In the Gaza Strip (and elsewhere), kids are brainwashed by Hamas from a very early age. Take a look at a their idea of a cartoon:
Would you allow (and even encourage) your children to watch and emulate this?
Indeed, school age children are taught to hate and kill before they are even out of grade school. The Palestinian people deserve better than this, and Palestinian children absolutely deserve better than this.
My friends, it is time to get down to business. Not all of us can “go there” and make a difference, but we can make a difference right where we are. Everyone of us can pray. Will you please put everything aside for 2 minutes right now and pray specifically for Palestinian children? May God protect their hearts and minds from the evil perpetuated by the ruling parties in the Gaza Strip and West Bank.
Perhaps you have heard accounts of a teenage Palestinian girl recently arrested for assaulting IDF soldiers. The now 16-year-old has been at it since she was 12, and was taken into custody in mid-December for her part in the confrontation and assault on soldiers near her home in Nebi Saleh, a small village in the West Bank.
Let’s take a look at one perspective of the most recent altercation:
Ahed Tamimi is the daughter of activist parents who are determined to raise the next generation to stand up for themselves and fight for Palestinian causes. Often, that training incites violence, and it is ingrained in early childhood. There are many examples I could cite, but here is a short, mild example:
Now…we must remember that there are two sides to this particular story. While IDF soldiers are to be highly commended for the restraint shown when pushed, slapped and kicked by Tamimi, and while the actions of Tamimi may indeed be punishable assault offenses, it is up to the Israeli legal system to determine whether or not the conflict leading up to the confrontation between Tamimi and the soldiers was handled properly. (Other plots are interwoven in this story, and there may be much more to it than we know. Additional detail here.)
But, my point today is this: teaching Palestinian children to hate Jews (to the point of wanting to kill them) is critically disadvantageous to the next Palestinian generation. When Palestinian youth begin assaulting others as young teenagers, there is not much hope for that society. In this case, a 16-year-old may be imprisoned. But perhaps more disturbing, Palestinian children are being incited by leaders and parents to carry out violence. No one wins in that situation.
Friends, I’m making 2018 a year of intense prayer, not only for Israel, but also for Israel’s neighbors. The only hope for peace for either side is the Prince of Peace, for only He can change the hearts and minds of those bent on destruction.
Thus, I’m praying for the Prince of Peace to reveal Himself to Jews, Palestinians, Arabs, Persians, Kurds and every other people group in the Middle East; and for those hearts and minds to be open to His revelation. Imagine the impact if Christians were fully committed to pray for Israel and her neighbors. Will you pray with me?
But at times that discrimination becomes absurd. Hatred of the Jews has become hatred of Israel, and extends even to Arab-Israelis! Here is a great example:
Only a few weeks ago I was blessed to spend a day in Samaria (West Bank), where we witnessed Jews and Palestinians working side-by-side. (See Jews and Arabs Side-by-Side…Despite BDS) What a contrast in ideology. Please pray for the spirit of the Lord to fall upon Jews and Palestinians alike, that each group would come to know the true source of peace.
Significant developments continue to unfold in the Middle East. Hamas and Fatah have resumed their on-again-off-again relationship, leaders of Hamas have visited Tehran, and Israel has responded to rockets launched from Syria into Israeli territory. Steadily, the world marches toward a showdown known as the War of Gog and Magog (described in Ezekiel 38-39). Here is the latest:
Just over a week ago Hamas and Fatah once again declared a unity government, uniting the West Bank, ruled by the Palestinian Authority (under the party name of Fatah), and the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. This is not the first crack at creating a unity government (see here), and only time will tell if it stands up this time. However, specific Israeli stipulations for entering peace negotiations are that Hamas disarms, acknowledges Israel’s right to exist and severs ties with Iran. Don’t look for successful peace negotiations any time soon!
On Friday, Hamas officials visited Tehran to discuss the Palestinian unity government, Israel and bilateral relations between Hamas and Iran (despite Israel’s conditions for negotiations). New Hamas leader, Yahya Sinwar, blatantly stated Hamas’s intentions when he said:
“Over is the time Hamas spent discussing recognizing Israel. Now Hamas will discuss when we will wipe out Israel.”
~The Times of Israel, October 19, 2017
This morning, the IDF (Israel Defense Force) responded to 5 rockets fired into Israel from Syria by taking out 3 Syrian launch sites. Couple that with a similar incident on Thursday, and Israel is on high alert. Through an IDF spokesperson, the state of Israel issued this statement:
“Even if this is just spillover, this is an exceptional incident and the continuance of such events will be met with a more fierce Israeli response. The IDF will not tolerate any attempt to harm the sovereignty of the State of Israel and the security of its residents and views the Syrian regime as responsible for what is happening in its territory.”
~Behold Israel, October 21, 2017
Isaiah 17:1 warns of a day when Damascus Syria will cease to exist. Today, civil war has decimated the city and rogue regimes are striving to control the arms (including WMD’s) known to exist in and around Damascus. Israel, sensing threats from those who may get their hands on weapons, may be forced to take action to defend herself, which could trigger destructive actions by any of the above.
As we’ve discussed previously, the fall of Damascus leaves the pathway wide open for the Gog and Magog coalition to advance from the north, fulfilling Ezekiel’s prophecy in chapters 38-39.
We stand on the precipice of significant Biblical end time prophecies. Now is the time to forsake worldly ambitions and be about our Father’s business. Let’s be ready for the return of our Bridegroom!
