Iran (MNN) — Early on Saturday, Israel finally carried out its promise of retaliation for Iran’s October 1 missile attack. Israel’s airstrikes focused on military and radar facilities in Iran. It was Israel’s first open attack on Iran in its history.
International leaders are calling for de-escalation and restraint. At first glance, it seems like it might be possible. For example, rather than announce its full assessment of Saturday’s strikes, Israel is classifying that information. Iran’s media has also chosen to downplay the damage from the attack.
Lana Silk with Transform Iran believes escalation is unavoidable.
Some Iranians celebrate after Iran’s October 1, 2024 missile attack on Israel (Photo courtesy of Maryam Davarnia via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)
“Inasmuch as neither side really can afford a full-blown war, at the same time, neither side can lose face. Whoever stops (retaliating) is going to be the one that’s on the back foot, the one that has been effectively defeated, even in the short term,” Silk explains.
Indeed, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has asserted that Iran will not back off and will defend itself. Israel military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari has said that if Iran responds with further aggression, Israel will “be obligated to respond.”
What do the people of Iran think?
Silk says some Iranians support their regime’s agenda against Israel but that they are in the minority. Another set of Iranians hope that a war will undermine or weaken the Iranian regime’s chokehold on its own people.
Others are just trying to survive. Silk explains, “What we’re hearing from them is that they are less concerned about a potential war and more concerned about their immediate, intense needs — and survival in many cases.
“Having said that, this group is going to be drawn in, whether they like it or not, because what was once talk of war is becoming more and more a reality.”
There’s a place for you in this story
You can be part of God’s purposes in the Middle East. One way may be through big-picture prayers.
Silk points to the Lord’s Prayer as our starting point: “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
(Graphic courtesy of Transform Iran)
“We can’t presume to know what God’s will is. Of course, God’s will is not loss of life or suffering. He loves the people of Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Iran. He died for them all, and He wills for not one of them to be lost, but to come into an eternal salvation relationship with Jesus,” Silk says.
“So we can pray generally about that. We can pray for people to come to know the Lord. We can pray for protection over Christians who are in this place, and courage for them to be bright lights in in the midst of darkness.”
Start by learning — and then pray more
Another important step is to become more informed.
“If we want to really get actively engaged in what’s happening, we need to be aware of what’s happening. We need to be partnering — whether it’s in prayer or finance — with organizations that have boots on the ground who are serving in places like Israel, across the Middle East, through to Iran,” Silk says.
That may look like following ministry stories from Transform Iran through its website or on social media, praying actively, and raising awareness in your community, church, country of the real issues going on in the Middle East.
This deeper understanding and awareness will inform your prayers. For example, here’s how you could be led to pray more deeply for the leaders of Iran who desire to wipe out Israel.
“We pray a death to evil schemes. We pray for salvation. We pray for Damascus Road conversions. We pray for their hearts to be steered towards good rather than evil. We pray for their schemes to fail if they’re trying to destroy and bring loss of life, that they would fail in those pursuits,” Silk says.
“We pray for the church to be a voice in these places and to be a beacon of light for God’s glory.”
Follow Mission Network News’ coverage of the Middle East here to connect with other ministries seeking to advance the gospel of Christ.
Header photo courtesy of IDF Spokesperson’s Unit via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
