Sean David Burke____
It is tempting to characterize the conflict in Israel and Gaza as based on a religious divide. The protagonists are, after all, possessed of different religions, aren’t they? Indeed their states (or would-be states) are built upon strong religious bases.
On the other hand, these “different religions” are nowhere near as different as they are from others. These peoples arguably worship the same God. He is the god of Abraham and Moses, of Jonah and Ezekiel, of Isaac and Joseph. On their own sides of the border these people eat similar foods and abstain from similar foods. They are both meant to wash a lot. Culturally speaking, a great deal is shared.
Perhaps God should be asked to intervene? No doubt many people on both sides are asking him to do just that every day. If the Lord is indeed a jealous and vengeful God he will have no problem visiting himself upon the less worthy team.
Perhaps he has. Israel is ‘winning’. Over the course of the conflict Israel has managed to kill many more people on the Palestinian side than the Palestinians have managed to kill Israelis. Perhaps we can say that this is evidence of Israel being favoured by God?
Of course, that is a bit like saying that a cricket score indicates the moral supremacy of one side over another. It does no such thing. Sometimes it does, however, indicate that one side has more money to spend on preparation and equipment.
God has, no doubt, been busy in Israel and Gaza. Every day his angels, angels that both sides believe in, collect the souls of the dead and fly them back to him. Many of these are the souls of children. The souls are not draped in flags. They aren’t Palestinian or Israeli when he receives them. Maybe God knows what they were, before, maybe he doesn’t.
And maybe he doesn’t care which side they were on. He is the God of Abraham and Moses.
Sean David Burke
August 2014
photo credit : http://www.ukfpi.org/GIFTS.htm
www.earthsideeducation.com
This article is free to share and publish as is.
See also:
The 10 Best Apps for Toddlers
http://www.earthsideeducation.com/the-10-best-apps-for-toddlers.html
How Do We Become Aboriginal
http://www.livingnow.com.au/articles/living-and-learning/how-do-we-become-aboriginal
And then, Suddenly, You Don't Have to Live Like a Refugee
http://www.earthsideeducation.com/so-you-dont-have-to-live-like-a-refugee
Grade Wool and Wheat, Not Our Kids
http://www.earthsideeducation.com/grade-wool-and-wheat-not-our-kids
It's Not a State and it Never Was a State, So Don't Call it a State
http://www.earthsideeducation.com/its-not-a-state-and-it-was-never-a-state-so-dont-call-it-a-state
The Accident of Birth is no Basis for Policy
http://www.earthsideeducation.com/the-accident-of-birth-is-no-basis-for-policy
Gender Equality is a Necessary Partner of Economic Progress
http://www.earthsideeducation.com/gender-equality-is-a-necessary-partner-of-economic-progress
Are You With Us Or Against Us?: Why a Modern State Can't Be a 'Team'
http://www.earthsideeducation.com/are-you-with-us-or-against-us-why-a-modern-state-canrsquot-be-a-lsquoteamrsquo
Who Does God Support in Gaza?
http://www.earthsideeducation.com/who-is-god-supporting-in-gaza
How Many MH17s are Out There, Just Beyond the Veil?
http://www.earthsideeducation.com/just-how-many-mh17s-are-out-there-beyond-the-veil
Teach it Twice: A Tip for Teachers and Principals
http://www.earthsideeducation.com/teach-it-twice-a-tip-for-teachers-and-principals
Sue: The Giant Killer
http://www.earthsideeducation.com/sue-the-giant-killer
It is tempting to characterize the conflict in Israel and Gaza as based on a religious divide. The protagonists are, after all, possessed of different religions, aren’t they? Indeed their states (or would-be states) are built upon strong religious bases.
On the other hand, these “different religions” are nowhere near as different as they are from others. These peoples arguably worship the same God. He is the god of Abraham and Moses, of Jonah and Ezekiel, of Isaac and Joseph. On their own sides of the border these people eat similar foods and abstain from similar foods. They are both meant to wash a lot. Culturally speaking, a great deal is shared.
Perhaps God should be asked to intervene? No doubt many people on both sides are asking him to do just that every day. If the Lord is indeed a jealous and vengeful God he will have no problem visiting himself upon the less worthy team.
Perhaps he has. Israel is ‘winning’. Over the course of the conflict Israel has managed to kill many more people on the Palestinian side than the Palestinians have managed to kill Israelis. Perhaps we can say that this is evidence of Israel being favoured by God?
Of course, that is a bit like saying that a cricket score indicates the moral supremacy of one side over another. It does no such thing. Sometimes it does, however, indicate that one side has more money to spend on preparation and equipment.
God has, no doubt, been busy in Israel and Gaza. Every day his angels, angels that both sides believe in, collect the souls of the dead and fly them back to him. Many of these are the souls of children. The souls are not draped in flags. They aren’t Palestinian or Israeli when he receives them. Maybe God knows what they were, before, maybe he doesn’t.
And maybe he doesn’t care which side they were on. He is the God of Abraham and Moses.
Sean David Burke
August 2014
photo credit : http://www.ukfpi.org/GIFTS.htm
www.earthsideeducation.com
This article is free to share and publish as is.
See also:
The 10 Best Apps for Toddlers
http://www.earthsideeducation.com/the-10-best-apps-for-toddlers.html
How Do We Become Aboriginal
http://www.livingnow.com.au/articles/living-and-learning/how-do-we-become-aboriginal
And then, Suddenly, You Don't Have to Live Like a Refugee
http://www.earthsideeducation.com/so-you-dont-have-to-live-like-a-refugee
Grade Wool and Wheat, Not Our Kids
http://www.earthsideeducation.com/grade-wool-and-wheat-not-our-kids
It's Not a State and it Never Was a State, So Don't Call it a State
http://www.earthsideeducation.com/its-not-a-state-and-it-was-never-a-state-so-dont-call-it-a-state
The Accident of Birth is no Basis for Policy
http://www.earthsideeducation.com/the-accident-of-birth-is-no-basis-for-policy
Gender Equality is a Necessary Partner of Economic Progress
http://www.earthsideeducation.com/gender-equality-is-a-necessary-partner-of-economic-progress
Are You With Us Or Against Us?: Why a Modern State Can't Be a 'Team'
http://www.earthsideeducation.com/are-you-with-us-or-against-us-why-a-modern-state-canrsquot-be-a-lsquoteamrsquo
Who Does God Support in Gaza?
http://www.earthsideeducation.com/who-is-god-supporting-in-gaza
How Many MH17s are Out There, Just Beyond the Veil?
http://www.earthsideeducation.com/just-how-many-mh17s-are-out-there-beyond-the-veil
Teach it Twice: A Tip for Teachers and Principals
http://www.earthsideeducation.com/teach-it-twice-a-tip-for-teachers-and-principals
Sue: The Giant Killer
http://www.earthsideeducation.com/sue-the-giant-killer
RSS Feed
