As believers in Jesus Christ, we must make it very clear that we do not hate the Arabs or Palestinians. I have been to the Middle East many times and have made many Palestinian friends. As Christians, we must guard our hearts from any hatred or prejudice against anyone. Hebrews 12:14 says, “Follow peace with all men.” Obviously, some people are not open to our friendship or fellowship. They hate us because of who we are – children of God or what we believe. Furthermore, because of some people’s expressed hatred toward God and His Word, people, or will, we are unable to maintain a relationship with all people. Some people are just not easy to love. Romans 12:18 declares, “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”
In the Middle East there is a continual ongoing conflict between people groups. My travels to this troubled region have taught me that the real problem that causes most of this conflict is not just the sinful nature of all people but is also enhanced by the prejudice and hatred expressed within the religion of Islam. All Muslims are note alike. The more moderate Muslims do not seek to follow all the commands to hate non-Muslim. The radical Muslims believe they need to follow the commands of the Koran that calls for an open rejection of all non-Muslims. Radical Muslims view all non-Muslims as infidels and therefore must not be accepted as friends.
In Israel, the Jewish people are the ones who are seeking peace. Most all Israeli Jews want to live in peace with their Arab Muslim neighbors. I have repeatedly witnessed this for more than 35 years in my travels in Israel. The Jewish mindset is based upon God’s law. The problem of Arab hatred for the Jews is an ancient tragedy. In Psalm 120:6-7, while speaking about the Arab population, the psalmist said, “My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace. I am for peace: but they are for war.”
Those who hate the Jews, point their finger at the Jews as the real cause for the plight of the Palestinians. The truth is, the Palestinians are treated much better in Israel than they are in other Arab countries. For example, in Syria and Lebanon Palestinians continue to face discrimination. “Palestinians in Lebanon are ‘prevented from employment in 39 professions such as medicine, law and engineering… are socially marginalized, have very limited civil, social, political and economic rights, including restricted access to the Government of Lebanon’s public health, educational and social services and face significant restrictions on their right to work…’ — United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees, updated September 2020” (Gatestone Institute, January 16, 2024). In sharp contrast to this, “Arab citizens of Israel…. can own, buy and sell property, can vote and run in national and local elections, have equal access to free public healthcare, education and other services…. Many Arab Israelis serve in senior positions in hospitals, universities and colleges, courts, the civil service, and even in the Israel Police and the Israel Defense Forces” (Gatestone Institute, January 16, 2024). Furthermore, Syria and Lebanon refuse to grant citizenship to the Palestinians living there. To read the entire article by Gatestone Institute, go to https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/20315/palestinian-suffering.
If United Nations and the people of the world were really concerned about the suffering of the Palestinians, why would they not be addressing the deplorable conditions of the Palestinians in Syria and Lebanon. This demonstrates that those who promote the Palestinian cause are not really interested in helping the Palestinians. Their real goal is to demonize Israel and call for its destruction. Many Arab Muslims in Israel have openly confessed that they would rather live under the authority of the Israeli government rather than the corrupt Palestinian government. All the terrorist organizations in the Middle East (like Hamas and Hezbollah) have demonstrated that they do not care about the Palestinians. They have used the Palestinian people’s suffering to make Israel look bad. The real problem in the Middle East is not Israel, but those who hate the Jews and their own people. Radical Muslims, like those in Iran, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, the West Bank and Gaza have one goal in mind – the annihilation of the only Jewish nation in the world, Israel.
In Psalm 83:1-4, the psalmist calls those who are plotting the destruction of Israel the “enemies” of God. “Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God. For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head. They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones. They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.” Psalm 83:6-8 names those nations that surround Israel as those who have agreed to be against God and His people.
The spiritual conditions that prevailed in the Middle East in the Old Testament period are still with us today. The enemies of God are doing the same thing to Israel as they did thousands of years ago. This war is once again beginning to intensify. It looks like this might be the final push by the enemies of God to destroy Israel. The stage is now set for the final conflict between heaven and hell.
Be ready for the shout that will take us out!