From the Editors October 15, 2012 Issue

Prayer and Iran's nuclear threat

The Editors

As the pace of Iran’s nuclear program quickens, the amount of enriched uranium, which could swiftly be converted to weapons-grade material, has jumped dramatically. That’s in just the past few months. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei insists the nuclear program is devoted to peaceful purposes. Almost no one believes him. Khamenei asserts building a nuclear bomb would be “sinful.” 

But the real sin would be to overlook a spiritual response. 

Prayer-based initiatives could, and regularly do, illustrate the Almighty’s transforming power. These initiatives reach across divides and set both sides on common ground. The Bible tells of a confrontation between Syria and Israel. The prophet Elisha, a much-respected spiritual prophet and leader, prayerfully guided Israel into a position of military advantage. When the king of Israel realized this, he excitedly asked the prophet, “Shall I smite them? shall I smite them?” Elisha’s calming response included, “Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master” (II Kings 6:21, 22). That time, at least, war was averted. That time, peace prevailed.

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