The events in the middle east are disturbing to anyone who cares about people, the Jewish people, and the Palestinians. Obviously, our world is split on the events and there is deep concern about how things are quickly developing.

The ICJ (International Court of Justice) just ruled that Israel needs to stand down on any form of genocide that the Jews may be encroaching on in their claim to have the right to defend themselves. Their claim was that terrorists, mercilessly launched a strategic, multi-faceted attack on Israel. Israel says they are fully committed to International Law but the idea that they are committing genocide is ludicrous. They will make every effort to not harm any civilian population and they argue that they have given the latitude for humanitarian aid to go into Palestinian areas to help with food and provisions.

While the issues are going to be debated, questioned, and argued constantly, the question for believers here in America is what do we pray for?

While we recognize that God has chosen Israel as His special and unique nation, we need to be careful about voting for Israel, just because. They certainly have a right and responsibility to defend themselves, but it is interesting how the narrative changes depending on who you are talking with. The Palestinians are very concerned that Israel is not just defending themselves, but they are now on a mission to indiscriminately exterminate any possible or potential threat, which encroaches on anyone genocide.

My thoughts are my own, but I will suggest a couple of things we can at least pray about:

1. Pray for peace. Sounds cliché but that is a deep reality need for this region. The ICJ did not legislate a cease fire and it sounds like Israel has no intention of backing away from aggressively defending their people.
2. Pray that terrorism is undermined and stopped. Terrorism has not much of a conscience and seeks to inflict as much destruction and fear as possible.
3. Pray that God will execute His promise of Ezekiel 36:25-32 for Israel. Verse 24 speaks of God bringing Israel back into the Land, which appears to have happened, at least in part, but God needs to enact this cleansing in Israel to produce a people in vital relationship with Him.
4. Pray that Palestinians (and Israel) will find their niche and learn to live content. Israel and Palestinians obviously lay claim to similar space. There will be more tragedy and war down the road but the longer that war can be deferred the more civilian lives will be protected.
5. Pray that leaders on both sides will navigate with wisdom. Getting even a cease fire would appear to require a miracle of sorts. While both are deeply committed to the self-interest of their own people it will take some divine navigation to parlay the religious and ethnic fervor that stirs this antagonism between these people groups. They are, in every sense of the word, caught between a rock and a hard place.
6. Pray this deep crucible of suffering will provoke many to see the Lord. Regardless of the evil, God can use these things to help people see the emptiness of our own condition and seek Him.

Praying is certainly not the last thing we can do but the best thing we can do.

Be compassionate when you speak of these things. God is working out His purpose, but we are still dealing with real people, made in His image – Pastor Brad.