Lord’s Day, Vol. 11 No. 43
Israel- Hamas Conflict
The massacre and carrying away of civilian and military hostages on 7 October 2023 in southern Israel by the Hamas organization in Gaza opened up a new war frontal while the Ukraine-Russia military conflict is still raging. A repeat of what took place 50 years ago that triggered the Yom Kippur War in 1973. While Israel prepares for a ground offensive into Gaza, I fear the ambush that Hamas is laying up for Israeli soldiers entering the city. Pray there will be a peaceful settlement without further blood-shedding, whether for Israel or for the Palestinians living in Gaza.
The Bible sheds light on the character of the Hamas organization that adopts the name “Hamas” to resolve conflict. In the Bible, the Hebrew word “Hamas” “חָמָס” is first translated as “violence” in Genesis 6:11 (KJV) The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. A word study on the word “Hamas” brings biblical counsel to His people.
It was the state of the world during the time when Noah lived where it was recorded in Genesis 6:5 (KJV) And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
It was a pre-cursor to God’s judgment upon the earth with the global flood – Genesis 6:6-7 (KJV) And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. The psalmist likewise condemns the violence of the wicked in Psalm 11:5 (KJV) The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. The judgment of God is pronounced upon the violent man in Psalm 11:6 (KJV) Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.
The word “Hamas” means “evil” (Genesis 6:11). This word also means “cruelty” (Genesis 49:5) when Simeon and Levi killed the men of Shechem and the killing of 70 sons of Gideon in Judges 9:24. It is translated as “unrighteous” in Exodus 23:1 to describe the false report of an unrighteous witness.
It is translated as “wrong” in Deuteronomy 19:16 (KJV) If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong. Also, in David’s words when the children of Benjamin and Judah came to speak to him in 1 Chronicles 12:17 (KJV) And David went out to meet them, and answered and said unto them, If ye be come peaceably unto me to help me, mine heart shall be knit unto you: but if ye be come to betray me to mine enemies, seeing there is no wrong in mine hands, the God of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it. Furthermore, Job expresses how he has been wronged by his friends in Job 19:7 (KJV) Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is no judgment.
The deliverance of God is upon the righteous against the violent man – Psalm 18:48 (KJV) He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man. It further reiterated God’s protection upon His people in the face of cruel hatred in Psalm 25:19 (KJV) Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred. The psalmist’s prayer was that the LORD may deliver him as he sought to live with integrity and uprightness in Psalm 25:20-22 (KJV) O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee. Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles. The LORD certainly hears the prayer of the righteous as he faces the onslaught of evil in Psalm 27:12 (KJV) Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.
The word “Hamas” is translated as “false” in Psalm 35:11 (KJV) False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not. What the psalmist did is to seek the LORD in prayer to deliver him in Psalm 55:9 (KJV) Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city. Therefore, man needs to search himself to evaluate his actions in the light of God’s judgment upon the unrighteous in Psalm 58:2 (KJV) Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh the violence of your hands in the earth. What is the root cause of such evil? It is human pride as explained in Psalm 73:6 (KJV) Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.
Psalm 74:20 is the psalmist’s cry to the LORD to remember His covenant with His besieged people Israel, “Have respect unto the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty”. God will cause evil to be destroyed in Psalm 140:11 (KJV) Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.
What is the LORD’s counsel to His people? Proverbs 3:31 (KJV) Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways. Rather, come to the LORD, seek God’s wisdom and repent of our sins is the perennial counsel in Proverbs 8:35-36 (KJV) For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
God’s blessings are upon the just and righteous man – Proverbs 10:6 (KJV) Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. And, Proverbs 10:11 (KJV) The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
God’s judgment is upon the wicked – Proverbs 13:2 (KJV) A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence. It is therefore prudent to keep clear of the violent man in Proverbs 16:29 (KJV) A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good. To carefully choose a trustworthy friend in which the Bible reveals that Israel will be deceived by the Antichrist, the man of sin before they turn to Christ as a nation – Proverbs 26:6 (KJV) He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.
What is the solution for Israel, the people of God? It is to come to Christ Jesus, the Lord whom they crucified – Isaiah 53:9 (KJV) And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
The church rejoices in the saving grace of Christ and prays for the salvation of Israel, the people of God – Romans 11:12 (KJV) Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? Amen.
Yours lovingly,
Pastor Lek Aik Wee