Shalom from a 75-year-old State of Israel! That’s right! Three-quarters of a century ago, God fulfilled biblical prophecy by restoring the land, breathing life into the dead bones of its people, and creating a nation in a day. “Who has heard such a thing?” the Lord asked in Isaiah 66:8. The answer is “no one”. That is, until He did it!
The Lord is true to His promises, and He is always faithful to His children. No matter what you may be going through, whatever it is that has you discouraged or heartbroken, all you need to do is to look at the existence of Israel to be reminded that when God says He is with you and will carry you through, you can take that promise to the bank.
In Your Inbox
So, when my family and I celebrated Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day, yesterday, we were not just celebrating our country. We were praising the God who brought about its rebirth. We were rejoicing that we were blessed to be of the generation that has witnessed this greatest of signs that the countdown clock to our Messiah’s return to take His church has begun. We were lifting the name of our faithful Father, our almighty God.
Psalm 36:5-7 KJV – “Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; And thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds. Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; Thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast. How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.”
IDF Attacks Hezbollah Observation Post
The Israeli Defense Forces carried out an artillery strike on a Hezbollah observation site just across the Syrian border from the Golan Heights. The IDF followed up by showering the area with pamphlets warning Syrian soldiers to cease their cooperation with the Iran-backed militia. There were no reports of injuries.
Terror Attack in Jerusalem
An Arab father of five intentionally drove his vehicle into a crowded market area in Jerusalem on Monday. Five Israelis were injured, one seriously. An armed civilian killed the terrorist on the scene. This man who abandoned his family to carry out this heinous act is a perfect example of former Prime Minister Golda Meir’s words, “Peace will come when the Arabs will love their children more than they hate us.”
Jordanian Parliament Member Attempts to Smuggle Guns to West Bank
A member of Jordan’s parliament, Imad Adwan, was taken into custody at the Allenby Bridge border crossing on Saturday. In Adwan’s car were found a dozen assault rifles, more than 200 handguns, and gold intended for anti-Jewish parties in the West Bank. Israeli authorities were quick to absolve the Jordanian government of any wrongdoing in the act. Accusations did fly, however, but in an unexpected form. Former Jordanian MP Tarek Khoury directed his vitriol at Israel, saying they had made up the part about the gold being in the car. Why did this make him so upset? Because the inclusion of gold would “turn the heroic act into a smuggling issue.” It’s hard to fight against that kind of mindset.
American Drone Shot Down by Pro-Iranian Militia
An American MQ-1C Gray Eagle drone was shot down near Kirkuk, Iraq, this past week. Pro-Iranian Shiite militias used an anti-aircraft missile to bring it to the ground. US forces, which were in the area, destroyed what was left of the UAV to keep it from falling into enemy hands.
High-Ranking Cleric Assassinated in Northern Iran
As Ayatollah Abbas Ali Soleimani sat inside a bank Wednesday, one of the security guards walked up behind him and opened fire. Soleimani, who was a member of the powerful Assembly of Experts for Leadership of Iran and a former personal representative of the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, died soon after in the hospital. The assailant was taken into custody. The cleric’s death marks the highest ranking official to have been killed in recent years.
Nations Scramble as Sudan Heats Up
As the violence intensifies in Sudan, world governments are hurrying to evacuate their citizens. To aid in the process, the US and Saudi Arabia mediated a 72-hour ceasefire between the two sides. So far, at least 427 people have been killed in the fighting, and the gun battles are reaching into residential areas and neighborhoods. On Tuesday, the World Health Organization put out a warning after rebels took control of the National Public Health Laboratory in the capital city of Khartoum. The lab holds samples of various diseases, including polio and measles, causing the WHO to warn of a “huge biological risk”. Sudan needs our prayers!
Erdogan’s On-Air Health Event Causes Concerns Ahead of Elections
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan canceled his election rallies Wednesday under the advice of his doctors. He walked off a live television interview saying he had stomach issues. Immediately, the rumor mill took off with some saying that he had suffered a myocardial infarction. The election, which is set for May 14, is hotly contested with many saying it is possible that Erdogan can lose after 20 years of serving as Prime Minister, then President.
Russian Defense Minister Hosts Intelligence Chiefs
Moscow hosted quite a guest list Tuesday when the defense ministers and intelligence chiefs of Turkey, Iran, and Syria joined the Russian Defense Minister. The goal, according to Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, was to “bring peace and tranquility to the region as soon as possible.” Upon reading this guest list, everyone who has ever read the prophecies of Ezekiel sat up and said, “Yep.”
Ukrainian UAV Attempts Attack on Russian Ships in Crimea
A Ukrainian drone was shot down near Sevastopol, Crimea, and a second exploded causing minor damage, according to Russian authorities. The apparent target was the Russian Black Sea Fleet that is stationed there. Ukraine has remained mum on the attack. While this attempt may not have achieved its desired results, it does show Kyiv’s ability to penetrate deep into Russian-held territory.
US to Send Nuclear Submarine to South Korean Waters
Not since the 1980s Cold War has the US docked a nuclear submarine in South Korea. But after an agreement yesterday between US President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol that is about to change. Meant to be a strong message to North Korea’s Kim Jong-un, the US will moor an Ohio-class nuclear submarine in the port of its southern ally. Keep your eyes on this situation. The Supreme Leader in the north is not known for letting slights go unanswered.