The Headline this morning reads: Hamas Election Victory Shocks World”. Me, too! They say. “All politics is local”. (Tip O’Neil wrote a book by that name; was he the first to say it?) There has been a growing dissatisfaction with Fatah, the ruling party. Palestinians’ lives in Gaza and the West Bank have steadily gotten worse. Fatah is seen as corrupt – politicians and government officials getting richer while ordinary people go hungry. There is no rule of law. There is fighting within the party… the list of complaints is long. On the other hand, Hamas has provided services like clinics and kindergartens. They are trusted because they are “religious”. So, I think (is it just hope) that this election is mostly about food and jobs and a normal life. Of course, you’ll see on TV victory celebrations by the hard line supporters of Hamas, but I think that most people were not so much for Hamas as they were fed up with Fatah. I guess time will tell.
As I was reading from Isaiah this morning I was thinking about the election. (I probably wasn’t doing either very well.) A verse jumped out at me. Isaiah 21:12: The watchman replies, “Morning is coming, but also the night…”. Wow! Victory in the midst of defeat; hope in despair. I believe that God will ultimately use this situation to bring more Palestinians to faith in Jesus. That is the morning; His light will dawn. But we will have to live through the night and it may get pretty dark. This is a great Romans 8:28 situation. Aren’t we glad we know who holds the future!
I would ask that you pray especially for Palestinian Christians. This is a very fearful time for them. Pray for the Believers who reach out in the name of Jesus to their Muslim neighbors. They could be facing more severe persecution. Pray for Palestinian and non-Palestinian Christian workers. Ask for God’s wisdom and courage… and protection, too.
No comments:
Post a Comment