Perspective
PASTOR DAVE’S MUSINGS FROM THE HEARTLAND
February 16, 2025
PERSPECTIVE
In trying to understand the present it is helpful to examine it from the perspective of the past. In the Book of Judges, we find the familiar story of Samson (Judges 13:1-16:31). Following his capture, he is taken to Gaza where he is set to grinding grain in the prison (Judges 16:21-22). Later he causes the destruction of the rulers of the Philistines when he brings down the pillars of a temple to Dagon. The story of Samson is a part of a larger story of the conflict between the Philistines and the Hebrews that goes back some 3,000 years. The encounter between David and Goliath (I Samuel 17:1-58) is a part of this story. Even 3,000 years ago the people of Gaza city and the Israelites were mortal foes.
The history of Gaza city goes back 4,000 years. The city’s story is complex. Here we can only give a glimpse of its convoluted history. Originally, it was a Canaanite settlement. Next it came under the control of the Egyptians before it became one of the Philistines’ principal cities. Then Gaza city became part of the Assyrian Empire. Most of the inhabitants were killed during the siege by Alexander the Great around 332 B.C. and was repopulated by nearby Bedouins. It was a center for Hellenistic learning and philosophy until 96 B.C. when it was taken by the Hasmoneans who were Jewish.
There is a reference to Gaza in the New Testament. “Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, ‘Go south to the road – the desert road – that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza (Acts 8:26).” At this time Gaza was a prosperous city under the Roman rule. Persecutions of Christians took place in the city in 299 A.D. By the 6th Century Gaza was an important Christian community. In 634 A.D. the city fell to the Muslims. The Crusaders took control of Gaza in 1100 A.D. Jumping ahead following World War I Gaza was a part of the British Mandate. There were Palestine riots in 1929. Following the 1948 Arab-Israeli war Egypt took control of Gaza and the surrounding area (Gaza Strip). In September 1993 after the First Intifada, Gaza was largely deserted.
For 4,000 years Gaza has been a hot bed of strife and discord. There have been periods of prosperity and calm. How would one go about identifying who had legitimate claim to its ownership? Does one go back to the British Mandate following World War II? Does one go back to the creation of Israel in 1948 when the population grew with Palestinian refugees? Perhaps one might go back before World War I when the area was populated by Bedouins?
On one of our trips to Israel Diane and I visited a Palestinian refugee camp in Bethlehem. Following our visit, I came away with the feeling that no one wanted the Palestinians. The Arab nations also created refugee camps so the Palestinians would not be integrated into the general population. Even though there is a significant Muslim population in Israel, Israel has kept them confined to camps since 1948. Kept isolated anger and hatred has been left to fester. This has been especially true because Gaza is primarily made up of displaced persons who are crowed together.
The Book of Ecclesiastes tells us that there is nothing new under the sun. What is taking place today in the Gaza Strip and Israel has been going on for at least 3,000 years. In the past, attempts to address the problem have usually only made it worse. Perhaps only the return of Christ will ultimately bring a solution.
(Comments may be sent to davidh15503@embarqmail.com.)