This is a post for the serious Christian. I purposely withheld posting until after the dust seems to have settled among Christians on social media making their remarks about the sad going on of those on the Gaza strip. This is longer than just a headline, so read at your own desire.
Have you ever found yourself between a rock and a hard place? Judging by the present events of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, Israelis and Palestinians, Jews and Muslims; the essence and emotions of this conflict has triggered the hearts of millions across the globe. Though many of us on this side of the oceans aren't waking up to bullets and bloodshed, this has triggered many in rage and hope for a reason as to whether or not PEACE can be achieved in the Middle East. I am here to say...it is possible but it will come at a great cost.
Let's consider the tail end of Israel's time journeying in the wilderness after leaving Egypt. When God's supernatural provision of mana had ceased and the fortifying walls of Jericho had yet to crumble, Joshua had found himself between a rock and a hard place as he was leading Israel into their final rest of the Promised Land. Perhaps overcome by the sense of uncertainty in his next steps, he sees a sword drawn man standing in his way and here is the question Joshua seems to demand to be answered.
Are you for us, or for our adversaries? Joshua 5:13 NKJV
Unless one daily abides in the present mind of God, many today would cut-in and chime with bias assumptions and opinions as we see throughout social media. While people play the victim card now-a-days, perhaps this could have also been where Joshua came from, though the Bible does not say. But what response Joshua is given the Bible does say and it is a response that breaks every barrier of the argument, at every side. Actually, it is a response that we find later at the end of his time leading Israel, when Joshua poses a challenging question to all Israel. But for now, consider what this angelic Commander says to Joshua.
And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, “Are You for us or for our adversaries?”
So He said, “No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come...” Joshua 5:13-14
If not careful, we as a Christians can and have totally misrepresented the side that this Commander states as in this time concerning yet another significant time in Israel's history of coming into its earthly fulfillment as a nation. A nation whose God-given purpose was to become an example of what it is like when a people serve God as The Lord. (1 Cor. 10:11).
Notice this Commander Joshua confronts does not say he comes to represent the army of Israel, but rather the army of The Lord, which transcends way before Abraham was called upon. This sword carrying Commander represents the God of all Heaven and Earth and not just some portion of land.
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. Joshua 24:15
After set trials and triumphs during Joshua's tenure of leading the children of Israel, this is the question he poses to them. A question not only meant to challenge, but to establish the clear boundaries of allegiance in covenant, not just to a land or divine calling, but to a person...The Lord.
The scriptures are clear that God hates the shedding of innocent blood and He is no respecter of persons (Prov. 6:17, Rom. 2:11). Though from the Israeli perspective today they are approaching this War as a response to intrusion against their people and from the Hamas standpoint, as a religious and generational sense of right that would justify hate toward Israel. Both sides seem to have their reasons, and both see their cause right in their own eyes. However, I am not here to split hairs on the ground level, but rather to endorse the side from a heavenly vantage point, that may include some wisdom to those who profess the name of Christ.
Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Matthew 22:36-40
One cannot love others as themselves without first knowing the love of God and this Love is wrapped up in a person named Jesus. Now before some may get sidetracked into explaining how they think who Joshua spoke to was Jesus, don't miss the point of the statement that was made. For the focus of the moment in Joshua's life and Israel's history was not so much about WHO Joshua spoke to, but WHAT the Commander of God's Army said. And I believe, this is a stance of a statement that many well-meaning zealous Christians, especially here in the West, miss. Because we miss this and allow ourselves to get so caught up in future prophecies at the expense of missing out in engagement with present realities, we seem to lack a fuller understanding to the overall picture of what we are to expect in the earth and in God's purposes.
Whether it be for human rights, governmental rights, land rights, justice and various atrocities; true Christ followers cannot afford to miss the statement made to Joshua many generations and under a different covenant ago. Joshua had to let go of his own aspirations and rights and yield to the Greater Command of Heaven. Immediately in response to God's Heavenly Commander, Joshua does and says this very thing.
And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?” Joshua 5:14
Joshua first prostrates himself on the ground and converts his concern to consecration and his worry into worship. Often we worship our own sense or ideas of justice. We serve our own desires to be right. We can easily become so self-absorbed in the fray of emotion, that we misguide ourselves from alignment with God and His purposes in our life, in the earth and in the bigger picture of it all.
HOW SHOULD CHRISTIANS RESPOND TO THE WAR BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS?
We should FIRST respond in the same way as Jesus shows us. We first respond in prayer, getting in alignment with God on while praying for BOTH Israeli and Palestinian. Not one or the other. BOTH need Christ, because CHRIST is the means by which ALL (not some) can come to know PEACE on earth and GOOD WILL toward men! Lest we forget this was the very clarion call of Jesus' triumphant first entry into the world. (Luke 2:14)
BUT THESE ARE THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES!
Listen, Jesus is THE SIGN OF ALL TIME. He is the Resurrection! Though no man will know, nor even come close in speculation of the day or the hour of His return, we must daily live prepared. However, just a word to the wise, this is not the time to tell Israelis who are getting shot at and losing relatives that the Church is the true Israel. It is possible to believe right but think wrong and now is not the occasion and time to get into a whole theological reckoning concerning who really is Israel. Here is why...
If your relative is kidnapped, baby killed and your life on high alert of being killed, do you think you need to hear about who is the true Israel, or do you think you would need to know The Comforter, Jesus. When Peter was sinking after trying to walk on water, did Jesus begin to talk to him about how upon the rock of His Christship He would build His Church? No. Rather Jesus addressed the relevant issue at the moment of his faith in Him, not in anything else that is a byproduct of that very essential truth.
As born-again believers, we aren't graced to overcome the stormy trials of life all because our hope is in something or someone else but only in Christ and Christ alone! Jesus said, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33). The same promise of trials or tribulations that we ought to expect in the world, Jesus gives just as much a promise of finding Complete Peace in Him!
So what is the answer to achieve Peace in the Middle East? You got to place your trust to find Peace in The One who hung on the MIDDLE Cross! He is not the Jesus of the left nor the right. He is Jesus The Christ, the Mediator between God and Man! Jesus is for ALL nations and all people!
WHAT ARE WE CALLED TO DO?
PREACH THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST! Preaching the (Death, Burial and Resurrection) of Christ is not bound by trying to put people in their place theologically, but rather it can also come by weeping with those who weep, but not as those without hope. By being proactive to be the hands and feet of Christ and not the mouthpiece of untimely debate. Just because God ended the Old Covenant for a New to be established, doesn't mean we do not pray and preach to ALL nations! Quite the contrary, for the New Covenant amplifies we are to go to all nations. That’s right, to the Jew, Palestinian, Egyptian, Ukrainian, Russian, etc. Jesus is for ALL NATIONS! All are called to repent of their sins, believing on Jesus Christ. Not one group of people are an exclusive exception to that rule and so our prayers and compassion need to reflect that.
So whose side is God on? He is on the side of a broken contrite heart! He doesn't even take pleasure in the death of the wicked and neither should we, regardless of who you attribute the wicked to be. Rather, God stands on the side of HIS-STORY, His Purpose and His Will; His only begotten Son, Jesus. So what side of history will you stand on? Because as we bring all these issue to God in prayer looking as to what we we need to pivot, His response is unchanging as it goes toward His Son... so let us Hear Him! (Luke 9:35)
And whatsoever we ask, we receive from him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, That we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
1 John 3:22-24
