The angel said, “Go back to Sarai and be her slave. I will give you a son, who will be called Ishmael, because I have heard your cry for help. And someday I will give you so many descendants that no one will be able to count them all. But your son will live far from his relatives; he will be like a wild donkey, fighting everyone, and everyone fighting him.”
Genesis 16:9-12
The sons of Abraham (Ishmael and Isaac) were at odds with each other when they were children and they are still at war today!
Ishmael was Abraham's attempt to make God's promise of a son come true, but Isaac was the son that God had promised to the "Father of the Faithful."
Today's news, the rockets, the dispute over land, the kidnappings, and the turmoil in general in Israel all come from the two sons of Abraham! All other family feuds pale in comparison to the ongoing trouble between the Arabs and the Jews. Well meaning politicians campaign for peace and put forth proposals to solve the conflict, but nothing seems to make any difference at all. Cease fires break down and the trouble starts all over again!
There is one "Peace Maker" who can stop all the violence! In fact, He is called the Prince of Peace. When two men who are at war with each other turn their hearts to Jesus Christ, then they are transformed from enemies into brothers who love each other!
So is it just Arabs and Jews that need to be touched and transformed by the power of Jesus? Oh no, it is every man, woman and child who has ever been born. The touch of Jesus changes the dynamite of a man's heart into precious and pure gold.
From reading the Scripture I can tell you for sure that Jesus loves the Jews and He loves the Arabs! But Jesus doesn't stop there, because Jesus loves you and He loves me! He wants us to be Brothers at Peace, not Brothers at War!
"Lord Jesus, thank You for bringing the "peace that passes understanding" to all those who call on Your name! And may You be praised forever! Amen."
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