Tragedy in Lebanon

Just after 6 pm on Tues., August 4th, Beirut had two devastating explosions. The second one was the killer: 2,750 ton of ammonium nitrate stored in the port exploded. More than 170 people died, another 6,000 were injured and more than 300,000 have been displaced as homes were damaged and destroyed. The explosion was heard as far as Cyprus, 250 km away, and felt even further.

This explosion was seen, heard and felt, but the ‘explosion’ that many do not know about is the one that has been building up in the lives of the Lebanese, over many years, but especially over the last 10 months. This devastating event of 4 August occurred in a time of an economic collapse, a political crisis and the Corona virus pandemic.

The October Revolution began 17 October last year, as Lebanese started with months of protests when the government wanted to instate new taxes. But this was especially a nation’s outcry against the sectarian rule of Lebanon – where corruption has become the norm and the political elite from all backgrounds enrich themselves at the cost of the citizens. In the past few months there has been an inflation of 90%, the currency lost 80% of its value and Lebanon is currently the third most indebted country. Thousands of jobs have been lost and many businesses closed even before Covid-19 hit. There have even been an increasing number of suicides. The fear of starvation has been real as Lebanon heavily depends on imports, and rumors of another war have become part of daily conversation, before the explosion. People thought that Covid-19 was the last straw - seems that it wasn’t! But who could have imagined that one of the largest non-nuclear explosions would hit Beirut with its pressure wave.

This tiny country of more than 10,000 (two km) / 4 000 (two mile) which used to be my home for more than a decade is home to about five million Lebanese, and just under two million Syrian, Palestinian and Iraqi refugees. For decades it has been the playfield of many foreign powers like the US, France, Iran and Saudi to name but a few – waging a proxy war on Lebanese soil. Even foreign aid that forms a substantial amount of Lebanon’s annual income usually have strings attached. And, even now after the explosion, nations are offering their help – to show compassion, but often also to get a greater foot in the door.

People on the ground are still in shock after the explosion (PTSD was already a big reality to so many, from previous wars in both Lebanon and Syria). To be honest, some of the most resilient people I have ever known, are currently in a state of shock and there is a sense of being overwhelmed and hopelessness. And, overall, the Lebanese are angry! Angry at the negligence of politicians who allowed such a large amount of ammonium nitrate being stored at the port for the past six years after it was confiscated from a ship that was heading to Mozambique. They are angry because they feel stuck in a failed political system where they were not able to bring much change after months of protests. There are multiple conspiracy theories of what or who caused the explosion. Some believed it was planned, but even if so, they have no expectation that a fair investigation will be done where the truth will be revealed. People are also afraid – afraid of where they will find work, an income, and even food. The nation’s grain supply that was enough for six months that was stored in silos have been destroyed and the port where necessities like food are to be received is gone. (Other smaller ports have been receiving grain in the past few days). An increase spreading of Corona is also a big reality – the virus obviously didn’t die with the explosion. There are now more interaction than the past few months, as so many people are jumping in to help. Many hospitals have been destroyed, which also adds another pressure on health care.

A Resilient People

This is an effort to try to explain some of the hardship of the people of Lebanon – and I do not even do it justice. Speaking with friends on the ground, they have shared how they were already exhausted before the explosion after many intense months in need of a break. Now, they are all responding to the new crisis as they join in with cleanup and restoration efforts.

The Lebanese are an incredible group of people. The day after the tragedy people were already off to the street, showing up with brooms, ready to help clean up. I honestly don’t know of any other nation that would do this. After going through so many different wars, they just rise up every time and rebuild again. This time things feel different, though. Many are tired, feel hopeless and desire true change.

There are glimpses of hope, especially as young people from various parts of Beirut and other cities show up everyday to clean the rubble and start to repair. NGO’s, r-ligious groups like ch-rches and various ministries are also joining in daily – and quite often give direction to so many volunteers who want to help but don’t know how.

Other friends do assessments of the damaged houses to see how they can help people repair it. During those visits they get to pray with people and ‘be’ with them in their hardships. They asked the youth what their dreams are: they want to rebuild their neighborhoods and make it better than what it was. They have dreams and yet they are not the ones with political power. As so many are cleaning up and often go into homes of people from different sectarian backgrounds than theirs, they start to break down walls of segregation and division.

God Stories
We've started to hear some of the God-stories like the pastor who had an unexplainable urgency to send his staff and refugee children (who attend afternoon / evening school) home early – his reason was fear of Covid-19, but unknowingly then, the explosion occurred a few hours later, and could have injured or even killed people if they were not sent home. Another story we're learned is about a young girl who was on her balcony but was totally unharmed as she sensed that God told her to lay on the ground in the corner and close her eyes. We have heard a number of these testimonies and believe more will be shared.

Looking at the size of the explosion we also see the miracle that more lives weren't lost. To name some possible reasons: A large portion of the impact was absorbed in the water, as it occurred in the port; another round of lockdown was reinstated a few days before, which meant that fewer people were on the streets (usually at this time of year the streets are buzzing with people in the summer holidays.) The very same silos that held the grain which are now lost, actually saved a lot of lives because it took a lot of the impact. Were the silos not there, a lot more damage and possible deaths would have occurred.

Through all the mess and turmoil we try to discern what God is doing and saying. So many intercessors in the country feel totally overwhelmed and tired themselves.

As we prepared for an online prayer time we had for Lebanon last Saturday, God repeatedly reminded us of Isaiah 40:1: Comfort, comfort my people.. He also reminded me what He spoke to me 11 months ago as I left Lebanon – ‘Mourn with those mourn.’ At that stage it didn’t make sense – now it does. And that is what I have been doing. During the prayer time we sensed that God wants to cover Lebanon with His thick Presence and clothe her with a garment of healing.

We all know the powerful promises in Isaiah 29:

"In a very short time, will not Lebanon be turned into a fertile field

and the fertile field seem like a forest?

In that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll,

and out of gloom and darkness

the eyes of the blind will see.

Once more the humble will rejoice in the Lord;

the needy will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel."

I was also reminded of a prophetic word that a worker in Nepal had a few years back – hearing God in the middle of the night saying:

"Just as the cedars were used for the building of the temple, in the same way, the house of prayer in Lebanon will be used for the building of house of prayer in the nations.

We believe that God speaks a different Word. We also believe that in the midst of the turmoil He is shifting things around in the unseen world – and that Lebanon will come to a greater knowledge of Jesus and His Kingdom in these days.

Prayer Points

Pray for God’s purposes to come in fulfillment
Pray for comfort, provision and a true Hope to rise up in people’s hearts
Pray for tired hands and hearts to be able have deep rest
Pray for a breakthrough in the political turmoil
But even more – pray that the Kingdom of God will break into this nation like never before. My prayer is that not ones and twos will come to faith, but thousands at a time!

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