For the first time in fifty years, Israel has declared war. The previous 1973 conflict known as "the Yom Kippur War," was fought against an Arab coalition of combatants led by Egypt and Syria, with support forces from Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Jordan, Iraq, Libya, Kuwait, Tunisia, Morocco, Cuba and North Korea. Israel won.
Hamas started the October 7, 2023 war. Hamas is the political and religious Islamic
extremist power that rules the Gaza Strip. Their invasion of Southern Israel
was encouraged by other Islamic extremists principally Iran, and proxies like
Hezbollah.
The provocative question is who to blame? Most say that Hamas is to blame, but others
point to Israel. Is Israel to blame? The
answer is not complicated.
Details about the current war are horrific,
and changing by the minute. That is part
of the problem. The answer to the question
of who is to blame can be confused by the details, and from what sources those details
are taken (and believed).
The big picture, from which to have a clear understanding
of who is to blame, must be taken from history - ancient, future, and modern history
(in that order).
From ancient history, Zechariah chapter 13
paints an accurate picture of who is to blame for wars against Israel, who
starts the final war, and how it will end.
From future history, Revelation chapter 20
paints an accurate picture of who is to blame for wars against Israel, who
starts the final war, and how it will end.
From modern history, we need look no further
than the Holocaust (1941-1945), and the consequential May 14, 1948 establishment
of the modern State of Israel.
These three inflection points paint a large
and clear picture that there is a persistent and malevolent spiritual force
infected by an incurable hatred of Israel as both a nation and a people. That force is Satan himself, and he is so filled
with hatred that the destruction of the State of Israel would not be enough, and
in fact, would be only a means to an ultimate end - the death of the last
living descendent of God's chosen people.
Do not be confused by the details. The Zechariah and Revelation references
bookend the big picture - Satan hates Israel because it is the "apple of
God's eye" (Zechariah 2:8).
So, who is ultimately to blame for the current
war? Satan, of course, but also his
minions (complicit and deluded followers), by whatever name they may be known. They too will be judged guilty when they
stand before the great, and final tribunal of eternity (Revelation 20:11-15).
Do not be confused by the details.
"I was glad when they said to me, "Let
us go to the house of the Lord." Our
feet are standing within your gates, O
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that is built as a city that is compact together; to
which the tribes go up, even the tribes of the Lord— An ordinance for Israel—to
give thanks to the name of the Lord. For
there thrones were set for judgment, the thrones of the house of David. Pray
for the peace of Jerusalem: "May they prosper who love you. May peace be
within your walls, and prosperity within your palaces." For the sake of my brothers and my friends, I
will now say, "May peace be within you." For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
I will seek your good" (Psalm 122 NASV).
Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem.
Dennis D. Frey, Th.D.
Suggested Resources:
For secular news directly from Israel:
https://www.timesofisrael.com/
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/
For Christian news
directly from Israel, and recommended place to make financial contributions for
the support of Israel: https://www.bridgesforpeace.com/
Bridges for Peace is a
primary learning and ministry partner with Master's.
