RUMBLING INTO POSITION:

 

TWO SIDES COMING INTO ARRAY

 

 

"Then the Angel of YHVH went further, and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left" Numbers 22:26

 

 

Last week we examined how, far from the mere rising up of an oppressed people against a despotic ruler, the conflict in Syria was in fact rapidly coming into focus as something far more vast-an awakening confrontation between the two ancient rival branches of Islam itself, centered in Syria. How the Iranian-supported Shi'ite forces of Hezbollah in southern Lebanon are coming to the aid of the embattled Alawite (a Shi'ite derivative) minority led by President Assad. This week Iran declared that its Islamic Revolutionary Guards will deploy 4,000 troops into the region to aid Assad.


On the Sunni side, the Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist faction, affiliated with the Saudi-backed Al Qaeda is now considered the best-equipped arm of the Syrian opposition forces, with up to 10,000 on the ground inside Syria. Yesterday Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi severed diplomatic relations with the Assad regime and called for a no-fly zone over Syria. It is suspected that this may only herald the soon rumbling of the mighty Muslim Brotherhood into position in support of its Sunni brethren to the north.


Meanwhile, this past week the Obama administration announced that it has decided to begin arming Syrian opposition fighters in their battle against Assad. It appears that this is related to the President's declaration a few months ago that use of poisonous gas by the Assad regime against Syrian citizens would be a 'red line' over which the US would be forced to respond. The US now considers that it has evidence that some use of sarin has taken place against the rebels, and the President evidently feels obliged to make good on his pledge. However, given the expanded direction the war is now taking, voices are being raised in warning that America's coming into this conflict will in actuality be seen not as her protection of a besieged people from war crimes, but rather as the US coming down on the Sunni side of a burgeoning sectarian conflict. Even as Russia, which sided with Assad because of strategic interests in the area, is now being seen as arrayed on the side of the Shi'ites.

With these two great branches of Islam rising once again against each other, and nations being seen to ally themselves with either branch, it is a time for sobriety and seeking after God for insight and prophetic understanding as to what is taking place, and what the Spirit is saying to believers. It is interesting that there is teaching within both Sunni and Shi'ite Islam of the coming of a Messiah-figure called a Mahdi-who will redeem the world from evil before a Day of Resurrection/Judgment. The Shi'ites even teach of a return of Jesus (Isa) to assist this Mahdi (who is supposed to descend at a point east of Damascus!). How if a 'man of peace' were to actually appear on the scene, one of such charisma and supernatural power as to be able to unite the two branches? (There is already this which both branches share, a common hatred of Israel). Yeshua taught that such false messiah's would come, who would deceive many. We are not here saying that such a time is upon us.

  But we are convinced that powerful spiritual forces are behind the upheavals which are swiftly multiplying across the world; it is a time, as our Lord commanded us, to "Watch".

"The people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. And those of the people who have insight shall instruct many" (Daniel 11:32-33).


PLEASE PRAY:

*That the mercies of He who "makes peace in His high places" (Job 25:2) will hold back the forces of war from being totally unleashed in this region outside of their season (Job 25:2; Eccl. 3:8). 
 
*That the United States will not come into this conflict if it is out of the wisdom and timing of the Lord.

*For the Body of Messiah in Syria to rise up within the carnage in courage, hope, life and healing in the Power of the Holy Spirit.

*For Angels to minister on behalf of "those who will inherit salvation"-for visions of life and truth amongst Muslims in all of these countries-and the courage to come out of the darkness and into the light of Yeshua/Jesus.

*For Israel's borders to be protected from breaching (Psalm 147:14).

*For wisdom in Israel's leaders regarding the warfare across her border. For strategic intelligence as to where and when to strike if it becomes necessary to destroy the stockpiles of poisonous gas.

*For many Jewish Israelis to turn to Yeshua, the Light of the World, as they see darkness closing in on all the lands surrounding them.

*For revelation and insight for the Body worldwide as to the significance of what is being played out in the Middle East today, and for the unction and understanding to pray.

portions taken from Israel prayer list