Have you wondered where some of these cities in Israel are in relation to others? Have you ever wondered just how big Israel is? What do you really know about this little place that is always in the news?

Here is a current political map of Israel that might help put a place, and relation to other places, with a particular city name. On this map you can see the size of Lebanon and just where these "hot cities" are - the cities being bombed. It shows where Gaza is and the West Bank. It also shows where Syria is and remember, Syria is near Iraq and Iran is on the other side of Iraq. So our US military personnel are between Iran and Syria right now. Jordan is below Syria with Saudi Arabia just beyond Jordan. Here is a map of the middle east on a larger scale if you're interested in seeing how it all fits together. Iran's President often speaks of "wiping Israel off the map" and it seems that he feels this is an opportune time to do so, at least according to this article dated July 10. (Just before the kidnappings of the IDF fighters at the Lebanon/Israel border)

Israel is less than 10,000 square miles in size. It is a small country. If you know the Pacific Northwest in the USA or the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Canada - Israel is the size of Vancouver Island. If you're not too familiar with that, then this might help - Israel is much smaller than the entire state of Maine. When you compare Israel in size to the entire Arab world, this is what you get (please visit the link, it'll knock your socks off!)

But something I'd like to say to everyone who is reading. Remember that Israel is the land that HaShem promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jerusalem is where He chose to place His Name, where He chose to live among man in His holy temple. There is something special about that place. With that in mind, don't think for a second that He doesn't love the Arabs too. It is very likely that you and I are both Gentiles, non-Jews. We are no different than the Israelites in our physical heritage. Those of us who are believers have been grafted into Abraham's lineage by our faith in Yeshua the Messiah. This is an opportunity that is open to all the Arabs too. Let's not forget that. The Arabs who are dying in the bombings will never get another chance to hear about or experience Yeshua the Messiah and the salvation that is offered to them through Him. Never. Just the same as some of the Jews fighting with the IDF, many of them will never get to hear about Yeshua (who is quite different than Jesus, btw) or experience Him in their lives. War is terrible. War is hard. Death is final. You don't get to make another choice after you're gone - it's too late when you're dead. When we hear or see reports about the victories that Israel is having it is okay to be glad. But remember at what cost this battle is being fought. Life is valuable, very valuable. Every life is valuable. The lives of the kidnapped IDF fighters, the lives of the Hizbullah fighters, and the lives of the civilians caught in the middle. But we make our choices and often we die by them too. I believe that it breaks the heart of HaShem when there is fighting and people die. Whenever someone created in His image dies after living a life of rebellion or even a life of ignorance, it is then too late. I think that causes Him grief. At the same time, He is holy and cannot be in the presence of sin, He hates sin.

On another note, I find it interesting that Iran is willing to publicly announce that a cease-fire is an acceptable option. ??? Huh. Just the other day it was a ripe time to wipe Israel off the map and now they're willing to talk cease-fire? Interesting.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Pray also for the people caught in the middle.