THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING!
I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people
Who have set themselves against me all around.
Psalm 3:6
I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people
Who have set themselves against me all around.
Psalm 3:6
No, its not a case of Cold War paranoia, but its 2015, and the Russians are really coming - to the Middle East. Whilst America is executing its policy of withdrawal and non-involvement in the Middle East, and Europe is busy trying to figure out what to do with the hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing ISIS or other extremist Salafist butchers, Russia and Iran are quietly filling the power vacuum in the Middle East.
The Russians have established a base on the Mediterranean coast of Syria at Latakia (see map below) a mere 420 km from Jerusalem (as the fighter jet flies!).
 |
| http://www.affarinternazionali.it/IMAGE/syria.jpg |
According to American sources there are now some 28 Russian fighter jets in Syria and at least 12 support aircraft, transporters and helicopters. Russian drones are already being used for surveillance purposes, and there are plans to send some 2000 Russian military personnel to this new airbase, in the 'first phase' (!) of its development. It is likely that they are also sending surface-to-air missiles to the base, since this is an integral part of the defense of any air base. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4703202,00.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/11880974/Russia-begins-military-operations-in-Syria-as-Putin-sends-28-jets.html
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/95971a4e-607d-11e5-a28b-50226830d644.html#axzz3mRoQZkWM
 |
| Netanyahu meets Putin |
 | ||
| A satellite photo taken on September 20 shows at least 16 Russian combat aircraft stationed at the Bassel al Assad air base near the Syrian town of Latakia Photo: Stratfor/Reuters http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/11880974/Russia-begins-military-operations-in-Syria-as-Putin-sends-28-jets.html
Earlier this month, Qasem Soleimani, the commander of Iran's elite Quds Force, met with the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, and as a result hundreds of Iranian ground soldiers were also sent into Syria. This cooperative effort between Russia and Iran is intended to shore up Syrian President Assad's crumbling regime which now controls only 25-30% of Syria, mainly along the coastline. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4699809,00.html
|
Although the Russian and Iranian presence in Syria is not ostensibly directed towards any attack against Israel, it is nevertheless of great concern to us here. This week Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, travelled to Moscow for direct talks with the Russian President, Putin, aimed at reducing the possibility of 'misunderstandings' and inadvertent clashes between Israeli and Russian forces in the area, particularly in dealing with arms shipments from Iran to Hezbollah through Syria. http://news.yahoo.com/netanyahu-putin-agree-plan-avoid-syria-clashes-081802449.html
The long term risks are not so clear. It appears that as Iran has increased its direct presence in Syria, their proxy, the Shiite Hezbollah militias, are pulling out. Hezbollah has lost an estimated 1000 fighters in its efforts to support Assad against Dai'ish (ISIS) and as long as it has been so tied up in Syria, it has not had the resources to open a front with Israel. Why is it pulling out now? It may be merely to make way for its 'big brother' Iran, but it may equally be intended to allow Hezbollah to rearm and prepare for a new confrontation with Israel. Russia's involvement with Iran is also very worrying. We have already seen their readiness to supply Iran with sophisticated long-range surface-to-surface missiles in the wake of the lifting of the boycott against Iran. What is Putin's long-term agenda? Is there a wolf in sheep's clothing in our midst? Although we would welcome the defeat of the military forces of Dai'ish, we fear it may be at the cost of installing an even greater threat to Israel, the Middle East and the World, a Russian-Iranian coalition, extending from the Mediterranean to the North Sea and the eastern borders of Iran.
Once again I would cry out to the USA and the European Nations to wake up to the threat that confronts us. From our perspective they seem increasingly weak and ineffectual. The USA has lost the will to be the world's 'policeman' and Europe is busy putting its finger in the hole in the dyke, in the face of a mass migration from Northern Africa and the Middle East, instead of trying to stop the source of the flood. One day soon the dyke might crumble and then it will be too late.
We who pray to the God of Israel, and of the whole world, we need to cry out now to the LORD. Although we know God is ultimately in control and He is working out his redemption plan, we are called as a 'holy priesthood' (Revelation 1:5-6; I Peter 2: 4-5) to intercede for the lost at this time. We need to be faithful in praying for our leaders, and the leaders of our enemies too, that "God's Will be done in Earth" in our days.
Today is Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), the most solemn day in the Jewish calendar. It ends the Days of Awe when Jews search their hearts, ask forgiveness of one another for wrongs committed, and seek God's forgiveness for their sins. On this day they pray that their names will be written in the Book of Life for the coming year. In a desire to obey the Biblical injunction to 'afflict your souls' on this day (Leviticus 23: 26-28) most Jews totally abstain from any work, food or drink or other pleasurable activity for 25 hours. TV and radio stations are silent and all shops, businesses and places of entertainment are closed. In Israel all traffic on the roads stop and an eerie hush descends upon the Land, broken only by the cries of happy children riding their bicycles and skateboards along the traffic free highways and streets, and the occasional ambulance siren.
Messianic believers also observe this solemn day. Many of us use it as an opportunity to fast and pray, not only for ourselves, but especially for our People. While we can rejoice that we have the sure knowledge that our names are written indelibly in the Book of Life for ever (Revelation 3:5), we are very conscious that in Judaism today there is no such certainty for even the most observant of Jews. They can only hope, at best, that they will be found worthy to be sealed in the Book for the next year. Only in Yeshua can we have any certainty of eternal life and freedom from the second death. We long to see all people blessed with that knowledge and to find true eternal life in Yeshua.
Lord, how they have increased who trouble me!
Many are they who rise up against me.
2 Many are they who say of me,
“There is no help for him in God.” Selah
Many are they who rise up against me.
2 Many are they who say of me,
“There is no help for him in God.” Selah
3 But You, O Lord, are a shield for me,
My glory and the One who lifts up my head.
4 I cried to the Lord with my voice,
And He heard me from His holy hill. Selah
My glory and the One who lifts up my head.
4 I cried to the Lord with my voice,
And He heard me from His holy hill. Selah
5 I lay down and slept;
I awoke, for the Lord sustained me.
6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people
Who have set themselves against me all around.
I awoke, for the Lord sustained me.
6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people
Who have set themselves against me all around.
Psalm 3: 1-6
 |
| https://dailydeposit.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/psalm-63-4.jpg |
