US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, has authorized an unusually large show of force by bolstering American military presence in the Middle East. Dozens of American fighter jets are accompanying a second carrier group and its strike forces now in Mediterranean waters. At least one nuclear-powered submarine carrying a full payload of Tomahawk missiles also lurks off the Mediterranean coast. It is an impressive array of military might. (See the illustration above of American deployment of assets to the Middle East. Courtesy of Behold Israel.)

Many Israel-loving people are ecstatic that the US is finally “showing support for Israel.” But frankly, I’m not fully on board with that sentiment.

Yes, I hope America’s show of force causes Iran and her proxies to think twice before unleashing an attack on Israel. And of course I would be thrilled if the US suddenly took back military superiority as the world’s foremost superpower. But pardon the pun…I’m afraid that ship has sailed!

You may certainly disagree, but here are reasons for my lack of enthusiasm about the military buildup in the Middle East:

1. America can’t afford it. Warships, aircraft and weaponry are very expensive. After sending hundreds of billions of dollars to Ukraine, the last thing we need is another conflict in which we use up all our military resources. True, if used wisely and in perfect coordination with Israel, American assets would be of great value to Israel if Iran strikes. (I’m not convinced they will on their own.) However, though our men and women in uniform are still the best on the planet, wisdom is sorely lacking in the Pentagon and upper echelons of American leadership. A long, intense, uncoordinated effort in the Middle East without enhanced production at home will drain us of military assets necessary to protect America.
2. In the Middle East, you don’t talk and posture, you shoot! Just because the US sends battleships and aircraft doesn’t mean we are prepared to use them. (We don’t even respond to attacks on our own bases with force!) In the Middle East, talking a big game without backing it up with proportionate action is a sign of weakness. Idle threats are quickly tested, and this administration has failed the test over and over. It is hard to imagine this is more than mere posturing.
3. The current administration has no idea how to actually utilize American force. America walked away from the source of military force in Afghanistan (leaving all that force to our enemies!) Likewise, no force has been levied against the terror groups (or Iran) for attacking US military bases in the Middle East. Furthermore, this administration has withheld promised munitions to Israel, hamstringing their efforts against Hamas. I’m not sure our leaders distinguish between our allies and our enemies at the moment, so applying force is random, if not non-existent.
4. Biblically, we know that Israel will be abandoned in the end. Is America about to be humiliated? After failing to back Israel for over 3 1/2 years, are we really going to jump into a fray that could ignite the War of Gog and Magog? Is that what takes America off the playing field?

Christian friends, you may not agree, but not until Israel is left with nothing but shear trust in the Lord their God will they finally turn to Him! Of course I want the IDF to be victorious, and I want America to stand strong with Israel. I pray for it every day! Yet, here is what Scripture teaches us:

¹⁷ Still our eyes failed us,
Watching vainly for our help;
In our watching we watched
For a nation that could not save us.
~Lamentations 4:17

121 I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
² My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.

³ He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
⁴ Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The Lord is your keeper;
The Lord is your shade at your right hand.
⁶ The sun shall not strike you by day,
Nor the moon by night.

⁷ The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.
⁸ The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore.
~Psalm 121

⁷ Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
    but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
~Psalm 20:7 (NIV)

Israel is not going anywhere and, as believers, we must also put our trust in the name of the Lord our God! The salvation of Israel will not come from the White House, but from God’s house! Bank on it!