Yes, as you have suggested, the scriptures are quite plain in stating that Israel will be dwelling "safely" in the land before the Gog-Magog attack. Their feeling of being "safe" will be because they will be relying on God to be a wall of protection for them. Right now they are relying on their own weapons of war to protect them. Look back at history, as is recorded for us in the Old Testament. Whenever Israel was in disbelief, their enemies always had advantage over them. God never saved them in unbelief. Only when they turned to God and put their trust in Him were they delivered from their enemies. There are lots of examples of this process in the Old Testament. One of the striking examples is the story of Jehoshaphat. He was the king of Israel, and he heard that the armies of Edom, Moab and Mt. Seir were coming against Jerusalem. Instead of massing Israel's weapons and fighting men, Jehoshaphat went to the temple and prayed to God to help them. He was so confident that God would save them that instead of sending out fighting men to the battle, he sent out singers who sang the praises of God. I use this story as an example of how God will only save Israel when they are in "belief" because this is what is prophesied in the book of Joel will happen in these last days. Joel said that the invading armies would be gathered in the "Valley of Jehoshaphat" and that it will be there that He saves Israel from destruction. There is really no such place as the Valley of Jehoshaphat. It is a metaphor used to describe the same process as King Jehosaphat used -- that is, trust in God and not in weapons of war. The promise is, in Joel, that God will save Israel from this battle.

   So, when in Ezekiel 38 it says that they would be safe, without bars or gates, it obviously means that God is their wall of protection, and they have no physical weapons with which to fight the enemy. Right now Israel has a huge supply of physical weapons, including the a-bomb. So why won't they use them? The prophet Zechariah supplies the answer. In Zechariah 12 it says "Then the leaders of Judah will say in their hearts, the people of Jerusalem are strong, because the Lord Almighty is their God." This has not happened yet. Israel's present leaders are amassing weapons of war in order to protect their land. In no way are they relying on God. But when the leaders of Israel turn to God in sincere belief, He does indeed promise to save them. Zechariah goes on to say "On that day the Lord will shield those who live in Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the Angel of the Lord going before them. On that day I will set out to destroy6 all the nations that attack Jerusalem."

   What will effect this change in the hearts of Israel's leaders, to turn from faith in their own weapons of war, to faith in God? I don't know specifically. But something very powerful will apparently happen, because the prophecy goes on to say "They will look upon me whom they have pierced, and will mourn for him as for an only son." This will be what will save Israel.

 

Bonnie Gaunt