The Middle East Conflict in a Nutshell

Hi all

The Horrific Scenes in the Middle East Show that we Live in a Culture of Violence, Terrorism, War, and Bloodshed, and these are the Results of Sinful, Corrupt Hearts

In Gaza, videos are surfacing on social media of dead people being paraded around like trophies in vehicles. After Hamas launched a surprise attack against Israel, Israeli hostages, including soldiers, women, children, and babies, are being driven from their homes into Gaza. Palestinian paramilitaries crossed the border and indiscriminately began attacking women and children as more than 5,000 rockets were launched into Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel is at war, and they are currently launching a retaliation.

What is most disturbing about all this is that this most recent attack was paid for with US tax dollars. The United States has directly given around $500 million to the Palestinians. [1] President Joe Biden just weeks ago gave Iran, which funds and supports Hamas, $6 billion during a prisoner swap. [2] It is also interesting to note that Iran has just praised Hamas for its attack on Israel and has promised to aid the group in its struggle. [3]

How can we be ambassadors for peace when we fund organizations and nations dedicated to armed conflicts and terror? How can our politicians condemn these attacks while also claiming to be in solidarity with the victims when we are financially supporting their adversaries? And where are the demands to stop supporting conflicts and wars all over the world?

The Bible reveals to us why there is so much war, violence, and terror increasing in the world today. It also explains why political leaders are incapable of stopping these acts. The problem is that acts of war, terror, and sin do not only come because of economic injustice, greed, racial tensions, or religious conflicts. The Bible tells us that these are only symptoms of a much deeper problem. God identifies that the real issue for all the tragedies we are seeing today is the human heart.

“From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?” James 4:1.

“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” Mark 7:21-23.

Corrupt and wicked thoughts, actions, reasoning, passions, and appetites are the results of a sinful and unregenerate heart. It is only the restraining work of the Spirit of God upon the heart that can contain and suppress the evil thoughts and affections that control men. And as men reject the Holy Spirit, who constrains the heart from fully turning towards evil, the result will lead to the terrible consequences that we are seeing today.

This violence is not just played out during international conflicts, wars, or acts of terrorism; this violence is also being repeated daily in our schools, homes, and in all segments of society.

“The perversity and cruelty of men will reach such a height that God will reveal Himself in His majesty. Very soon the wickedness of the world will have reached its limit and, as in the days of Noah, God will pour out His judgments” (The Upward Look, 334).

“In the days of Noah the overwhelming majority was opposed to the truth, and enamored with a tissue of falsehoods. The land was filled with violence. War, crime, murder, was the order of the day. Just so will it be before Christ’s second coming” (Bible Commentary, Vol. 1 p. 1090).

These acts of violence will only continue to increase as we get nearer to the second coming of Christ. There will never be an end to the conflicts we are seeing today, not until Jesus Christ returns to establish His kingdom of perfect justice and righteousness.

“The ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly. The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceaseth: he hath broken the covenant, he hath despised the cities, he regardeth no man. The earth mourneth and languisheth.” Isaiah 33:7-9.

We are commanded to pray and work towards peace. We should be the first to encourage every effort to bring peace to our world. But that peace is intimately linked to truth and righteousness. Therefore, we cannot simply pray for peace alone because, without the other two, we will never experience true, lasting peace.

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” 1 Timothy 2:1, 2.

Sources

[1] https://www.usaid.gov/west-bank-and-gaza/press-releases/oct-03-2022-usaid-annual-spending-support-palestinians-and-peacebuilding-tops-150-million

[2] https://www.newsweek.com/iran-israel-gaza-attack-biden-1832834

[3] https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2023/10/07/2967699/general-voices-iran-s-support-for-palestinian-strike-on-israel

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