Israel is making heavy military attacks on some of its neighboring countries and leaving thousands of innocent lives destroyed. Are these attacks and killings by Israel the will of God?
This is a question that would take many pages to answer. As you know, Israel did not start this war; in fact, they have been in many wars (which they did not start) since they became a nation again in 1948. Their Arab and Muslim neighbors have been trying to “push them into the sea” (i.e. annihilate them) ever since then so they have every right to defend themselves with force that sometimes results in collateral damage to innocent people. We do know that Hamas in Gaza has been using innocent people as “human shields” and they are using those victims in their propaganda to create antisemitism throughout the world.
But you ask a valid question: Are these attacks and killings by Israel the will of God? To answer this, we must know God’s plan for Israel according to the scriptures. God gave promises to Abraham (the father of the nation of Israel) that guarantees Israel will one day live in peace with all their neighboring nations and be a source of blessing to every nation in the world. “Now the LORD had said to Abram: Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:2-3). These promises were never fulfilled in Abraham’s life and they still have not been fulfilled. Israel went into bondage for over 400 years in Egypt and when they were delivered, they still never became a source of blessing to the whole world.
God also made a promise to King David in 2 Samuel 7:12-13, “When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” This promise refers to a son that would come from David’s family who would be their King/Messiah who would rule over Israel AND over the whole world (see Psalm 72). When this is fulfilled God’s promises to Abraham will also be fulfilled. The prophet Isaiah also prophesied of Israel’s Messiah and His universal kingdom in Isaiah 9:6-7, “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Soin is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace, there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” This prophecy was partially fulfilled when God sent His Son into this world and He was “born into the human family and named Jesus” (see Luke 2:1-21). When Jesus was 30 years old, He began to present Himself to the nation of Israel as their Messiah (Luke 3:23a with Mark 1:14-15). Some of the people believed He was and called him “the Son of David” (Matthew 1:1 with Luke 18:38-39), but the nation rejected Him (John 1:11) and eventually turned Him over to Pontius Pilate to be crucified (Matthew 27:1-22). Pilate wanted to release Him but they answered, “His blood be upon us and on our children.”
Ever since then “Christ’s blood has been upon them and their children.” Israel has continued in their rejection of Christ and they have been persecuted by the nations of the world ever since, especially their Arab and Muslim neighbors. Yet God has PRESERVED THEM and eventually they will come to repent and believe on Christ as their Savior/Messiah. Presently they are trying to survive “in their own strength” and God has allowed them to be victorious over their enemies but the day is coming which Scripture calls, “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (see Jeremiah 30:7). During that time there will be “Great Tribulation” (Daniel 12:1 with Matthew 24:15-22) and God will bring some (a “remnant”) in Israel to true repentance and faith. If you read the last 3 references I cited, you will see that in each passage it speaks of Israel being delivered from this “time of trouble.” This is hard to believe considering what Israel is going through today. They are hated and persecuted more than ever before and it will only get worse. Yet God is NOW working out another purpose while Israel is in unbelief. He is taking out a people from the Gentiles to become a heavenly people (Acts 15:6-14) and once the church is complete the “time of trouble” will begin and end with Christ’s return in power and glory to deliver His people Israel and to establish His kingdom. I would encourage you to read Romans 11:1-29 which brings out how Israel is temporarily set aside (in unbelief) while the Gentiles are being saved, but once the last Gentile is saved to complete this heavenly company (Romans 11:25) God will resume His dealings with Israel and a remnant will be saved (Romans 11:26).
In summation, I will say that Israel’s battles today are being fought for their own purposes of survival, yet God’s will is being done by allowing them to survive so that He can fulfill His promises to them AFTER the church is taken home to glory. They will have to suffer greatly in the “time of tribulation” but it will end by their Messiah coming in power and glory to deliver them from their enemies, forgive their sins, and to reign over the world as King of kings, and Lord of lords (read Matthew 24:29-31; Revelation 19:11-16; Romans 11:25-29; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:22-36). (DO) (652.3)