Current Events: Israel and the Middle East

If you don't know what is going on with Israel or don't care read this article: Escalation ripples through Middle East .

Throughout history Israel has been in a almost constant skirmish with other nations (in fact Israel means 'he struggles with God'). In recent years the main disputes have been territorial and mostly with the Palestinians. Though there were concessions made about a year ago there is no peace. I really don't know why anyone expected there would be. Then Hamas, a political group dedicated to destroying Israel, took control of parliament, and therefore the government, back in January. Thing heated up again when Hamas kidnapped an Israeli soldier and Israel responded by firing on Government buildings in Palestine. As a result of Israel's actions many Palestinians are living without electricity or clean water and many have gone weeks, if not months, without any kind of pay. Surely, the poorest of the poor are suffering the most.

Now Israel is blaming Hezbollah for the kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers. It's a great time to be an Israeli soldier (sarcasm). As a result, Israel is bombing airports, main roads, and other means of transportation/commerce. As the article mentioned, things could easily spiral out of control all across the middle east and ,in turn, the world.
I believe that though tensions might ease for awhile the conflict is far from over and peace is not even close to being a reality, but it is a distant hope for now. It's going to get worse over all before it gets better.

And with that being said it is time to pray. In Isaiah, God speaks to the prophet concerning Israel. God knows the extreme trials that Israel has been through and will go through as well as the fear they face and the violence they are using. God tells Isaiah to bring His words to the people to comfort them.

Isaiah 40 (NIV)
Comfort for God's People

1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins.
3 A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the LORD ; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be raised up,every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level,the rugged places a plain.
5 And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

6 A voice says, "Cry out." And I said, "What shall I cry?"

"All men are like grass,

and all their glory is like the flowers of the field.
7 The grass withers and the flowers fall,

because the breath of the LORD blows on them.

Surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers and the flowers fall,

but the word of our God stands forever."
9 You who bring good tidings to Zion,

go up on a high mountain.

You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem,

lift up your voice with a shout,

lift it up, do not be afraid;

say to the towns of Judah,

"Here is your God!"

10 See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power,

and his arm rules for him.

See, his reward is with him,

and his recompense accompanies him.

11 He tends his flock like a shepherd:

He gathers the lambs in his arms

and carries them close to his heart;

he gently leads those that have young.

12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand,

or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?

Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket,

or weighed the mountains on the scales

and the hills in a balance?

13 Who has understood the mind of the LORD,

or instructed him as his counselor?
14 Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him,

and who taught him the right way?

Who was it that taught him knowledge

or showed him the path of understanding?

15 Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket;

they are regarded as dust on the scales;

he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.

16 Lebanon is not sufficient for altar fires,

nor its animals enough for burnt offerings.
17 Before him all the nations are as nothing;

they are regarded by him as worthless

and less than nothing.

18 To whom, then, will you compare God?

What image will you compare him to?
19 As for an idol, a craftsman casts it,

and a goldsmith overlays it with gold

and fashions silver chains for it.

20 A man too poor to present such an offering

selects wood that will not rot.

He looks for a skilled craftsman

to set up an idol that will not topple.

21 Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

Has it not been told you from the beginning?

Have you not understood since the earth was founded?

22 He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth,

and its people are like grasshoppers.

He stretches out the heavens like a canopy,

and spreads them out like a tent to live in.

23 He brings princes to naught

and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.
24 No sooner are they planted,

no sooner are they sown,

no sooner do they take root in the ground,

than he blows on them and they wither,

and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.

25 "To whom will you compare me?

Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One.
26 Lift your eyes and look to the heavens:

Who created all these?

He who brings out the starry host one by one,

and calls them each by name.

Because of his great power and mighty strength,

not one of them is missing.

27 Why do you say, O Jacob,

and complain, O Israel,

"My way is hidden from the LORD;

my cause is disregarded by my God"?

28 Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

The LORD is the everlasting God,

the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary,

and his understanding no one can fathom.

29 He gives strength to the weary

and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,

and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD

will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.

Like Isaiah, it is time for us to pray for the comfort and peace of Jerusalem on God's terms. It is time to cry out and tell them that "all men are like grass", that this life is just a breath, just a moment. The only peace is God's peace.

"But if [Israel's] transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!" Romans 11:12