Now that we have identified 7 lies pertaining to Gaza (here, here, here and here), let’s broaden our focus to include Iran…the mastermind behind Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and other terrorist groups bent on attacking Israel.

When God called Abram (later known as Abraham) from Ur of the Chaldees, he guided him to the land of Canaan (modern-day Israel). Though a “stranger in the land,” God promised Abram the land, descendants and a blessing (Genesis 12:1-3). Later, God extended His promises by telling Abram all the land of Canaan was his forever (Genesis 17:8).

The plan was interrupted for a season when famine drove Abraham’s grandson, Jacob, and the Israelites into Egypt for a time (Genesis 46). Yet, God’s promises to Abraham and his descendants stood. God delivered the Israelites out of Egypt and they were told to return to the Promised Land (Canaan) and take it by conquest. In fact, they were to destroy the Canaanites and possess the land (Deuteronomy 7:2, Deuteronomy 20:16-17).

Though largely successful, the Israelites allowed pockets of Canaanites to remain. Big mistake! Canaanites gods became a temptation and a snare for them and dragged many Jews off into pagan worship.

The consequences of their disobedience still haunts Israel.

Fast forward to the days of King Saul and we find a similar, yet perhaps harsher, admonition given through the prophet Samuel: utterly destroy the Amalekites…every man, woman, child and animal (1 Samuel 15:1-3). Like the Canaanites, the Amalekites were brutally wicked and vile.

Because King Saul and the Israelites failed once more to be obedient to God’s command (1 Samuel 15:9), they faced dire consequences. One of those consequences was the Amalekite lineage that led to Haman who, according to the book of Esther, tried to exterminate the entire Jewish population. Thus, generations later, Saul’s disobedience almost destroyed the Jews.

Isreal has lived with the horrid consequences of these (and other) examples of disobedience throughout their history. Fast forward to the modern-day nation of Israel, and we find that common theme repeating itself. For example, each time Israel has been attacked, God has miraculously intervened for them, allowing them to conquer more of the Promised Land God promised to Abraham. Yet, Israel has given up parts of their Promised Land in exchange for the false promise of peace. (Examples: the Sinai peninsula, the Gaza Strip, the Golan Heights and the West Bank) There has been no peace, but only attacks from those lands.

Now, Israel faces an existential threat from Iran who literally wants to push Israel into the sea and take the land! They are the “head of the snake,” training and supplying terrorist organizations to do the dirty work while they focus on making nuclear weapons. What will Israel do? Will they follow the same pattern of disobedience in occupying and defending the land God promised to them, or will they take action to prevent Iran from doing what they have constantly vowed to do throughout history?

Friends, we are living in Biblically significant and prophetic times. I hope you are keeping your eyes open and focused on Israel. God has placed them at the center of the universe, and He has uniquely called them His own. Because God is faithful, Israel is not going anywhere. However, if we read our Bibles carefully, we know that ultimately Iran will join forces with Russia, Turkey and others to invade Israel in an attempt to take whatever appeals to them. (Ezekiel 38-39)

Iran won’t (can’t) do it on their own, which makes what is happening now very intriguing. If Israel takes out Iran’s nuclear capabilities, how much time will it buy them before Ezekiel’s prophecy comes to bear? Could there be a season of relative calm in the Middle East? Ezekiel does say that Israel will be living in safety and security before the northern invasion.

On the other hand, will Israel fail once more to take care of defending their nation, and will it lead more quickly to the Russia-Iran-Turkey coalition?

The chess pieces are on the board. What will be the next move?