A week ago, Israel opened the Gaza border to truckloads of building materials for reconstruction efforts in Gaza.  For years Israel and Egypt blockaded the border because militants hijacked incoming building materials, meant for construction of schools, homes, hospitals and office complexes, etc.  This summer it became exceedingly obvious that those materials were used to develop a labyrinth of terror tunnels into Israel.

Despite thousands of Hamas rockets fired into Israel from the Gaza Strip, their use of citizens as human shields, and the use of UN facilities as ammo depots and launch sites, over $5.4 million was raised from the international community during a conference last week in Cairo to re-build Gaza.  According to Reuters, large portions of the money are expected to support the Palestinian budget, rather than reconstruction.  Yet still, Israel has agreed to allow truckloads of supplies into Gaza for the purpose of re-building.

But who is monitoring that?  What’s to say that Hamas doesn’t use those materials to re-build terror tunnels rather than for humanitarian purposes?  After all, Hamas has a very consistent record of commandeering funds meant for Palestinian citizens and using them for evil purposes that ultimately hurt their own citizens.

Supposedly the UN and the Palestinian Authority are responsible for monitoring the use of those materials.  However, we can be sure that Israel will keep an eye on the situation as well.  In fact, Israel’s Defense Minister, Moshe Ya’alon met with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in New York on Monday and stated:

We want the residents of Gaza to live in dignity and prosperity, rebuild their homes and return to normal life.  But, we are very worried.  Just yesterday Hamas representatives said they intend to reconstruct the infiltration tunnels, instead of rebuilding the homes of Gaza’s residents…It is in our interest for the residents of Gaza to improve their economic situation and their lives, but it must be clear that the funds and equipment are not used for terrorism, therefore we are closely monitoring all of the developments.” (Jerusalem Post, 10/21/14)

Meanwhile, an Israeli delegation has been in Geneva this week to testify on Operation Protective Edge, and to answer questions posed by the UN Human Rights Committee, which is investigating Israel’s compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Again, despite over 10,000 rocket attacks from Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza over the past decade or so, Israel is called on once again to defend herself before the UN!  Between the creation of the UN Human Rights Council’s in 2006 and 2013, the Council condemned Israel on 45 counts.  That is just short of half of all country-specific resolutions handed down by the Council, and many of them followed situations in which another country was an aggressor against Israel!  (Yet, you are hard-pressed to find condemnation of those countries.)  See the list here.

Christian friends, Scripture is clear that Israel will stand alone in end times.  It often seems as though the UN is a conduit of accusation against Israel.  Perhaps the UN is an instrument to bring nations against Israel.  We don’t know, and it is too early to be dogmatic about whether or not the UN is fulfilling end time prophecy.  However, their actions certainly have a very “end time-like” connotation to them.

The prophet Joel warns of God’s judgment against all the nations of the world once they turn against Israel.  Joel 3:1-2:

“For behold, in those days and at that time,
When I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,
I will gather all the nations
And bring them down to the valley of Jehoshphat.
Then I will enter into judgment with them there
On behalf of My people and My inheritance, Israel,
Whom they have scattered among the nations;
And they have divided up My land.”

Since statehood in 1948, Israel has defended her existence, and will continue to do so until the Lord literally steps in on her behalf.  That day is coming.  Until the rapture takes us out of the picture, let’s be faithful to bless Israel (Genesis 12:3), pray for her peace (Psalm 122), and ask the Lord of mercy to make Himself known to Jews and Gentiles throughout the Middle East!