Chapter 36 of Rees Howells, Intercessor takes us back to 1941, when Howells and his college were praying daily about the war. Chief on their minds was the safety and protection of Palestine, for the future establishment of a place where God's people -- the Jews -- would have a homeland, which is where Jesus would return. It is amazing that this actually took place.
I can only imagine the great tension in the air as Hitler's forces attacked on many fronts. Four of the greatest prayer battles were about: the Nazi invasion of England; the battle for Alexandria; the battle of Moscow; and the attack on Stalingrad. General J.R.C. Fuller pointed out later that these four events spelled the doom of the Nazi's. What a "coincidence" that this group of believers labored in prayer over these events!? I think it not coincidence.
One account of the foiled attempts of the Nazi's in Alexandria explains their sudden surrender, when it looked like the British might break themselves. "1,100 men of the 90th LIght Panzer Division, the elite of the Afrika Korps, came stumbling across the barren sand with their hands in the air. Cracked and black with coagulated blood, their swollen tongues were protruding from their mouths." The Germans had 24 hours without water when they overran British defenses and found a 6-inch water pipe. They shot into it and began drinking like famished dogs. Little did they know at the time that this pipe had just been laid and was being tested (tested only with salt water, as fresh water was too precious for mere testing). The German army drank heavily of salt water, which ushered in the collapse of their bodies and their surrender. How crazy, random, and coincidental is that? The prayers of these people were passionate, desparate, and intense, asking God for a breakthrough ... and then this happens.
It's a controversial thing to think of God helping one side win a battle or a war. But would anyone in their right mind really stand up and make a case for God to perhaps be on the Nazi's side? So, while it's still a very heavy, serious, and tricky thing to pray for God's favor on one side of a conflict; it surely is true that one side may have the Almighty's blessing. One regime being so evil and wicked makes it slightly easier to choose sides.
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long, meandering sidenote:
It's interesting to note one of Howells' comments about the lands he was sure would not fall to the enemy -- Palestine, Syria, and Iraq. It's so fascinating that all those lands have such biblical importance to them. A lot of people have some real questions about this war with Iraq that the US finds themselves in; but few would probably argue that the Taliban and the Islamic forces (that have openly cried for the destruction of America and who danced in the streets when the World Trade Center towers came down) could be considered friendly, blessed, and deserving of pampering, "soft love." Most of the liberal Democrats in the House and Senate favored going into Afganistan to destroy the Taliban. Christians calling a conflict like this a "holy war" scares the devil out of many journalists. Any reference to biblical language like "fighting the good fight" makes them believe that Christians will blindly kill people in a false delusion of "doing it for God." While this concern might be noble, I think the truth will find them out to be over-reactive and "trigger happy" (in the sense of concluding too early such and such conclusion concerning what spokes people for the church are saying). Knowing people's tendencies and inclinations can help leaders and spokespeople choose their words more carefully. Nobody wants to see so-called "spiritual people" make a rash decision and start a bloody war when it turns out they were wrong and those killed end up being killed under false pretence and delusion. That would be a tragedy. But it doesn't appear that the possibility of some conflict being "right" or "holy" or "blessed" is completely out of the question. Those that would rush into it and those that would discount it altogether are both in error (at least in my humble opinion).
What does this mean? Are we to equate Iraq with Nazi Germany? I don't think so. But it is some food for thought, isn't it? Jesus made some radical calls for our lifestyle, involving turning the other cheek to occupying forces/soldiers who asked you to carry their backpacks. This is true. But He did not call for an overthrow of these occupying (Roman) forces, even though His people were very tired of this occupation and sometimes inhuman treatment. Nor did He call for the abolishing of armies and the police force. Just like with the subject of fasting (which He assumes we will continue to do), His comments on their existence can lead us to make a reasonable assumption that these types of organizations are necessary and part of life. The wise person will be charged with making sure these powers are used with wisdom and discretion.
Posted by Doug Van Pelt at August 16, 2006 09:12 AM