US Airmen and their aircraft arrived in Israel earlier this week in preparation for part 2 of Juniper Falcon military exercises with Israel. The biannual event “designed to test simulated emergency response procedures, ballistic missile defense and crisis response assistance in the defense of Israel,” began remotely in February and simulated the threat of ballistic missile attacks. Now the exercises go live!

Read more about the joint exercises, scheduled to begin next week.

As encouraging as it is to witness the American military joining Israel in efforts to protect the Jewish homeland, our Bible indicates that will likely not always be the case. In the end, Israel will stand alone, and all nations will be brought before the Lord for judgment in the way they treated Israel. (Joel 3:1-2)

Pray for our leaders! Pray they will continue to stand strong with Israel. May the abandonment of our Israeli ally not happen on our watch! But if it does, let’s pray Israel gains much value from the current cooperation of American forces.

While you’re at it, pray for the men and women…both American and Israeli…who are participating in this important joint exercise. Pray for their safety and for great wisdom as they strategize in protection of God’s chosen land and God’s chosen people.