Has God supernaturally thwarted Iran & Hezbollah from launching apocalyptic missile attacks against Israel? Or is the attack still coming?

JERUSALEM, ISRAEL – Why hasn't the Islamic Republic of Iran and Hezbollah, its terror proxy army in Lebanon, launched thousands of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and suicide drones at Israel?

For weeks, the Israeli military has been on the highest possible alert.

Ten million Israeli citizens are trying to go about their days normally but are all highly cognizant of the fact that a full-scale attack – and a massive new regional war – could occur at any moment.

Upwards of two dozen international airlines have canceled flights to and from Israel.

Yet, so far, the attack has not come.

Why not?

IRAN'S SUPREME LEADER SPEAKS OF "DIVINE WRATH"

Ever since Fuad Shukr, the #2-ranking Hezbollah leader, was assassinated in his apartment in Beirut -- and Ismail Haniyeh, the #1 top leader of Hamas, was assassinated in Tehran on July 31 -- Israel's mortal enemies have been vowing revenge.

In his Aug. 1 speech, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah's top leader, vowed to punish Israel terribly.

"Our response is coming, Allah willing," Nasrallah declared. Because the "precious blood" of his deputy, Fuad Shukr, has been shed, "the resistance [Hezbollah's army] cannot -- no matter what the consequences -- remain idle."

"Our response will be strong, impactful, and effective," the Hezbollah leader insisted.

For his part, the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – Iran's so-called "Supreme Leader" – went even further.

Not only did he vow to inflict revenge on Israel, he declared that the Iranian regime would experience "divine wrath" if it even hesitated to retaliate for the deaths of its top terror proxy leaders.

WHAT, THEN, IS TAKING SO LONG?

Many Israelis, as well as many Palestinians, and Arabs throughout the Epicenter, are baffled that apocalypse-level attacks have not yet come.

What's taking so long?

Hezbollah has more than 150,000 rockets and missiles on or near launchers in Lebanon, aimed at Israel, and ready to fire.

Experts tell me Nasrallah could fire upwards of 4,000 missiles a day at Israel for a month or more and still have tens of thousands left in reserve.

Why hasn't he?

Has the Supreme Leader of Iran ordered Nasrallah to attack and Nasrallah is hesitating, or outright refusing?

Or is it the Ayatollah Khamenei who is hesitating to give the order, either to Hezbollah or to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps?

It would seem more likely that Khamenei and Nasrallah are hesitating than that their subordinates are not obeying direct orders to unleash hell on "the Zionist entity."

To be sure, it's possible that both are using these weeks to prepare for a massive strike, or just a limited one.

It's also possible that as they prepare for their revenge option, Khamenei and Nasrallah believe they are inflicting sufficient psychological and economic damage on Israel by having the threat of a massive missile attack looming but not yet occurring.

IS GOD HIMSELF THWARTING THE ATTACK?

While all these are possible, there is another possibility that Christians should consider.

Perhaps God Himself is supernaturally thwarting Iran and Hezbollah from taking their revenge.

Perhaps the fact that (as of the publication of this column) no massive attack has come, is powerful evidence that the prayers of millions of Evangelicals and other Christians for "the peace of Jerusalem" are working.

Perhaps we are seeing God's divine protection at work.

II KINGS 6: THE STORY OF GOD SUPERNATURALLY THWARTING AN ATTACK FROM SYRIA

Throughout the Bible, we read of multiple occasions when God supernaturally thwarts attacks against Israel.

In II Kings, chapter six, for example, we read the story of the king of Aram (the ancient name for the lands that are modern-day Syria) plotting to attack and destroy Israel.

Yet time after time, the scriptures tell us that God told the Hebrew prophet Elisha exactly what location the Aramean military forces would be coming to.

Elisha, in turn, told the king of Israel, who promptly ordered Israel's army to those locations to block an Aramean invasion.

This happened so often that the king of Aram became furious because he thought there was a pro-Israel mole in his inner circle.

"This enraged the king of Aram," we read in II Kings 6:11-12. "He summoned his officers and demanded of them, 'Tell me! Which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?'"

"None of us, my Lord the king," said one of his officers. "But Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom."

So, the king of Aram orders his army to hunt down and assassinate Elisha.

But this plot, too, God foils.

As Elisha prays, the Spirit of God reveals to him – and to Elisha's young assistant – both the plot of the enemy as well as the fact that God is again going to thwart the plans of the enemy.

2 CHRONICLES 20: THE STORY OF GOD SUPERNATURALLY THWARTING AN ATTACK FROM JORDAN

Another great example of God stopping an enemy due to prayer can be found in 2 Chronicles, chapter 20.

That time, Jehoshaphat – the king of Judah – is informed by his advisors that "a vast army is coming against you from Edom" (the land today is known as the Kingdom of Jordan).

"Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah," the Bible tells us. "The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek Him." (2 Chronicles 20:3)

The God of Israel hears those prayers and is pleased with them.

He sends a message to the king and people of Judah that He will fight for them.

“Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s...You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.'...[So,] Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord." (2 Chronicles 20:15-18)

The next morning, fortified by so much prayer and worship, and so deeply encouraged by the Lord's direct word to him, King Jehoshaphat is inspired to send the worship leaders out ahead of Judah's army, singing and praising and lifting up the name of the Lord as they headed east to meet the approaching "vast army."

Again, God was pleased and He moved in power.

"As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated," we read in 2 Chronicles 20:22.

Sure enough, God had kept His word.

The enemy forces were utterly defeated.

No one in Israel actually had to fight.

Instead, they rejoiced for days in the sweet knowledge that God had supernaturally intervened to thwart the enemy's attack.

"Then, led by Jehoshaphat, all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the Lord had given them cause to rejoice over their enemies. They entered Jerusalem and went to the temple of the Lord with harps and lyres and trumpets. The fear of God came on all the surrounding kingdoms when they heard how the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side."

THE BOOK OF ESTHER: THE STORY OF GOD SUPERNATURALLY THWARTING AN ATTACK FROM IRAN

While there are many other examples in the Bible, let me just cite one more.

Read the Book of Esther – that's right, all of it.

There, you'll learn about a wicked man named Haman, the second most powerful man in the ancient Persian (Iranian) empire.

One day, Haman becomes so enraged at one Jewish man he believes is disrespecting him that Haman persuades the Supreme Leader of Persia to "annihilate" every Jew living between Ethiopia and India.

Yes, that's the very word that Haman uses – he wants to "annihilate" all Jews.

But you'll also read about a godly man named Mordechai and his godly cousin, Esther.

As they fast and pray for the safety and salvation of the Jewish people – and mobilize their friends to join – God is pleased with them.

He hears their prayers, supernaturally thwarts the plot of Haman, and saves the entire Jewish nation from annihilation.

WHAT THREE LESSONS SHOULD WE TAKE AWAY TODAY?

I believe there are three important lessons that we should take away from these biblical stories for our situation today.

First, God loves to hear and respond favorably to the faithful, earnest, and unceasing prayers and fasting, and the heartfelt praise and worship of His people. So, let us keep praying for the God of Israel to thwart the evil plans of Israel's enemies and pray for the safety and salvation of Israel.

Second, God does not want us to cower in fear but to live with great trust and confidence in His care and protection. So, let us keep turning to Him, keep reading His Word, and keep focusing on His promises to guard and watch over us.

Third, God may choose in His sovereign will to let our enemies attack -- but He promises never to leave or forsake His true children, He promises those who love and serve him with their whole hearts that in the end justice will be done, and He promises that Israel's enemies will be vanquished in the end. So, even if He allows Iran and Hezbollah and others to attack, let's not panic. Let's keep trusting Him and asking Him to show us how we can be a light for Jesus Christ in the darkness.

HOW CAN I BE A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS?

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