Only days after beheading a Japanese journalist, ISIS has released a video showing a Jordanian fighter pilot being burned to death.  A 22-minute video showing 26-year-old Moaz al-Kasasbeh being ignited in a cage was released by ISIS on Tuesday (though some reports indicate the actual event may have taken place a month ago).  King Abdullah, who was already in Washington DC for meetings with White House and Congressional officials, met with President Obama before cutting meetings short to return to Amman, Jordan to manage the crisis.

Previously, negotiations were underway for a possible prisoner exchange between ISIS and Jordan.  Upon hearing the news, however, Jordan vowed a swift and lethal response and, within an hour after news of the death of al-Kasasbeh, Jordanian officials moved the five ISIS prisoners involved in the potential prisoner swap to a jail facility in southern Jordan, typically used for state executions.  Subsequently, two were executed in retaliation for the torching of the Jordanian pilot.  One, a woman, had been on death row following her role in bombing three Amman hotels, killing hundreds in 2005.

You can read and hear President Obama’s response here.

Friends, to date our president has not shown the wherewithal to take strong enough action to “redouble the vigilance” to “degrade and defeat” ISIS. As Christians, it is our obligation to pray for wisdom and courage for our governmental leaders.  It is also our obligation to pray for the Sovereign Lord of the universe to move on the hearts and minds of our leaders, that they might be like the sons of Issachar, understanding the times and knowing what to do.  (1 Chronicles 12:32)

Likewise, leaders of Jordan, Israel, and the rest of the world must also understand the times and know what to do.  Pray particularly for our allies.  Pray for courage and strength for the citizens of Jordan.  I believe ISIS sees them as the next target in the region.The battles they are fighting right now will come to our shores if we do nothing.  For their sake and ours, go to battle on your knees, saints!

Pray for the comfort of family members and friends of the Jordanian pilot.  They have tragically lost a loved one, and they desperately need to know the love of a Savior.  Pray for comfort…and pray for salvation.

Finally, pray for a Great Awakening in our nation that will impact the world.  Our only hope is the Blessed Hope, Jesus Christ Himself.  Let it begin with believers who are committed to prayer and to seeking revival for our land.

I am reminded of Daniel’s prayer in Daniel 2, as he recalled the greatness of God.  It is in different context, but let’s glean from the confidence that Daniel displayed when he prayed:

“Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever,
For wisdom and power belong to Him.
It is He who changes the times and the epochs;
He removes kings and establishes kings;
He gives wisdom to wise men
And knowledge to men of understanding.
It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things;
He knows what is in the darkness,
And the light dwells with Him.”
~Daniel 2:20-22