Important Intel

In all wars an important aspect that is often overlooked is knowing what the other side is planning on doing. And it also helps to know what weapons they have as well. We’ve seen what happens when lapses in intelligence occur and when successes also happen. One of the worst examples of failed intelligence is the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. It is called the Day That Will Live in Infamy and for good reason. On that fateful day Japan rolled the dice and pulled off what many still call the worst defeat in US history. And amazingly, it could have all been averted if key pieces of intelligence were taken seriously according to an article from nationalww2museum.org there were no less than three missed tactical warnings leading up to the Japanese attack:

First, the Japanese launched two cruiser float scout planes ahead of the main strike to determine the readiness of American defenses. Radar duly picked up these two unidentified aircraft about 6:45 a.m. The attack started about 7:55 a.m. There was no way for the controllers to determine these aircraft were Japanese. Further, it is extremely unlikely that a mere two unidentified aircraft would have triggered a major alarm even if the controllers had been at a higher state of alert.

By itself this wasn’t a major concern. Then a second incident occurred when a Japanese submarine was detected and sunk in the morning of December 7th. This submarine was one of five sent to destroy battleships at Pearl Harbor. The US ship broadcast this message:

“We have attacked, fired upon and dropped depth charges on a submarine operating in the defensive sea area.” 

But the duty officer at Pacific Fleet headquarters decided to seek verification of the message rather than sound a general alarm. The sinking of the submarine happened at 6:37 a.m. The larger attack happened at 7:55 a.m.

A Third Intelligence Failure

The biggest sign that something big was about to happen was at 7 a.m. that day:

Third, at the best and northernmost radar site at Opana on Oahu, two very junior enlisted men, Joseph L. Lockhart and George E. Elliot, were about to shut off their set on schedule at 7:00 a.m. when at 7:02 a.m. they saw by far the most sizable return echo they had ever observed: the American radio waves etching a startling, broad, vertical spike on the Opana oscilloscope rebounding from some of the 183 aircraft of the first wave of Japanese attackers. The perplexed pair reported about 7:15 a.m. to the Air Information Center at Fort Shafter a major flight of aircraft to the north, now about 88 miles distant…Only two men manned the center. The switchboard operator relayed the call to his superior, Lt. Kermit Tyler. But Tyler was not the regular controller and was merely present for training. As Tyler listened to the report, he recalled that a flight of B-17s was due in from the West Coast that morning. The bearing seemed approximately correct for the flight (by coincidence the two tracks were in fact close). During their conversation, Tyler failed to explain that the flight comprised only about a dozen aircraft and the privates failed to volunteer that the echo signified at least 50 aircraft. Tyler took no action.

According to the article, Japan made tactical errors that should have alerted the US to the attack:

The Japanese thus volunteered three potential tactical warnings of the coming onslaught. Even had an effective Air Information Center been operating, it is probably dubious that radar contact around 6:45 a.m. with the two float reconnaissance planes would have prompted a dramatic reaction. The detection of the massive first wave about 40 minutes before the first bombs fell, however, should have triggered a full alarm by at least 20 minutes before the attack. Since it only required about eight to 10 minutes to get battleships to general quarters with all watertight enclosures secured at sea, and less time for smaller vessels, even doubling that time for the less prepared situation that morning in Pearl Harbor, the attack still should have found the ship defenders alert and ready. 

Army anti-aircraft batteries probably would still have been mobilizing, as likely would have been defending fighters. Ward’s message describing her encounter with a submarine about five minutes after the report of a massive radar contact at a minimum should have reinforced the urgency of the reaction, though alternatively it could have started a full alert through the naval command chain. The inability of the Army or Navy commands to exploit these tactical warnings remains the most damning charges…

Adding it all up we see how not only having good information but acting together on it can make or break war decisions. But is there a spiritual lesson we can learn from it?

All Seeing

A fascinating example from the Bible shows us that the best source for intelligence in our fight against the enemies of darkness is actually very obvious:

When the king of Syria was warring against Israel, after counseling with his servants, he said, In such and such a place shall be my camp. 9 Then the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, Beware that you pass not such a place, for the Syrians are coming down there. 10 Then the king of Israel sent to the place of which [Elisha] told and warned him; and thus he protected and saved himself there repeatedly. 11 Therefore the mind of the king of Syria was greatly troubled by this thing. He called his servants and said, Will you show me who of us is for the king of Israel? 12 One of his servants said, None, my lord O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedchamber. (2 Kings 6:8-12, AMPC)

It only makes sense that God, who is omniscient or everywhere present could provide the best intelligence. In this example He was the perfect spy for Israel. God heard every plan of the enemy because He was right there during the planning of the attacks. And even more, He knows the thoughts and even the intents of the hearts of those who scheme against us. The perplexing part is that the Body of Christ has access to all that information and many now not only refuse to take advantage of it but even call those who listen to God speaking demonically influenced. In a day and age when the prince of the power of the airwaves is spewing lies and plotting the demise of the Church behind closed doors it seems logical to take full advantage of what God knows. He is speaking if we only are willing to listen. So why are we doing even worse than what the people just before Pearl Harbor did? Interestingly it’s because we have the Bible.

God Doesn’t Speak Today

Well He doesn’t speak to people personally anymore like He did in the Old and even the New Testament. Why, they say? Because those gifts aren’t for today. Back in Bible days, they didn’t have the completed Word of God like we do so they needed to hear Him direct them. When the last sentence was written in the book of Revelation they say that God only communicates with us in Scripture and anyone who says they heard God speak to them is a false prophet because they are adding to the Bible and usually cite this verse to make their case:

And I solemnly declare to everyone who reads this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God shall add to him the plagues described in this book. 19 And if anyone subtracts any part of these prophecies, God shall take away his share in the Tree of Life, and in the Holy City just described. (Rev 22:18-19, TLB)

I could make a case that this only pertains to the actual book of Revelation if one reads it in context, but it is good overall advice as we read in an article from gotquestions.org:

Although the warning in Revelation 22:18-19 is specific to the Book of Revelation, the principle applies to anyone who seeks to intentionally distort God’s Word. Moses gave a similar warning in Deuteronomy 4:1-2, where he cautioned the Israelites that they must listen to and obey the commandments of the Lord, neither adding to nor taking away from His revealed word. Proverbs 30:5-6 contains a similar admonition to anyone who would add to God’s words: he will be rebuked and proven to be a liar. Although the warning in Revelation 22:18-19 applies specifically to the Book of Revelation, its principle must be applied to the entire revealed Word of God. We must be careful to handle the Bible with care and reverence so as to not distort its message.

We should take care to not add or detract from the Bible. However God does desire to communicate with us in a tangible way today. Paul the Apostle even says that He communicates with us through His creation. And the gift of prophecy is still available to us today just as it has always been. So why is there so much blow back on hearing from God now?

Now More Than Ever

In the greatest time of spiritual warfare the world will ever see we desperately need the best intelligence available. Specifically God says He informs the prophets before He acts:

The fact is, God, the Master, does nothing without first telling his prophets the whole story. (Amos 3:7, MSG)

And many are saying the very people that God speaks to first are not of God simply because they are giving us specific details of current events or people. I think such criticisms are more about the style of communicating of these men and women and also that some people are not truly hearing from Him, but that shouldn’t be held against those who do actually hear from Him. Add to that the ability to communicate almost instantly and have it be seen by hundreds, thousands and even millions of people via social media and you have a recipe for false prophets making real prophets look bad. But the overall issue isn’t new either. Biblical examples of people saying they speak for God and didn’t are found in the Old Testament (see Jeremiah 28, 1 Kings 22, and Jeremiah 29:31-32) and the New Testament warns about such prophets as well (see 2 Peter 2:1 and 1 John 4:1). So we do need to recognize and call out false voices. When they say things like “thus sayeth the Lord” or “this is what God says” it certainly makes us pause because it sounds like they are adding to the Bible. That isn’t the way to test them though:

Be wary of false preachers who smile a lot, dripping with practiced sincerity. Chances are they are out to rip you off some way or other. Don’t be impressed with charisma; look for character. Who preachers are is the main thing, not what they say. A genuine leader will never exploit your emotions or your pocketbook. These diseased trees with their bad apples are going to be chopped down and burned. (Matthew 7:15 -20, MSG)

Don’t get me wrong, sincere people can be wrong, too. But they should be lovingly corrected not stoned to death. If their hearts are bad, well that’s a different story. In general, it’s a shame that so many Godly men and women are being dismissed simply because they are telling us what God hears in the ungodly people’s backrooms. Yes, check their lives and character, but God is giving us His intelligence so we can prepare and even act to avoid a spiritual Pearl Harbor. I pray we won’t dismiss His help when we need it the most.