Hamas: “We love death more than you love life.”
That’s a problem.
If you’ve been living under a rock for the last three weeks, you may be unaware of what’s happening in the middle east. Brace yourself, it’s not pretty.
Hamas, an anti-Semitic militant group with muslim roots, has picked up their weapons again to wipe out Israel in the West Bank and Gaza strip territories in Israel. The violence picks up every so often, with little rest between battles. In the past few weeks, over 600 people have died, with an estimated 75% being women and children. Hamas doesn’t care. They love death in all shapes and sizes, and will use whatever—or whoever—they can to protect themselves while they kill others.
It’s more than a conflict, it’s a war that never finds victory. And it won’t until God says enough.
This is one of many reasons I could never be a beauty queen or a president. (I’m resisting the snarky comment about the similarities of those roles.) I do not believe in world peace. At least not yet.
A Systemic Problem
At the beginning of history, humankind ruined its chances for anything that even resembles world peace. The fruit was eaten, evil was introduced into the world, and the rest is history. Wars personal and national have ravaged our homes and countries ever since the first couple listened to a snake.
The Bible tells us that we won’t ever experience world peace on our own, yet we campaign and plan and politicize like it’s attainable. It’s not. I hate to tell you this, but it’s only going to get worse.
Until God steps in. And when He does, literally all Hell will break loose. Evil itself will be released and there will be a war unlike any other (Revelation 20).
And then, there will be peace. Absolute peace. Because God will reign and everyone will see just who God is. The fighting will stop. For good. I can’t wait.
Jehovah-Shalom (The God of Peace)
God knows what’s going on in Israel today. He sees. [And He’s not afraid of the hard questions.] And though you might not hear it from the media (propaganda is a major business of the Hamas), God is protecting Israel in some really cool ways. Like with the Iron Dome, a rocket-intercepting technology. (Pretty cool, actually.)
You might not be Jewish. You might not care about the big picture of Israel. But you are human, and I have to assume you don’t very well stomach the thought of children and families being used as human shields. And while you may not be able to fight physically, you can fight spiritually.
Pray for Israel. Pray God would protect her with His mighty hand. And pray for Hamas. They’re losing lives too, and as this article from RELEVANT Magazine explains, you can grieve their loss without supporting their cause.
Pray for God’s peace. Pray God will return soon to restore the earth and its inhabitants to our original state of peace, before the snake showed up.
Be wise to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. Romans 16:19-20
Emily Gehman | Storytelling Coach 
Good perspective. Great application for us. Well said. I like the distinction between having compassion for people without condoning their action.
Well said! God is protecting Israel. Always has. Always will. You are right….peace IS coming!