Israel

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[Huldah]

Is anyone else here really upset by what's happening in Israel right now? I can't seem to get it out of my mind, especially the photo of the little boy hostage (he looked like he can't be more than 6 or 7) who was surrounded by enemies who were mocking and jeering at him. He looked so terrified. The whole situation is just so awful. I'm praying both for the Israelis and for all those innocent Palestinians who are going to suffer as well. It's just evil and demonic.

[Janet Easson Martin]

Huldah, thank you for posting above. You and others have probably seen the related video below. I found it very encouraging.


Former Hezbollah Fighter Recalls Encounter with Jesus

https://youtu.be/upTofuSIcVM?si=ptWCTLhR2-hikR1d

[Janet Easson Martin]

Listening to these stories of Muslim middle-easterners who previously knew nothing of Jesus hear him speak to them and by faith accepting his assured love and forgiveness takes me back to New Testament days (even Paul’s terrorism missions). How he loves them no matter their past, including hating him.


I murdered him for Allah but God raised him up to forgive me

https://youtu.be/mtjMANw2hCA?si=uqBLQxzTwqDlcYz6

[Huldah]

I downplayed the specific incident in my first post because it was just too hard to write out the details.

The terrorists took this little boy from Israel. I don't know whether his parents are alive or dead, whether they're hostages with him or whether he watched them being killed in front of him. But here he is now in Gaza. His captors rounded up some Palestinian children, and told those children to beat him with sticks and insult him verbally, with the whole ordeal being filmed for the entertainment and triumph of their supporters. The idea of doing these things to a terrified child, and the additional outrage of turning their own children into monsters, are almost too much to take in.

And there are other stories coming to light that are just as horrific as this one, perhaps even more so. But I'd rather not write out the details.

There's a promise, and a warning, from Jesus. In Luke 17, it's written, Jesus said to his disciples: "Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come. It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble." My sincere hope is that the terrorists who are causing their own children to stumble will repent and turn to Jesus. If they don't, then they will one day be held fully and eternally accountable for what they've done, both to this little Jewish boy and to their own children, because God is not mocked. But I would rather see them repent.

I'm not downplaying the suffering of innocent Palestinians, those who don't support Hamas but are facing the terrible consequences that Hamas knew would follow. However, more than anything else right now, I'm grieving for the people of Israel who've been tortured, maimed, kidnapped, and/or killed. The stories are truly horrendous, and even though I'm not seeking out the details, they keep coming across my various feeds. The suffering of the victims and the trauma of the survivors are unimaginable.

[Janet Easson Martin]

Thank you for reminding us, Huldah, that God does not turn a blind eye to the atrocities going on, but will make each one account for the harm they have done. He IS incredible to forgive those same people (and us) when they turn from their corrupt ways and trust His PERSONAL payment for their sins.

[Janet Easson Martin]

A friend sent this video to me. Just the first few minutes profoundly remind us why Israel is important.


Israel, Hamas, and End Times | Ezekiel 38 | Gary Hamrick

https://youtu.be/dNs2tt7auQ4?si=2lQS-Z_uhEgLat0T