The Only Hope for Peace in the Middle East is
to Follow the Prince of Peace.

 

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the most complicated geo-political problem on earth.  Since the day God promised the land to Abraham and his descendants, Isaac and Jacob – Israel as recorded in Genesis 13:15, there has been conflict in the land.  Unfortunately, the toll of personal tragedy in the region is immense.  Over the past 30 years, I have visited Israel 20 times witnessing so much pain and suffering on both sides.  Today, Israelis continue to be murdered by suicide bombers and an average of 22 Katyusha rockets land on them daily. 

Palestinians in Gaza and Judea and Samaria live in repressive conditions of poverty and hopelessness.  The “wisest” men on earth, Presidents, Nobel Laureates, Philosophers and Religious Leaders have tried to solve the dilemma to no avail. 

Today, we refer to the region as the Holy Land.  According to the dictionary, “holy” means “dedicated or devoted to the service of God”.  The only way we as Christians can aid peace in the Middle East is to be dedicated to God’s Word and not follow the whims of man as reflected in the media. Jesus Christ is the supreme “peacemaker”, the Prince of Peace, and ultimate peace can only be achieved by conforming to His Word. 

In Genesis 12:3, God gives us His general Middle East policy stating, “I will bless those who bless thee (Israel) and curse those who curse thee (Israel)”.  Every nation that has cursed Israel has become accursed themselves.  The Pharaohs placed the people of Israel in captivity and subsequently met their demise. The Roman Emperor Titus drove the Jews out of Israel in 70 A.D. and Hadrian renamed the land Palestine in the year 130 A.D.  The Romans perpetrated the first holocaust killing more than 1 million Jews.  Hitler executed the second holocaust by killing 6 million Jews.  The Pharaohs, Romans and Nazis were accursed and are no more today. 

As worshippers of the God of Israel, it is unconscionable to hate Israel.  Every day we bow to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  How can be bow and not love?  Israel has given us everything we hold dear.  The Bible was written and recorded by Israelites.  Our Lord, Master, Saviour and Redeemer, Jesus Christ is an Israelite, descendant of David (Romans 1:3, Acts 2:30).  The prophets, priests and kings of the Old Testament were all Jews.  The disciples and apostles, Matthew, Mark, Peter, John, Thomas and Paul were all Israelites.  Romans 15:27 says, “For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are obligated also to minister to them in material things.” As Gentiles, grafted into the Family of God, we are commanded by Scripture to support Israel.

The rebirth of the State of Israel is the greatest event to occur in 1,900 years.  For 1,878 years, the State of Israel ceased. The nation, the ethnos, the people of Israel never ceased to exist and have lived in the land for 3,000 years.  In May 1948, Israel miraculously came back to life and is growing today.  In Matthew 24:32 Jesus Christ gave a sign of His return. “Now learn a parable of the fig tree (Israel); when his branch is yet tender, and puts forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh.” 

If Jesus Christ places such importance on the rebirth of the State of Israel, then we as followers of Jesus, must also support Israel.

If we want our nation to receive the blessings of the living God, then we must encourage our Members of Parliament and government officials to support Israel as a fellow democracy.  As Romans 15:27 commands, we must also bless Israel by saying to them, “Israel, you’re not alone”.  Many of our forefathers misinterpreted Scripture and persecuted the Jews.  Whom do we follow, fallible church leaders, CNN or CBC, or the Holy Word of God?

In May of this year, we will have an opportunity to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the rebirth of the State of Israel.  Celebrations will occur in most of the cities in Canada, where we as Christians will be able to send a clear message to God and our government, nations of the world and Israel, that we support Israel’s right to exist in peace and security with the surrounding Arab nations.  As the world sees clarity of support, the  opponents of Israel will be less likely to fight a battle they cannot win.  The Almighty God of Israel will then surely bless Canada and all those who bless Israel.  The one who “never slumbers or sleeps” will protect Israel as stated in Ezekiel 64 times so that “they (the world) will know that I Am the Lord thy God”. 

Dr. Charles McVety is the President of Canada Christian College with 1,200 students in Toronto, head of the Evangelical Association with 850 ordained pastors, Chairman of Christians United for Israel and host of Word.ca, a national television news commentary on CTS and the Miracle Channel.