ISRAEL AND PALESTINE – THE PATH OF PEACE

 

My wife Willow and I lived in Israel and Palestine for 11 years, from 1978 through 1989. Our first year, we lived in a Jewish neighborhood in Jerusalem. In the remaining years, we lived in the Bethlehem area, in the "occupied territories."

 

We have lived and worked with Israelis and Palestinians, Christians, Muslims, and Jews.  The story of those years and what we learned is told in A Stone's Throw From Bethlehem.

 

We learned to love people on both sides of the conflict. We pray for God's blessings of peace, prosperity, and security for both peoples. Our love for Israelis and Palestinians is but a dim reflection of God's love for all peoples of the earth.

 

The path of peace is rocky indeed. I am well aware of the dangers and difficulties. As the prophet Isaiah lamented:

 

The way of peace they do not know; there is no justice in their paths, they turned them into crooked paths (Isa. 59:8)

 

There is a bitter history between the two peoples. Both sides will have to restrain their extreme and violent elements. Dreams for which people have fought, killed, and died may never be fully realized. 

 

But I believe God has better things for both Israelis and Palestinians. There is a path that leads to reconciliation and peace for both peoples. In the essays that follow I hope to shine the light of scripture on this path of peace.

 

·       Sharing the Land of Promise – A Biblical Case   A five part series of essays.

 

·         Seeing Hagar – She couldn't find love and acceptance in the camp of Abraham.  But outside, in the desert, God found her and she saw the God who saw and cared.