War in the Middle East - How should we Christians respond to it?

I came across a list of prayer pointers passed to me by a friend today, and on this list was the point 'Pray for the Conflict in the Middle East'.

But do we really know what is going on there?

The current situation in the Middle East is one of great perils. This post was created to inform Christians what is going on.

Here’s a brief summary to you guys and gals who have absolutely no idea what is going on in the Middle East now.

On the morning of 25 June 2006, Palestinian militants crossed the border from the Gaza Strip into Israel via tunnels. They attacked an Israeli outpost, killing 2 IDF (Israel Defense Force) soldiers and wounding another 4. In the process they captured an Israeli Corporal, Gilad Shalit, and they are currently holding him as a hostage to negotiate with Israel.

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So what exactly as these militants demanding?

All female Palestinian prisoners and all Palestinian prisoners under the age of 18 are to be released from Israeli prisons. Later on they increase their demands to include the release of 1000 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. Many of these prisoners are considered by Israel as guilty, with "blood on their hands". And of course, Israel rejected their demands.

No negotiation.

Israel’s response was brutal (but necessary I feel). IDF Armour and infantry divisions massed at the border. Israel threatened military action unless they immediately release of Shalit.

Of course the Palestinian militant refused. And on the 27^th of June, Israel invaded the Gaza Strip, aiming to free their captured soldier.

The situation was made worse when Hezbollah (“Party of God” in Arab), a terrorist organization situated in South Lebanon, attacked a patrol in Northern Israel, killing 8 soldiers and capturing 2 in the process on the 12^th of July.

Israel responded by bombing suspected Hezbollah targets in Tyre and Beirut. Israeli fighters streaked across Lebanese skies, delivering it’s deadly load on suspected Hezbollah HQs, weapon stashes, barracks, and other positions close to the border. But in the process, countless civilians have lost their lives.

The entire aim of what Israel is trying to do now is to create a “buffer zone” in Southern Lebanon so that Hezbollah missiles cannot hit targets anymore in Israel.

But to the dismay of the Israelis, Hezbollah now has the missile technology to target cities deep in Israel. 35 civilians have died in the port city of Haifa in Israel from Hezbollah missiles. And the interesting thing is that these missiles are way too advanced for such a terrorist organization to achieve. At least 350 Lebanese civilians have lost their lives in this tragedy.

This is where Iran and Syria comes into play.

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This is a proxy war for Iran and Syria. They supply the training, the equipment (which in this case is the Iranian missiles) and other essentials to Hezbollah to fight it’s war against Israel. Now Israel knows the involvement of Iran and Syria, but Israel can’t do anything about it. Hezbollah is expandable, and who else better but them to fight a war that Iran wants to avoid openly?

It really breaks my heart to see footage of crying Israeli mothers, begging for the war to stop so that their sons can come home. Mothers weeping over their dead sons and daughters. Fathers searching the rubble for their families. Funerals after funerals, because of so much hate. A particular haunting image was that of a dead child with her teddy bear beside her, her corpse littered on the streets of Beirut...

So here’s the crucial point for us Christians.

We, Bible-believing Christians must:

1. Know that the every word of the Bible is God-inspired, including His promises to bring Israel back and establish them as a nation. Israel is God’s chosen people, His Beloved, and no matter what happens He will watch over them as He has promised. (Psalm 121:4, Ezekiel 34:13)

2. Pray for those in authority. I’ve just watched a footage of an Israeli air raid siren sounding, and I can sense the fear that has enshrouded both Lebanon and Israel. Pray for wisdom for all the leaders involved, that a solution might be established before more civilians are killed.

3. Pray that God’s sovereign will would reign in the Middle East and destroy the work of the enemy. There are many organizations in the Middle East who are hell – bent on destroying Israel, and many of these are claiming to fight “for God”. Pray that any force that opposes the true living God would not prosper.

4. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. (Psalm 122:6) Pray against the forces that seeks to disrupt the peace of the city. Pray that the prime Minister of Israel Ehud Olmert would seek the God of Israel for wisodm to lead this country.
   

So my fellow brothers and sisters, let us not be ignorant in what is happening around us in the world. Some may say "What's the point? All these are so boring.", then sadly you will miss out alot on what Biblical prophecy is working out page by page. Know what is happening! And pray with understanding, not blindly or ignorantly.

May God have mercy over His people - Israel His beloved.