What Should Our Response Be?

John Osborne

Have you ever thought, or been asked, about what our response should be in regards to what is going on in the Middle East and unfolding around the world? The attack by Hamas into Israel on October 7 was a horrifying event. The amount of anti-Semitic rhetoric and hatred towards Jewish people continues to increase, with rallies that appear to take place on a daily basis. As Christ followers, we look to scripture to find that our response needs to be multifaceted.One doesn’t go very far into the book of Genesis to see God share with Abram (later Abraham) these words:

“I will make you into a great nation,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.” - Genesis 12:2-3

This passage makes reference to Abraham’s descendants that would be Jewish. The Jews are God’s chosen people. As a people group, history shows that they have not always followed God wholeheartedly, nor do most of them recognize Jesus as their Messiah today. However, that does not change the fact that they are still God’s chosen people. They have a special place in God’s heart. We also read in Deuteronomy:

“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.” - Deuteronomy 7:6

At the very least we need to pray a blessing on the Jews. The greatest blessing is, of course, that they would acknowledge and put their trust in Jesus Christ as their Messiah. Beyond that God may prompt you to do more, but prayer for the Jewish people is the bare minimum. When one thinks of prayer, Psalm 122 of David also comes to mind.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
‘May those who love you be secure.’” - Psalm 122:6

The ultimate peace of Jerusalem will not come until Jesus sets up His Kingdom here on the earth as described in Zechariah 14. What a powerful passage of what is yet to come. 

We live in exciting days. They can be terrifying for some, but as Christ followers may we live with the hope that we have a bright future and may we stand by the Jewish people in prayer.