Explosions and Reflections: Finding Peace that Passes Understanding
It seems like there are either huge gaps between posts or one right on the heels of another. Not being certain of what news you have been getting in the USA, here is a recap of the past few days.
September 17 and 18, 2024
You may have heard about the exploding devices in Lebanon. It all started on Tuesday, September 17. Pagers intended for use by members of Hezbollah were alerted that they had an incoming message. Then their devices heated up and exploded. The next day a similar attack occurred again, this time in walkie-talkies. Apparently, according to a new report from Israel’s Channel 12 News, each pager was individually detonated, with the intention of wounding only the person carrying the device. Unfortunately, if the device was not being held at the moment or being held by the wrong person… well, you get the idea. While reports and exposes abound, pointing the finger at Israel, Israel has neither denied nor confirmed the reports. The death count is currently 42, but I expect it to continue to rise. Many people were critically wounded. Thousands more were injured.
In between then and now
Between September 19 and 21, everyone has been speculating about what has been happening. I’ve mentioned before that I often hear jets and drones flying overhead. The only thing I noticed was that their frequency had increased. Discussions with friends and colleagues have focused on what, when, and if. We prayed for a family whose airplane tickets in the US might be canceled while talking about plans for a picnic at Rosh HaShanna (The Jewish New Year/Feast of Trumpets). The news was filled with reports of Israel’s ongoing bombardment of Lebanon, some actions in Gaza, and, of course, speeches by Nasrallah and Netanyahu.
Since October 7, 2023, we’ve been hoping for the best while expecting, sooner or later, the worst.
September 22, 2024
This morning, when my alarm went off, I just wanted to turn over and go back to sleep. But like all of you, work has its demands, and showing up is one of them. I took my morning meds and was petting my cats when I realized I was hearing more than just jets overhead. I was hearing loud explosions, despite all the windows being tightly closed. I suddenly felt confused. What had I heard? There had been no sirens. The last time this had happened, it had been a missile fired over Haifa Bay – but then I’d heard only one resounding boom. I was still trying to process what I’d heard when the sound of explosions began again… with it, my phone started pinging with messages: I’d finally turned off sleep mode on my phone.
All soon became clear. Missiles were being fired toward the Haifa suburbs. Somehow, they were landing all around Haifa, but not in Haifa proper. In due course, I received notifications from the government advising what measures were now in place and realized getting to work would not be so simple for a while. It would either be the bus or park in a distant parking lot with a shuttle to the hospital.
The government ordered our hospital (Rambam Health Care Campus) to begin opening its fortified underground emergency hospital. As I write this post, some 1,000 patients are being moved into the underground hospital. Two other facilities in Haifa will also be moving some of their patients into the facility as well. The implications are clear: things are expected to get worse before they get better.
Gut reactions to what was happening
I’ll be honest, when the first attack occurred last Tuesday, I hoped that Israel was not behind the attack. My gut feeling was, how does an attack like this make us any different from our enemies? As I shared in my previous post, I’ve been able to take refuge in the Lord’s sovereignty, knowing the sad truth that there will be wars and rumors of war until the end. Grieved by the loss of life on all sides, unable to comprehend how humans can allow this demonic hatred for the other to consume them, and pondering the words of Malachi 3:2, I wrote a rather heavy poem, with the closing lines, “Who can abide / the day of His coming?” (It appears at the end of this post if you’d like to read it.).
Gut fear has not been part of my reactions to date. Perhaps it’s because I’m rather pragmatic. Sooner or later, things will happen, but there is no point in fearing what I cannot begin to comprehend. I have my small bag of emergency items gathered, am charging the battery of my radio this evening, know where the nearest shelter is… and am trusting God to guide me in the moment. With everyday life to deal with, is there anything else I can do besides pray? I don’t think so.
But this morning was strange. I didn’t feel afraid, I just felt confused, unable to decide what to do. Should I go to work or stay home? Should I drive or take the bus? Should I take my breakfast to work (as I usually do) or eat at home first? Ah, but then I have to figure out how that fits with my cancer med, which has to be taken at a certain time after eating… my mind was spinning in circles of confusion trying to figure out how to fit this war into my everyday life.
Thank you, Jesus, for Your peace
As I scrolled between chat messages and news reports on my phone, I kept feeling a still, small voice urging me to spend some time with the Lord. I kept scrolling, arguing that I had to do something, but I didn’t know what to do. The more I dialogued in my thoughts back and forth, the more I realized I needed God’s Word in my heart today.
I made my breakfast and then, without thinking, picked up my Bible and a prayer devotional I’ve been using lately, Prayers of Rest. Then, still feeling this confusion, I prayed, Lord, help me open to the prayer I need right now. A devotional version of Bible-roulette – not very spiritual – but there you are.
Closing my eyes, I opened the book and found myself looking at a devotional titled The Shoes of Peace.
I found myself reading:
“Lord God, though chaos rages around me and anxiety threatens to overwhelm me, guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus with Your perfect peace.”
Prayers of Rest by Asheritah Ciuciu, page 223.
Isn’t our precious Lord amazing? As I prayed and read the suggested scripture passages (John 14:27; Romans 5:1; 16:20; and Philippians 4:6-9) I was surrounded by the Lord’s peace and a sense that all will be well. I realized how very true that is; whether I catch the bus or drive, my precious, loving Heavenly Father and Savior is with me! Despite all that has been going on around me, the joy of the Lord has been my strength as I’ve allowed myself to rest and trust in His peace.
There are so many people who have no peace in their hearts. I wonder, are my neighbors and colleagues battling a similar spirit of confusion? It must be awful to live with that feeling all the time. All that is to ask you to pray for us in Israel. Pray for me and other believers in Yeshua that we would truly walk in His peace, filled with His joy, so that we can be a light in this terribly dark time. Pray for the Hope of Israel to be realized in the hearts of His people.
But please also pray for our enemies. They, too, are in a desperate spiritual situation. Perhaps we are living in a time that could usher in a great revival before the awesome and fearful day of the Lord. I pray it may be so!
In the featured photo: Missiles over the Haifa suburbs, from the Hebrew language Official North News post on Telegram.
Written after learning of the new attacks in “cyber” attacks in Lebanon on September 18.
The Day of His Coming
Is silence weakness
or the calm before?
Jealousy aroused can be vicious
in it’s onslaught.
And what if both beloved and her rapist
are guilty;
when righteousness becomes a dream
and good is no more;
when life becomes a commodity
consumed like fodder?
What will the jealous lover do then?
Who can abide the day
of His coming?
To close, may you be blessed by this simple song about the Lord’s peace.
