By Dr. Mike Stallard
June 15, 2025
It would be quite natural and correct to assume that, since my primary ministry is with the Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, I support the nation of Israel on most occasions. While I do not believe in “Israel, right or wrong” in modern affairs, I certainly support Israel’s attempt to defend itself in the Middle East from those nations who wish to see it destroyed. I have stood at the memorial site of the Nova Musical Site in southern Israel near Gaza where hundreds of souls lost their lives to brutal terrorism caused by the pure Satanic evil of HAMAS. Over forty years ago I stood with Israeli soldiers as I served as a technical advisor on F-16 jet fighters during the First Lebanon War as Israel went into Lebanon to stop the rocket attacks of the PLO.
Now, we come to the preemptive strike of Israel upon Iran a few days ago which has rattled the world. Israel has been here before. In 1967, Israel performed a nearly flawless preemptive strike on Egypt and Syria. There were provocations then as there have been now. Yet, preemptive strikes seem to me to be within the realm of what we call “biblical.” The story of Gideon against the Midianites in Judges 7 seems to me to be a kind of first strike against a dangerous enemy. For those who do not like Israel’s attack upon Iran, what should the USA do if the Mexican cartels started throwing missiles into southern Texas? Would it be proper for the US to eliminate the cartels before they did any further damage? Would it be appropriate to destroy the cartels if they were seeking a nuclear weapon a few miles from our border?
The HAMAS attack of October 7 was not provoked by anything but Israel’s existence. Israel had a right to respond. Iran has been working against Israel through her proxies in Yemen, Lebanon, and Gaza. There is no question of Iran’s role in this matter. Thus, there really is not a real preemptive strike on Iran by Israel. Israel had already been attacked by Iran. What is preemptive is the attempted removal of nuclear capability that could destroy the entire nation of Israel.
This all reminds me of Psalm 83:1-4 (NASB95) — O God, do not remain quiet; Do not be silent and, O God, do not be still. For behold, Your enemies make an uproar, and those who hate You have exalted themselves. They make shrewd plans against Your people and conspire together against Your treasured ones. They have said, “Come, and let us wipe them out as a nation, that the name of Israel be remembered no more.” It seems that things never change. When Israel is in the land, it is opposed.
We have been waiting for years for the shoe to fall due to Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons. It has fallen. The flag has been lifted and the Lion has roared. The world should stand up and be grateful.