“If you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” (James 3:14-18)
Peace between Israel and the Palestinians requires more than simply the laying down of weapons by Hamas; it requires the Palestinians to have a change of heart about Israel.
There is a lot of talk about the Board of Peace’s proposal to disarm Hamas. The headlines are attempting to paint Hamas as the good guys for agreeing, and Israel’s cautious approach will once again be used by the international media to falsely paint Israel as being the problem.
The reality is that Israel has the right to live in peace without the threat of rockets, terrorism, and invasion from terrorists. Israel also has the right to never trust Hamas.
History shows that hatred does not disappear when weapons are surrendered. Yes, a terrorist group can be neutralised militarily, but it will still remain a threat because the ideology has not been dealt with correctly.
Palestinians must stop teaching their children that Israel has no right to exist. They must stop glorifying terrorists and giving financial incentives for carrying out attacks on Jews. For any meaningful change to happen, Palestinian society must reject antisemitism, end their desire to eliminate Israel, and accept that Jews have a legitimate right to live in their historic homeland and worship freely at their holy sites.
As Christians, we understand that this is not a battle against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers. The same antisemitic spirit that is fuelling Palestinian terror is also deeply embedded in Palestinian culture and all aspects of the Palestinian cause. This is why we must be praying for the Palestinians to have a change of heart.
Prayer Points:
Pray for Palestinians to reject antisemitism: Too many Palestinians are blinded by hate. They believe their cause is just to the point that the majority support what Hamas did on October 7th and want to see Israel destroyed. They have been indoctrinated for far too long and need to be released from that prison of antisemitism that is robbing them of both their joy and their peace. We pray for them to be released from this demonic ideology. We pray that the Church will have an impact in that land and for Palestinian hearts to turn from hating God’s people into loving the God of Israel.
Pray that the Church rejects Palestinian hatred of Israel: The established Church is falling for the demonic agenda of the Palestinian cause that opposes God’s plans for Israel. There are few greater examples of this than the documents of Kairos Palestine. Kairos Palestine is not aimed at bringing peace for Palestinians but at turning the Church into supporting the demonisation, and ultimately, the destruction of Israel. We pray that the Church will wake up and get back to the Bible on this issue. That the Church will stand with Israel and recognise that Zionism is a natural part of our faith, ordained by God Almighty.
Pray that America does not fall for the enemy’s tricks: There is much speculation about Israel and the USA not seeing eye to eye on the negotiations with Hamas, and also in how to conduct the war with Iran. We pray for unity for the leaders of Israel and the USA. We pray that President Trump and his administration will discern between good and evil, that they will have a Biblical understanding of these conflicts, and that they will recognise that Israel’s enemies are America’s enemies and cannot be trusted.
Pray that Israel repays evil with good: Israel is always seeking peace with her neighbours. Just as Israel is not at war with Lebanon, but with Hezbollah terrorists inside Lebanon; just as Israel is not at war with the Iranian people, but with their tyrannical regime; likewise, Israel is not at war with the Palestinian people, but with Hamas and other Palestinian terror groups that vow to wipe out Israel. Even though Palestinians largely support Hamas, Israel has still facilitated more aid to the civilian population of their enemy than any other nation at war. Even during the war, Israel has provided vaccines to immunise every Gazan child. If the roles were reversed, Hamas would be doing everything in their power to destroy Jewish children. Instead, Israel is showing compassion and humanity. Pray that Israel continues to repay evil with good. Pray that Israel continues to bless the Palestinians, even when they are being cursed by them. Pray that Israel will maintain moral clarity even in the fog of war.
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
(Romans 12:21)
