Israel launches Arrow 3 and David’s Sling rockets to intercept missiles from Gaza, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen.
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When the People of Israel were about to enter the Promised Land, God warned them not to be misled by their success into thinking it was due to their own abilities: “You may say in your heart, ‘My strength and the might of my hand made me all this wealth.’ You will remember the Lord your God, for He gave you strength to make wealth, in order to establish His Covenant that He swore to your fathers, as this day” (Deut. 8:17-18).
Israel’s future success in the Land was due to God-given strength. He was the source of blessings.
Also Israel’s military successes were due to God fighting for Israel, giving them the strength to overcome more powerful enemies. The Hebrew word translated as wealth (chayil) in the quote above is usually associated with military success. In Hebrew, a soldier is a chayal.
Psalm 118 speaks of Israel under attack by nations all around (v. 10). God’s “right hand does valiantly [osah chayil]” (v. 16), strengthening Israel to enable it to defeat its enemies. It is His victory.
Since the beginning of the modern State of Israel, it has earned a reputation for military acumen and bold action: From the wars of 1948, 1967 and 1973 to the 1976 Entebbe rescue in Uganda, the 1981 destruction of the Iraqi Osirak nuclear reactor, and the 2007 destruction of the Syrian reactor, and more.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has once again validated that reputation. It eliminated Hamas’, Hizbullah’s and Iran’s top leaders and commanders. It sidelined 1,500 Hizbullah terrorists through explosive pager and walkie talkie operations.
After destroying much of Iran’s advanced Russian-supplied air defenses, Israeli and US planes bombed military installations, command centers and nuclear sites with impunity.
Israel’s air force commander declared it a miracle that Israel was able to fly hundreds of sorties to targets in Iran 1,000 miles (1,600 km.) away and back home without a single Israeli plane being shot down; not a single plane failed; not a single pilot was lost. Israeli military planners had projected up to 30 percent losses due to enemy fire and mechanical failures. Experts worldwide were astounded by Israel’s unheard-of performance.
Israel had secretly planted forward-bases inside Iran and Iraq to gather intelligence, conduct drone missions against Iranian rocket launchers, and coordinate rescues and air strikes.
Israel’s multi-layered air defenses (Iron Dome, David’s Sling and Arrow 3) were over 90 percent effective at interception. Global demand for these battle-proven and exceptionally capable systems is enormous.
Germany bought the Arrow 3 system for approximately $6.5 billion and has also expressed interest in David’s Sling. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) currently have an Israeli Iron Dome battery on loan manned by Israeli operators. Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Norway, Poland, Romania and more are reportedly also interested.
Most recently, Israel has deployed the Iron Beam, the laser defense system for downing short-range rockets, projectiles and drones, at a cost of a handful of dollars per laser burst, rather than the usual $50 thousand to one million dollars for each interceptor rocket of the above-mentioned systems.
Repeatedly, Israel has proven an ability to outsmart and outperform the military capabilities of its enemies. But success has at times led to over-confidence with tragic results, such as the opening days of the Yom Kippur War and, most recently, the October 7 massacre.
It is not that Israel should not be proud of its accomplishments (military prowess, high tech, medicine and other sciences, agriculture, etc.). But failure to attribute these strengths to God’s valiant right hand leads to an exclusive pride: “Our strength and the might of our forces” have made us this victory. Excluding God is folly.
There have been miraculous developments over which Israel has absolutely no control that enabled its success. Consider US President Donald Trump’s comeback election victory in 2024. He could have won the US presidency in 2020 instead. Had that been the case, due to term limits he would then not have been the president during critical stages of the current conflict, namely during the so-called Twelve-Day War in June 2025, when Iran’s nuclear sites were bombed.
In view of the criticism of Israel by President Joe Biden, and later by Vice President Kamala Harris, we know they would never have supported Israel’s anti-nuclear operations and would have imposed severe armaments sanctions against Israel.
Would God raise world leaders for Israel’s benefit? The answer is a resounding yes.
“Thus said the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him…that you may know that I, the Lord, who calls you by your name [Cyrus], am the God of Israel. For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel My chosen, I have even called you by your name: I have surnamed you, though you did not know Me” (Isai. 45:1-4). God called Cyrus, the King of Persia, to defeat the Babylonians and help return the Jews to Israel to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. (See also Dan. 4:14 [17]; Prov. 21:1; Jn. 19:11; Rom. 13:1.)
Consider the Russian-Ukrainian war that escalated to a full invasion four years ago. Russia, a close ally and trading partner of Iran, was so bogged down in its own war that it could not significantly support Iran’s war effort. This simplified Israel’s operations in Iran appreciably.
Similarly, Russia could not help its other ally, Syria, in 2024 either. The revolution in Syria that surprisingly brought down the Bashar al-Assad regime in just eleven days stopped the flow of Iranian arms to Hizbullah through Syria. Assad’s regime, an ally of Iran, was a critical weapons pipeline for Hizbullah in Lebanon. Israel was able to capture the remaining strategic Syrian-held part of Mount Hermon. In major military actions, Israel defeated the Syrian army without the loss of a single soldier.
Does God cause the actions, movements and migrations of entire nations, even their armies? “…Did I not bring up Israel from the land of Egypt, as well as the Philistines from Caphtor and Aram from Kir?” (Amos 9:7).
Would God involve Himself in nations’ affairs all for Israel’s sake? “I gave Egypt as your ransom, and Cush and Seba in your place. Because you were precious in My eyes you were honored and I love you; I put people in your place and regimes in place of your soul” (Isai. 43:3-4). God distracted Sennacherib’s siege of Jerusalem by allowing others to threaten Assyria.
Would God adjust Israel’s border according to its needs? “When the Supreme One gave the nations their inheritance, when He separated the children of man, He set the borders of nations according to the number of the Children of Israel” (Deut. 32:8).
To all three questions, yes.
For years, Israeli military analysts spoke of the likelihood of a coordinated attack by Hamas, Hizbullah and Iran. Such an attack would have been difficult for Israel to absorb. A three-front war, with a possible internal enemy, the Palestinian Authority, acting too, led experts to forecast severe losses on Israel’s side.
Hizbullah rockets in Lebanon pointing at Israel
Hizbullah alone, with its arsenal of 150 thousand rockets (more than any other Arab or Muslim nation), was expected to fire up to a thousand rockets a day at airports, military bases, utility grids and civilian areas. Some experts expected up to 15 thousand Israeli fatalities from Hizbullah attacks. Further, they expected 30 thousand casualties from Iranian missile fire.
In the end, no coordinated attack occurred. Hamas acted too soon with its October 7 attack. Hizbullah and Iran joined later, but without using their full capabilities. With poor coordination among the enemies, Israel was able to deal with each enemy individually.
Since the beginning of hostilities on October 7, 2023, about 30 thousand rockets, missiles, mortars and drones were launched against Israel by its enemies. Though some impacted with tragic consequences, the vast majority were intercepted or landed harmlessly. Another great miracle. “No weapon that is formed against you shall prevail….” (Isai. 54:17).
Israel could not bring about Russia’s preoccupation with its war with Ukraine; nor control the outcome of US presidential races; nor predict the ouster of the Syrian president. Israel could not predict its military successes, nor the relatively low casualties from rocket attacks. This is a view shared by rabbis in Israel, such as Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon.
We know that Israel’s “fortune” is a direct consequence of God’s Providence. Psalm 115:3: “Our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases.”
“But Israel is saved through the Lord with an everlasting salvation” (Isai. 45:17). Note, the correct translation is in the present tense; “is saved,” not “shall be saved.” God’s Covenant with Israel is ongoing.