Rational voices in the Middle East are not easy to come by, it seems.  However, yesterday we identified Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi as a rational voice.  Today, let’s identify another: King Abdullah II ibn al-Hussein of Jordan.  Not to be confused with Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah whose death made news earlier this week, Jordan’s King Abdullah rules the Hashemite Kingdom just across the Jordan River from Israel.

The country of Jordan (though larger than Israel) is small and lacks oil and other resources that its Middle Eastern neighbors enjoy.  Despite that, radicals desperately want to seize Jordan and set up shop on Israel’s border.  However, King Abdullah bravely leads his nation towards freedom and modernity, and in a sense, provides a measure of protection for Israel.  Jordan is the only other country besides Egypt to enter into a peace treaty with Israel, and they have consistently honored it.

Like al-Sisi in Egypt, King Abdullah is staunchly Muslim, is in favor of a Palestinian state and the division of Jerusalem, and strongly believes the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the most important issue in the Middle East.  He has negotiated tirelessly for a peace plan between Israel and the Palestinians.  Though I disagree with any plan that divides Israel, I respect King Abdullah’s attitude of fairness.  Consider this: without a Biblical perspective that warns us against dividing Israel (Joel 3:2), creating a “two-state solution” sounds like a reasonable thing in an attempt at peace.  Unfortunately, it is unbiblical, and trading land for peace has never panned out for Israel!  Nonetheless, I give the King credit for acting fairly, despite his lack of Biblical understanding.

Despite differences of opinion regarding the Palestinians, King Abdullah is surprisingly in agreement with conservative Western thought when it comes to the problems in the Arab-Muslim world.  He also shares a common view with the West when it comes to ISIS and other radical Islamic terrorist groups.  But, rather than quote him, I want you to hear for yourself.  Charlie Rose interviewed King Abdullah for PBS on December 5, 2014 and it is one of the most fascinating interviews regarding the Middle East that I have ever heard.  You will be amazed, so don’t pass up this chance.  (These clips are less than 3 minutes long.)

Additional segments of King Abdullah’s interview with Charlie Rose appear here:

King Abdullah on Helping Syria’s Refugees (there are 1.5 million Syrian refugees in Jordan) – 2:17
King Abdullah on the Core Issue of Middle East Unrest – 2:33
King Abdullah on how ISIS Recruits – 2:36
King Abdullah: al-Sisi “Brings Stability to Egypt” – 1:31
King Abdullah on Middle East Peace – 3:58
King Abdullah: ISIS Fights a “Third World War” – 3:09

Rational voices do exist in the Middle East, and as Christians, we should pray for God to use men like President al-Sisi of Egypt and King Abdullah of Jordan for His glory, and to bring about His plan in these last days!  We serve a sovereign God who can work in the hearts and minds of any man.  Praise God for that!