Black Gold In Israel

Tonight, Carrie told us about the unprecedented discovery of natural gas off the coast of Israel. She drew the parallel to Ezekiel 38 and 39. This passage is a prophecy of an attack against Israel in the last days. Ezekiel 38:10-13 tell us why they will attack:

10 " 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: On that day thoughts will come into your mind and you will devise an evil scheme. 11 You will say, "I will invade a land of unwalled villages; I will attack a peaceful and unsuspecting people—all of them living without walls and without gates and bars. 12 I will plunder and loot and turn my hand against the resettled ruins and the people gathered from the nations, rich in livestock and goods, living at the center of the land." 13 Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish and all her villages will say to you, "Have you come to plunder? Have you gathered your hordes to loot, to carry off silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods and to seize much plunder?" '

So Israel will have treasures and wealth that her enemies will lust after (in addition to their hatred for Israel.) Could this treasure be "black gold" and the wealth it gives Israel?

The Jerusalem Post states,

"If the Tamar site opposite the Haifa coast succeeds in producing the significant quantities of natural gas predicted, we are talking about a revolution which will have an impact on the Israeli economy for the coming generations," said Dan Halman, CEO of Halman-Aldubi Group. "The vast reservoir is poised to bring down electricity prices, reduce the country's dependence on gas from foreign countries, in particular from Egypt, and thereby turn Israel from a gas importer into a gas exporter."

This discovery could possibly be $15.5 billion income to Israel and could supply their oil needs for 15 years. Imagine the political and financial impact this will have in the Middle East.

Joel Rosenberg has some interesting insights on the fulfillment of Ezekiel 38 and 39 here.

Joel reminds us that it is too early to draw definite conclusions about the long-term significance of these current events. We need to keep watching and waiting and hoping for the soon return of King Jesus!