War on the Northern Front
The following article originally appeared in Thann’s “The Equipped” Weekly Newsletter on September 25, 2024. For more information on Thann’s weekly email, click here.
Israel is now essentially engaged in two full-scale wars. The first is the ongoing war with Hamas centered in southwestern Israel around Gaza. The second is with Hezbollah, a designated terrorist organization based in Lebanon and funded by Iran. Hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah—including rocket fire in both directions—have been simmering and boiling over for quite some time, but this past week presented a number of significant escalations, including a coordinated attack on the pagers used by Hezbollah militants.
Analysis and eternal perspective: “The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. ‘I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you’” (Gen. 12:1-3).
For nearly a year now, our community here at The Equipped has been considering the war in Israel through a set of biblical principles. The first of these principles is:
The Jewish people are God’s chosen people (Deut. 7:6-9), have faced hatred and persecution for thousands of years (the book of Esther is one early account of an effort to exterminate the Jewish people, and Hitler’s Nazi regime is a modern example of the same), and followers of Jesus have a charge to recognize the special covenant God has made with them (Gen. 12:3).
Even though antisemitic hostilities against the Jewish people date back to biblical times, it is staggering to consider the nation of Israel must once again fight off multiple forces seeking to eradicate the country—and, in fact, the Jewish people.
The realities of war should break our hearts and incline our compassion toward innocent people of all nationalities and backgrounds. We should continue to stand in prayer with and for those who are suffering and hurting. Every person is made in the image of God and, because of the gift of Jesus Christ, has been invited into covenant relationship with God. As we stand in the gap for all who are suffering, let us also be clear-eyed about the perpetual threat aimed at God’s original chosen people.