Pastor’s Thoughts – 09/06/2026

We know that the Bible is the Word of God. We know that God is the Author of all history. We also know that God has a particular covenant and purpose for Israel. As His chosen people, Israel has been used of God to provide our Savior, the Word of God, and we know from prophecy Israel will be the nation from which Christ will rule on the earth. It is no wonder that we can turn to the Word of God and observe the news of the day, and see the markings of God working timelessly just as He states in His Word. One of the incredible prophecies of God related to Israel is found in Psalm 83. This inspired writing by Asaph could be pulled out and placed in a modern newspaper, yet it was written between 2500 and 3000 years ago. Asaph writes, “God, do not remain quiet; Do not be silent and, God, do not be still. For behold, Your enemies make an uproar, And those who hate You have exalted themselves. They make shrewd plans against Your people, and conspire together against Your treasured ones. They have said, “Come, and let us wipe them out as a nation, so that the name of Israel will no longer be remembered” (Psalm 83:2-4). He then goes on to list the nations surrounding Israel, and includes Assyria, which is modern day Iran. What this Psalm shows is the continued hatred by Middle Eastern nations, which consist of Muslim populations, and the obsession against Israel. Behind this hatred is Satan, and the root of antisemitism is prominent because of Israel’s unique covenant with God.

We should be reminded of the story of Esther and how Haman, a high official, sought to annihilate all Jews during the reign of Ahasuerus in Persia (Iran) around 475 BC. God intervened and Haman was hanged on the very gallows that he had erected to hang the Jew Mordecai. God has promised to keep Abraham’s offspring and to bless those who bless them (Gen. 12:3). We know from later Scripture that the blessing God promised comes through Isaac to Israel. We also find in Ezekiel 38, a prophecy which brings us to our very day, as it states to Israel, “You will be summoned, in the latter years you will come into the land that is restored from the sword, whose inhabitants have been gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel, which had been a continual waste; but its people were brought out from the nations, and they are living securely, all of them” (Ezekiel 38:8). Could anything be more clear as a reference to the events of our day in the news. We have a nation, Iran, being governed by those consumed with one idea above everything in their life – they are consumed with the single purpose of destroying all Jews from the land of Israel.

Those nations listed in the verses that follow in Ezekiel 38 cared nothing for this tiny, desolate land until after the terrible events of World War II, and because of the holocaust the Jews were given a small strip of land that they previously possessed for resettlement. In 1948 Israel was again recognized as a nation. Jews have since miraculously returned in great numbers from all parts of the world to not only resettle, but to make the desolate land beautiful and bountiful. God said through Ezekiel, “The desolated land will be cultivated instead of being a desolation in the sight of everyone who passes by and they will say, ‘’His desolated land has become like the Garden of Eden; and the waste, desolated and ruined cities are fortified and inhabited’” (Ezekiel 36:34-35). God through Ezekiel pronounced what we see today in the land of Israel, and we know that it will be even more bountiful in the future when Christ returns. As one who has been privileged to visit Israel, it is indeed beautiful, and also amazingly productive. The hand of God is demonstrated in doing something through the Jewish people that only He could do.

Listed prominently in the Bible among the nations that arise and lead others to seek to destroy the regathered nation of Israel in the latter days are Persia (Iran) and Gog (Russia). Only God, who is the Author of history, could have His servant, Ezekiel, write such exacting prophecy more than 2500 years ago. What will be the outcome? “It will come about on that day, when Gog comes against the land of Israel,” declares the Lord God, “that My fury will mount up in My anger” (Ezekiel 38:18). “I will call for a sword against him on all My mountains,” declares the Lord God (Ezekiel 38:21). He goes on to write, “So I will prove Myself great, show Myself holy, and make Myself known in the sight of many nations; and they will know that I am the Lord”’ (Ezekiel 38:23). Beloved, let us not be like those in our world who have no idea why or what is really occurring before them daily in the news from the Middle East. We have the Word of God and are living in the light of God’s history unfolding before us. We are in those latter days, and are seeing the culmination of mankind achieving great things from technology, yet the problem of man’s heart and man’s rebellion against God is not solvable by technology or by man himself. Man is being blinded by Satan to do his will.

The solution to the problems in the Middle East are found in Christ. When we understand our sinful condition and natural bent to follow Satan, and by God’s grace turn from evil to Christ, we are set free. When we belong to Christ by faith, we change and love what He loves and desire to see His will and purposes accomplished. As the Author of history, our God will in the end have His revealed way because He is Lord. Those who read and know His Word, and trust and follow Him will be graciously not only spared, but will live eternally with Him in a state of glory. This is the truth before us in God’s Word. Come Lord Jesus!