On the 16th of January 2025, BBC News headline: “Israel and Hamas reach Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal”. The lede: “The ceasefire will begin on Sunday 19 January and will end 15 months of fighting, the US and Qatar confirm.”
This is the Daily Monsoon, and I’m your host as we look at the news and interpret it from a Christian lens.
All the media outlets are headlining the ceasefire. It’s hailed as a major achievement by all sides. Hamas and Israel both say it’s a victory for their side. Biden and Trump both say they made it happen. The only people not celebrating it are the hardliners. That’s good! The right people are against it. It would be suspicious if they support it.
As I read the BBC coverage, I was amused by this comment from White House national security communications adviser John Kirby. He was asked if Donald Trump had any influence on the ceasefire deal, and said, “Without question”. Kirby also said, “This was a deal that President Biden originally put on the table back in May.”
Joe Biden ended his speech announcing the deal and was asked who should take credit for the deal — him or Trump. He said, “Is that a joke?” It was not a joke, but I thought it was funny.
Speaking for myself, I am wary of any deal unless I see something concrete materialise. So I am part of the “I’ll believe when I see it.” As I understand, the Middle East is a graveyard of ceasefires and peace deals.
Just as everyone is today quick to claim credit for the ceasefire deal, everyone will just as quickly blame one another if it breaks down. It doesn’t take too much effort to imagine next week’s headline: “Hamas and Israel blame each other for breaking the terms of the deal”.
When Biden took office 4 years ago, he took over a deal negotiated by Trump with the Taliban in Afghanistan. And we all know how that turned out. Biden blamed Trump for the bad deal. Trump blamed Biden for the bad execution.
Next week or next month, will Biden blame Trump for the bad execution of the Israel-Hamas deal?
Having expressed my “wait and see” views, I personally hope the ceasefire and hostage return will happen. And despite my scepticism, I think it’s right that the world celebrates this deal; if everyone was sceptical, then a deal would never happen at all. We must retain some measure of hope if we want to work towards peace.
Jesus, in his Sermon on the Mount, tells us, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9)
Wouldn’t it be great if for the next 30 days, 60 days, 90 days, everyone involved in making this ceasefire work, would just read and reflect on what Jesus said?
That is asking for the impossible. But we can hope that amidst the Machiavellian geopolitical manoeuvrings, the nitty bitty legal details, the easily triggered egos and all, everyone can reflect that God has called blessed the peacemakers, he calls peacemakers, sons of God.
Not all of us are called to be negotiators for Middle Eastern conflicts, but we are all called to be peacemakers in the conflicts in our homes, schools, offices, churches and communities.
For many of us, our natural instinct is to not get involved in the messy conflicts between husband and wife, or parents and children, or church leaders and church members.
And yes, for many conflicts, it may not be our turn to get involved as there are people ahead of us who are wiser, more clued in, and more able to bring about the peace we hope for. In those conflicts, the more pertinent wise saying is, “There is a time to speak, a time to be quiet.”
But there are conflicts where we need to get involved. We don’t want to. We may not even think we are the best people to get involved. We may not even think there is any good outcome from this disaster. But even so, I remind all, “Blessed are the peacemakers.”
We don’t make peace because we are sure there will be peace. We are never sure whether peace is achievable, what that peace will look like, or how we will get there.
Sometimes, we are not the best people; we are not equipped, not wise enough, not experienced enough, but sometimes what a husband and wife need is someone they trust who wants the best for their marriage. You are not and will never be a professional marriage counsellor, but you are the only person the couple trusts to broker a peace deal for their marriage. Will you say no?
In that scenario, it’s easy because the couple knows you, and you know the couple. What about if you know a marriage is breaking down, it’s happening to church members you are not particularly close to, what can you do?
The first thing people will do is ask the pastor, “Do you know this is happening?” “Ah, okay, so you know. Alright, then I will leave it to you then.” In almost all cases, the problem is settled; as far as you are concerned, it’s settled because it’s already passed on to the contractor, I mean, pastor.
But let’s say you take God’s words a bit more seriously, “Blessed are the peacemakers”, and in your twisted little head, you think pastors already have had too many opportunities as peacemakers, sons of God, many times over. While others are generous to give pastors all the credit, you want a crack at it.
First, you need to prepare yourself. You can’t just go in guns blazing into a peace conference. As a Christian, if you want to apply God’s word to the situation, that means you have to read and study and obey the Bible as it applies to you, then you are in a better position to guide others to understand and apply in their own conflicts.
As you read God’s Word, the Holy Spirit may reveal conflicts of your own that need to be dealt with. Bring a mature Christian to be a peacemaker. Trust God and go through the process. If you are going to be a peacemaker, your words carry more weight if you yourself can testify how the impossible can happen.
Honestly, the world needs peace. We need peacemakers. And as follows of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, we should go out of our way, to show how peace and making peace looks like. And let all the glory be to God.
This is the Daily Monsoon. Thanks for listening.