Hey friends, throughout history, including since Israel’s rebirth in 1948, the Jewish nation has been under fire, often fighting for their very existence. Such was the case fifty-seven years ago (June 5, 1967) when Israel launched an unexpected preemptive strike that morphed into the Six Day War. With backs against the wall and facing enemies who wished to eliminate them from the landscape, Israel fought and won! We commemorate that historic win with our Jewish friends. But let’s consider the big picture, and how God fulfilled His promise during that war.

Within 24 hours of becoming a reborn nation in 1948, Israel was attacked by 5 Arab countries. With a ragtag group of fighters and God’s miraculous hand, Israel pulled off a victory in the War of Independence despite being severely out-manned, out-equipped and out-prepared.

That only served to frustrate and embarrass the neighboring nations who were certain they could destroy the Jewish state and eliminate the Jews. In 1967, there were ominous signs of an impending attack on Israel from the likes of Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Iraq and others. The PLO, founded by Yasser Arafat, was established with the goal of destroying Israel, and at least three Arab summits were held prior to June 1967 to plot the destruction of Israel.

A huge buildup of Syrian troops on the Golan Heights began shelling the Galilee area, leaving Israel in jeopardy of sure defeat. The prognosis was bleak, and over 40,000 coffins were prepared for potential loss of life.

Yet, God had made a promise to His people in 1 Kings 11:36, that He intended to fulfill in this dire situation:

…My servant David may always have a lamp before Me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen for Myself, to put My name there.

~1 Kings 11:36

Indeed, God intended to preserve Jerusalem as the Holy City upon which He put His name. He would fight for, with and through the Israel Defense Forces to sustain that city and make His name known.

So, again totally out-numbered and out-manned by great margins against multiple enemies, the Israeli Air Force took off on a dangerous, low-flying mission into Egypt to destroy massive numbers of Egyptian aircraft, and then to bomb Jordanian tanks rolling into Jerusalem. At the end of the day on June 5, 1967, that tiny air force with outdated aircraft had destroyed 452 modern and much more capable Egyptian aircraft on the ground, and had badly disabled the tank regiments sent by Jordan.

It was cunning, daring and stealthy, and after that first day, attention was turned toward the large Syrian forces on the Golan Heights. There, they turned back the Syrian forces with so few Israel troops and equipment that it became widely known and reported that “the finger of God” had brought victory. To this day, documented accounts of supernatural miracles are clearly and unashamedly accounted to God. Even secular Israelis know without doubt that the hand of God brought victory.

The result: Israel took back Temple Mount and the Old City of Jerusalem, which they had been prohibited from visiting since peace agreements following the War of Independence (1948). The joy of taking back the city in which God has placed His name was overwhelming, and is cherished by the Jewish people to this day.

God fulfilled His promise by bringing about this miraculous victory for Israel. Just as the Lord God trimmed Gideon’s troops from 32,000 to only 300 in a victory over the Midianites (Judges 7), He seemed to leave Israel short on manpower and equipment in those early wars. Why? For the glory of the Lord!

Today, as you consider Israel’s miraculous victory 57 years ago, remember God’s faithfulness to fulfill His promises! His faithfulness to Israel is His guarantee to us as believers. Praise God for that!