War has broken out again between the Israelis and the Palestinians! The latest flare up of violence in the long running war between the two people. The latest conflict exploded when Hamas militants from the Gaza strip launched a devastating raid on Israeli border towns killing as of the latest death toll at least 1300 Israelis . It was a terrible lost of lives and an atrocities.The Israeli government has since retaliated with devastating airstrikes that have resulted in at least more than 1200 deaths of Palestinians .
Hamas called their operation into Israel " Operation Al aqsa flood," in reference to Al aqsa mosque .Al aqsa mosque in Jerusalem is the third holiest place in Islam. Al aqsa mosque is built on the temple mount where the old Temple of Bible times used to be before it was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. Muslims claim that the prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven in a vision in that location and so that is holy to Muslim. While the temple mount is also holy to Jews because it is the location of their old temple. Both Palestinians and Jews claim Jerusalem as their capital city, and so you can see major problems there .
The Israeli government call their operation in retaliation to the Hamas assault, " Operation Iron sword." Blow for blow is the way these two people groups operate. You hurt me and so I am going to hurt you. As a result of this blow for blow for blow mentality blooshed has been constantly flowing on and off in that region since Israel was reestablished as a nation in 1948. Since the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD the Jews have been dispersed throughout the nations and have endured great sufferings and persecutions throughout the nations. After the Nazi mass killings of Jews during the second world war many Jews returned to the middle east and there wage war against the arabs living there.
The Jews seized the land by conquest and claimed it as their ancestral land. The Arabs were defeated , the arabs have been living there since the Muslim conquest of centuries ago. So the arabs claimed they have been robbed of their lands. Since that time wars and violence has been a regular occurrence in that region. Both nations believe their cause is just. The Jews believe they have a right to the land, the Arabs believe they have a right to the land and peace has been elusive. All tje violence between the Arabs and Israelis are a constant cycle of revenge for prior offences.
The Arab Israeli conflict is nothing but the expression of defending oneself at the expense of righteousness. The Arab Israeli conflict is nothing but the deadly result of unforgiveness, hatred and the spirit of retaliation. Arabs and Israelis are brothers, descendants of Abraham. Arabs are the descendants Ismael the older son of Abraham and the Jews are the descendants of Isaac, the child of promise. The descendants of these two brothers are unable to live which other in peace because both believe they are right and are defending their rights . Both are proud people and as a result peace is difficult to find.
Wherever you find people who are self righteous and who are bent on defending their rights no matter the cost you will have violence and bloodshed. In many of our homes there is misery because each person believe their way is right and their cause is just. And so we justify our behaviors while we condemn others who do the same. When Arabs kill Israelis, the west call the Arabs terrorists, but when Israelis kill Arab civilians, the west claim Israel is just defending itself. The Arab world call Arabs killing Israelis freedom fighters and call Israelis who kill Arabs oppresors. Peace is elusive !
Self righteousness, viewing things only from your perspective and caring solely about your life, your rights and not the welfare of others will always leave us in a state of war with our neighbors. You may not go and take weapons and bombs to kill your "enemies," but you may still make war on them using different means such as gossiping, mistreatment, verbal attacks etc.. The Bible says whoever hates his brother is murderer. If you hate someone else you are no different than Hamas militants spreading death to Israelis and Israelis soldiers spreading death to Palestinians .
Peace can only be found when the pursuit of righteousness is more important than the pursuit of "my rights." Sometimes the pursuit of righteousness means turning the other cheek when someone hit you, while the pursuit of my right is to hit the person back. The pursuit of righteousness mean taking the higher road, showing someone the right way to do things. The pursuit of righteousness means loving your enemies, praying for those who abuse you and persecute you, saying sweet words to those who are angry at you. The pursuit of righteous is to be like Christ to others around you .
We will only find peace in our personal lives when the pursuit of righteousness according to God becomes more important than defending my rights. Self sacrificing love is the only way to have a loving home,loving church,loving society and a loving world. But since the majority of people in this world are not interested in self sacrificing love, but more interested in defending their rights then violence, chaos, misery and tyranny will always be the lot of humanity until Jesus return to put an end to selfishness.
Everyone believes they are right and their cause is just and as result are willing to take advantage of others and destroy others. The Israelis and Palestinians conflict is just showing to us the result of believing your cause is just and the other person's cause is not. The middle east doesn't have peace because both Arabs and Israelis believe they are right and the other is wrong. We will not have peace until we believe that we are wrong and God alone is righteous. When we believe truly that God is the only righteous One then we will live like God tell us to live. We will love God supremely, love our enemies and pray for those who abuse and revile us.
When we believe our ways are wrong and only God's way is right, we will submit to God, live like God and the lives of those around us will be blessed. For we will be pleasant for others to be around us, we will not be quick to speak, quick to be angry, quick to fight, but we will be quick to reconcile, quick to make peace and quick to speak sweet words when anger is present. When we seek to be like Christ, then and only then will our presence be like sweet lights of heaven in a dark and selfish world. Let us seek to be righteous according to God's Word and power and we will find peace at last . Sin leads to death, but God's way alone leads to lasting peace and the way of God is love .
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