(Cont. from Lebanon 1).
.

THE PROPHECY OF ISAIAH 33:7-12 (NEB)
BEING  FULFILLED  IN  LEBANON.

"HARK, HOW THE VALIANT CRY ALOUD FOR HELP".
Although Israeli armed forces and Hezbollah fighters are reputed to be fearless, it is prophesied that even their most courageous ones will cry out for help. Currently, France and the U.S. have failed to reach agreement on a draft UN ceasefire resolution for Lebanon.

"THOSE SENT TO SUE FOR PEACE WEEP BITTERLY!"
While the Israeli invasion of Lebanese territory to stop Hezbollah rocket attacks on Israel continues, Lebanese government leaders refuse to enter into ceasefire negotiations with Israel.

"THE HIGHWAYS ARE DESERTED,
  NO TRAVELLERS TREAD THE ROADS".
Israeli civilians have been warned not to travel in northern Israel for fear of being killed by Hezbollah rocket attacks. Similarly, civilians in southern Lebanon have deserted the streets for fear of being bombed or shelled by Israeli forces, and many roads have become impassable.

"COVENANTS ARE BROKEN, TREATIES ARE FLOUTED".
Past agreements signed by the Lebanese and Israeli governments and the UN are being openly flouted both by Hezbollah (pursuing the destruction of the State of Israel) and Israeli forces (invading Lebanon to root out and destroy Hezbollah militants).

"MAN IS OF NO ACCOUNT".
To date Hezbollah fighters have indiscriminately fired 2,700 rockets into northern Israel, killing 40 Israelis. During intensive bombing and shelling of suspected Hezbollah targets, Israeli forces have indiscriminately killed over 1,000 Lebanese civilians.

"THE LAND MOURNS AND LANGUISHES" (RSV).
Families in Israel and Lebanon are now mourning the deaths of many loved ones killed in the conflict. (Languish: To become depressed, to lose strength, to become faint).

"LEBANON IS EATEN AWAY AND CRUMBLING".
After weeks of intensive Israeli bombing and shelling, many apartment blocks in Lebanon have been razed to the ground and vital road links, bridges and power stations destroyed. But while Israeli forces continue to hunt down and kill Hezbollah fighters, the infrastructure of Lebanon is progressively being destroyed. "Lebanon is confounded (thrown into disorder, confused, astonished) and withers away" (RSV). The scripture: "The wisdom of their wise men (government leaders and advisers) shall vanish and the discernment of the discerning shall be lost", is also being fulfilled.  (Isaiah 29:14 NEB).

"SHARON IS LIKE A DESERT" (RSV).
Many Israeli citizens living in the coastal region of Hasharon between Haifa and Tel Aviv have been living in underground bunkers for the past four weeks, hiding from Hezbollah rocket attacks.

"BASHAN AND CARMEL ARE STRIPPED BARE".
Bashan of the present-day is the Golan Heights, a disputed territory east of the Sea of Galilee currently under Israeli occupation since the 1967 and 1973 wars with Syria. Carmel is a region south-east of Haifa currently under attack from Hezbollah rockets supplied by the Syrian government.

WHAT IS PROPHESIED TO HAPPEN NEXT?
"Now, says the Lord, I will rise up. Now I will exalt Myself, now lift Myself up. What you conceive and bring to birth is chaff and stubble; a wind (Spirit) like fire shall devour you. Whole nations shall be heaps of white ash, or like thorns cut down and set on fire. You who dwell far away, hear what I have done; acknowledge My might, you who are near. In Zion sinners quake with terror, the Godless are seized with trembling and ask, Can any of us live with a devouring fire? Can any live in endless burning?"  (Isaiah 33:10  14 NEB).

C. B. Thomas.
11/8/06.