For the past two weeks, we’ve read the horrifying reports of the unprovoked surprise heinous attack of Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists, targeting women, children, families, and the elderly in Israel and Israel’s declaration of retaliation war. War that Israel says won’t be over until they completely wipe out the threat of Hamas. But as this war rages on, other Arab countries surrounding Israel are attacking from all directions. Hamas and Hezbollah – clients of Iran and controlling Gaza and Lebanon respectively – are the attackers, with Syria shelling and threatening.
In America, we also saw the unexpected pro-Palestine protesters on college campuses chanting “Israel, Israel, you can’t hide. We charge you with genocide.” Or “free, free Palestine, long live Palestine.” “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” essentially calling for killing of all Israeli Jews. A coordinated insurrection in the Capitol while voting was occurring for a new House Speaker saw sit-in protestors from the pro-Palestine groups “Jewish Voice for Peace” (JVP) and “IfNotNow” wearing black T-shirts that read “Not in our name. Jews say cease fire now.” Where is the responsive outcry and denouncement we saw from January 6th? (For more information on these groups see note at the end of this blog)
Hamas’ evil carnage led Israel justifiably to defend itself against current and future attacks. Israel will not walk away from American and Israeli hostages in Gaza, and neither should America.
Hal Lindsey reveals the obvious: “How can anyone seriously defend rapists, human butchers, beheaders of babies, slaughterers who burn people alive in their own homes, and who parade the dead through the streets? Yet we’re seeing their defenders all over the world. In a stunning bit of irony, some use their defense of debauchery as a form of virtue signaling.”
The chanters and protesters are promoting annihilation of Jews in our ally Israel and cheering for terrorists! How did such a large sect of anti-Semitism fester in our country? Many propose it’s coming from college professors indoctrinating, actually brainwashing, students. How did the professors become such Jew haters? Willful ignorance or spiritual darkness.
I wonder how many churches have had, or will have, the discussion of how the friction between Palestinians and Israelis began in the Book of Genesis. Or how no human intervention or even “Abraham Accords” will ever bring peace to the Middle East until one major world event happens.
I see well-meaning Christians posting on social media crying out for peace in the Middle East. However, biblical history and prophecy reveals that only one person can bring about peace. It’s not a President, a statesman, a country leader, a contract, a covenant, agreements, not even President Trump though he came close . . . no act of man will result in lasting peace in the Middle East or anywhere in the world until the glorious return of Jesus Christ!
When Did This Middle East Conflict Start?
In 2021, I wrote an article for Crosswalk “3 Important Lessons We Can Learn From Hagar in the Bible.” While some might not have considered it a particularly relevant article at the time, it reveals the background story of what we’re watching in real time with the war in Israel. Hagar was part of a drama that would influence conflict in the Middle East for thousands of years to come. You’re probably familiar with the story, but maybe not the connection it has with the war we’re watching take place today. Let’s review the beginning of the ongoing feud between Palestine, which is not a country, along with Arab countries against Israel.
When we first meet Hagar in Scripture, she’s an Egyptian maidservant to Sarai (later called Sarah) the wife of Abram (later called Abraham). Sarai was infertile and desperately wanted a child. God had told Abram that he would have an heir, a son, and yet as time passed the aging couple still didn’t have a baby (Gen. 15:2-5).
Sarai became impatient with the Lord and thought He had kept her from having a baby and came up with her own plan to give Abram a family. “So she said to Abram, ‘The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.’” (Gen. 16:2)
A slave in those days had no rights. When her barren mistress Sarai decides to take matters into her own hands and use Hagar as a surrogate to provide her husband Abram with a child, Hagar has no option but to obey.
When Hagar discovers she’s pregnant, she foolishly acts superior to her mistress, forgetting this was just a surrogacy arrangement. Maybe pride led her to flaunt her growing baby bump in front of Sari. She could give Abram a child and Sari couldn’t. Now it was obvious that their infertility was Sari’s fault and not her husband’s. This child would technically be Hagar’s and Abram’s baby, Sarai’s blood wouldn’t be flowing through his veins but Hagar’s Egyptian blood would. Sari’s blood boiled with jealousy.
The relationship between the two women became hostile and Sari complained to her husband. Not wanting to get involved in this female dispute, Abram told Sari that Hagar was hers to do with what she wanted. Sari took that as permission to treat Hagar harshly and mistreat her.
Feeling lonely, hurt, abused, used, and rejected, Hagar ran away. Anything had to be better than what she was experiencing at the hands of Sari. But what she didn’t expect was an encounter with God. He heard her cries of affliction.
7 The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. 8 And he said, “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?”
“I’m running away from my mistress Sarai,” she answered. 9 Then the angel of the Lord told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.” Gen. 16:7-9
It was hard to hear that God wanted her to go back and endure abuse, but there was more.
11 The angel of the Lord also said to her:
“You are now pregnant
and you will give birth to a son.
You shall name him Ishmael,[a]
for the Lord has heard of your misery.
12 He will be a wild donkey of a man;
his hand will be against everyone
and everyone’s hand against him,
and he will live in hostility
toward[b] all his brothers.” Gen. 16:11-12
Hagar returned and had her child and named him Ishmael. But alas, this wasn’t a happy ending. When Sari, now renamed Sarah, sixteen years later had her own miracle son Isaac as promised, Hagar’s son Ishmael started teasing his little toddler half-brother Isaac. That was the last straw for Sarah, and she demanded that her husband send Hagar and her son away for good.
The father of both sons wasn’t so agreeable this time. To his surprise, God intervened and told him it was God’s will to let them go. There was a plan for each son.
11 The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son. 12 But God said to him, “Do not be so distressed about the boy and your slave woman. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned. 13 I will make the son of the slave into a nation also, because he is your offspring.” (Gen. 21:11-13)
Right there you have the declaration from God of two nations. One would be the promised nation of Abraham, but God had revealed to Hagar about the other son, “He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.”
Modern day Palestinians are the Arabs who are primarily the descendants of Ishmael. Some of the modern-day Palestinians are also likely descendants of Lot (one of Abraham’s relatives whose two daughters gave birth to the peoples of Moab and Ammon, (Genesis 19:36 – 38). Some are also possibly descended from Esau, the twin brother of Jacob (Israel) and son of Isaac (Genesis 25:25 – 26).
Although the Palestinians are in Abraham’s lineage, they weren’t given the same blessings and inheritance as Isaac. Isaac was Abraham’s only promised son conceived with Sarah. Therefore, God declared that Isaac would inherit the birthright (firstborn) blessings, which included Canaan (Genesis 15:16 – 21, 17:6 – 9, 21:10 – 13).
And the Lord appeared to him (Isaac) and said, “Do not go down into Egypt. Live in the land which I shall tell you of. Stay in this land, and I will be with you and bless you, for to you and to your seed, I will give all these lands; and I will establish the oath which I swore to Abraham your father. And I will multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and will give to your seed all these lands . . .” (Genesis 26:2 – 4, see also 15:16 – 21, 17:6 – 9, 21:10 – 13).
What Will Bring About Lasting Peace in the Middle East?
Old Testament prophets saw what God was going to do in the future, but like us today, they didn’t know the timing. Zechariah foresaw the nations streaming to Jerusalem to learn about God from the Jews. “‘And many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord Almighty and to entreat him.’ 23 This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In those days ten people from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, ‘Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.’” Zech 8:22-23
Isaiah saw a time when animals and humans would live in peace together.
The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling[a] together;
and a little child will lead them.
7 The cow will feed with the bear,
their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
8 The infant will play near the cobra’s den,
and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.
9 They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea. Is. 11:6-9
The New Testament writers reveal the only answer to worldwide peace. There will continue to be wars until this one event ushers in the Kingdom of Peace—Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, returns to earth to reign for a thousand years (Rev. 20:1-6)! Hallelujah!! But this won’t occur until after the church is raptured (1 Cor. 15:52) and the seven years of terrible tribulation (Matthew 24:29-31).
What Do We Do Until the Prince of Peace Returns?
- Learn from Sarah’s impatience to wait on the Lord’s timing!
Sarah and Abraham’s contrived plan to fulfill God’s promise instead of waiting for God’s perfect timing and plan didn’t end well. We can’t outsmart or out due God. His plans always are for good and will prevail, but we’ll pay a price when we’re impetuous and prideful thinking we know better than God.
22 The Scriptures say that Abraham had two sons, one from his slave wife and one from his freeborn wife.[a] 23 The son of the slave wife was born in a human attempt to bring about the fulfillment of God’s promise. But the son of the freeborn wife was born as God’s own fulfillment of his promise. (Gal. 4:22-23)
- Pray for reconciliation and peace in our own families.
Just as God promised, Ishmael founded a nation, but to this day his descendants continue to be in conflict with the nation founded by his half-brother Isaac. This is a family feud passed down through generations and won’t be resolved until Christ’s return. But we can work in our own families to stop generational infighting.
- Share Jesus and the Gospel
We don’t know when the rapture will take place, but many feel it’s an imminent event. We only have until then or until the Lord takes us home to do the work He’s assigned every Christian here on earth. We’re all called to be missionaries, evangelists, and witnesses for Him. I like the way Dr. David Jeremiah puts it, “Find a way to do what you’re good at and leverage it for the Kingdom of God. Don’t live for yourself live for the Gospel. Love for the salvation of others. Live for testimonies.”
- Don’t live in fear at the trouble we’re watching in today’s world.
We’re living in the predicted biblical times that will occur before the end comes. When the Prince of Peace returns, there will be peace on all of the earth, not just the Middle East. Until then, we pray for His return and for those who aren’t ready for His return!
Pray for the unsaved Jews who haven’t accepted Jesus as their Savior and for the safety of the tiny Christian community in Gaza that they would have the opportunity to share the Gospel.
“In a world of turmoil and despair, you must find your peace above and beyond the natural realm. Arise in spirit and know that I am God and that I will lead, guide, direct, and protect you when you put your trust in Me. I am your firm foundation and your very present help in trouble. Believe it!” Psalm 46:1-4—“Small Straws in a Soft Wind” by Marsha Burns,
Some excerpts regarding Hagar are from Everyday Brave: Living Courageously as a Woman of Faith
Note: I encourage you to listen to the Mark Levin Sunday night 10/22/2023 program Life, Liberty, and Levin to learn more about how Hamas is infiltrating America. The JVP, Jewish Voice for Peace, views itself as the “Jewish wing” of the Palestine Solidarity movement and seeks to end the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, Gaza strip, and East Jerusalem. They were founded by radical Marxist Jews. IVP is part of a network of NGO’S that promote manufactured definitions of apartheid to extend ongoing campaigns that seek to delegitimize and demonize Israel.
The Free Beacon says JVP advertises itself as the: “largest progressive Jewish anti-Zionist organization in the world.” They are strongly in opposition to the nationhood of Israel and they are obviously very active here in America.
Please leave a comment here. I reply to all comments.
Janet, this is a most accurate recount of the history, present, and future of the world I’ve seen in a long time. Great post, so accurate! I pray your readers read and heed your warnings. Jesus is coming soon…and we who have placed our faith and trust in Jesus alone will be raptured…then all hell will break loose here on earth for seven years. The Tribulation. While there’s time, do as Janet suggests and the Bible confirms…spread the Word….Jesus is the Word of Life…believe and trust in Him!
To God be the glory DiAne! What a glorious day that will be when Jesus returns but until then, there’s work for Christians to do. Thank you for the encouragement and I too pray that readers understand we’re living in biblical times!
Janet, what a great article! I love the way you always tie in scripture so that it is relevant from past history to what we are seeing in our present day. Thank you for your dedication and diligence to spread the word. Janet
To God be the glory! I always appreciate your encouragement and support!
This is excellent! I am sharing it in a comment after a “message” from Dr. Phil on my Facebook page tonight (1/30). Thank you for your accuracy, Janet, always pointing us to the Word of God for relevent, transformational truth.
Appreciate you sharing Dawn and your encouraging words. To God be the glory as He left us the timeless guidebook, the Bible, for all of life’s occurrences.