Israel-Gaza at War

This is now the twelfth day of Operation Cast Lead, the military campaign of the Israeli army and air forces against Hamas militants within the Gaza Strip. The cause - continued rocket attacks by Hamas upon Israeli cities near the Gaza Strip. An average of 50 rockets a day were fired upon Sderot, Ashkelon, and as far away as Ashdod and Beersheba in the days since the cessation of the six-month cease-fire. Over a half million Israelis lived in constant fear as rockets hit schools, homes and businesses. The Israeli government kept warning Hamas that its patience was about exhausted and that a military action would occur. But the warning was ignored.

The purpose of this military incursion into Gaza is certainly not to re-establish Israeli control over this area. No, when Israel disengaged from Gaza in August of 2005, it left for good, hoping that a peaceful Palestinian government would be created whereby the two peoples could live in harmony. Israel is not interested in occupying the Gaza Strip. Its intended purpose is the destruction of the Hamas military machine and its governmental infrastructure. It would then be hoped that the Palestinian people, who have suffered so incredibly under the leadership of Hamas, would rise up and change governments. Only time will tell whether this intended purpose will be realized.

According to reports, the aerial assaults, along with the ground forces, have dealt a crippling blow to Hamas. Its leadership has been driven to underground locations. Many of its military leaders have been killed. Much of the infrastructure has been destroyed. Yet the rockets keep flying into Israel, one striking Ashdod even today.

News reports show the images of little children being carried into local Palestinian hospitals. According to some observers, a humanitarian crisis is nearing epic proportions within Gaza. But Gazans have been living in a humanitarian crisis since early 2006 when they chose Hamas as their governmental leaders. And why was Hamas elected? Was it because Hamas promised better humanitarian services? No! Was it because Hamas promised them better paying jobs and a better living? No! All Hamas promised was that it would drive Israel into the sea! And so the people have suffered.

There is are a couple biblical principles here that we should not forget. First, there are always consequences for our choices. The Palestinian people chose Hamas and its terrorist plans. Now they are suffering the consequences of that choice. Second, when a government leads in a wrong direction, the people also suffer. There were many within Judah who did not worship idols, but who were driven into captivity into Babylon just as were those who did worship idols. When God brings judgment upon America...and I believe He will do it soon...there will be many righteous people who will suffer alongside of those who have been ungodly and turned against God.

Israel is being pressured into a cease-fire. Personally, I hope it continues to refuse those offers and presses onward with its intend to show itself strong once again before its neighbors. I believe the Israeli leaders, both political and military, learned important lessons during the failed Second Lebanon War in 2006. Once again the IDF will have become one of the strongest military forces within the Middle East.