Israel, War, and Birth Pains

On October 7th, the horrific news spread around the world that Israel's citizens, families, grandmothers, daughters, sons, mothers, fathers, were attacked and killed by terrorists in their own homes, at celebrations and on the streets. And others hid from a barrage of bombs aimed at their communities. It is heartbreaking.

Yet Jesus tells us "do not be alarmed" in Mark‬ ‭13:7‭-‬8‬,
"When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains."

The world has been in the throws of birth pain. But after a mother's birth pain, comes the birth of great joy. Just as Jesus tells us in John‬ ‭16:20‭-‬22‬,
"Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy."

The pain of in this world is temporary and gives way to pure joy because we have a merciful Father who has guaranteed victory through Jesus Christ, our Savior.

‭We read in Revelation‬ ‭21:4‬, ‭‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

As we mourn for Israel, we pray for God's mercy on those who are suffering, his comfort for those who have great loss, his encouragement for those in fear, his wisdom for the leadership, his strength for those in battle and a swift end through the power of his mighty hand. We also ask for forgiveness on those doing evil and that his light will be shone into their hearts, because they are blinded by the darkness of hatred, and therefore they know not what they do.

Let us end with this promise of God for Israel in Isaiah‬ ‭60:18‭-‬22‬,
"No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise.

The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.

Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end.

Then all your people will be righteous and they will possess the land forever. They are the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands, for the display of my splendor.

The least of you will become a thousand, the smallest a mighty nation. I am the Lord; in its time I will do this swiftly.”

As we look forward to that day, we can pray with confidence in the promises of God, we can have peace in the victory of Jesus, and live without fear because He has already won the battle.

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