In 1967, Israeli intelligence picked up clues that an Egyptian attack was being planned.  Israel was badly out-manned: 2-to-1 in manpower, 3-to-1 in aircraft, 3-to-1 in warships and 7-to-1 in artillery.  Not only that, but other nations would almost certainly join the fray as well, and Israel would be at even greater disadvantage. 

Given the odds, Israel knew they were on the brink of extinction. Thus, they set out to implement a very critical military principle: know your enemy!

To learn about the enemy, Jewish spies were implanted in Egyptian military mess halls to prepare food and to serve Egyptian troops.  While serving, they took it all in: the location of aircraft; information on every fighter pilot; the name, background and status of every senior official and commander (including when they would be absent from their commands and unable to direct operations); the shift schedules of Egyptian radar controllers; Reveille schedules of pilots and ground crews; and complete battle codes and communication networks.

Their intelligence work became the foundation of Israel’s battle plan, which resulted in a clear and decisive victory. Israel launched a preemptive strike on June 5, 1967, in which they struck 18 Egyptian air force bases, cratered runways, blew up aircraft, and destroyed support facilities. Egypt lost 300 or 420 aircraft and 100 of 350 qualified combat pilots. Jordan, Syria and Iraq also suffered major losses after then entered the battle.  By June 10, Israel had seized the Gaza Strip, the Sinai Peninsula, the West Bank and the Golan Heights.  More importantly, Israel took back the Old City, which had been under Jordanian control since 1948. The key to victory: Israel knew her enemy!

We live in a spiritually darkened world that continues to grow darker every day, though some seem not to realize it.  In today’s spiritual battle, do you know your enemy and his schemes?  Interestingly, Satan works to make us think he does not really exist.  We’ve all seen the comical figure with horns and a long red tail.  It’s a fictional caricature, right?  Or is it?  In a survey conducted several years ago, 60% did not believe Satan was a living being, but simply a symbol of evil.  Yet, 64% believed people could be under the influence of evil spirits.

Where does our enemy hide? What is his true personality?  What is his position in today’s world?  How much power does he really wield?  What are his purposes?  What strategies does he use?

As we consider Israel’s Six Day War, can we glean Biblical principles?  I believe so, and we’re going to spend the next few days exploring those principles and answering those questions! 

The Six Day War, which was fought exactly 54 years ago, was a very significant event in Israeli history, and included some of the most astounding wartime miracles ever witnessed.  Indeed, it was God, not Israel, who brought victory to the Jewish state and gradually propelled them to prosperity in the years to follow.

For an informative look at the day-by-day happenings of the Six Day War, see Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, and Aftermath.  Then, stay tuned over the next few days as we use the events of the Six Day War to illustrate Bible truths about the enemy we all face!  See you tomorrow!