A Moment With Pastor Fred

Ps 94:14, “For the Lord will not reject his people; he will never forsake his inheritance.”

 People are asking, “Is what is happening in Isael today fulfillment to biblical prophecy?” I don’t believe so. We must always be careful reading current events into the Bible. As believers we grieve over the horrific events of October 7. Israel has every right to defend itself. We must remember these militant Islamic groups don’t believe Israel has a right to exist. It’s hard to negotiate with someone who wants you dead.

Modern day Israel is only 75 years old. At the end of WWII sympathy for the Jews increased after the Holocaust. In 1947, the United Nations proposed a partition of Palestine – Jews approved the plan; Arabs opposed it. After Israel declared its independence on May 14, 1948, five Arab nations declared war. Unbelievably Israel won. Many Palestinians fled. Another war erupted in 1967, the Six Day War. Israel was outnumbered 30-1 but again won. The Yom Kipper War came in 1973. There has been bloodshed in the Middle East for centuries. While we long for a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Arab conflict, no lasting peace will be achieved until Christ returns.

God is not done with Israel. I believe the promises he made in the OT will be literally fulfilled – in his time, when Christ returns. This conflict is complicated, but nothing justifies terrorism. Our love for Israel though must not negate our love for the Arab, “For God so loved the world …”  The gospel is global. May we continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.