IRON RAIN

But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord,
    I wait for God my Savior;
    my God will hear me.

Micah 7: 7

This morning I woke to one of Israel’s perfect spring days. The sky is clear, the sun is shining, the temperature is a balmy 24 degrees C, the forest is full of beautiful wild flowers, the birds are singing, the land is still green and all seems well with the world. But it is an illusion. All is far from well here in Israel – and indeed in all the world in these days.

In the south the beautiful peaceful morning was shattered by the wail of the Code Red Sirens and residents ran for their shelters or hit the ground as some a barrage of rockets and missiles rained down. As of now, noon, some 100 rockets have fallen in Israeli territory and the barrage continues. So far there has been some damage to homes, roads and other structures but there are no reported injuries except for a few minor injuries when people have fallen in their rush for shelter and a number of people suffering from shock. Needless to say the Israel Defense Forces are responding with artillery fire and air attacks in Gaza. Palestinian sources report one death so far.

We are all holding our breath to see where this latest escalation will lead. There is a strong feeling here in Israel that ‘enough is enough’. We are fed up with this constant rain of rockets, border clashes, incendiary attacks (which have also returned now that the rains have stopped). But what is the solution? The ongoing talks brokered by Egypt apparently not succeeding. No one wants a ground incursion but it is certain that the current situation cannot continue. Our Security Cabinet is meeting as I write to discuss the situation. Southern towns and cities, including Ashdod and Ashkelon, are under Rear Command orders to open the public shelters and the public are being told to stay in their safe areas. Public gatherings, such as several sports events, have been canceled.

This is a very tense period as we approach a number of sensitive events. Last Thursday we marked Holocaust Remembrance Day and this coming week on Tuesday evening/Wednesday we mark Remembrance Day for the 26, 741 soldiers who have been killed since the founding of the modern State of Israel, a number that has grown by 56 this year as a result of deaths in action and others who have died from injuries received in previous years. This number also includes 3146 civilians who have died as a result of terror attacks.

On Thursday we will celebrate Israel’s 71st Anniversary of the founding of the State in 1948. It is a national holiday and most major towns mark it with ceremonies and firework displays. The following day many families gather in Israel’s forests. parks and beaches for barbecues. The airforce carries out aerial displays over Tel Aviv and other towns. It is a happy occasion in which we believers can thank God for the miracle that is the restoration of Israel in progress.

Of course for many of the Arab population it is not a day of rejoicing – quite the opposite. On May 15th ( the date of the founding of the State of Israel according to the Gregorian calendar) Palestinians celebrate Nakbah Day ( the Day of the Catastrophe).

This year all these events coincide with the beginning of the Muslim month of fasting, Ramadan, which starts tomorrow evening, Sunday the 5th, at sundown. Not only that on the 15th of May Israel will host the final of the Eurovision Song Contest. Already some of the participants are arriving and rehearsals began today. We are expectng tens of thousands of visitors to arrive for this event which will take place in Tel Aviv.

Such a coincidence of all this religious, nationalistic and Eurovision fervor is an explosive mix. It is in this context we must see today’s escalation emanating from Gaza. There are strong factions in Gaza intent on hurting Israel at this time. They don’t necessarily want full out war, but they want to attack Israel at this vulnerable time when large crowds of people gather in public places.

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I have just returned from a lovely walk in the forest along the path that encircles Mevaseret. I have there a favorite rock from which I can see Jerusalem, Ein Kerem (where John the Baptist was born) and a panorama of the Judean hills with their scattering of villages. I like to pray there for the protection of this area. I opened up Bible Gateway on my phone and discovered their Verse of Day was very appropriate.

… if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place. 

II Chronicles 7:14-15

It is now 9 PM and the rain of rockets has continued all day long and seems to be increasing now that darkness has fallen. So far at least 220 rockets have been fired into Israel. Three people have been injured and a number of homes hit. News is just coming in that a mikveh (ritual bath) was hit and destroyed in Kiryat Gat. Fortunately, no one was inside at the time. The people in the south have spent the whole day in the shelters and now it has just been announced that all schools will be closed in the south tomorrow as far north as Beer Sheva and Gedera. The IDF has attacked tens of targets in Gaza and 3 people there have been killed. In recent minutes the IDF destroyed a 7-storey building belonging to Hamas but also occupied by Turkish interests. This could have repercussions for Israel. Hamas is threatening to widen the range of the attacks to include Bat Yam and Beer Sheva if they do not get 30 million dollars transferred from Oman. So now they are holding us all for ransom. How much more absurd can the situation get? One thing is sure, it is going to be a long, hard night for the residents in the south and also for Gaza.

May the Lord Messiah, Yeshua, come soon. Only He can sort out this mess!