule <1% Messianics, i.e., Jewish believers or Christians. Some Palestinian Christians also are there. As a tiny nation, it can easily be crushed by larger powers and hostile neighbours. So, it has to depend on God for its survival. God’s protection on Israel still stands, even if there are just a hundred thousand believers or so. These Messianic believers are the true seed of Abraham and Peter, John etc.

For Israel, every battle is an existential threat. If it loses, its over. The enemy will destroy this country and disperse them into captivity. So it is only God who can hold it together. Now interestingly when Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the King of the Jews”, he says, I am. The inscription on the Cross is also Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.

Pray for the salvation of Israel. That through this war, many Jews will come to Christ. That they would see answered prayers in the name of Yeshua the Messiah. There are a few believer soldiers, boldly professing their faith. Also various organizations like One for Israel etc are preaching the gospel in Israel in these needy times. Overseas Jews also have many missionary organizations like, Jews for Jesus etc. Pray for gospel moments to touch people. Stand with Israel in prayer everyday.

Pray also for the Arabs. Lebanese have a rich Christian tradition, Maronite Christians, they are Catholic and need prayer too. Syrians were among the first converts in the early Church. Egyptians too have a solid Christian tradition from the days of St. Mark who went there to evangelize. The Coptic Church in Egypt is live and the Late Pope Shenouda was a real man of God whose sermons were spirit filled and moving.

Iran too needs prayer. It was in Iran, where our prophets, Daniel and Ezekiel and the exiles lived and professed their faith on the streets of Babylon. Regime is evil, but many common people are coming to the Lord, a mighty revival is going on there. As a sign of the last days, every nation in the Middle-east needs to come to Jesus, the saviour of the world.

Pray for Peace in the entire region, that Jesus, the Prince of Peace would walk among these nations. I fully believe even World Wars I and II ended only because Christians prayed. Jesus return is very near. We have an eternal responsibility to pray for Israel and Jews salvation. I can assure you that your reward will be very great if you begin to do pray this matter, which is very close to the heart of God

One day all Israel will be saved, as Pauls tells us of that day in Romans (11:26)

“The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob.

And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Zechariah 12:10