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The horrendous savagery committed against the Jews bordering Gaza by the terrorist group, Hamas, on October 7, a Jewish holiday, has rattled the world. The news began reporting that Hamas militants crossed their Gaza border and invaded 20 communities in southern Israel. It is being described as a “massacre,” “a stunning onslaught,,” “a genocidal attack.” Various sources gave the grim details:
Social media showed senseless slayings of children, the elderly, and other unsuspecting victims caught in the middle of the invasion. Hundreds of Israeli citizens were shown to be taken hostage and brutalized at the hands of Hamas terrorists.
An article in ABC News said, “Women, children and older adults hiding in safe rooms gunned down mercilessly. Homes set ablaze with terrified residents still inside them. Children, some bound, forced into a room and slaughtered. Jews, helpless.”
The Guardian reported the reaction of Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu following the attack: “In a televised address late on Wednesday [10/11/23], Netanyahu described atrocities that took place during the weekend attack by Hamas militants, who he said shot children in the head, burned people alive, raped women and beheaded soldiers. ‘Every Hamas member is a dead man,’ he said. ‘We will crush and destroy it.’”
The Guardian also cited President Joe Biden as saying the Hamas attack was the “deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust.” He’s also quoted to tell Jewish leaders, “This attack was a campaign of pure cruelty – not just hate, but pure cruelty – against the Jewish people.”
As of this writing, the number of victims continues to escalate and this includes more than just Israelis:
“More than 1,400 people have been killed, including 30 Americans, and that number will undoubtedly rise. Over 4,200 are critically wounded. Over 199 people, from all over the world, have been taken hostage in Gaza. according to the American Jewish Committee,
By the time this post is published, there is sure to be higher numbers of victims you’ll hear reported.
Now, as you read this you may be thinking something like, “This is grim news! It’s not Good News like this blog is called!” For sure, all of this grim news is opposite of what you’d really rather read. However, as the expression goes, “Sorry, but them’s the facts.” As hard as they are to accept, it’s the cold, cruel truth that is a sad part of our present, evil age.
As I see it, these atrocious events brought on by ungodly people, only reinforce the reality of what the Apostle Paul predicted to his young associate, Timothy:
2 Timothy 31But understand this: that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. (English Standard Version, ESV).
It only reminds us of this fact: That in these times when evil continues to go from bad to worse (2 Timothy 3:12-13), we who believe in the one God do not need to worry or fear. We know that it will not always be this way. Almighty God is in control.
And this is the Good News.
Like it’s also said: “Behind every dark cloud there is a silver lining.” There is comfort and assurance knowing that on account of God’s promises, rays of hope shine out through the dark clouds of sorrow and despair. He brings comfort to our lives even when all things are going wrong.
I think of one Bible passage in particular that brings Good News whenever there is Grim News. It’s a prophecy in Isaiah 40:1-2 which reads,
1“Comfort, comfort My people,” says your God.
2 “Speak kindly to Jerusalem;
And call out to her, that her warfare has ended,
That her guilt has been removed,
That she has received of the Lord’s hand
Double for all her sins.” (New American Standard Bible, NASB)
God has never abandoned his people. Even though the people of Israel have disobeyed and deserted God at certain times throughout their history, they are still “the apple of his eye,” (Deuteronomy 32:9-10, ESV).
Since times of their captivity, God has punished the nation harshly—“double for her sins”—in order to purge and purify his chosen people from their iniquities yet with deliverance and an even greater reward to come. Their latest restoration to their homeland (1948) is but only the beginning of what is to come in due time, when the whole world will be blessed through them (Isaiah 60:1-3; Jeremiah 31:33-34).
Believers know full well when that time will come—when the nation finally accepts the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as their long-awaited Messiah. Back in the Old Testament, God said Israel would be overturned time and again until he [Messiah] comes to put an end to this cycle. This will be in accordance with the Savior’s God-given right (Ezekiel 21:27).
When Messiah Jesus comes in all his glory, all Israel will repent of their sins against God And each one will be converted to the One the Jews had pierced long ago on the cross (Zechariah 12:10-14). Jesus, himself, predicted this will happen (Matthew 23:37-39). And so, all Israel will be saved and exalted among the nations (Romans 11:26-27; Ezekiel 11:17-20).
This is Good News for all believers in Christ Jesus our Lord. When Jesus comes through the clouds of heaven and sets foot on Mount Zion (Zechariah 14:4) everything will change—forever for the better. Followers of Christ won’t ever need to be worried or afraid again for Jesus will reign and put away the kind of evil that prevails in the world today.
This is the Good News for all who’ve put their hope in God’s promises and are saved through his beloved Son. In fact, it will be so glorious that those in his Kingdom will not even think of the Grim News anymore (Isaiah 65:17).
Good News to YOU!
Pastor Michael
P.S. Yes, Jesus is the Good News we all need in this time of Grim News. Here’s a toe-tapping tune with a message that’s bound to bring a boost to your spirit since it’s all about the Good News—https://youtu.be/eWFBpS-pT6M