Prayer For Israel—Australia, in Israel September 2024
The days between the 16th-27th September 2024 will forever be etched into my conscience for as long as I live. But first, a bit of background leading up to that momentous week.
Sandra and I had been planning this trip to Israel for almost 12 months.
Last year on the 1st of October 2023 we concluded a 25 people strong, 14 days long, Prayer for Israel tour of Eretz Israel that was almost 4 years in the making, when the door got firmly slammed in March 2020 due to COVID. The ensuing 2023 tour was a great success and after the shock and utter revulsion of October 7, 2023, we planned to return to Israel as soon as humanly possible to offer prayer and support.
April 2024 seemed a good time and so tickets were booked. Also, that period was relatively quiet in Israel as talks were being held between Israel and terror entity Hamas, through Egypt, as to the release of over 100 + hostages.
One week before departure we were in Canberra at the Israeli Embassy at an impromptu gathering of Christian supporters of Israel.
Next day after flying back to Brisbane, I caught Influenza A, a dangerous, energy-sapping virus that in the end floored me for nearly 3 weeks. Cancel trip!
Re-book 14th September for 2 weeks. The morning of September 14th we had a domestic flight booked with Virgin Australia to fly to Sydney to connect with our Thai airlines flight hooking up with El Al, in Bangkok at 3pm. It was 8am and Virgin Australia cancelled our flight to Sydney with no credible excuse or reason. Virgin would not or could not book us on the next available flight. International connection missed. Cancel trip 2!
After some internal soul searching, much prayer and consultation with supporters here in Australia and in Israel we rebooked for the 16th of September. An arduous 44-hour trip via Singapore and Paris. We were determined not to let the devil win. Apart from that, our dear friend Cookie promised us a lamb chop dinner the day we arrived. How could we refuse?
After landing it didn’t take long for us to orientate, as this was our 20 something trip to Israel since 2008.
We had a list of individuals to visit carrying gifts for everyone.
The congregations and individuals were:
All of the above individuals and congregations are very dear friends of Prayer for Israel Australia, and it was wonderful to see them in person. And that’s the thing, it would have been so easy and cheaper just to wire the money. But that’s not the point. Meeting brothers and sisters face to face, offering prayers and encouragement personally is extremely important as it helps cement a bond that is not easily broken.
Every one of the above is heartbroken for their nation.
The people of Israel are war weary, from a war they never started or wanted.
The people of Israel want their people back. Hostage taking is a war crime and the world seems to care not about the fate of the still 100+ hostages being held by terror organizations in Gaza, Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
The people of Israel are angry. Angry that this attack happened in the first place. How could the world’s most advanced nation militarily not read the signs?
The people of Israel want answers from their politicians. To this day, it’s not forthcoming.
Then, suddenly on the 17th of September, Israel got her Chutzpah back.
Enter stage right, the exploding pager incident. Only Israel and only the God of Israel could undertake such a brilliant plan. I’m sure most of you reading this know how it was done so I won’t hash over it again, suffice to say for a couple of days a smile, if not laughter, entered the Israeli psyche again. And it was infectious and hard not to become involved. Israel had caused the infiltration of the century! Lebanese journalist Mohammad Barakat, known for his anti-Hezbollah views, called the ‘pager attacks’ a “Lebanese 9/11” The Lebanese newspaper Al Akbah reported that “the enemy succeeded in directing its harshest blows to the body of the Islamic Resistance since the beginning of the conflict with the enemy, in an exceptional security operation in terms of the ability to reach targets and means”.
Although Israel’s President Isaac Herzog denied Israeli involvement, Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu asked somewhat whimsically if Hezbollah had “got the message”.
Then 10 days later, Israel exacted another body blow to the terror organization controlling Lebanon. The precision strike on terror leader and criminal mastermind, Hassan Nasrallah.
On Friday evening, September 27th, a Shabbat, Israel exacted revenge on her arch enemy and slanderer of the God of Israel, Nasrallah.
According to Israel Army Radio, 8 US made F15’s took off from a base in the Negev bristling with six 2000lb bunker busting bombs each and other missiles destined for the Beirut hideout of the terrorist and his entourage.
I was lying in bed in Beer Sheva, listening to them take off. Unbeknown where they were headed. Army radio reported over 100 bombs were dropped at intervals of 2 seconds. No-one could, or did survive the pounding.
The Lion was roaring again, after 11 months of tears.
Sandra and I considered it a privilege that God would allow us to be in Eretz Israel at such a pivotal time in the history of the Nation State.
The success of Israel’s operation stood in stark contrast to its misjudgment of Hamas’s intentions prior to October 7th, 2023. Nasrallah was dead and one of the key heads of the multi-headed snake was cut off.
We left Israel 2 days later. Thankful to God that He would allow us, though trial and setback to complete the mission set out before us, visit our beloved friends and family and arrive back in Australia safely.
At the time of writing, it has just been reported Hamas terrorist mastermind and leader Yahya Sinwar was eliminated in Gaza. The snake called terror and disorder is mortally wounded, but still has a heartbeat. And while it does the Lion of the tribe Judah waits, but doesn’t slumber or sleep.
Prayer for Israel – Australia is building strong and long-lasting friendships with our dear brothers and sisters in the land of Israel. If you are interested in learning more about what we do and you wish to become a subscriber contact us on 0431 324 123 or PO Box 3438 Loganholme Qld 4129 or email prayer4israelaus@yahoo.com
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