2“When you prepare for battle, the priest must come forward to speak to the troops. 3He will say to them, ‘Listen to me, all you men of Israel! Do not be afraid as you go out to fight your enemies today! Do not lose heart or panic or tremble before them. 4For the Lord your God is going with you! He will fight for you against your enemies, and he will give you victory!’” (Deuteronomy 20:2-4, The Life Application Bible)
The unsettling events unfolding in Israel and Palestine are heartbreaking and horrific. Please join me in praying for peace, for an immediate end to the killing of innocent civilians, and the safe return to those taken hostage.
The 75-year history of Israel’s reestablishment into the land they claim as their heritage has been marred by violence and there seems to be no end in sight between Israel and those living in The Gaza Strip. Hamas made a foolish mistake launching such a brazen attack against Israel and now many innocent Palestinians are going to die in the “war” Israel has declared against Hamas. The last seven decades have been a complicated story for God’s chosen people, as the world sought to return the state of Israel to their “promised land”, a land occupied by Palestinians. As a Christian, the Israel-Palestine conflict is very disheartening. I personally support a two-state agreement where Palestine is recognized as it’s own autonomous state. The blockade of the Gaza Strip is a tragedy for humanity, which must end, and is what has led to this current escalation from Hamas. It seems these two will be at war with each other until the Prince of Peace returns, which I pray occurs sooner than later.
For now I cry out for peace and an end to this gruesome fighting. I agree with Pope Francis, who addressed St. Peter’s Square this morning, saying “Terrorism and war don’t bring solutions, only death. War is a defeat. Every war is a defeat.”
Common Sense Reborn 