Don’t Attack without Air Superiority

Time to learn some history lessons: by the end of summer 1940 Nazi Germany effectively ruled Europe. In a mind-blowing move the Nazis had conquered Poland, Denmark, Norway, and France and driven the British out of mainland Europe; and the only thing separating them from the last free people in the continent was a tiny channel was water. But Hitler, for all his evil madness, was not an idiot, and would not invade Great Britain until the mighty Royal Air Force was defeated.

The British and German air forces fought vigorously for nine months, ending with Britain having air dominance over the English Channel. This effectively saved the British from a forced surrender, paving the way for an Allied invasion of Normandy to rescue Western Europe from Nazi occupation.

By winter 1944, the same Nazi Germany that had, despite being outnumbered and outflanked, defeated every major European power was now being squeezed to death on three sides. Gasping for air and survival, Hitler ordered a final counteroffensive against American and British forces in Belgium and France.

They attacked in mid-December, despite the cold weather and snow shutting down their necessary tanks and armored vehicles. Why? Because the snow, despite hampering their ability to move, prohibited the Allies’ superior air force from seeing them. They attacked, and the Ally forces erupted into a panicked retreat. For a tense few weeks it looked like Nazi Germany would survive the war, until suddenly the weather cleared and American fighter bombers were able to annihilate the German army.

Fast forward to a more modern conflict, in 1967. With the closure of the Straits of Tiran, Israel felt like they were being squeezed by their increasingly hostile neighbors. War was inevitable, and Israel was pitifully outgunned. This was not the current military superpower Israel with its Iron Dome, mind you. Israel had fewer than 300 aircraft, and the Arab coalition they were facing against had over 950.

So Israel preemptively sent their tiny air force and, catching their enemies by surprise, destroyed 350 Egyptian aircraft within the first three hours of the Third Arab-Israeli War. This initiated Israel’s greatest military victory in its modern history, occupying all of the Sinai Peninsula in just six days. 

The fighting up north in Syria was less promising however, literally fighting an uphill battle against Syrians strongholds in the Golan Heights. But another preemptive airstrike destroyed 100 of the Arab aircraft east of Israel. The air superiority had little tactical advantage in the more mountainous terrain, but the Syrians’ morale was hammered by the constant sight of Israeli planes flying overhead, leading to the Israelis capturing the entire Golan Heights.

I could honestly give several dozen examples of how vital air superiority is in modern warfare. If you can’t get control of the air, don’t fight that war. You won’t win. Sending in ground forces when the enemy controls the air will always lead to defeat.

How many times has the American church send in ground forces without a preemptive air strike? The modern church of America has more resources, manpower and material than any other church since Pentecost, and yet so often it looks like we’re losing the war.

What is a preemptive air strike in the context of our war? Prayer. Prayer. Prayer. Getting down on your knees and shouting the name of Jesus kind of prayer. It’s not enough to ask for God’s blessing once a week. Had Israel sent a single plane into Egypt they would have lost the war. Instead they sent the entire air force.

You’re a ground soldier, the backbone of Christ’s army. You have the ability to call in air support at any moment, and you have an unlimited supply of aircraft ready to move at your Commander’s orders. Your Commander can call on legions of angel armies at a moment’s notice. He can drop smoke to protect you from the eyes of the enemy at your request. When you go into battle he can pave the way with His air power at just one call from you.

The Church should be launching ground invasions untold to the enemy strongholds, places that seem impossible to reach. Afghanistan, North Korea, Seattle, Las Vegas—the list of enemy strongholds is endless. God has said there will be few laborers for his plentiful harvest, and you can be counted among them. But to do that you need air support.

Start with prayer. More prayer, more strength; less prayer, less strength; no prayer, no strength. Pray that God will go before you into battle, fight alongside you, and continue to fight behind you. He’s all too eager to equip you for that battle and win air dominance for you. All you need to do is ask for it.