The Writing on the Wall

Psalm 136  “He split apart the Red Sea – Ki l’olam chasdo
And made Israel to pass through the midst of it; – Ki l’olam chasdo
But hurled Pharaoh and his host into the Red Sea – Ki l’olam chasdo”

On May 19, 2024, the hand of G-d reached down and grabbed one of the approximately one hundred thousand aircraft in the sky on that day – and hurled it to the ground. Just as G-d turned Pharaoh and his host into fish-food in the Red Sea, the President of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, a passenger in the helicopter along with 7-members of his host became worm-food in the mountains of Azerbaijan.

Though casual participants in world affairs observed the mechanical failure of Raisi’s helicopter as a fortunate happen-chance, many within the Christian faith community celebrated it as a miracle of biblical proportion – and answer to our fervent prayers for the nation of Israel.

Sunday, May 19, 2024 – Pace Assembly Ministries (free to use)

The Book of Purim teaches that there are no ‘chances or coincidences” in the life of faith, and G-d continues to display great miracles against the enemies of the Jewish people today.

The fourth chapter in the Book of Daniel records one such display in the days of the Babylonian exile concerning the prophet Daniel and King Nebuchadnezzar. Having been summoned to the royal chambers, Daniel is asked to interpret a nightmare that had filled the king with absolute horror. Reluctantly, Daniel warned him of an impending judgment that would soon end his rule. G-d grants Nebuchadnezzar a short period of time to reflect upon the warning, but the king boasts all the more about “all he has built and his great achievements” and is soon removed from his royal position.

He also loses his ability to rationally think and speak.

Two decades later, Nebuchadnezzar’s grandson, Belshazzar, is the king of Babylon. The Jewish people are still being held in exile, but Babylon is now under siege by the armies of Cyrus, the Medo-Persian king. Undaunted by the impending danger, Belshazzar hosts a banquet, mocking the G-d of Israel by toasting his pagan gods using the holy gold and silver cups confiscated during the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. Suddenly, “a hand appears and scratches out a message on the wall in front of him!” “Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin.”

The king’s face turned white, and his legs buckled beneath him as he cried out for his enchanters, astrologers, and diviners to immediately be gathered. He declared that anyone who could interpret the message would be given the authority to rule as the third regent of the empire. But when this assembly of “wise men” saw the inscription, they were baffled. The queen reminded Belshazzar of a Hebrew slave named Daniel, “. . . within whom was a spirit of the holy gods” who could unravel the mystery. Daniel is brought into the banquet hall and reveals the writing on the wall warning to Belshazzar: “You have been weighed in the scales and found wanting, and your reign is about to come to an end . . .”

The next night Belshazzar died and was replaced by Darius the Mede.

From the countless Hebrew baby boys who died in the Nile River by Pharaoh’s decree, to the historic and continued bloody horrors of Jew hatred around the world, we have no understanding or defense for the mystery of our G-d who waits to rescue – but rescue He will.

The current “biblical story” being written including the relentless gaslighting of Israel from college campuses to the White House, juxtaposed with the unimaginable radical Islamic attacks upon her – tests and strains our faith.

What is easy to see however, is the writing on the wall becoming ever clearer watching the “hand of G-d” announcing a soon coming regime change in the USA.

Am Yisrael Chai – Od Avinu Chai!

Pastor Victor Styrsky
Christians United for Israel, CUFI
Former National Educational Outreach Director