Scripture: Deuteronomy 32 v 9 - 10: " For the LORD'S portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.
10 He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye."
Zechariah 2 v 7 - 9: "Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon.
8 For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.
9 For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me."
We know that Israel is the apple of God's eye, His most cherished people. We all have children who are the darlings of our hearts and we would do anything to protect, help, bless and encourage them no matter what problems they were entangled in.
From the time back in Genesis that Jacob wrestled with God, and because he prevailed with God, he was found worthy and was called Israel. He died in Egypt during the time of famine when his beloved son Joseph was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers.
Through Joseph's spiritual dreams while falsely imprisoned he came to Pharoah's attention. Through interpretation of the King's dreams he was able to guide the nation through a coming seven years of famine. He was made a governor over Egypt to fully control food security. Joseph was able to save his whole family during the famine when they came to Egypt seeking food, finding Joseph who was presumed dead. Jacob the patriarch died and was buried in Egypt.
After the 400 years of slavery under different Pharoahs, Moses came to deliver Israel from a cruel Pharoah, and when the Hebrews left Egypt they took the bones of Jacob with them to be buried in the Promised Land.
Our God poured out terrible judgments upon Egypt including the death of every firstborn of animals or Egyptians, including the son of Pharoah. Only the Hebrews were spared because the blood of lambs upon the lintels of their front doors caused the Angel of Death to pass over their homes. From this comes the annual memorial feast of a Passover Seder still celebrated today.
It was part of the legal precedent for the Blood of The Lamb to cover those who believe in Jesus from the wages of sin - eternal death. The Blood is the only substance that can remove our sins. In the Old Testament, it was the blood of bulls and goats that covered Israel's sins for one year. In the New Testament, the Blood of Jesus covers every believer once forever. After the Rapture salvation comes from martyrdom when the Mark of the Beast is rejected.
Israel is the apple of God's eye and those nations that oppose her and want to destroy her will reap what they sow. Syria is a case in point. For thousands of years God has patiently watched Syria make war against Israel. The last time was the Yom Kippur war when Israel was having its most Holy day. There were only a few hundred soldiers on the Golan Heights that day, and they watched in horror as 2000 Syrian tanks advanced across the plain towards them.
There was an American journalist there too who wrote about this event. Those tanks could wipe out an unprepared Israel in hours. I don't know how many people saw it but out of the sky came a cloud in the form of a hand with the index finger touching a place on the ground in front of the tanks. The order was received from the Syrian command to halt. The tanks stopped exactly where that finger stopped.
After the Six Days War in 1967 which saw Israel regain the Old City and the West Bank, the Palestinians have been screaming for this area to be returned to them. This Yom Kippur War in 1973 was supposed to accomplish at least that, if not the complete annhilation of Israel. The journalist, Lance Lambert, in his book, Battle for Israel, spoke to the Syrian commander and asked why the tanks had stopped. They could give no coherent response! The Finger of God had protected Israel.
However, God has responded by taking His hand of protection off Syria and allowing them to self destruct. Millions of Syrians have fled the madness of Bashan Assad, a rogue dictator. It is a powerful message to those who send their missiles against Israel. Iran, Hezbollah, Palestinians, Hamas and Houthis head the list of those whose judgment is near.
For a year since the atrocities of October 7, Hamas has paid a terrible price. Recently it was the turn of Hezbollah which has lost many terrorists and nearly all leaders and commanders as fast as they are appointed. It's a job nobody is putting their hands up for these days. Tiny Israel in the midst of many large Muslim countries is making them all sweat. To God be the glory!
Last week from 2nd to 4th October was the celebration of Rosh Hashanah, which means When the Heavens are Open! They were certainly closed before that when Iran sent almost 200 ballistic missiles to destroy Israel. Very few got through the huge defences of the Iron Dome and David's Sling. There was only one death reported, a Palestinian man in Jericho. Some landed on or near an Israeli airbase which showed some damage but was still fully operational. Thank You Lord.
All the nations who side with them against Israel will have the same judgment. America's greatest protection is the love for Israel from some nations who provide weapons and their own surveillance technology for the safety of the Holy Land. What you sow you shall reap. Protect the apple of God's eye and His hand will stop North Korean missiles from touching America. France cancelling delivery of weapons to Israel is flirting with disaster.
Another example is Italy or Rome, who destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple in A.D.70 under the Roman general, Titus. In A.D.79, the volcano, Vesuvius, blew its top and destroyed a Roman province and the city of Pompeii. What you sow against Israel you reap sooner or later.
The United Nations make decrees against Israel to try to restore the losses to Palestinians of the Old City and the West Bank. They targeted to destroy Israel and will do so again and again, but cannot live with what they lose. The missiles that they fire into Israel always seem to land where no deaths occur, or little damage. It's not luck, it is the evidence of a powerful Protector, the hand of God, that stopped the Syrian tanks, that prevents missiles doing harm.
In Matthew 25, Jesus separates the sheep from the goats. The sheep go to Heaven, the goats go to Hell. The yardstick of how you are designated a sheep or a goat is your attitude to Israel. If you love her you are a sheep. If you hate her, you are a goat. Life is all about choices.
The last three and a half years of the Great Tribulation is called the Wrath of the Lamb.
Revelation 6 v 15 - 17: "And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?"
His wrath will be poured out upon everyone still alive on Earth. The Rapture has taken the believers away. Everyone covered by His Blood. Just like the Exodus of the Jews from Egypt, we will escape this planet in its turmoil and tribulation, and forever be with the Lord.
Do not threaten Israel or friends of Israel, the One who watches over them never slumbers nor sleeps. If you touch the apple of His eye expect Him to touch back. He has consistently warned the world of the consequences of such folly. I feel the need to remind people as they seem unable to grasp the simplicity of God's love.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Your favour is upon those who pray for Israel, and for the peace of Jerusalem. We anticipate the day when all Arab nations sign a 7 year peace treaty with Israel. Let us continue to bless Israel for to curse her brings Your wrath. Those believers who stand with the Apple of Your Eye will be protected and saved for eternity. In Jesus' name Amen.