It is not difficult to understand why, in response to last year’s terrorist atrocities and the seizure of 252 hostages, Israel decided to enter Gaza and target Hamas. However, no matter how much care might have been taken, the Israeli bombardments and assaults in Gaza’s many densely-inhabited urban areas have inevitably resulted in death or serious harm to many non-combatants. The situation in Gaza is very hard for many civilians, with relocations, widespread destruction of homes and livelihoods, large loss of life, many thousands injured, little food, water, medicine, fuel or electricity, nowhere to go, and much grief, fear and anguish. Likewise, the Israeli hostages and their families are also greatly suffering, along with all those who lost loved ones in the Hamas attack, or were injured or traumatised.

Despite the warnings to civilians ahead of assaults, the release of some hostages, some aid deliveries, and truces and talks about truces, war and suffering continue, and the majority of hostages have not been freed. The declared objectives of Hamas and Israel remain very different: Israel wants to destroy Hamas’ governing control over Gaza and to live in greater security, while Hamas wants to annihilate Israel itself.

In the face of such a sad and seemingly intractable situation, how might Christians from around the world pray?

Here’s a few suggestions:

• Pray for all those who suffer, for God’s comfort
• Pray for Gaza’s Arab Christian minority, who are doubly vulnerable
• Pray for the survival and release of all remaining hostages
• Pray that there might be a softening of heart among those who hold power on both sides, and that ways may be found to relieve current civilian suffering, and to allow for effective humanitarian assistance
• Pray for what may seem impossible: that leaders on both sides may decide to work towards a deep and enduring peace, with the aim of two peoples safely living alongside one another, with justice, goodwill, and respect
• Pray for the Jewish Christian minority, that they may be a strong influence for faith, forgiveness, reconciliation, and righteousness
• Pray for the Jewish people to find salvation and spiritual freedom in Jesus, and their true calling under God (Romans 11:25-29)
• Pray for God’s purposes to be fulfilled, and for his Kingdom to come

Author: Dr Stuart Lange

Dr Stuart Lange is the National Director of the NZCN and is a Senior Research Fellow at Laidlaw College, where he was formerly Vice Principal. Stuart wrote and presented the historical DVD documentary Te Rongopai: 200 years of the Gospel in New Zealand, 1814-2014.