The Fall of a Dictator

After more than 50 years of control, the dictatorial reign of the Assad family in Syria is over. Bashar al-Assad, who has been president since his father’s death in 2000, has fled to Moscow after opposition forces from the Islamic militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham successfully and rapidly advanced on Damascus. 

While the overthrow of Assad marks the end of a dictatorial and violent regime (Assad infamously used chemical weapons against his own people as a way to put down opposition to his government), it does not end the violence of the ongoing 13-year civil war. While Assad’s prime minister has agreed to relinquish power to the militant group’s interim government, there remains significant uncertainty about both the newly forming government and other warring factions in Syria.

Analysis and eternal perspective: Assad’s reign was marked with violence and terror. Those who opposed him were murdered, imprisoned, and tortured. Under Assad, the Syrian people were, in a word, oppressed. We know from scripture that God’s heart is inclined toward the oppressed, and that we should be giving of ourselves to aid the oppressed (Ps. 82:3, Ps. 9:9-10, Is. 1:17, and many more). We also know from Isaiah 61that God desires to free those held captive (v.1) and obtain justice for evildoers (v.8). In these very significant ways, Assad’s fall from power is a welcome one.

Tragically, however, it is decidedly premature to assume life will be better for Syrians in the days ahead. War continues to wage in the country, and it is far from certain that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham—or any other faction that manages to wrest control of power—will embrace principles of freedom for which the Syrian people—and you—were designed (Gal. 5:1). In fact, the opposite is far more likely.

We as The Equipped should be fervent in prayer for the Syrian people. Further, while we should pray and work toward an earthy reality of freedom and liberty for the Syrian people, we should even more fervently pray and work toward the goal of making this a time for countless Syrians to encounter the all-surpassing love and grace of Jesus. In this time of chaos and change, may many come to know the Creator and lover of their souls!

The following article originally appeared in Thann’s “The Equipped” Weekly Newsletter. For more information on Thann’s weekly email, click here.