According to a Sunday Times report from Tel Aviv: "Syria has put its most advanced missiles on standby with orders to hit Tel Aviv if Israel launches another raid on its territory . . . An Israeli official told The New York Times that Israel, which has launched three recent attacks on Syria, was considering further strikes and warned President Bashar al-Assad that his government would face 'crippling consequences' if he hit back at Israel" ("Syria Ready to Unleash Missiles on Israel," May 19, 2013).

A Jewish Chronicle headline refers to a potential "meltdown" in the Middle East ("Putin Arms Sale Threatens Meltdown in Middle East," May 30). Several observers muse about what result would actually benefit Israel. Another Jewish Chronicle article bears this title: "As World Scraps Over Which Syrian Army to Back, It's Lose-Lose for Israel" (John Bradley, May 30).

As this article reports, some Israeli officials were arguing that "a weakened Mr Assad, ruling over a barely functioning state, would be preferable . . . to outright chaos, regional war or an Islamic theocracy hell-bent on Israel's destruction."

The same article further states, "Tens of thousands of foreign jihadis, including many from Western countries, are already fighting in Syria [along with the rebels], armed by Saudi Arabia and Qatar."

The Golan Heights—the northeastern region of Israel bordering Syria—has once again become a flashpoint. Some villagers there fear that war is imminent. Israeli troops and artillery units have assembled near there, with Syrian forces camped on the other side of the border.

It is high time to remind ourselves of just who remains ultimately in control over all these frightening events. Don't forget that God also has His own armies (see 2 Kings 6:14-17; Matthew 26:52-53). He has said, "Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand . . .'" (Isaiah 46:9-10).

Nothing will happen anywhere that our Creator does not allow to occur. Our Christian responsibility remains to follow Jesus Christ's instruction in Luke 21:34-36, watching and praying always. (Sources: The Jewish Chronicle, The Times [London].)