Harvest of Asher
Akko, Israel
One recent evening while my extended family and many friends were in the middle of a celebration, we suddenly looked up and saw the IDF neutralizing Iranian ballistic missiles in the upper atmosphere! The Islamic Republic of Iran launched the warheads here to kill us, but no Israelis were killed. (By the way, the family celebration was my daughter’s wedding!)
Israel now has a multi-layered defense array. Our current system is surprisingly effective against almost all attacks from missiles, rockets and UAVs. The IDF armor consists of: the Iron Dome, David’s Sling and the Arrow defense system – each covering various distances, from close-range missiles all the way up to threats at the edge of the atmosphere. Currently yet another level is being developed – laser technology.
Throughout the country there are sirens that go off warning us of hostile incoming rockets. The system works with amazing precision. It “predicts” the locations targeted by the enemy. We are instructed to take shelter in bomb-proof rooms within one minute of hearing the sirens. Following soon after, the air and earth are shaken as the Iron Dome and other devices take out the rockets, subsequently creating loud explosions.
Most Israelis, at various times over the last year, have endured these scary “booms” several times a day from bombs launched at them (!). But the explosions are nearly always the result of our active defense systems exploding the enemy bombs high in the air before they reach us in our towns and cities. The IDF’s “Dome, Sling, and Arrow” armor go a long way toward protecting Israeli citizens, giving us confidence, and preventing phobia and panic.
This multi-layered defense system can be compared to the spiritual “defense system” described in Ephesians 6:10-19. God’s armor shields believers from harm. The parallel we can draw between these physical and spiritual defense systems is that they are designed to protect us from attacks coming in every direction and on all levels.
An example of how it works in the physical became obvious when Israel was attacked on October 7, 2023. During the time preceding this attack, the nation of Israel was severely divided by infighting and destabilized due to inner conflict. In the same way, believers can become vulnerable to Satan’s attack when they allow inner fear and doubt to corrode their faith. When we are in a weakened condition, either in the natural or spiritual, attacks of the enemy can become unexpectedly effective.
Let us carefully follow Paul’s instructions in Ephesians, learning how to “put on” God’s whole armor and not allowing doubt, fear and worry to enter. Our victory is in the Spirit and so we must walk always according to its leading, monitoring our inner health and outer defenses.
In the days following October 7th, after Israel was attacked, the nation began to reunite and come together. The process has been gradual, but it turns out we are stronger than our enemies anticipated. May Israel remain unified – standing in strength against all who seek to attack her. May we as believers in Yeshua, covered with the full armor of God, be united and strong in the time of battle for this war is being fought both in the physical and spiritual realm!
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:10-12)
