Sons of Issachar Newsletter: March 25, 2026
“And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do…”
Beloved, the Lord has not called His people to panic, but to discernment. We are to watch, pray, walk soberly, and keep proclaiming Christ in a world marked by war, confusion, and deepening instability. These headlines do not give us license to set dates, though today is nearer His return than yesterday, but they do remind us that the nations are restless, the systems of men are fragile, and the church must remain awake. The past week has brought intensifying military exchanges between Israel and Iran with missile strikes and retaliatory barrages, diplomatic maneuvering around a proposed U.S. peace plan and public rejection of its terms, continued strain across the region as leaders weigh escalation and reconstruction, a notable spike in bright fireball and meteor sightings across the United States, a major earthquake near Tonga, a strong geomagnetic storm, mounting U.S. political tensions over war funding and public strain, and the ongoing partial Homeland Security shutdown. These developments do not prove fulfillment in a simplistic sense, but they do echo the Lord’s warnings of wars, distress, perplexity, and the beginning of sorrows.
Reuters - Iran still weighing US proposal despite negative initial response, senior Iranian official says (March 25, 2026) AP - Iran rejects US ceasefire plan, issues its own demands as strikes land across the Mideast (March 25, 2026) NOAA SWPC - UPDATED: G3 (Strong) Geomagnetic Storming Observed 22 Mar (March 23, 2026)
1. Intensifying Military Exchanges Between Israel and Iran
Israeli and Iranian forces continued exchanging strikes through the week, with Iranian missile barrages hitting the Tel Aviv area and Israeli operations continuing as diplomacy remained uncertain. The conflict is not merely a background tension. It is an active regional confrontation with civilian danger, energy implications, and the constant possibility of wider spillover. The church should see in this not a reason for sensational talk, but a call to sober prayer. The Lord told us that “ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars” (Matthew 24:6-7, KJV), and He remains the One who “ruleth over all the kingdoms of the heathen” (2 Chronicles 20:6, KJV).
Reuters - Iran attacks near Israeli nuclear site, fires long-range missiles for first time (March 21, 2026) Reuters - Iran still weighing US proposal despite negative initial response, senior Iranian official says (March 25, 2026) AP - Iran rejects US ceasefire plan, issues its own demands as strikes land across the Mideast (March 25, 2026)
This also raises the question of whether the present air war could widen into something more. Additional U.S. forces are being sent into the region, including thousands of soldiers from Fort Bragg, on top of earlier moves involving Marines and sailors aboard the USS Boxer. At the same time, no decision had been made to send troops into Iran itself, even as the buildup was intended to increase capacity for possible future operations. That is an important distinction. The region is clearly being prepared for a wider contingency, but a ground invasion of Iran had not been confirmed as of today. As previously discussed, unless the Iranian people overthrow their government, there does not appear to be a clear path to actual regime change. Bombs from the air have not removed Hamas, the Houthis, or Hezbollah, and there is little reason to assume Iran would be fundamentally different. “The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord” (Proverbs 21:31, KJV) and “There is no king saved by the multitude of an host” (Psalm 33:16-17, KJV) remind us that military preparation does not override the sovereignty of God.
Reuters - US expected to send thousands more soldiers to Middle East, sources say (March 24, 2026)
The speed with which this conflict has affected oil, gas, shipping, and food inputs is another reminder of how interwoven the nations have become. This is an especially delicate season because spring planting is underway across much of the Northern Hemisphere. Fertilizer markets were already strained by the Russia-Ukraine war, and this conflict has intensified that pressure by disrupting Hormuz shipping and damaging gas-linked production. Some fertilizer prices were already up 30% to 40%, about 30% of globally traded fertilizers move through the Strait of Hormuz, and the timing could hardly be worse for farmers preparing to plant in the Northern Hemisphere. Modern monocrop field yields are strongly dependent on fertilizer, and some needed inputs cannot currently be procured at any price. Yet even in such instability, believers are not left without anchor. We are called to pray for mercy, for restraint, for the protection of the innocent, and for open doors for the Gospel in a region long marked by bloodshed and unbelief. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1-3, KJV) and “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee” (Isaiah 26:3-4, KJV) remain steadying words for an unsteady hour.
Reuters - How does the Iran war affect fertiliser supplies, prices and food security? (March 17, 2026) Reuters - War in Iran threatens fresh food-price shock across developing world (March 20, 2026) Reuters - Iran war’s energy impact forces world to pay up, cut consumption (March 21, 2026)
2. Diplomatic Efforts and the Limits of Human Peace Plans
Even while missiles flew, a U.S. proposal aimed at ending the war remained under discussion, yet the public picture was deeply mixed. One set of signals suggested that Iran was still weighing the proposal despite an initially negative response, while other statements from Tehran dismissed the process and rejected the U.S. ceasefire plan while issuing separate demands. That is often how human diplomacy looks in wartime: mixed messages, private signaling, public defiance, and fragile expectations. Believers should pray for leaders to act with restraint and wisdom, but we should not place ultimate hope in negotiation tables. Lasting peace will not come through strategy alone, but through the reign of the Prince of Peace. “Let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober” (1 Thessalonians 5:6, KJV) and “his name shall be called… The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6, KJV) fit this moment well.
Reuters - Iran still weighing US proposal despite negative initial response, senior Iranian official says (March 25, 2026) Reuters - Iran military spokesperson says US is negotiating with itself (March 25, 2026) AP - Iran rejects US ceasefire plan, issues its own demands as strikes land across the Mideast (March 25, 2026)
This should also remind the church how temporary man-made arrangements can be. Ceasefires, proposals, and terms matter, because human lives are at stake. Yet none of them can change the sinful heart. Until Christ returns, every earthly peace remains vulnerable to pride, vengeance, fear, and unbelief. Therefore let the church watch without panic, pray without ceasing, and keep proclaiming the Gospel without apology. “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God” (Psalm 20:7, KJV) and “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you” (John 14:27, KJV) remind us where our confidence belongs.
3. Gaza, Lebanon, and the Continuing Strain of Reconstruction and War
Even as the Israel-Iran conflict dominated attention, the longer-running strain around Gaza remained unresolved. The region still faces the burdens of aid, governance, reconstruction, security, and the question of who will control what comes next. That is a reminder that even when one flashpoint grabs the headlines, older wounds do not disappear. They remain, waiting, bleeding, and often deepening beneath the surface. This is why the church should pray not only for military restraint, but also for mercy toward civilians, truth in negotiations, and compassion that does not ignore righteousness. “upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity” (Luke 21:25, KJV) and “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (Psalm 122:6, KJV) belong naturally here.
Reuters - Iran war boosts Netanyahu, bruises Trump and Gulf states (March 19, 2026) Reuters - Explainer: What is Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ and how have states joined? (February 18, 2026)
Lebanon also requires direct attention. Israel has more than doubled the number of troops along its border with Lebanon since March 1, and on March 24 announced its intention to occupy southern Lebanon up to the Litani River as a “security zone.” Iran also indicated that it wanted Lebanon included in any ceasefire arrangement, linking an end to the Iran war to a halt in Israel’s offensive against Hezbollah. This means the Lebanese front is not a side story. It is one of the main pressure points of the whole conflict. The church should watch this soberly, because a wider regional war does not unfold only through capitals and headlines but through villages and homes, border zones, hospitals, churches, displaced families, and exhausted civilians. “Cursed be the man that trusteth in man” (Jeremiah 17:5-8, KJV) and “what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy” (Micah 6:8, KJV) help keep both realism and righteousness in view.
Reuters - Israel doubles troops in Hezbollah fight, searches homes in south Lebanon (March 18, 2026) Reuters - Israel’s military to occupy swathe of southern Lebanon, defence minister says (March 24, 2026) Reuters - Iran wants Lebanon included in any ceasefire, sources say (March 25, 2026)
The human toll in Lebanon has also been severe. Two paramedics were killed in an Israeli strike, at least 42 paramedics had been killed since March 2, and nearly 1,100 people had been killed in Lebanon overall while more than a million had been displaced. The people of the region do not need shallow analysis or merely a change in government. They need mercy from God and to be given the Gospel. The church must resist the temptation to treat these places merely as prophetic symbols while forgetting the souls who live there. We should pray for the people of Gaza, Israel, and Lebanon alike, asking the Lord to save, to restrain evil, and to work His purposes in a land that remains central to redemptive history. “blindness in part is happened to Israel” (Romans 11:25-29, KJV) and “thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear” (Psalm 10:17-18, KJV) help keep compassion and sobriety joined together.
Reuters - In Lebanon, paramedics mourn their own killed in Israeli strike (March 25, 2026)
4. U.S. Political Tensions Over War Funding and Public Strain
The domestic argument has widened beyond foreign policy into deeper questions of cost, public trust, and the burden of war. President Trump’s approval rating stood at 36%, with sentiment worsening around the economy and cost of living as gasoline prices surged. A separate national poll found that most Americans said U.S. military action against Iran had gone too far. When foreign conflict begins to touch wallets, travel, and daily routines, the public mood often hardens quickly. This does not mean every reaction is wise, but it does show how swiftly war abroad can become pressure at home. Christians should remember that national turbulence often reveals where a people have placed their confidence. “Put not your trust in princes” (Psalm 146:3, KJV) and “I will shake the heavens and the earth” (Haggai 2:6-7, KJV) remind us that human systems are not unshakable.
Reuters - Trump’s approval hits new 36% low as fuel prices surge amid Iran war, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds (March 24, 2026) AP - Most Americans say US military action against Iran has gone too far, a new AP-NORC poll finds (March 25, 2026)
The church should therefore pray for rulers without confusing patriotism with hope. We are commanded to intercede for those in authority, yet our ultimate allegiance is to a kingdom that cannot be moved. “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications… be made for all men; For kings” (1 Timothy 2:1-2, KJV) and “we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved” (Hebrews 12:28, KJV) help us keep that order straight. The Christian response is neither panic nor political idolatry, but prayer, discernment, and steady witness.
5. The Partial Homeland Security Shutdown and Fragile Systems at Home
The partial Homeland Security shutdown continued to disrupt ordinary life this week. Small airports were warned they could soon shut if TSA absences continued, and by March 25 long lines were forming at major airports as more TSA officers quit. ICE agents were also deployed to more than a dozen airports to help manage security lines amid staffing shortages. A modern nation can appear strong until key systems begin to strain. Then weaknesses that were easy to ignore suddenly become visible to everyone standing in line. The church should see this as one more reminder that the machinery of daily life is more fragile than many assume. “Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it” (Psalm 127:1, KJV) and “what is your life? It is even a vapour” (James 4:14, KJV) speak plainly to that illusion of permanence.
Reuters - US official warns small airports could soon shut over TSA absences (March 19, 2026) Reuters - ICE agents deployed to more than a dozen US airports amid staffing gaps (March 23, 2026) Reuters - Long lines reported at major US airports as more TSA officers quit (March 25, 2026)
This is not merely an infrastructure story. It is also a moral and spiritual reminder. A people can become so accustomed to convenience that they forget how dependent they are on order, labor, and providence. When that order frays, anger rises quickly. Believers should pray for wisdom in governance, for mercy toward workers under strain, and for a heart posture that does not crumble when comforts are interrupted. “I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (Philippians 4:11-13, KJV) and “My soul, wait thou only upon God” (Psalm 62:5-8, KJV) are timely here.
6. Major Earthquake Near Tonga
A major earthquake struck near Tonga on March 24. It was measured at magnitude 7.6 west of Neiafu, at significant depth, with no broad tsunami threat confirmed. Earthquakes do not give us permission to become sensational. But they do remind us that the earth beneath our feet is not as fixed as fallen man likes to imagine. The Lord spoke of earthquakes in divers places, and such events still serve as sobering reminders that creation groans and that man is not master of the world he inhabits. “there shall be… earthquakes in divers places” (Mark 13:8, KJV), “the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now” (Romans 8:22, KJV), and “Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven” (Hebrews 12:26-27, KJV) fit naturally here.
USGS - M 7.6 - 153 km W of Neiafu, Tonga (March 24, 2026) AP - Preliminary magnitude 7.6 earthquake strikes near Tonga in the South Pacific Ocean, USGS says (March 24, 2026)
We should pray for all affected, even when the damage appears limited at first glance. Distant disasters can tempt us to detachment, but the church is called to compassion. Let such events stir us to readiness, humility, and mercy, knowing that all creation waits for the full revealing of the sons of God. “God is our refuge and strength” (Psalm 46:1-2, KJV)
7. Strong Geomagnetic Storm Activity
NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center issued a G2 watch for March 19 through 21, observed G3 strong geomagnetic storming on March 22, and then extended moderate storm expectations into March 23. Many people think of such alerts only when auroras become visible or systems are affected, but these notices also remind us that the heavens themselves are not silent. The sky is not random noise. It is part of a creation that still bears witness to the majesty of God. “there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars” (Luke 21:25-26, KJV), “let them be for signs” (Genesis 1:14, KJV), and “The heavens declare the glory of God” (Psalm 19:1, KJV) are fitting in a week like this.
NOAA SWPC - G2 Watch for 19-21 March due to CME and CH HSS Effects (March 20, 2026) NOAA SWPC - G3 (Strong) Geomagnetic Storming Observed 22 Mar (March 22, 2026) NOAA SWPC - UPDATED: G3 (Strong) Geomagnetic Storming Observed 22 Mar (March 23, 2026) NOAA SWPC - G2 (Moderate) Geomagnetic Storm Watch for 22 Mar (March 22, 2026)
Such celestial disturbances should not make us superstitious. They should make us worshipful. God rules over what men model, track, and forecast. The same Lord who governs nations governs the heavens also. He is not alarmed by what alarms us. Therefore believers should lift up their heads with hope, not because every solar event is a prophetic key, but because all creation remains under the hand of Christ. “by him all things consist” (Colossians 1:16-17, KJV)
8. Bright Fireballs Across the United States
This week also brought a noticeable run of bright fireball sightings across the United States. The first quarter of 2026 appears to show a significant surge in large fireball events, and NASA’s fireball database noted that well over two hundred eyewitnesses filed reports on one March 23 event alone. Additional coverage also highlighted dashcam video of a green meteor streaking across the Pacific Northwest sky. These events are natural phenomena, and we should be careful not to treat every unusual sight in the heavens as a code to decode. Yet they do remind us that men still look up in wonder when the sky interrupts ordinary life. Scripture says there shall be “wonders in heaven above” (Acts 2:19, KJV), and even ordinary creation can awaken a sleeping people to the fact that they are not in control.
American Meteor Society - Has Something Changed in the Near-Earth Meteoroid Environment? (March 25, 2026) NASA - Event 20260323-031821 AP - Green fireball captured on dashcam video as a meteor streaks across the Pacific Northwest sky (March 25, 2026)
Here in our own area, one of these events was not just seen but heard. A bright fireball or meteor was captured on a home security camera in Powell, Missouri, and the boom was reportedly heard across multiple nearby communities. That kind of moment brings the matter out of the abstract and into ordinary life. Even natural events in the heavens can jolt people out of routine and remind us how small we are beneath the sky God made. “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers” (Psalm 8:3-4, KJV) and “he hath set the world in their heart” (Ecclesiastes 3:11, KJV) are worth reflecting on here.
9. Control Infrastructure, Platform Power, and the Shrinking of Private Space
Another development worth noting is the steady narrowing of truly private digital communication. Instagram is discontinuing its opt-in end-to-end encrypted direct messages, a move critics warned would make platform-level scanning, moderation, and compliance access easier. Even when this is framed in the language of safety or efficiency, the larger pattern remains: more of human speech is being mediated, filtered, and governed by large technical systems that can be adjusted from above. This should not drive believers into paranoia, but it should deepen our discernment. We are living in an age in which digital channels are increasingly treated not simply as tools, but as gates. “discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee” (Proverbs 2:10-11, KJV) and “through thy precepts I get understanding” (Psalm 119:104, KJV) fit this topic well.
The church should answer this age not merely by complaining about technology, but by strengthening embodied fellowship, guarding speech, and keeping the Word of God close at hand in forms that cannot be silently edited for us. It is wise to possess physical Bibles, to teach your children to open them, and to remember that the Lord alone perfectly knows the “thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12, KJV). No platform can offer the security, truth, or permanence that belongs to God alone. “thy word is truth” (John 17:17, KJV) and “Thy word is true from the beginning” (Psalm 119:160, KJV) belong here as well.
Watch and Pray
Watch and pray for the people of the Middle East, especially in Israel, Iran, Gaza, Lebanon, and the surrounding nations. Ask the Lord to protect the innocent, restrain violence, expose lies, and open doors for the Gospel in the midst of war and uncertainty. Pray that believers there would be courageous and that many would turn to Christ in an hour of fear. “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7, KJV)
Watch and pray for wisdom to be granted to leaders handling war, diplomacy, and domestic strain. Ask God to overrule pride, ambition, and recklessness, and to make rulers remember that they answer to Him. Pray also that the church would never confuse political outcomes with the coming kingdom of Christ. “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord” (Proverbs 21:1, KJV)
Watch and pray for those affected by natural disturbances, whether earthquakes, space weather disruptions, or the many smaller troubles that rarely make headlines. Ask the Lord to comfort the afflicted, provide for those in need, and use even these shakings to awaken sleeping hearts. “the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, KJV)
Watch and pray for the body of Christ in the United States and around the world as political tensions rise, public systems strain, private digital spaces shrink, and the culture grows more unstable. Pray that believers would respond with calm trust rather than fear, with discernment rather than credulity, and with bold witness rather than retreat. “let your light so shine before men” (Matthew 5:16, KJV)
Watch and pray that the Lord would raise up many more sons and daughters of Issachar in our day, men and women who understand the times and know what the people of God ought to do. Pray for households grounded in Scripture, churches marked by holiness, and saints who are sober, vigilant, and faithful until Christ returns. “Watch ye therefore, and pray always” (Luke 21:36, KJV) and “men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do” (1 Chronicles 12:32, KJV)
Maranatha,
Sims Corner Church