Israel and the Middle East: Who is Right and Who is Wrong?
By David Ax
Israel’s King David penned these words almost 3,000 years ago:
“I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.” (Psalm 120:7)
Looking at the Middle East and all that is going on in Israel, a question that quickly rises to the surface is “who is right, and who is wrong?”
Consider for a moment; What should a nation do when its borders are breached, citizens murdered, and its existence is threatened? What do you do when an Islamic terrorist group such as Hamas has vowed to eliminate you and your people from the face of the earth? In short, you must fight back and defend.
In Psalm 82, we are called to be a defender of the defenseless and a father to the forgotten. These are sweet words but come with a difficult and trying reality.
Throughout Israel’s existence, they have had to endure the gyrations of times of peace, war, and rumors of war. To make it worse, their current enemy believes that they are gaining heavenly glory by killing innocent civilians and eternal security by dying in battle. Hiding behind their own Palestinian citizens is no problem for those who are committed to Islamic Jihad since they believe that if anyone dies for the cause of Allah, there is a heavy reward waiting for them. No doubt, doctrines of demons.
As for the one true God, He neither sleeps nor slumbers and will watch over Israel in ways that we have never seen. The Biblical prophet Amos foretold of an event that seemed impossible and so far-fetched that critics would mock the prophecy. What was it? That Israel would go through a time of exile but that a day would come in which they would be brought back together as a nation and that they would NEVER be uprooted again.
Easy to make fun of something that has not happened. However, we don’t hear anyone mocking Amos anymore. It was on May 15, 1948, that Israel was declared a nation again and has inhabited the land ever since… never to be uprooted again.
No matter how violent their neighbors get, no matter what countries get involved, and no matter what rumors may spread, Israel has a God-given promise that the land is theirs and that He will be their defense. No one should rejoice in death, not even the death of the wicked, but make no mistake. Though Israel is for peace, they will fight and with God’s help, win against their enemies that are for war.
There is a line in an old hymn that you may be familiar with…
“Oh, be careful little ears what you hear, your Father up above is looking down in love, oh, be careful little ears what you hear.”
With the whirlwind of information and news flying about, and much of it half-truths at best, be sure your understanding is in line with what God has spoken and kept for us in the Bible!
Please take time to pray for the peace of Israel and when you have the opportunity to speak truth to those around you, don’t be silent! (Psalm 122:6)
David Ax is a husband, dad, and pastor. He is the lead pastor at Calvary Chapel Star in Idaho.
Watch David Ax’s Israel Forever message given during a Sunday sermon here: Israel Forever.