When the Sirens Sound: Holding to Faith as War Begins
Last night I enjoyed a lovely evening of fellowship at a dinner with my Chinese friends. While at the dinner, I learned that my oldest godson, Yotam, had been called up for military service at 5 am on Thursday morning. I wasn’t surprised. My other two godchildren, Matan and Noa, had already been called up in May and on June 1, respectively. The news has made it clear that the military was stepping up things. I had been under the impression that it was only in Gaza and the fortification of the Northern border. While there was talk of something bigger, with speculation about Iran, that has been a speculation for years.
After a lovely evening, I drove home, lifted my godchildren up to the Lord, straightened up around the house, and went to bed. Then, in the middle of the night, sirens went off. They were a bit different from the usual sirens, and the weird part was the notice on my phone – an “extreme alert” advising that I should be near a protected area.
Home Front Command
Image 1 of 2
The photo is showing the potential area affected by the incoming missiles
I tried to find something on the news, but couldn’t, gave up, and went back to bed.
Good morning. We are at war!
In the morning, I learned that Israel was at war with Iran. That felt so surreal. A bit more reading and research, and it seems that drones had been fired from Iran toward Israel – the reason for the “extreme alert.” By the time I was figuring everything out, another alert had come and gone, and I received a message encouraging residents to go out while possible and to stock up on essentials. Fortunately, I’d just done some major shopping, so all was well.
Not everyone was clueless as to what was happening. I have been recovering from cataract surgery in both eyes. For the first time in my life, I now have 20/20 farsighted vision! While it’s great for driving, it makes reading a bit of a pain. I only got a pair of temporary reading and computer glasses a few days ago. So, my awareness of current events was a bit limited. Yes, I knew the government was having major problems and might be close to collapse, but that had been averted. Demonstrations to free the hostages are ongoing, as are the governmental meetings setting new policies affecting everything from our judicial system to healthcare. The recent resignation of the head of Clalit health services has led to chaos in the Ministry of Health with potential repercussions for all Israelis, but how or why is not clear to me. The best I could figure is that people would be too busy with politics to be concerned with the ongoing function of the healthcare system in an orderly manner.
But I had not been keeping up to date with the news coming out of the USA, and the talks with Iran regarding their efforts to develop nuclear capabilities. Such issues have been ongoing, and I had no sense of urgency there.
What happened?
Here is a brief overview of what happened. However, if you’d like to know more details or get links to the news sites where all this is documented, please read this post by my friend Marvin Kramer: “Operation Rising Lion” – Israel’s Strategic Strike on Iran Cloaked in Deception and Biblical Symbolism.”
Basically, the Israeli government used current events and a deception campaign to lead Iran (and the world) to think that it was willing to sit aside while the US tried to get Iran involved in talks. Hence, Israel’s strike against Iran was completely unexpected by all, including top Israeli officials.
Why the attack, and why now? Israeli intelligence had proof that Iran’s nuclear capabilities posed a serious and immediate danger. Netanyahu is on record for having said, “If we don’t act now, we simply won’t be here.” In a recent interview, Joel Rosenberg pointed out that the aim of Iran’s current leadership is not just the annihilation of the Jewish people and Israel, but of any people, for example, Christians opposed to the regime. So not just Israel was at threat, but as a sovereign nation, Netanyahu believed something had to be done – now.
Long story short, on Friday morning, Israel bombed multiple high-value targets, including Iran’s underground nuclear enrichment facilities, and killing critical and senior personnel in Iran’s military as well as six senior nuclear scientists.
To no one’s surprise, Iran retaliated. Hence the sirens on Friday morning and several times last night.
While most missiles fired at Israel were intercepted, not all were. So far, more than 200 people have been injured and at least 3 people have been killed – all in the Tel Aviv region.
What am I feeling?
Taking stock of the situation, I realized that my feelings are kind of on hold. What exactly can I do about the situation? Nothing. What can I change? Nothing? Yet the silence today had been eerie. Almost no one is out on the streets. It’s almost as quiet as Yom Kippur.
I thought to myself, people are scared. I don’t feel scared. Am I scared? No…
I feel somewhat disconnected from it all. I suppose it’s the cumulative effect of the ongoing war and hostage situation, the onslaught of news related to the political and social problems in Israel, my ongoing doctor visits and follow-ups for the clinical trial I’m in to prevent the cancer from coming back, my activities with the Chinese Church, the passing of Abba Wong – oh and I do have a full-time job as well.
A person can only focus on so much.
So I sat down for a reality check, read in my Bible, and then some questions came to mind: “Has God changed?” “Is God phased by what is happening?”
Immediately, my thoughts were drawn to Psalm 2, and I gave a resounding “NO” to both questions. God has not changed.
God has not changed – and He is wonderful!
I don’t need to understand the full dynamics, power plays, and politics of what is happening. I can count on others to give you better explanations than I can. Furthermore, understanding everything leading up to today does not tell me how to live today. During a time of severe persecution of the church, Peter reminded believers that the world was not going to get better. He reminded them that their hope is in Jesus and that He really would return, and the day is coming when this world will be destroyed. I think that it is a good reminder for us here and now. While the end of the world has not come, things happen in our lives that make it feel like the end is near.
War is one of those things. For some, now, their world is ending suddenly and horribly. The hope Peter offered 2,000 years ago is the same we can cling to today:
“11Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what kind of people should you be? Live your lives in holiness and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God. In that day the heavens will be dissolved by fire, and the elements will melt in the intense heat. 13 But in keeping with His promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
—2 Peter 3:11–13
In other words, that the world is falling apart around you does not mean God has changed. He is still good, He is still faithful, and I still keep living for Him, and I look forward to the ultimate fulfillment of His promise, when our full salvation is realized and we dwell with Him in a world where righteousness dwells.
Meditating on these thoughts, I realize there is a lot you and I can do because God is still God:
- We can trust Him. He remains on the throne and has His purpose in what is happening (Psalm 2)
- We can be faithful today, in what God has asked us to do (Galatians 6:9)
- We have no need to fear anything that happens because God’s love is committed for our best good – and His glory (1 John 4:18–19; Romans 8:28)
- We can prepare wisely for battles in life (real or figuratively), knowing God will guide us (Joel 3:9–10; Joshua 1:9)
- We can pray for the nations, our leaders, our enemies, and ultimately – for His will to be done here on earth as it is in heaven (1 Timothy 2:1-2; Matthew 6:10)
- We can pray that God will shine through us, bringing hope and light to this darkening world (Ephesians 5:8)
- We can place our hope fully in the Salvation to be revealed at Jesus’s coming (Hebrews 9:28; Titus 2:13)
Rejoice – we are held safe in His hands
Every situation you and I have ever faced and will face requires the same responses. Maybe you aren’t preparing for war. Perhaps it’s a medical procedure, an exam, a change of location, or the change imposed by the loss of a loved one. Each situation gives us a new opportunity to go deeper with our Lord, and to keep on keeping on.
Isn’t it wonderful to remember that the same God who has answered our prayers in the past is going to continue to lead and guide us in the coming hours, days, weeks, and years of our lives? When the alarms go off on my phone, I will need to seek physical safety as needed. But first, I’ll look to my Savior for His Shelter. He is the one who keeps us in the palm of His hands (Isaiah 49:16).