God gave Israel the victory; it was not Israel's doing.
When Les Feldick was in Israel just days after the 1967 Six-Day War, an American-born Israeli told him, "God didn't have a thing to do with it. We did it." Les's reply was, "Oh, no, they didn't." Les consistently teaches that God has fought Israel's battles, from Amalek to the Syrian army, and that Israel's survival is a miracle of God's covenant faithfulness.
Exodus 17:15 — Moses built an altar called 'Jehovahnissi' after Israel's battle with Amalek, showing that God, not the army, was Israel's banner and the real victor.
2 Kings 7:6 — When Samaria was besieged, God made the Syrian army hear a supernatural noise and flee, proving He can give Israel victory against overwhelming odds.
Scripture repeatedly records that the LORD gave Israel victory in battles where the nation was outnumbered or helpless. After Israel fought Amalek, Moses built an altar and called it 'Jehovahnissi' — the LORD is my banner (Exodus 17:15). The victory was God's, even though Israel's men were used in the battle. When Samaria was under siege and starving, the LORD made the Syrian camp hear a noise of chariots, horses, and a great host, so the Syrians fled in panic, leaving their camp behind (2 Kings 7:6). The battle turned entirely because God intervened, not because of Israel's military genius. The same pattern appears in God's covenant promises. Genesis 28:3 shows God Almighty blessing Jacob to be fruitful and multiplied, even before Jacob's own faith was evident. Scripture thus presents Israel's preservation and victories as acts of God, not merely human achievement.
Les Feldick directly addresses the Six-Day War by recounting a conversation in Israel just days after the war. A man raised in Boston but living in Israel told him, "God didn't have a thing to do with it. We did it." Les's response was decisive: "Oh, no, they didn't." Les teaches that God sovereignly gave Israel its victory, just as He had done throughout Israel's history. Les points to the Old Testament pattern that God fights Israel's battles. He uses the Amalek battle as an example, where Moses held up his arms and God controlled the outcome, and he recalls how God caused the Syrian army to hear sounds and turn on itself at Samaria. For Les, the supernatural is commonplace when God deals with Israel. Les also emphasizes that Israel's survival itself is one of the greatest miracles of history, even though the nation is largely in unbelief. He compares Jacob, an unbeliever, to the nation of Israel and notes that Israel's dry bones have been regathered but still have no spiritual breath. God's protection of Israel is therefore not because of Israel's godliness but because of God's covenant purposes.
Les acknowledges that Israel has "one of the best armies in the world, the best air force in the world," but he immediately says this strength is "certainly for a reason." He also points to 1948, when Israel was a "ragtag army" of farmers with no tanks, artillery, or air power, yet defeated the Arabs through "the overhanding power of God." For the 1967 war, Les rejects the claim that Israel did it, insisting instead that God did it.
Les teaches that Jacob, when God promised to make him fruitful, was "still an unbeliever" and is "a perfect picture of the nation of Israel as a whole." He also describes Israel's regathered nation as dry bones that have come together but have "no spiritual breath as yet." So God's protection is not based on Israel's faith; it is based on God's sovereign covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Les points to the battle against Amalek, where as long as Moses' arms were held up, Israel prevailed, and Moses built an altar called 'Jehovahnissi' — "He is our banner." He also reminds his class that when Samaria was encircled and starving, God caused the Syrian army to hear noises and to be thrown into confusion, killing each other. For Les, these examples show that God fights for Israel and gives victory against impossible odds.
Jacob the Unbeliever
Les compares the still-unbelieving Jacob to the nation of Israel, establishing that God's plans for Israel do not depend on Israel's faith.
Six-Day War Reflection
Les directly addresses the Six-Day War era and rejects the claim that Israel alone earned the victory, insisting God was behind it.
1948 Ragtag Army
Les explains that in 1948 Israel was a ragtag army with no tanks, artillery, or air power, yet won through the overhanging power of God.
Supernatural With Israel
Les teaches that supernatural events are commonplace when God deals with Israel, so a miraculous victory is not surprising.
Israel the Miracle Nation
Les calls the continued existence of Israel after four thousand years one of the greatest miracles of the human race.
Syrian Army Confusion
Les points to a past battle when God caused the Syrian army to turn on itself, illustrating God's pattern of fighting Israel's battles.
Outnumbered but Secure
Les notes Israel is outnumbered and the world is against her, yet points to Scripture to show why Israel is still here.
Amalek Battle
Les teaches that in the battle with Amalek, God was the real fighter, even though He used Israel's men, and Moses called the altar Jehovahnissi.
Genesis 28:3: And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people;
God's promise to Jacob came while Jacob was still an unbeliever, showing God's covenant purposes do not wait for Israel's faith.
Exodus 17:15: And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi:
After Israel's battle with Amalek, Moses acknowledged the LORD as Israel's banner, revealing that God, not the soldiers, won the battle.
2 Kings 7:6: For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us.
God caused the Syrian army to panic and flee, instantly ending Samaria's siege without Israel needing to fight.
Jeremiah 30:7: Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.
While the 'time of Jacob's trouble' points to tribulation, it also assures that Israel will ultimately be saved by God.
Ezekiel 37:8: And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.
Les applies this dry-bones text to Israel's regathered nation, which has come together physically but still lacks spiritual life.
No, according to Les Feldick. He directly challenged a Jewish man who said "We did it," responding, "Oh, no, they didn't." For Les, the victory was God's doing, not the result of Israel's own military achievement.
Les emphasizes that Israel is outnumbered and that the world generally stands against her. He states, "They're outnumbered, they don't stand a chance," yet he points to Scripture to show that Israel is still under God's care.
Les acknowledges that Israel has "one of the best armies in the world, the best air force in the world," and says this is "certainly for a reason." The reason, in his teaching, is that God has preserved Israel and will fulfill His covenant promises.
Les teaches that when God deals with Israel, the supernatural is commonplace, and he calls the nation's survival a great miracle. He also reminds us that God remains the same sovereign, all-powerful God, even though He has chosen not to perform the supernatural in the same way during this age of grace.