Since Israel’s attack on Iran, many are asking, “Why are Israeli cities being hit with missiles? Why is the Iron Dome not working?”

Those are fair questions. After all, we have become fairly accustomed to hearing about the success rate of Israel’s Iron Dome during the war with Hamas. However, there are two major reasons Iran’s missiles are hitting targets more frequently than Hamas’ missiles. First, most of Hamas’ missiles are “dumb bombs” lacking precision capability. Hamas shoots them off in a general direction and with crude targeting, hoping they hit what they aim at. At times, they don’t even come close. Iran, on the other hand, has an array of more precision-guided “smart” missiles, allowing for more precise strikes than Hamas is capable of.

Secondly, Iran’s missiles are larger ballistic missiles fired from a greater distance. That means the rockets reach greater altitude before arcing downward at a much greater speed than Hamas’ missiles. The Iron Dome was designed to take out short-range missiles, but it is not capable of consistently intercepting much faster moving Iranian missiles.

Though the Iron Dome gets the publicity, Israel’s missile defense system is multi-layered including David’s Sling, designed to take out medium range missiles, and the Arrow 3, designed to take out intercontinental ballistic missiles such as those launched from Iran. American THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) systems have also been deployed in Israel. Those defense systems have been successful in intercepting about 90% of launches from Iran, but unfortunately, a few have made it past Israel’s defense system.

But here is the amazing reality: Israel has lost only about 30 people (as of this writing) to missile strikes. Partially because Israelis are very disciplined to heed commands to take cover. All homes and buildings built in recent years have safe rooms built in and there are public shelters for those who do not have one in their home.

Honestly, though, I don’t think Israel’s ingenuity and obedience to warnings is the primary key to their survival rate. It can only be attributed to God’s hand of protection upon His land and His people. Every death is one too many, so we must not trivialize the lives lost. Yet, in any other war scenario in which a similar number of civilian buildings have taken direct hits, casualties are much greater.

The hand of God is clearly obvious when you are in Israel. That’s true not only in terms of protection, but in terms of blessing as well. The fields are greener, the vegetables are more vibrant, and the fruit is unbelievably tasty. A look across any of Israel’s borders tells you things just aren’t the same over there! When God chose Israel as His own, He intended for them to be special throughout history! Nothing will change that.

So, the fact Israel’s missile defense systems are among the best in the world might well be attributed to God’s favor in granting them the intelligence and ingenuity to produce them. But they are manmade…not perfect.

But God…!

124 “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,”
Let Israel now say—
² “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,
When men rose up against us,
³ Then they would have swallowed us alive,
When their wrath was kindled against us;
⁴ Then the waters would have overwhelmed us,
The stream would have gone over our soul;
⁵ Then the swollen waters
Would have gone over our soul.”

⁶ Blessed be the Lord,
Who has not given us as prey to their teeth.
⁷ Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers;
The snare is broken, and we have escaped.
⁸ Our help is in the name of the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
~Psalm 124