Chess Pieces

“I am convinced, the way one plays chess always reflects the player’s personality. If something defines his character, then it will also define his way of playing.” – Vladimir Kramnik

Traveling in Texas can be a daunting task. For those born and raised in the great Lone Star state it’s just a way of life, so, a road trip from Midland, Texas to Amarillo, Texas was no big deal but…in a school bus? This was 1980, school budgets were not they are in this fast paced environment we are in today. 240 miles and close to 5 and a half hours of bumpy west Texas highways and 25 of us complaining, “All this torture for a high school speech and debate tournament!?” …Did I mentioned we were on a school bus? Anyway, moving on…

Andy was the president of the debate team and a very good chess player. On this trip he put out a challenge to any of us to beat him in an impromptu chess tournament. A group of us took the challenge even though we knew that he was unbeatable. Me? Nah, I’m a tennis guy, I stayed away from this one. The others had there plans and strategies but in the end he beat them all. Staying on the “sideline” was beneficial for me, no burger money lost and after that trip, Andy and I became really good friends.

This brings us to the very dangerous challenge that Russia, Iran, Syria and Turkey are giving God and Israel. A chess game God had foretold that He would be the victor.

Isaiah 31:4-5 NKJV — For thus the LORD has spoken to me:
“As a lion roars,
And a young lion over his prey
(When a multitude of shepherds is summoned against him,
He will not be afraid of their voice
Nor be disturbed by their noise),
So the LORD of hosts will come down
To fight for Mount Zion and for its hill. Like birds flying about,
So will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem.
Defending, He will also deliver it;
Passing over, He will preserve it.”

On Monday, September 25, 2018, Russia announced it would supply Syria’s government with the sophisticated S-300 surface-to-air missile defense system, which Israel fears Syria or Hezbollah could use against it. Israel’s army, which has reportedly struck over 200 Iranian targets inside Syria over the past year, is vowing to continue their military operations against the Islamic regime forces.

Israel says Iran has spent the last few years trying to establish a military presence in Syria that could serve as a potential forward attacking base against the Jewish state. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told reporters that his nation will “continue to act against the entrenchment of the Iranian military in Syria” despite Russia’s decision to supply Syria with the S-300 system. Israel and US officials are scheduled to discuss the matter of the S-300 system and options on how to defend against it.

Deuteronomy 7:21 NKJV — “You shall not be terrified of them; for the LORD your God, the great and awesome God, is among you.

The chess pieces are being put into place in the hope that the show of force will cause Israel to back down and cower to their demands. The covenant that God has with Israel is eternal and will never be broken.

The lesson I learned, watching Andy overwhelm his opponents, is that, it was better to be an ally to the chess master, retain your resources and being blessed by making a friend for life, which is something these nations should evaluate before lives and souls are lost without the Lord’s salvation.

Psalm 122:6-9 NKJV — Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
“May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls,
Prosperity within your palaces.” For the sake of my brethren and companions,
I will now say, “Peace be within you.” Because of the house of the LORD our God
I will seek your good.