Last week there was jubilation and relief as the remaining 20 living Israeli hostages were released from Gaza. In return, Israel released 250 Palestinian prisoners and a further 1,700 detainees. This is hopefully a first tentative step towards building a peace process in the Middle East.
Of course there are many issues still to be resolved – for example, how Gaza might be governed and what the proposed multinational "stabilisation force" might look like.
But there is finally a glimmer of hope for ending the war that has torn Gaza apart since Hamas’s terrible massacre and kidnap of Israelis on 7 October 2023. And, credit where it’s due, much of this seems to be down to the tenacity and sheer self-confidence of Donald Trump.
For those of us who disagree with the American President on many things, we may feel conflicted about acknowledging his impact. But I think it’s okay to do that, even right to do that, and we should be able to admit the significance of his role in getting to this point. Nevertheless, thousands of people have died in this conflict, and they simply needn’t have.
Our response should be gratitude to God for answering prayers to achieve these first steps, and indeed relief, but not rejoicing. Too many have died because of actions that were downright evil, and peace has been delayed because – I hate to say it – peace wasn’t politically convenient for some, or at least it wasn’t the highest priority.
Christian perspectives
Underlying the Middle East conflict are some hugely complex, deep-rooted issues. And these can be polarising for Christians. Many names and locations in Israel have a resonance for those of us who read the Bible and understand that this is the land in which God anointed a chosen people, and from which the Messiah came. This is the land in which Jesus grew up and lived out his extraordinary life, death and resurrection.
Some Christians believe that the modern state of Israel remains part of God’s plan to bring about the second coming of Jesus, and that as representatives of God’s Biblical chosen people, Israel’s government should be supported and blessed by those who want to see God’s promises fulfilled.
Other Christians believe that the coming of Jesus enlarged God’s promises to the extent that the worldwide family of Christian believers are now that "holy people." They take the view that, because Christ came to be a light to all nations and to embrace all people, He therefore fulfilled Israel’s destiny in Himself, so that modern Israel is not theologically significant. That’s the point of view John Stott took in his famous article – The Place of Israel, and I think I agree with him.
Yet this can all be confusing to Christians seeking to understand and pray for the situation in the Middle East, and I won’t pretend to have the definitive answers. But I think we can be clear on a few things:
- Firstly, that Israel has a right to exist; that after the horrors of the Second World War, the Jewish people needed a place to feel secure; and that the international community continues to be significant in making this work.
- Second, antisemitism must be condemned, wherever it arises, and we felt this come very close to home with the horrific attack on a synagogue in Manchester just this month.
- And thirdly, we should also be clear that this doesn’t mean we should support every action of the Israeli government. Indeed, The Old Testament is full of examples of God rebuking Israel for the wrongs of its leaders. So we should condemn the bombing, destruction, huge loss of civilian life and humanitarian crisis that has been unfolding in Gaza.
How can we respond?
It can be so hard to know how to pray, when we see such horrors take place. But I find it really helpful to go back to the heart of the gospel. The gospel tells us that each and every person, whether Israeli or Palestinian, is made in God’s image, dearly loved by Him, and that Christ died for each one. We should be praying for peace, and also acting as catalysts for peace, pursuing justice and mercy for all those caught up in this situation.
Let’s remember that God is sovereign and that God is the source of all peace. In John 16v33, Jesus says: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
The closer we draw to Him, the more of His peace we can enjoy. This is an important time to encourage the hearts of the weary and faint that He has overcome the evil we see in the world. Let us be clear that He is the everlasting Lord, that kings and kingdoms, presidents and political movements, rulers and their regimes… are all temporary, that God is on His throne and He is both all powerful and all good – and that He loves to hear our prayers and to answer them.
So as we continue to pray for lasting resolution, let’s remember that He understands, He cares and He is able to give the Middle East the peace of God that transcends all understanding (Philippians 4v7).
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