Psalm 20:7, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.” Although Israel has often wandered far from God, God ultimately keeps His unconditional covenant with her. This guarantees me that God keeps his Word and He is my strength and salvation.
Trusting in God rather than the strength of man and his weapons of war brings a blessing, Jeremiah 17:7, “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.”
Conversely, truthing in man’s ability bring a woe and/ or a curse.
Jeremiah 17:5, “Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.”
Isaiah 31:1, “Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!”
In Deuteronomy Moses speaking for God warned that leaders were not to multiply horses thereby trusting in man's way for victory rather than having faith in the Lord. A added warning was against wanting to return to Egypt looking for horses, again having confidence in horses rather than God.
In another class CM mentioned 2 Kings 23:11, as perhaps another reason for a prohibition of horses and chariots. Here King Josiah removed the horses that had been dedicated to the sun and burned the chariots of the sun that the kings of Judah had used in sun worship.
“The idolatrous kings had dedicated horses and chariots to the sun, either to carry about the image of it as the heathen did, or else to sacrifice them as a most agreeable sacrifice.”
[Geneva Bible Translation Notes]
As for Israel today, many are secular and give the credit for their victories to the IDF. For now, it seems God tolerates this attitude and has less prohibitions against the use modern technology. Israel has been successful in wars with her neighbors and regained some of the land given to her by God. There is an interesting DVD series Against all Odds that undeniably demonstrates God’s hand in protecting Israel. Several of the older Israeli soldiers give credit to God.
The Six-Day War: Jun 05, 1967 to Jun 10, 1967
"By the end of the war, Israel had conquered enough territory to more than triple the size of the area it controlled, from 8,000 to 26,000 square miles. The victory enabled Israel to unify Jerusalem. Israeli forces had also captured the Sinai, Golan Heights, Gaza Strip and West Bank."
[http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/background-and-overview-six-day-war]
Yom Kippur War: Oct 06, 1973 to Oct 26, 1973 started on the holiest day of the Jewish faith. Israel was victorious.
In the war of 2014 the Iron Dome air defense system intercepted and destroyed short-range rockets, artillery shells and mortars. This image was posted on Facebook.
Israel is surrounded by enemies and her continued existence is proof that God keeps his word. Again, in Proverbs we are reminded that God has our back, Proverbs 21:31, “The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD."
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