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1 Maccabees 9:70. "When Jonathan learned of this, he sent ambassadors to [Bacchides] to make peace with him and obtain release of the captives." Bacchides was a governor and general under King Demetrius of Syria who had been attempting to conquer Judah for some time. On the death of the wicked high priest Alcimus, though, Bacchides had withdrawn and "the land of Judah had rest for two years." (1 Maccabees 9:57). But lawless men, perturbed that Jonathan and his men were living in "quiet and confidence", persuaded Bacchides to make another attempt. (1 Maccabees 9:58)  Jonathan Maccabeus set out against Bacchides and crushed him, and Bacchides retreated in distress. Jonathan then sent ambassadors to Bacchides seeking peace and the release of the captives he had taken.

 

This reminds me of what's happening now in Israel with Hamas - Israel was living in quiet and confidence, while lawless men plotted against them. Israel's history is so instructive, repeating in different iterations throughout time with lessons for all of us. Reading how lawless men stirred up Bacchides to come against Judah again because of its (two whole years of!) quiet and confidence made me think of Hamas plotting and planning to attack Israel as Israel was living in relative peace.

 

For some reason, lawless men do not like to see Israel living in quiet and confidence - they never have, and they never will. I think it stems from Israel being God's chosen people and from our fallen nature. We don't like to think someone has it better than us, especially someone with whom God seems to be siding - giving them land and riches that we think of as our own, or at least not rightfully theirs. It just doesn't seem fair from the point of view of an Old Testament non-Jew. But Jesus changed all that when He came and showed that He had come for all - we are all now God's chosen people and will all be amply blessed if we turn to Him and give ourselves over to Him. In the Bible, when Israel doesn't do this, they suffer as well. Israel is always a lesson for us in living properly in God's love and will.

 

I think Hamas and other groups are still thinking more in Old Testament terms. They do not accept Christ, and their religion sees the Jews as an opponent (there is an awful lot of history behind this - all the way back to Abraham, Hagar, and Ishmael), and so they still see Israel as the displacer, the ones who came and took land and fortunes not rightfully Israel's. But Israel did not do this, at least not on their own - God did, just as He always takes care of Israel, leading them ever back to Him.

 

The lesson for all of us when Israel is in quiet and confidence is to see how they are blessed by their God and turn to Him. The lesson for all of us when Israel is not in quiet and confidence is to look to how they, and we, may be being called back to God and His Son. Turning to Israel's God should lead all of us to His Son, Jesus Christ, and the salvation, blessings, and peace He has gained for every single one of us. I truly think that is one thing God is accomplishing through permitting all of the strife in the world right now - the conversion of hearts and minds to our Savior (see the video below for an example!), and that is a very good thing!

 

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https://youtu.be/upTofuSIcVM?si=PL0C_wTQABYHjTrb