MASADA WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN

Part 5

Meantime, it seems that no one - no politician, no diplomat, no scholar - really understands the root of the problems in the Middle East! And we keep on saying and asking 'why is there such persistent violence? Why is there so much hatred between Palestinians and Jews? It is only with the light of God's word that we can understand! You don't find a true and full explanation of what's going on in the Middle East anywhere else. We can only understand it from the pages of the Bible.

Meantime, a mysterious reference, perhaps accidentally, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave a hint of the truth behind the conflict in a November 2023 letter he wrote to his nation's defense forces after the atrocities of October 7. "The current fight against the murderers of Hamas," he wrote, "is another chapter in the generations-long story of our national resilience. "Remember what Amalek did to you.'" By quoting from Deuteronomy 25:17 - "Remember what Amalek did to you" - Netanyahu stirred a firestorm of controversy. Some saw it as a call to genocide, while others claimed he was seeking to bolster support from religious conservatives to retain enough votes to stay in power. Few, however - perhaps not even the Prime Minister himself - truly understand the profound connection between that quote and the real cause of the current troubles in the Middle East! Many tend to see all conflict in the Middle East as a conflict between Isaac and Ishmael, who were Abraham's firstborn sons by Sarah and Hagar. But for all the animosity between the descendants of these brothers, the Bible does not emphasize it greatly. Yes, as Psalm 83 reveals, Ishmaelites are conspirators against Israel in the end-time. But the current conflict is not primarily between these two brothers! We must look deeper into God's word for the truth, my friends. We can begin with Netanyahu's statement by asking, Who is Amalek? We begin our understanding by reading of Amalek in Exodus 17. Israel had just crossed the Red Sea, and then "Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim" (v.8).

This attack sticks out in the biblical record as singularly offensive to God. So angered was the Eternal by the actions of the Amalekites that He makes plain in no uncertain terms that "the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation" (v.16).

In fact, most translations of Exodus 17:16 fail to reveal the depth of God's offense. Renowned Bible scholar Adam Clarke, noting this, gives another possible translation for this verse: "Because the hand of Amalek is against the throne of God, therefore will I have war with Amalek from generation to generation."

God says that Amalek's hand was raised against His own throne! Why was this attack so serious in God's eyes? Many peoples other than the Amalekites attacked Israel, even during the conquest of the Holy Land. Why did God take Amalek's actions so seriously?

Let's read more details in Deuteronomy 25: "Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you were coming out of Egypt, how he met you on the way and attacked your rear ranks, all the stragglers at your rear, when you were tired and weary; and he did not fear God" (vv. 17-18).

Keep this in mind: This is describing a terrorist attack. What are the three characteristics of terrorist attacks? They attack from behind, they attack defenseless civilian populations, and they do not face the army. That's exactly what we saw on October 7. Hamas attacked from behind, they did not face the army, and they attacked a defenseless civilian population. They attacked the weak and the helpless, only to turn and hide behind their own women and children in Gaza tunnels. That is how Hamas operates! In its terrorist attack against ancient Israel, the Amalekites offended God greatly - which parallels the terrorism of Hamas! So, we can see why Netanyahu's letter would call to mind the terrorism of Amalek. But the real connection between Amalek and today's troubles goes much deeper! (To be continued)