A Reflection on Peace in Israel
by LewisA friend of mine called the other day to tell me that he had started an organization called IOP — International Organization for Peace — that he had written a white paper outlining his approach to bringing peace to Israel and Palestine, and that he would like for me to read it and respond and possibly even get involved in some way.
Then Omer, who is a devout Muslim, paused and asked, quite sincerely but with some trepidation, “Pastor Lewis, are you in favor of peace between Israel and Palestine?”
My immediate reaction, partly because of the timing of the question and partly because of the depth of the question, was to laugh.
I followed that up quickly with the statement that I was certainly in favor of peace there, but I wasn’t sure it could ever happen.
Omer was relieved. Perhaps he has met a number of Christians and Jews who think war is more desirable than peace, or that war is the way to peace. Obviously there are enough “hawks” on both sides of that conflict to have kept it going for much longer than I’ve been alive.
Now excited that he had found another Christian who might stand beside him, he told me more about his plans and goals. As I write this, he is in Israel trying to gain even more support. I hope he succeeds, and if God uses him in some way, he just might succeed.
I say that because of a scripture I’ve been thinking about a lot lately, 1 Samuel 14.6. In the NASB, it reads like this: Then Jonathan said to the young man who was carrying his armor, “Come and let us cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; perhaps the LORD will work for us, for the LORD is not restrained to save by many or by few.”
You should read that in context, of course, but you will find the principle is the same. Overwhelming odds can sometimes be more apparent than real. If God is on your side, other numbers don’t matter.
I’m praying for Omer and his mission. Perhaps he and the few who are with him will be able to accomplish what presidents and princes, armies and artillery, bombs and bombastic language, have not.
Assuming, naturally, that God is for peace between Israel and Palestine.
April 3rd, 2009 at 8:49 am
More power to Omer!
Like anything worth fighting for, peace between two (or more) parties, such as between my two delightful children (and me), is a negotiation that has to happen again and again. Just because peace negotiations between Israel and Palestine have taken place and then broken down repeatedly doesn’t mean those negotiations weren’t worthwhile. And just because we currently have peace between England and France doesn’t mean another 100-year war won’t ever break out again.
Now, if the Prince of Peace were to reign in all of our hearts, minds, and souls, we would surely have a better chance of success because our vision would be to please Him, rather than to protect our own self-interests. It’s that selfishness that gets us into trouble everytime, whether on a personal scale or the international scene.