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The spiral of war in the Middle East has been going on for centuries. The specific wars occurring between the Jews and the Arabs begun in the days of Abraham. This conflict is the fruit of the basic controversy between good and evil. The enmity, which was initiated between the divided families of the Middle East, was in their origin spiritual in nature. The Bible says in Gal. 4:29, "But as then, he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now." In these texts the two sons of Abraham, Isaac and Ishmael are referred to. Here are two different persons, with two different spiritual fathers, thus at enmity with one another as would be the nations they fathered.
In Gen. 17:18-22 God promises Abraham that both Isaac and Ishmael would be "fruitful" and multiplied exceedingly into great nations. But Isaac was the son God chose to establish His covenant with. For this reason Ishmael and his descendants were at enmity with Isaac and his descendants in spite of being so greatly blessed of God. The Bible clearly explains that when this controversy originated it was because of the fact and reality in the spiritual sphere one son was born after the spirit of God, and the other son was not born after the Holy Spirit of the Living God.
In the Middle East nowadays this battle is between two parties that are both in the flesh. Originally it was begun because of the natural jealousy and hatred between light and darkness, sin and righteousness, good and evil, or betwixt the chosen sons of God and the children of the Prince of darkness.
After the original separation and enmity in the God chosen family of Abraham, resulting in two great nations at odds and war with one another, there came yet another division in God's chosen vessels. This enmity came between Jacob and Esau who were the sons of Isaac who was the promised spiritual son of Abraham. While Jacob, whom God renamed Israel had twelve sons who were the twelve tribes of the nation of Israel, Esau also was the father of a very great nation, who again were at enmity with God's chosen ones. God's chosen people who are the members of God's kingdom are always hated by the members of the kingdom of Satan.
The Middle East is the fruit of a living illustration of the natural enmity between light and darkness. Though neither the Jews or Arabs at this point in time are necessarily "born after the spirit," we still see the outworking of Satan's hatred of God and those born of His spirit. Modern day Middle East Jews and Arabs show by their profession, policies and works that they are both "born after the flesh."
Vengeance, hatred, war, and bloodshed thrives in the Middle East. On each side has crystallized the mutual hatred that has survived and flourished so well through the centuries. Among the Arabs are suicide bombers and untold scores of terrorists. There are many divisions between the Arabs. The youthful street fighters of the new Intifada - the Tanzim, as well as Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Arafat's own Fatah organization. Among the Jews Israeli Arab citizens have long been treated as second-class minorities to be brutally treated by Israeli Jews whenever they deemed it necessary. The existence of peace in the Middle East has all but totally vanished. Whenever attempts are made for peace in the Middle East calculated patterns of provocation are used and violence erupts exactly when there has been progress in the peace process. Both sides declare that they are doing "God's will." Both sides seem to understand only force and the language of war and bloodshed. Both sides point to the other side as the guilty party and chief provocateur.
In conclusion, all who are "born after the Spirit" bear the fruits or attributes of the Spirit. God Himself declares in Gal. 5:22 - 23 "the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." "Walk in the spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh and these are contrary the one to the other." Gal. 5:16,17. "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.... that which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again." John 3:3,6,7.
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