Israel and the Middle East has always been in the news, more so recently. There’s a war going on. We asked veteren Middle East missionaries Josh and Arlene to write a short article concerning these matters. You’ll find it below.
Also, may I encourage you click here and download the teaching entitled “Signs of the Times” (Tape Number OBB454).
Please feel free to chime in and post any comments on your perspective.
A Different Perspective
Oh the Joy of settling for “Peace which transcends all understanding”! After ten years of serving as missionaries in the Middle East, we are not sure if we have really ever experienced that kind of peace. Like most 21st Century Believers, we have to have the Word of God lined up in perfect order with world events before we can confidently share our perspectives. And in as much as this may be considered appropriate thinking it really does not have much to do with the information Jesus gives us in Matthew 24:14. These are the days when God seem to be bringing history to its conclusion; and if you are like us, you are probably glued to Ezekiel 38 and lining everything in perfect order with the reality of world events especially what’s happening in the Middle East.
We have however given much thought and prayer to this as it is so easy to go off on political and “end time” rabbit paths. And what we have realized is, that more than 400 years after Ezekiel’s prophecies were recorded, Jesus had an in depth discourse with His disciples in Matthew 24. These guys had much the same concerns as we are having. However, Jesus’ concern was that we would not be deceived but that we should endure faithfully to the end as the Gospel is preached to the whole world. No one excluded! As believers in the West we have to be careful where and on what we focus our concerns. It may be worth our while to keep Jesus’ perspective while experiencing His peace, which transcends all understanding. His concern was for the lost in all nations, forgetting about boundaries and politics. Concerning the end time, He purposefully did not give us a time just a mandate “to endure to the end until the Gospel is preached to all the world as a witness to all the nations”.
We are blessed to have close friends and colleagues in Israel, Palestine and Lebanon, Christians, Muslims and Jews. We have seen them caught in the middle of a chess match played by governments who use real people for pawns. The pawns on all sides never get a chance to call the next move; they are just pushed around until one day they fall. Jesus’ concern was what happens when they fall. Where will they go, heaven or hell? Who will take care of the widows and children left behind? In the meantime we are called to be a light and make disciples, not to be political and spiritual analysts. It’s a hard call, but one we must give much thought to if we want to faithfully endure to the end. We have included a short letter from our Lebanese colleagues and missionaries to their own people. There is not a hint of hatred or prejudice for or against Israel, Hezbollah, America, Syria or anyone else. It speaks volumes of their spirit and obedience to God’s Word during these difficult and confusing times.
Dear Josh & Arlene,
Thank you for your prayers and thoughts for us. It is really a blessing to know friends are standing with us in this mad war. We don’t sit in front of the TV all day anymore. Our ministry to the refugees is going really well. (though the need is so huge, we have been focusing on one school ministering to almost 200 people but there are almost 750 thousand refugees). So far, we have 34 families but more arrived this afternoon.
I’m happy to say that other people and churches are getting involved in different schools. I have been invited to help start a program in a new place. We continue to take daily with us (food, fruits, toiletries…) in addition to doing a kids program.
I’m so thankful how till now how the Lord himself has been sending us helpers every day and more are on the way. The Lord is Good.
Much love and many blessings.
[names omitted for security reasons]
Great post, I’m in agreement.