GNITN - Special Edition

Israel At War – Day 344

Seize The Day!

Just Another Day

Back on September 11th of 2001 I started my day as usual and got ready to go to work. Normally I don’t turn on the television, but I did that day. What I saw on the news was definitely out of the ordinary. They were talking about a plane hitting one of the twin towers and I thought it was an errant small plane that went off course. Then I discovered it was passenger airline. Now I was wondering how that happened. But then they talked about a second passenger airline hitting the other tower and talk of a terrorist attack was being heard. As much as I wanted to listen more, I needed to get to work so my wife took me to the bus stop I usually walk to, but after she dropped me off she came back and told me one of the towers collapsed. And then the other tower collapsed. Once at work I heard talk of a plane hitting the Pentagon. And then talk of a rogue airliner that was off course and headed in the direction of the Capital Building. Since all planes were ordered to land, the only ones still in the air were deemed to be a threat. Mind you, I worked right across the street from the tallest building in my state and it emptied out in minutes. We were murmuring about why we couldn’t evacuate our building and then the CEO got on the intercom and assured us we weren’t in any danger. Surreal would explain how we felt.

That Was 23 Years Ago

The subsequent anniversaries after that fateful day were always special and observed as being special. But as time has passed, fewer and fewer people seemed to take note of it and now it seems like people are reminded of it and move on with their lives as if it was an eternity ago. Such is human nature when it comes to days like 9/11. The emotions fade and it becomes more and more like any other day. Unless we think about it and intentionally make it special these “special” times become less and less distinct. We hear about services at the site and how Presidents current and past attend. And broadcasters take a few seconds to report on them, but I doubt if anyone said anything about them. It is sad, but even my memories and feelings have subsided and I have to work to heighten them. I would be willing to bet that fewer and fewer people say anything about 9/11 just as many people aren’t moved by the anniversaries of Pearl Harbor and have to be told what happened on that day.

The War In Israel

On October 7th of 2023 Israel was attacked by evil people who killed around 1,200 individuals and 250 were people taken hostage, marking the most lethal day in Israel's history and the most devastating for the Jewish community since the Holocaust. Regardless of who you support, it was all over the news for weeks and even months. People clamored for more facts and of course the talk of getting the hostages back was a hot news item. And now that we are 344 days into the war other things are more important and even online sites that had the war in the banner of their news sites are moving it down below other topics. If this fighting continues to go on I think that the conflict will go below the fold as they say in newspaper lingo. As I said, it is human nature to gravitate to newest thing while leaving the old events behind like a toy a child got on Christmas last year and hardly looks at by the following summer or fall. And what I fear is that we as Christians are getting weary of giving the people of Israel the same prayer covering as we did last October. In America, we’ve turned to the elections in November. More local or national news are now getting top billing. And I as I record this podcast, fewer and fewer people watch my daily updates. I get it. However we need to understand that the prophetic importance of even daily events in Israel now are unfolding the Biblical map of the major events that are found in the pages of Scripture. The countries are aligning as seen in the pages of the books of Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and Isaiah. I see it. Others see it, but are you seeing it? When I hear someone say they wished they lived in Biblical times and shout back to them “You Are!” I’m excited, but I wonder if I’m getting more and more alone in thinking that.

Carpe Deum!

The Latin phrase used in all sorts of literature and movies is apropos today. Rather than pay less and less attention we should be seizing the day at learning more and more about Israel. And we should be using the events in Israel right now and using them in witnessing opportunities to prove to Christians and others that the Bible is amazingly accurate as the prophecies detailing the current events now were penned thousands of years ago by people who had no idea what they were describing let alone when they would be relevant. I bring this up so that we can use it to get people to take a look at the Bible and then to think more than once or twice about Jesus who also plays a major role in prophecy and in changing their lives. But we also need to intensify our prayers for the peace of Jerusalem and to tear down strongholds in the Heavenlies that are pointed right at killing Jews and annihilating Israel. Believe it or not, we can and will make a difference when we do that. And of course we in Psalm 122:6 we’re told to do it and even get a blessing when we do. How cool is that? And if we want to get an even bigger blessing then we need to remember that according to Genesis 12:3 God Himself will bless us as we bless Israel. So I want to encourage you to reinvigorate your passion to know all about the war against Israel and then use that intensified interest to intercede for His chosen people.