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Thirty-five years ago today, America celebrated its bicentennial; I remember the day vividly.
I remember it so well for a different reason than you might imagine. I woke up that morning to hear my parents talking about something that had happened very far away.
A week before, terrorists had hijacked an Air France jetliner and had it flown to Entebbe, Uganda. The PLO terrorists had separated the Jewish passengers and now held them, demanding that Israel release other terrorists held in jails.
To make a long and incredibly dramatic story short (you can read about the operation to rescue these hostages in Entebbe, by Iddo Netanyahu), Israel sent an elite force to Entebbe—a staggering 2,500 miles from Israel—and the hostages were freed! This happened on the morning of July 4, 1976.
The rescue force completely surprised the barbarians who were holding the hostages, and the firefight lasted mere seconds.
I remember Entebbe every July 4, but even more today, as America celebrates freedom.
Natan Sharansky, the former Soviet dissident who was held in gulags for years, said after his release that he would sit on his bunk and whenever he heard a plane fly overhead, he thought about the rescue at Entebbe, and he knew someday his turn would come.
I am also reminded—again and again and again, as readers of this blog are coming to know—that God’s Word is sure and true. Fulfilled prophecy proves this.
In Isaiah 54:17, God promised that no weapon formed against Israel will succeed. This was fulfilled in a dramatic way at Entebbe, as the weapon of terrorism failed.
If you want to be inspired, read the account of this hostage rescue. When you do, in your heart, consider that there is Someone beyond our time and space Who watches and intervenes to save us and bring us to freedom, when all hope seems lost.
I salute the members of the Israel Defense Forces, who went to Entebbe and laid their lives on the line.
The Israelis today, so marginalized and harassed for so long in exile, are now blessed and protected by the Almighty.
After you read about the rescue, I challenge you to consider the validity of that statement.
I’m confident you’ll come to the right conclusion.
posted August 13, 2011 at 11:45 am
Jim–I remember July 4th, 1976, vividly–and specially the news about the raid on Entebbe. I was thrilled most of the Jewish hostages were rescued–but saddened to hear of Yoni Netanyahu’s death. I think I read nearly every book about Yoni and the raid itself. Thank you for reminding us of a great day for Israel, and the Jewish people!