Israeli Spring

Over 300 rockets and mortars rained down on Israel last week. Why isn’t this news in the Western media? With an on again, off again cease-fire, Gaza is again spreading terror in southern Israel. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of Turkey incredibly says: Israel must stop ‘massacre’ of Palestinians in Gaza. We live in an upside down world, where evil is good and good is evil. Yet, Gaza in clearly in God’s focus. There is some unfinished business for Gaza in prophecy.

Thus says Yehovah: “For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they took captive the whole captivity to deliver them up to Edom. But I will send a fire upon the wall of Gaza, Which shall devour its palaces.” Amos 1:6-7

An important key to understanding Gaza is given in Zephaniah 2:1-7:

Seek Yehovah, all you meek of the earth, Who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden In the day of Yehovah’s anger.

The timing of this prophecy is repeated in verse 2 and 3, as “the day of Yehovah’s anger.” I have often proposed a response to the New Age bumper sticker: “Visualize World Peace.” My alternative bumper sticker is: “Visualize the Wrath of God!” This is not a mean-spirited or fleshly idea, but rather the real order of things. Before we will see true world peace, we will see the judgment of God against violence and evil. Israel will only know true peace when they recognize that Jesus (Yeshua Sar Shalom) is the only real prince of peace. They will surely one day say to Him: “Baruch ha ba hashem Yehovah! – Blessed is He who comes in the name of Yehovah.

Zephaniah 2:5, which identifies Gazans as “Cherethites” is literally: executioners, or assassins! It would seem a simple step to understanding this reference as an ancient way of describing the suicide/homicide bombers of today’s Hamas in Gaza. Remember that “hamas” is not only the acronym for Hamas, but is also the Hebrew word for violence.

Finally, Zephaniah pictures Gaza after the judgment as a place where shepherds tend their sheep and a place for the remnant of the house of Judah.

Woe to the inhabitants of the seacoast, the nation of the Cherethites! The word of Yehovah is against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines: “I will destroy you; so there shall be no inhabitant. The seacoast shall be pastures, with shelters for shepherds and folds for flocks. The coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; They shall feed their flocks there; in the houses of Ashkelon they shall lie down at evening. For Yehovah their God will intervene for them, and return their captives.  Zephaniah 2:5-7

Israel faces a very threatening Spring this year. We speak often about the Psalm 83 War. The judgement on Gaza is very likely a major component. We need to be faithful watchmen on the wall, calling on God to defend Israel His chosen as He fulfills His prophetic word.

Les Lawrence, Voice of Christian Zionists     (READ MORE)