Extreme Difficulty

The valley of Ayalon, Israel. Where Joshua prayed and the sun miraculously stood still. The site of a deadly battle in 1948 where many Israeli soldiers, including newly arrived Holocaust survivors, lost their lives.

Elwood McQuaid describes the scene in "Zvi: The Miraculous Story of Triumph Over the Holocaust":

Each time the young Jews began to rise in an attempt to retreat, the Arab guns tore them apart. Shouts and groans from the wounded hung in the still, torrid air above the wheat fields, which were now ablaze around them.

As the day wore on, many fell prey to the effects of the sun. They were maddened by both thirst and swarming insects. Zvi was among those who kept trying to drag wounded comrades to whatever scant cover could be found in the fields. The sun scorched his head as heat waves danced off the valley floor to mingle with the smoke and noise. Men fell everywhere, spewing blood from gaping holes that had been torn in their bodies. Suddenly, Zvi saw a sight that momentarily froze his senses. Arab villagers were running among the fallen Jews, pausing just long enough to bend over the wounded and repeatedly plunge daggers into their helpless bodies.

Finally, numb with exhaustion, crazed by thirst, and engulfed in the deafening sounds of war crashing about him, Zvi didn't care anymore. He got to his feet, stood erect, and started walking away from the sounds of the guns. He could hear the high-pitched whine of the bullets as they passed within inches of his body. But try as they might, none of the Arab riflemen could hit him. (i)

Zvi, a newly arrived Holocaust survivor, miraculously rose up, walked out of the battle and later came to know his Messiah, becoming a mighty witness for Jesus Christ amongst his people.

His witness continues as an encouragement to us today as a battle rages all around us. Many of us are experiencing unimaginable personal difficulties against a backdrop of global tyranny and chaos.

Yet miraculously we stand, we walk, we continue on fulfilling our purpose as light from heaven shines over us and inside those of us who know the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour. We are stationed here for such a time as this. Extreme difficulty makes for extraordinary training.

"Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God,

that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day,

and having done all, to stand."

Ephesians 6:13 KJV

(i) Elwood McQuaid, "The Miraculous Story of Triumph Over the Holocaust", The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, 2000, page 104-105.

Image: Dmitry Mishin at Latrun, Israel, on Unsplash.