Chapter Seven

CHAPTER SEVEN

Haifa, Israel
Wednesday, November 11
4:00 p.m., Local Time

The moment was a first for Moshe, something he’d never imagined in his wildest fantasy. Just ahead of him, climbing up the stairwell to Pastor Ben and Ingrid’s apartment, was his wife Tasha. Both had a Bible tucked in hand. He couldn’t quite see her face, but the aura that surrounded her was one of pure joy. Her dream had definitely come true.
Moshe had no idea what to expect at his first ever Bible study, at least as a believer in Yeshua, but an excitement stirred inside him. It was nearly the same feeling that came just before applying his F-16’s afterburner. There was just enough of the unknown to make the moment exhilarating. But apprehension was present as well. Rarely had he placed himself in a position in which he could easily prove himself clueless. Bandying the scriptures with a bunch of Messiah -believing Jews presented a new level of vulnerability. That was distasteful to someone who depended on the opposite.
As they reached the final landing, Tasha turned to her husband. “Moshe, you are going to love this,” she beamed.
“Are you sure? I’m going to look like a schmuck in there.”
“No, you will not. You are just new to the faith. All of us were,” she giggled.
“Hey, you think this is funny. I’m scared out of my mind,” he glared.
She knew her husband well enough to see through the act. He wasn’t upset, just nervous. “Listen Moshe, these folks are our new family. Ben will gladly answer whatever questions you ask. He counts you as his friend, so don’t worry about being embarrassed.”
Tasha knocked at the door before he could respond. He smiled at the irony. Here he was, a squadron commander in the Israeli Air Force and a combat ace, being led by a diminutive, hazel-eyed, spunky woman into a Bible study. He’d follow her anywhere, and she knew it. He’d never been able to resist her, at least for any length of time.
“I’m a lap dog,” he grunted as the door was opened by Ben Sherett.
Tasha turned and looked at him inquisitively. “What my love?” She asked.
“Nothing, just mumbling,” Moshe smiled.
Tasha was right. Moshe felt nothing but warmth from the ten other’s who’d gathered in the pastor’s small living room.
The session began with members of the group sharing the names of friends and family, people who desperately needed prayer. Moshe was amazed at how heartfelt and sincere the petitions were. It didn’t matter that several of the names mentioned were of Arabs. To these believers, every hurting person, Jew, Palestinian, or of otherwise, were on an equal playing field. All were worthy of being lifted before Yeshua. All were equal in God’s eyes, and the group reflected His great love. In the process, he found his heart stirred and his lips moving to the flow of intercession. Their act of love was just as selfless as any he’d demonstrated while placing himself in harm’s way. People had to be defended, whether it was through prayer or by twenty millimeter rounds blazing through an F-16’s cannon. The only difference was that in prayer, no one was being injured, maimed, or killed.
The lesson Ben taught ended up being much easier to grasp than Moshe had expected. What had once been confusing to him now seemed quite simple. Moshe found himself fascinated by the sheer audacity of God’s plan, an all-or-nothing plan that relied solely on love for fulfillment. God gave his all so that man, who had nothing to offer, might simply believe and live. Through the course of the study, Bible verses jumped off the page with truth and meaning. Moshe wondered how he’d been blind for so long, especially with a wife who’d lived it out before him for more than two years.
But something else stood out to Moshe. Ingrid had spoken hardly a word the entire time. Tasha noticed it too, indicating her puzzlement by a slightly wrinkled eyebrow. Ingrid hadn’t prayed, nor had she participated in Ben’s teaching. In fact, she’d barely made eye contact with anyone, and that was totally out of character. The only thing Moshe could surmise was that something was seriously wrong. When the time came for everyone to start leaving for home, Moshe decided he owed it to his friends to make sure they were okay. After Ben had shown the last of the members to the door, Moshe stood from his seat. He made no move to leave.
“Ben, Ingrid, I may be out of place, but something is obviously wrong,” Moshe stated bluntly. He knew no other way to broach the subject.
Ben was taken aback, but recovered quickly. “What makes you say that, Moshe?”
“I don’t know, other than the fact that Ingrid barely spoke a word all evening, and that she has this far-off look in her eyes. I may be new to this Christianity stuff, but I know what fear looks like. I can see it all over her. So, what is going on?”
Moshe could see that his friend didn’t quite know what to do. The man was practically squirming, so Moshe decided to throw him a bit of rope. “Look, if it is none of my business, that’s fine. I understand the concepts of need-to-know and top secret. I work with it every day. But if there is something eating at you, I may be able to help.” He was afraid that some disease had been discovered, or maybe a relative was in trouble. The least he could was be a listening ear in return for the incredible patience the two had shown him. He had no way of knowing how far off base he actually was.
Ben motioned for Moshe and Tasha to take a seat. He then sat beside his wife and reached for her hand. The look that flew between them was one of silent consent. He took a deep breath and began. “Guys, this will be the last time we see each other for a couple of weeks, probably longer.”
Tasha stiffened in response. She was about to speak when Moshe gently placed his hand on her wrist. Neither said a word.
“In the next few days, a friend of mine from the United States will be arriving,” Ben said while stroking his wife’s hand. “He will be taking over my ministry for time, just while I’m gone. But don’t worry, the guy loves the Lord, and he loves Israel too. He’ll do a great job, plus, Ingrid will still be here for you both.”
Moshe heard Ingrid’s sniffle. None of what was happening made any sense.
“Alright, that’s a shock,” Moshe responded. “May I ask why?”
Ingrid couldn’t hold it back any longer and began to cry. Tasha rose and went to her friend while Moshe locked eyes with Ben. He waited.
Three minutes later, Moshe’s mouth was wide open in astonishment. An entirely new elevation of respect for his friend had just been reached.

Ramat David Air Base
Thursday, November 12
10:00 a.m., Local Time

Moshe sat drinking a hot cup of coffee and mulling over what Ben told him when Rueben Cohen walked into the room. Moshe’s wingman was tall, dark, relatively handsome, and the man seemed to have a perpetual smirk on his face. Moshe shook his head as Rueben sat down opposite him. “Ay, Rueben, you drive me crazy?”
“What do you mean? I’m innocent of whatever you’re thinking.”
“Can’t you stop grinning? Don’t you know we’re in it up to our elbows? We’re in a war, man!”
Rueben’s smirk converted into a grin. “And that, my aging Captain, is why I am enjoying life. I’ve got an airplane and something to shoot at. What more is there? Plus, I’m not tied down to a female like you. I’m not feeling any age in my bones, also like you. That only leaves one thing, freedom and bliss. In fact, I’m not even seeking the meaning of life.”
“Lieutenant, you are pathetic. First, I love my female. Second, I’m not old, just older than you. And third, I’ve found the meaning of life, and it happens to be freedom and bliss!”
Moshe’s last statement suddenly captured the attention of the young, carefree pilot.
“You’ve found the meaning of life? What might that be?”
Moshe leaned back in his chair and clasped his hands behind his head. “Rueben, have you ever considered that everything that’s happening has been pre-arranged? Like we’re all just part of a plan that’s much bigger than we are?”
Rueben lost his smirk and squirmed in his chair. “Okay, what’s going on? Has your tree dropped a fig? Are you getting enough rest? Because it sounds to me like you’ve gone over the edge, sir.” Rueben twirled his finger around his ear in the universal sign for crazy.
Moshe laughed. He knew much of Rueben’s care-free attitude was simply a projection, a façade that kept him clear of any serious relationships or real questions about his life. It was time to exercise this new-found faith, even it confirmed to his wingman that he’d lost his mind.
“No, I’m not luney. I’m just asking. What if I could show you how this has all been written? Did you know the characters in this drama have already been revealed?”
Rueben locked eyes with Moshe. “You are being serious, aren’t you?”
“Sure am. A friend of mine showed it to me. Everything suddenly makes sense.”
“You sound like a conspiracy kook,” Rueben stated. But he respected Moshe and his abilities enough to keep his ears open.
“I may be nuts, but this is not a conspiracy. Conspiracies are hidden. This stuff has been revealed. Did you know the Torah tells us exactly which countries are going to invade Israel, and why?”
“What?”
“Really, the countries are listed. That includes the nation leading the coalition. In fact, the basic time frame is given as well.”
“Wait a minute. You’re not going to pull a Bible out on me, are you?” Rueben was getting nervous.
“Why not? The Bible comes from right here in Israel. It was written mostly by Jews. It’s about us. But no, I’m not going to pull out a Bible. I’m just telling you, so relax.” Moshe enjoyed how he’d just removed his wingman’s smirk.
“Okay, I’ll bite. What does it say?” Rueben crossed his arms, challenging Moshe to prove what he’d just said.
“In a book called Ezekiel, it says that a Russian coalition will be put together for the purpose of invading Israel. The members are listed. They are Persia, Libya, Turkey, the Central Asian Republics, and the Sudan. God said he would put a hook in their mouths and draw them to the mountains of Israel.”
“When is this fishing expedition supposed to take place?” Rueben was shaken, but was trying hard not to show it. Sarcasm was his only defense.
“Now that’s the interesting part,” Moshe explained. “Ezekiel foretold a day when the Jews would re-occupy the Promised Land, and would turn it into a great place to live. He even prophesied how the people would be united, and it would be given the ancient name of Israel. Sometime after that event, the Russians and their pals would invade. Only God knows why.”
“And then?” Rueben asked.
“Well, that’s the funny part. God pulls the corks out of the mountaintops, dumps some hail and brimstone from the sky, and then sends fire down from heaven to consume them.”
Moshe could see his partner’s look of disbelief. He remembered his own reaction to the story when Tasha shared it with him. He could easily relate to Rueben’s skepticism. “Look, I thought it all sounded like science fiction the first time I heard it. But that was before it started happening, before the Russians put together their little peace-keeping mission. Rueben, it’s real.”
Rueben said nothing, just stared at him, still uncertain of Moshe’s sincerity. After several seconds, he looked at his watch. “Captain, I’d like to hear more, but it’s time for the mission briefing. We gotta go,” he said as he slid his chair back and stood.
“If you want to hear more, I’ll do one better after we get off work. I’ll show you. Agreed?” Moshe wasn’t ready to let Rueben off the hook. Rueben just looked at him and walked off.

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