We usually think of the victory of Beersheba as the key to open the door for Israel to re-enter the “stage of history” as Israel’s PM declared, and together with the Balfour declaration that’s true. However, for the curtain on history’s stage to be raised, another prop was needed for the military scene, and that was the victory at the battle of El Alamein in November 1942.
Previously during 1942, General Rommel’s “Afrika Korps” was racing across North Africa, heading with seeming impunity to the Suez Canal and the Middle Eastern oilfields. The Yishuv, (body of Jews living in the region) were upwards of 500,000. To them Rommel’s march across North Africa became known as the “days of dread,” as they well knew what was happening to their compatriots in Europe.
That catastrophe was averted however, with Rommel’s defeat at El Alamein. It was here that the Australian 9th Division were instrumental in defeating the mighty Afrika Korps at El Alamein. It was Churchill who said “it was the fierce fighting of the Australians that swung the battle in our favour,” even the Palestinian Post, now the Jerusalem Post, had headlines to the effect that “the Australians have done it again”. It was another chapter in our shared history with Israel. Many historians including the Israeli, Gorenberg, believed that without this victory, even D-Day might not have occurred. We will never know for sure, but of this we can be sure, the victory at El Alamein consolidated the victory at Beersheba and averted a second holocaust in the Middle East.
Generals, Derek Prince and the hand of God at El Alamein
Interestingly that time was also a “day of dread” for that great prayer warrior, Bible teacher and Christian Zionist Derek Prince, who was a British NCO in charge of a field ambulance unit in North Africa at the time. Derek could plainly see a bitter defeat coming with enormous geopolitical consequences, so despite his meagre army rations, he fasted and prayed for an Allied victory.
In preparation for the battle the newly appointed General Montgomery said “Let us ask God, mighty in battle to give us the victory.” As Derek heard this cry to God over the armed forces radio, he said that he “heard a voice saying clearly, your prayers are answered,” and in the middle of a tent in the sandy desert, Derek broke down and wept with joy.
Today you and I are not only part of history, we are history in the making… The heritage of the ages depends on us.
At the same time and in close proximity, the Australian Commander Lieutenant General Sir. Leslie Morshead gave an inspiring and profound address to our troops prior to the great battle as Rommel lay siege to the town, the following is the text of his speech.
“Today you and I are not only part of history, we are history in the making. For years we have enjoyed almost without effort, almost without thinking, freedom won for us by others who have endured, free speech and enfranchised thought earned by unknown heroes of forgotten days. Today the safety and guard of those things depend on us. The heritage of the ages depends on us.
“We are not creatures of Destiny but Destiny itself. Without us, all that is decent and kindly and holy will perish from this earth.
“Here we will fight and if necessary, here we will die, but we will not retreat from here.”
If only we could hear that kind of rhetoric from our leaders today as we face with the same sense of dread, a new El Alamein moment.
The new El Alamein
Our Judeo Christian heritage that came from above is under siege by an insidious ideology that comes from below. Today we face an enemy far more dangerous than Hitler, against weapons more dangerous than tanks and guns. Morshead, in his address prior to the battle of El Alamein, clearly outlines what is at stake, “The Heritage of the ages”, which includes Israel with its capital Jerusalem. He clearly sets out on whom the burden of the battle falls. Derek Prince shows us our weapons of choice for those of us that rally around the Royal standard to face with fortitude the “gathering storm” of a great battle, the battle for our Judeo Christian heritage.
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