Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

IDF Looks to Bible to Prepare for Future Threats [Zech 12]
Breaking Israel News ^ | 7/23/2015 | Ahuva Balofsky

Posted on 07/25/2015 10:38:36 AM PDT by Jan_Sobieski

“And the LORD said unto Gideon: ‘The people that are with thee are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel vaunt themselves against Me, saying: mine own hand hath saved me…’” (Judges 7:2)

The Israeli Defense Forces is preparing for a possible future which includes a nuclear-developing Iran, a senior defense source told The Jerusalem Post. According to the paper, the IDF must assume the worst to properly reshape the military, improve training and cut costs.

New IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gadi Eisenkot and a team of military planners spent four years developing what they have termed the “Gideon Plan” for streamlining the IDF over the next several years.

It calls for significantly increasing the power of wartime multi-arena combat divisions; restructuring the army to create specialized brigades and battalions that focus exclusively on border security, leaving the main fighting to the divisions; and improving weapons and training.

The Gideon Plan was publicized Monday, ahead of the results of the Locker Commission, which calls for significant reductions in the Israeli army’s operating budget. The Locker commission, ordered by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to examine the military budget and headed by Major General (Res.) Yohanan Locker, has received considerable criticism from defense officials, who claim it undermines the army and delegitimizes career officers...

(Excerpt) Read more at breakingisraelnews.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; Israel; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: gideon; idf; israel; specialforces
The Bible prophet Zechariah made an astounding prophecy about the future of the Jewish people 2500 years ago. In Zechariah 12, the prophet predicted that the Jewish people would reclaim the land of Israel and be a strong vibrant nation. The prophet also foretold that the entire world would reject the nation and be preoccupied with solving the "Jewish Problem".

The situation will not end well for the nations of the world, for God himself will intervene in the quarrel and give the land to the Jewish people that he promised to give it to. Additionally, in this struggle with the nations, the Jewish people will see the love and faithfulness of the God of the Bible who allowed Himself to be "pierced" for their sins.

Zechariah 12:1 The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him. 2 Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. 3 And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces * , though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. 4 In that day, saith the LORD, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness. 5 And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the LORD of hosts their God. 6 In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem. 7 The LORD also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify themselves against Judah. 8 In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them. 9 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. 10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced , and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

1 posted on 07/25/2015 10:38:36 AM PDT by Jan_Sobieski
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Jan_Sobieski

These massive defense cuts have persuaded me that Netanyahu is blowing smoke when he says the Iranian deal is a threat to Israel’s security. I’d be a little more convinced if Israel adopted a wartime defense budget* in response to the deal.

http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Locker-Commission-calls-for-massive-IDF-budget-cuts-across-the-board-409673

* During WWII, the US wartime military budget was 50% of GDP. Israel’s proposed number is less than 7%, and a deep cut from previous levels.


2 posted on 07/25/2015 10:50:06 AM PDT by Zhang Fei (Let us pray that peace be now restored to the world and that God will preserve it always.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Zhang Fei

Maybe they actually think of the US as their greatest enemy and see how our defense is being aborted.


3 posted on 07/25/2015 11:10:28 AM PDT by huldah1776
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Jan_Sobieski
Continue reading Zechariah 13:6....And one shall say to him What are these wounds in thine hands? The he shall answer, "Those which I was wounded in the house of my friends."

Continue on to Chapter 14:12.....And this shall be the plague wherewith the Lord will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.

Prior to 1945 we knew of nothing on earth which could do that. Now we give Iran nuclear weapons which will do just that.

This will happen to ALL who fight against Jerusalem. Well, we elected obama. Obama is an enemy of Israel. Obama (USA) has thrown in with the most dangerous regime in the world regarding Israel. The wrath of God will be visited upon all nations which come up against Jerusalem/Israel.

Zechariah 12:9 And it shall come to pass in that day (day of the Lord), that I (God) will seek to destroy ALL the nations that come against Jerusalem.

There you have it in a nutshell.

4 posted on 07/25/2015 11:53:05 AM PDT by Texas Songwriter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Zhang Fei

Interesting... I have heard that true conservatives in Israel are not happy with Netanyahu. Perhaps his group in Israel are actually the Establishment Conservatives and not truly conservatives willing to do what is right, regardless of what the world is doing.?.?


5 posted on 07/25/2015 12:52:36 PM PDT by Jan_Sobieski (Sanctification)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Jan_Sobieski
The promises were made to Jesus Christ. And only those who are in Christ (believers) will be inheritors of the promise.
Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ. (Galatians 3:16)

If they were truly "torah-observing Jews", then they would believe Moses, and believe Jesus Christ now.

"Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. I receive not honour from men. But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. (John 5:39-45)

God's not coming to their aid, unless it is the "god" of this age (Satan).

6 posted on 07/25/2015 2:08:45 PM PDT by nonsporting
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nonsporting

You do not understand Romans 11, read it! Israel SHALL be saved and they will look upon Jesus Christ, whom they have pierced, and say “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord”


7 posted on 07/25/2015 2:22:06 PM PDT by Jan_Sobieski (Sanctification)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Jan_Sobieski

Amen to that!


8 posted on 07/26/2015 11:21:10 AM PDT by Biggirl ("One Lord, one faith, one baptism" - Ephesians 4:5)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: nonsporting

(Romans 11:16–24)Is clear which depicts Israel as distinct from the Church...the “natural branches” are the Jews, and the “wild branches” are the Gentiles..... The “olive tree” is the collective people of God..... The “natural branches” (Jews) are “cut off” the tree for unbelief, and the “wild branches” (believing Gentiles) are grafted in.

... This has the effect of making the Jews “jealous” and then drawing them to faith in Christ, so they might be “grafted in” again and receive their promised inheritance. The “natural branches” are STILL distinct from the “wild branches,” so that God’s covenant with His people is literally fulfilled..... Romans 11:26–29, citing Isaiah 59:20–21; 27:9; Jeremiah 31:33–34, says:

“And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: ‘The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.’ As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.”

Here, Paul emphasizes the “irrevocable” nature of Israel’s calling as a nation (see also Romans 11:12). Isaiah predicted that a “remnant” of Israel would one day “be called the Holy People, the Redeemed of the LORD” (Isaiah 62:12). Regardless of Israel’s current state of unbelief, a future remnant will in fact repent and fulfill their calling to establish righteousness by faith (Romans 10:1–8; 11:5). This conversion will coincide with the fulfillment of Moses’ prediction of Israel’s permanent restoration to the land (Deuteronomy 30:1–10).

When Paul says Israel will be “saved” in Romans 11:26, he refers to their deliverance from sin (verse 27) as they accept the Savior, their Messiah, in the end times. Moses said, “The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live” (Deuteronomy 30:6). Israel’s physical inheritance of the land promised to Abraham will be an integral part of God’s ultimate plan (Deuteronomy 30:3–5).


9 posted on 08/02/2015 12:10:06 AM PDT by caww
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson