I need some help here please about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from anyone who can add to this article. Please use the comment box below and I will endeavor to edit the article as more content is added.
I want to try and keep this article as simple as possible, not for you but for me. I have written what I believe to be accurate and hope that if I have misread or misunderstood anything, that you will patiently and sensitively guide this article on to the right path and make comments at the bottom.
Christian Biblical Worldview
According to the Bible, Jesus came so that we could have everlasting life in eternity (I know there are many other elements to this but bear with me).
So when it comes to Biblical truths and worldviews – according to Christians, the fight in Israel between the Jews and Palestinians cannot be about any Biblical issue because the Kingdom of God is inside each and every believing Christian. The Temple was torn down and rebuilt in three days, meaning that Jesus was The Temple and he was killed and rose again after three days. Ok so far?
According to the Bible, Israel is the central geographic location for the Christian (faith), Jewish and Muslim (religions) but it is no longer sacred in terms of where God resides as He did in The Temple in The Old Testament. The Veil was torn from top to bottom at the time of Jesus' death and as such God made a way for us to approach him directly.
There will be a battle in Israel as stated in the book of Revelation, but it is not about Jews or Christians reclaiming the land from occupiers, it will be a battle between Jesus and Satan.
There will also be a New Jerusalem that will descend from heaven to earth in which we will live as believing born again Christians. Are you still with me?
Jewish Religion Worldview
The Israelites (latterly called Jews) were/are God’s chosen people. This is clearly illustrated throughout the Old Testament from being released from slavery in Egypt through to occupying Canaan, the Promised Land.
Every battle that God won on behalf of the Israelites, through to the fulfilment of hundreds of prophecies, shows that God’s hand has been on Israel. Even up to the point when in 1967 during the Six day war; every Arab nation was intent on wiping Israel off the face of the earth, but only 779 Israeli soldiers were killed compared to some 21,000 Arabs killed.
There have been events time and time again throughout the history of Israel that point towards God’s hand on this people and country.
However, the Jews do not recognise Jesus as the Son of God. They are still waiting for the Messiah.
And so it seems that the Jews are still living out their directive to claim the Promised Land for themselves. Throughout the Bible, it explains that the Israelites were to wipe out the inhabitants of Canaan, including women, children, livestock and so on. There was to be no quarter. Every living thing was to be expunged.
It appears that the Jews are still attempting to carry out God’s will for them as stated in the Old Testament. but there is also one thing that we cannot over look. God does not renege on his promises, no matter what the year is!
If we are to believe the press, the latest major headline (check out the many references for this on Google) says "Their God changes the path of our rockets in mid-air", says terrorist. It is curious that the reference is "their God". If this is the case, then "OUR" God is still watching over the Jews and therefore who are we to comment.
Muslim Religion Worldview
The Muslim faith originated from Ishmael who, according to the Bible, was sent away and disowned by Abraham (Genesis 21:14). God instructed Abraham to do this because he slept with his servant girl Hagar at the request of his wife Sarah. This reflected Abraham’s effort is doing something in his own strength and not trusting in God to fulfil his promise.
After Ishmael left with his mother, God promised Hagar that Ishmael would become a father of a great nation. This became the twelve Arab nations, all of which oppose Israel.
This hatred towards Israel is described as the resentment of not having The Fathers love and as such allows the enemy, Satan, to wreak havoc throughout the Middle East and around the world as Muslims attack Christians and Jews alike.
The Arab and Muslim world are still intent on wiping Israel off the face of the earth.
However, it is curious how, when Syria kills some 150,000+ muslims, no one batters an eye-lid, yet when Israel retaliates or continues with their instructions from the Old Testament, everyone is up in arms with demonstrations in leading countries.
Israel has an organised army and the Palestinians have Hamas, a terrorist organisation. Israel plans assaults and offensives against Hamas who hides its weapons in amongst houses and schools. Israel has bunkers for the general population, built because of decades of war and the Palestinians continue to use the population as human shields. Of course there will be a disparity in the number of casualties.
Comment in Context
A Christian represents someone, anyone, no matter what they thought they were before they became a Christian, as a follower of Jesus, the Son of God, The Messiah, The King of Kings.
Irrespective of what an individual may have thought before making a commitment to Christ, he or she becomes a new creation.
There are hundreds of religions around the world, and as such; every one of these religions are simply a diversion, a distraction, to stop men and women coming to personally know Jesus. Once a Christian, there is no history. It doesn’t matter what we were beforehand, whether we believed in something or nothing.
The only thing that matters is that we’re saved and can embark on a journey of truth. Without The Truth the world looks a mess. Only by studying and understanding God’s word, can we begin to make sense of the troubles and atrocities around the world.
The bottom line; there is only one person responsible for every bad, nasty and detestable thing that happens on this planet and that is Satan. Only Satan would advocate killing another person - contrary to the resurrection and what Jesus died for.
Those who have read the Bible will know what I am saying is true and those who have not will ridicule it. Satan has been planning this since the beginning. He will orchestrate mass chaos and terror around the world and then someone will step forward and appear to bring everything under control. Its only a matter of time.
We are all God’s created beings. If we belong to him (and we are saved - see below!!!) we can be assured of an amazing future, in this life and the next. But if we forge ahead, being drawn in to conflict with our neighbour, including Jew against Palestinian, we are only setting ourselves up to be judged as living against God’s precepts and commands. Without repentance, i.e. doing a 180 degree about-face and stopping what we’re doing, we cannot expect anything to change.
Conclusion
Jesus didn’t come to take sides; he came for all of us to join him. That means everyone. No one is excluded, unless they choose to completely turn away from him and not recognise Jesus as Lord.
They only way for any conflict to stop is to come in to an agreement with each other. There must be a common goal. And that common goal for this world, Jew and Muslim alike can only be to follow Jesus.
