The winds of change have been blowing in Lebanon for some time now, and prophetic intercessors have had the heads up that peace with Israel was on the way, even as we heard at our last Crossroads gathering. Are we now witnessing it with our own eyes?
We have already seen some amazing developments, with the Lebanese government imposing a full ban on all Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps activities inside Lebanese territory. Security forces have been ordered to track down, arrest and deport members of IRGC carrying out operations in the country, and peace talks with Israel are well underway.
In an event that seemed unimaginable not long ago, Israel and Lebanon held direct talks on April 14, mediated by the US.
“We discovered today that we’re on the same side of the equation,” Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter told the press after the talks. “ That’s the most positive thing we could have come away with.”
“We are both united in liberating Lebanon from an occupation power dominated by Iran called Hezbollah.”
Ambassador Leiter sat with Lebanese Ambassador to the US, Nada Hamadeh Moawad, together with Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss a framework for peace. Other U.S. officials, including Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa, were also present as facilitators.
“We made it very clear that the security of our civilians is not up for negotiation. That is understood by the government of Joseph Aoun,” Leiter assured, adding:
“This was a victory. for sanity, for responsibility, and for peace.”
The Israeli Ambassador commended the Lebanese government for courageously defying Hezbollah when the head of the terror group warned them not to participate in the talks.
“This is the beginning of a very strong and fortified, consistent battle against Hezbollah,” he insisted. “They are weakened, as they’ve never been, and together, we’ll continue to rid the threat of this Iranian proxy, which is so maligned, and so malignant in the region.”
“Lebanon is under their occupation, and we are suffering from their constant barrages of missiles and terror attacks trying to cross our border. We talked about a number of things, and most importantly, the long term vision, where there’ll be a clearly delineated order between our countries, and where the only reason we’ll need to cross each other’s territory will be in business suits to conduct business, or in bathing suits to go on vacation,” Leiter stated.
PRECIOUS IN THE EYES OF THE LORD
Significantly, the peace talks too place in Washington DC, where Yaron Lischinsky and his fiancee, Sarah Milgrim, were murdered last May as they entered a reception for young diplomats focused on humanitarian crises in the Middle East region. Yaron and Sarah were both committed to the work of peacemaking, and were involved in the development of the Abraham Accords.
Described as a bridge-builder, Yaron chose to dedicate his life to diplomacy, working as a research assistant on Middle East and North Africa affairs in the Israeli Embassy in Washington, but his years were cut short. He was eulogized as having been a man of excellence, dedicated to peace and progress. It seems very fitting that the peace talks are happening now, just a year later, in that very place.
Yechiel Leiter was one of the people who gave an address at Yaron’s funeral in Israel. This progress in peacemaking Leiter just announced would have brought great joy to Yaron, and represents, at least in part, the fruit of his work in Washington.
FROM A LEADER IN LEBANON:
“For Lebanon is at the end of the fork of the road of change for the Middle East. Lebanon will become an issue that causes the Middle East to go one way or the other.”
“In the midst of the beauty and grandeur of this place, I will begin to write a new script over how the nations will realign.”
“Out of Lebanon, a new wineskin will form, and a new river will begin to rise.”
“I will bring conflict into Lebanon, because it is the boundary that I will deal with this year concerning My promised land of Israel. The warlike tribes of Lebanon will once again arise. But in the end, I will win this war, and the riches that have been withheld from My Kingdom plan will be released.”
HOW TO PRAY
We believe the promises of God about Lebanon are reachable in our time, if we partner with the Lord in prayer.
“And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land…” (Ezekiel 22:30).
Here are some prayer points from Lebanese believers:
▫️“Please pray that the Lord would cover all of us under his wings and have mercy over Lebanon. I know we all want peace to come but we also want the removal of Iranian presence and control over Lebanon. It will be a difficult process. May the Lord do that quickly (Matt 24: 22).”
▫️“About a thousand people were either killed or wounded and all Beirut hospitals are crowded and asking for blood donations. We are expecting more escalation and a difficult time for Lebanon.” Please pray for the medical services, for provision, and the protection of innocents.
▫️“The Lebanese people are tired, they’re exhausted. I know people who are taking pills, medication, anxiety pills. There are a lot of traumatized people.” Please pray for healing, especially for the children: physically, mentally, and emotionally.
▫️“They have to open up a way for the Lebanese Christians to go to be in Israel, to be around the Jews, so when they come back they can start speaking up about their experience. That will help make it safer for the Jews to come to Lebanon. Little by little. We need a plan like this, but we need to be careful.” Pray for safe travel and positive connections between Lebanese and Israeli people to come soon.
▫️“I believe worship songs of peace shift the atmosphere, because I’ve been watching the changes and shifts. The Lord showed me it’s going to happen.” Let’s bring our “YES AND AMEN!” to what God is doing in our days.
“Is it not yet a very little while
until Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field,
and the fruitful field shall be regarded as a forest?
In that day the deaf shall hear
the words of a book,
and out of their gloom and darkness
the eyes of the blind shall see.
The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the Lord,
and the poor among mankind shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.
For the ruthless shall come to nothing
and the scoffer cease,
and all who watch to do evil shall be cut off,
who by a word make a man out to be an offender,
and lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate,
and with an empty plea turn aside him who is in the right.”
(Isaiah 29:17-21)
