By Pastor Barron Greenwalt, En-Joy Ministries
June 12, 2025

Dear En-Joy Ministries Family,

As we gather under the banner of God’s grace, our hearts turn to the Middle East, where conflict escalates. On June 12, 2025, Israel launched preemptive airstrikes on Iran, targeting military and nuclear sites, with explosions reported in Tehran and a state of emergency declared in Israel. Iran is now preparing a “history-making” retaliation, potentially involving missiles and drones, raising fears of a broader war. Amid these troubling headlines, we seek God’s Word for comfort, clarity, and courage, trusting that He holds the nations in His hands.

The Ancient Roots of Conflict: Ishmael and Israel

To understand the hostility we see today, we must look to Scripture’s historical narrative. The tensions in the Middle East trace back to Abraham’s sons, Isaac and Ishmael. God promised Abraham a son through Sarah, but when Sarah remained barren, Abraham had Ishmael with Hagar, Sarah’s servant (Genesis 16:1-4). Ishmael, born of human effort, was not the child of promise—that was Isaac, through whom God’s covenant with Israel would flow (Genesis 17:19-21). Yet, God blessed Ishmael, declaring, “I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation” (Genesis 17:20). These twelve sons of Ishmael became twelve tribes (Genesis 25:13-16), dwelling in the regions of modern-day Arabia and beyond, often in hostility with their brothers, the twelve tribes of Israel descended from Isaac’s son Jacob (Genesis 35:22-26).

Genesis 16:12 describes Ishmael’s destiny: “He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.” This ancient rivalry between Ishmael’s descendants and Israel’s tribes provides a backdrop for the conflicts we witness today, including Iran’s aggression through proxies like Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. While not all modern Middle Eastern nations directly descend from Ishmael, the spiritual and historical echoes of this division persist, fueling enmity. Yet, as Christians, we remember that God loves all people—descendants of Isaac and Ishmael alike—and calls us to pray for peace.

Israel’s Enduring Destiny and the Church’s Calling

Some claim the church has replaced Israel, but this is heresy. Scripture affirms that Israel and the church each have distinct, God-ordained destinies. Paul writes in Romans 11:1-2, “Has God rejected his people? By no means!” Israel remains God’s chosen, with a divine purpose, just as the church is called to shine as Christ’s body. The notion that the church supplanted Israel has fueled centuries of Jewish persecution, even contributing to horrors like the Holocaust. At En-Joy Ministries, we stand with Israel, praying for its protection, while also lifting up the people of Iran, who are precious to God. Scripture teaches that a society’s flourishing often reflects how it treats God’s people, the Jews (Genesis 12:3).

A Spiritual Battle and the Tactic of Confusion

The Bible declares, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12). The current crisis—Israel’s strikes, Iran’s threats, and the actions of Hamas and Hezbollah—is not merely geopolitical but spiritual. Iran, echoing the ancient Persian Empire of Cyrus the Great, which once ruled Israel and vast regions, now wields influence through terrorist proxies. Hamas and Hezbollah, armed with thousands of rockets, threaten Israel’s borders, and reports suggest Iran seeks an airfield in Damascus to challenge Israel’s air force. Some, like Pastor John Hagee, see this as the prelude to Ezekiel 38-39’s Gog and Magog wars, where God puts a “hook” (Hebrew: chach, a ring in a captive’s nose) in the jaw of the king of the north, possibly Russia, drawing it into the Middle East. While I’m not fully convinced of this interpretation, I am certain: God is sovereign, and those who act against His purposes are merely fooling themselves.

The enemy also uses confusion to derail God’s work. Nehemiah 4:8 warns of adversaries who “conspired together to come and attack Jerusalem and create confusion.” Like a fugitive in an old Western throwing a rock to distract pursuers, the enemy sows misinformation through media distortions, leaving us disoriented about Iran’s plans, U.S. diplomacy, or oil price spikes. Confusion clouds our ability to discern truth or see God’s path. Let us follow Nehemiah 4:9: “We prayed to our God and posted a guard.” Through prayer, we seek God’s clarity to overcome the enemy’s tactics.

Historical Context and Spiritual Resources

History complicates this conflict. Iran’s power grew under the Obama and Biden administrations through cash payments, empowering its aggression. In contrast, President Trump’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and the Abraham Accords fostered relative peace. Yet, no nation is blameless. The U.S. has destabilized regions, and I believe President Bush’s Iraq invasion was based on lies, costing innocent lives. We do not blindly endorse Israel’s or any nation’s actions but recognize God’s promises to His people. As Christians, we rely on spiritual resources. Ephesians 1:3 assures us, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” These blessings—gifts like wisdom, discernment, and compassion—are given freely by the Holy Spirit to equip us. They are not earned but tools to serve in Jesus’ name, confident in Christ’s authority over all evil (Ephesians 1:21).

A Call to Prayer and Action

In this critical hour, I urge our En-Joy Ministries family to respond with faith:

• Pray for Peace: Lift up Israel and Iran, praying for protection and wisdom, especially as U.S.-Iran nuclear talks continue in Oman on June 15. Ask God to reconcile the ancient hostility between Isaac’s and Ishmael’s descendants.
• Pray for Discernment: Seek clarity against confusion, trusting God’s spiritual gifts to guide us.
• Act with Love: Consider a prayer vigil or supporting humanitarian efforts for civilians in this conflict. Be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9).
• Trust God’s Plan: God’s eternal purpose is to gather a fragmented world through Christ’s victory (Ephesians 1:10). The church is His instrument to proclaim this hope.

Anchored in Hope

As tensions rise, we cling to Psalm 46:1-2: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way.” Though ancient rivalries persist and nations clash, God holds Israel, the church, and all creation. At En-Joy Ministries, we unite in prayer, rejecting confusion and embracing Christ’s spiritual blessings. May we shine as lights of hope, trusting God’s purpose will prevail.

In Christ’s love,
Pastor Barron Greenwalt

Benediction: May the God of peace grant you discernment, courage, and compassion, keeping your hearts in His perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3). Amen.