UNPREDICTABLE TIMES AT REDEMPTION SEASON.
Easter is a special time of remembrance marking the death and resurrection of Jesus. His death purchased our salvation for sin and He rose from the dead demonstrating power over death giving eternal life to all who will believe in Him. As the Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Ephesians, “In Christ we have redemption through His blood, forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7)
The build-up to the crucifixion of Christ was unpredictable. The Christian world at that time was turned upside down and the hope of believers was shaken to the core as their spiritual Leader, indeed the Son of God was hung on a Roman Cross.
Rewind to ancient Egypt some 1,500 years earlier and the children of Israel are exhausted under the weight of Egyptian oppression as slaves. A man named Moses is mediating Israels release with the Pharoah until things get personal and the God of Israel kills the firstborn sons of Egypt. God has already commanded the children of Israel to be ready, they are to kill a lamb, take the blood and paint their door frames as a sign that will secure their redemption from slavery. The Angel of the Lord will pass over the homes of everyone that has the blood on their doors. In the ensuing chaos from the mass deaths in Egypt, Israel flees to the wilderness and so their journey to the land of promise begins. A journey that will be unpredictable, uncertain and will require faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Easter and Passover both celebrate redemption, one from the slavery in Egypt, the other from slavery to sin. Passover foreshadows Calvary (1 Corinthians 5:7) and secured a future for the people through whom Messiah would come. And Jesus would come during difficult times for the nation and an unpredictable world under Roman occupation.
Today we are living in unpredictable times, things that once felt certain and predictable are now the cause of greater concern and anxiety. Nevertheless, God is still on His throne (Psalm 47:8) and He who keeps Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps (Psalm 121:4).
As Passover commences (12-20 April) and Jews in Israel and around the world sit down at their Seder tables to recount the Passover story, as with all holiday seasons, much will be discussed about the state of things in Israel and events affecting Jewish life. It’s worth taking a moment to think about the things that may be on the minds of Israelis this Passover season.
Here are four potential Passover discussion topics
1. WILL ISRAEL GO TO WAR WITH IRAN?
Right now, the US and Iran are negotiating a new Iran nuclear deal that would insist Iran dismantle its nuclear program. Experts have claimed Iran is just weeks away from producing enough material for a nuclear ballistic missile that could change the landscape of the Middle East, something Israel simply will not allow.
Summary of the Iran Nuclear Deal
Signed in 2015 by Iran and several world powers (France, Germany, Britain), including the United States, the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) placed significant restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.
President Trump withdrew the United States from the deal in 2018, claiming it failed to curtail Iran’s missile program and regional influence. Iran began ignoring limitations on its nuclear program a year later.
Washington and Tehran have both said they would return to the original deal, but they disagree on the steps to get there.
THE STAGE IS SET
Following Benjamin Netanyahus recent visit to the White House it is clear that all options are on the table to persuade Iran to change course. France’s foreign minister recently warned “that if world powers were unable to quickly reach a new agreement with Iran over its contested nuclear program, then a military confrontation seemed “almost inevitable.””
This is certainly in the US scope of action with the recent repositioning of military assets to the Middle East including the battle group USS Carl Vinson along with B 2 Stealth bombers and other aircraft squadrons. The US has also provided Israel with another anti missile defence system (THAAD) that will provide cover for ballistic missile attacks from Iran should they attack.
Commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla conducted a series of high-level engagements with several leaders and service members in Israel, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Yemen during a five-day trip through the Middle East, between April 1-5. His visit along with other US delegates continue to prepare the way for potential conflict with Iran.
With Iran reeling from heavy proxy losses among Hamas, Hezbollah and now the Houthis who are getting hit hard by the US in Yemen, it is difficult to see a diplomatic end with what is a tyrannical regime. Despite Iran being crippled financially and last year having it’s Russian made S 300 missile defence systems destroyed by Israel along with other radar defence systems, it could still pose a threat to the region. Having already put other Middle East countries on notice that they will be attacked if they support Israel’s allies, it is possible although unlikely a broader conflict could occur.
We will wait and pray for the outcome.
2. WHEN WILL THE GAZA CONFLICT END AND THE REMAINING HOSTAGES BE RELEASED?
Donald Trump came to power in late January and soon after a ceasefire was agreed in Gaza whereby 33 hostages were released in exchange for around 2,000 terrorists in Israeli custody. Such was the despicable manner in which the Israeli hostages were released and paraded on the international stage along with the devastating images of the dead being returned including Shiri Bibas and her precious little babies, Israel said enough is enough!
With the backing of the US Administration, Israel’s military has returned to Gaza with fierce determination to eradicate Hamas in Gaza once and for all. The US has put plans on the table to find new homes for the citizens of Gaza in other countries with Egypt also putting forward a counter proposal that would see the country rebuilt for 3 million Gazans by 2030 at a cost of USD53 billion. The trouble with almost every proposal is that Hamas rejects everything and refuses to give up the remaining 59 hostages still languishing in life threatening conditions.
It is understood that around 24 of the 59 hostages remaining in captivity are still alive, however doubts linger over this and we can only pray for the best outcome. What is increasingly certain about the future of this war in Gaza is that Israel will remain on the ground there until every threat to Israeli citizens is neutralised, and every option is considered to reimagine the land without enemies. Equally, Israel is working tirelessly to ensure the same in the North of the country with Hezbollah and the unpredictable situation of the new regime in Syria.
Perhaps the end of the war will come when Iran and it’s proxies are rendered so weak they can no longer threaten Israel for some time. Of course the Bible tells there will be more to come (Ez 38), we just don’t know when.
3. IS THERE A “DEEP STATE” IN ISRAEL?
This developing story goes to the heart of the deep divisions that exist between left and right in Israeli politics and more broadly throughout Israeli society. In a similar manner it has played out in the US between Republicans and Democrats, so also in Israel.
As foreign observers to internal politics it is safer to remain circumspect with these kind of stories, however, if you have studied the trajectory of Israel as a nation, it is not difficult to see just how divided Israel has become. And it is largely divided along religious and secular lines as is now the case of most Western democracies. Conservatives versus liberals, traditional values and convictions based on religious and moral foundations versus libertine and amoral ones. The most recent protests across Israel (aside from the hostage protests) that have elicited fierce emotions have largely been along religious and secular differences. Whether it be over changes to rules that govern religious observances such as Shabbat, or religious abstinence in national service, or advancements in zionist activities such as settlements and the Temple Mount access, all are subject to debate and controversy with an emphasis on what it means to be Jewish.
STORY IN BRIEF
On the 19th March Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu wrote on social network X… "When a strong right-wing leader wins an election, the leftist Deep State weaponized the justice system to thwart the people's will.”
These comments are related to the Justice reforms of 2023, Netanyahus ongoing corruption trials and the governments attempt to fire Shin Bet Chief Ronan Bar over the QATARGATE scandal with the decision recently frozen by the Supreme Court until 20th April.
Israel’s President Isaac Herzog forced to address the “Deep State” Issue.
Whether Israel has a “deep state” or not, the forces of darkness are at work in Israel as they are across the whole earth deceiving, dividing and destroying, but God’s plans will ultimately prevail. The common value however among Jews and the Jewish State is survival, thankfully that is something God guarantees.
4. HOW DOES ISRAEL PROGRESS FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST 18 MONTHS?
In a meeting between Israel’s PM and the OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann on 2nd April the OECD leader expressed a positive outlook for Israels economy with the expectation it will out perform other OECD economies in the coming couple of years. With a strong high-tech sector that recently saw a record acquisition of USD 32 billion for Cyber Security firm Wiz by Google’s parent company Alphabet, it is anticipated that Israel’s economy will continue to strengthen as the geopolitical climate stabilises.
Tourism is also rebounding with this Passover expecting 1.8 million visitors to flow through Ben Gurion International Airport an increase of 60% over last year. 50+ Airlines will be flying to Israel from this month including United Airlines and British Airways having just resumed their schedules. Terminal 1 at Ben Gurion International Airport will reopen following major renovations and is expected to process some 1400 flights this month in addition to the main Terminal 3. During the lull in tourism due to the war, many hotels have also used the time to renovate existing hotels or build new ones.
However the personal toll on mental health has seen an overwhelming need for more psychological care in Israel as many have struggled with the trauma and loss caused by the events of October 7. In fact it was reported that 6 months following the attacks, 3 million (30%) of Israelis were suffering from trauma. In one study the numbers of those suffering PTSD (Post traumatic stress disorder) and GAD (Generalised anxiety disorder) as well as depression all have risen significantly. The report added “the trauma is multilayered and complex. Many families face a devastating combination of losses — mourning loved ones murdered on October 7th, enduring the anguish of relatives taken hostage, and coping with family members serving extended reserve duty. It’s nearly impossible to find an Israeli untouched by this crisis.”
The consequences of this crisis has seen the mental health system in Israel collapse under the strain with it necessary to access help from external NGO’s (Non Government Organisations). The Friends of Israel has been providing much needed relief for this kind of support in Israel thanks to our generous donors.
But don’t forget, it is not just the Israeli population suffering trauma this Passover season with millions of Jews who form the diaspora also living in fear as a result of anti-Semitic attacks.
One of the words you hear a lot in Israel and among the Jewish community is resilience, in fact resilience training is provided to many in Israel suffering from trauma. The Jewish people historically have also formed perhaps what could be described as a natural resilience from years of historic hatred and isolation. The scars from events past have shaped their psyche as God’s Chosen People sojourning from land to land as depicted in the Bible. I’m sure it is this resilience that will be spoken of around the Seder table this passover that will continues to propel them to the next season in the Children of Israel’s unpredictable journey .
CONCLUSION
As unpredictable as the world is right now, the time will come when things get much worse. The second coming of Christ as recorded in Luke’s (Luke 21:25-38) account will be a time when the earth descends into total chaos, and will be shaken from events taking place in the heavens such as have never been experienced before. It will be the final hour before peace comes to reign and righteousness is restored. But during this Tribulation, untold devastation will unfold on earth with a focus on the Nation of Israel. Jesus spoke of this unprecedented and unpredictable time to those who will read His words at that time, and He says…”When these things (the signs from heaven) begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:28)
That will be the day when Israel won’t be concerned about resilience, for their redemption has come, just as it is written…
““A Redeemer will come to Zion, And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,” declares the Lord.” (Isaiah 59:20)
“and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.”” (Romans 11:26)
