Israel’s Operation Good Neighbor blesses enemies by aiding displaced Syrians living on or near the Israeli border.
Seven years of civil War in Syria have left more than 6.1 million Syrians internally displaced and almost 3 million living in besieged or hard-to-access areas. Looking for help from Israel (a country they’ve been told for 50 years was the enemy), many Syrian families have made their way to the Syrian Golan to escape the fighting and live in tents on Israel’s border.
While Israel has largely stayed out of the Syrian infighting, Israel wanted to do more to help the Syrians at or near the Israel border. The Israel Defense Force (IDF) launched Operation Good Neighborin June 2016 with the goal of increasing the aid given to Syrian civilians while maintaining the principle of noninvolvement in the Syrian civil war.
As a result of Operation Good Neighbor, more than 4,000 Syrians have been brought into Israel to receive medical treatment. At least 1,000 children have been treated in Israel since Operation Good Neighbor began, and about a dozen babies have been born in Israel to Syrian women.
Additionally, the IDF has been working with international organizations and donors to transfer aid to more than 200,000 Syrians living in villages close to the Israeli border. Supplies have included food, flour, gas, clothes, generators, medical equipment, medicine, diapers and more.
Read more about Israel’s Operation Good Neighbor here.
It’s refreshing to see Israel’s Operation Good Neighbor put God’s principles of love to work with its enemies.
Matthew 5:44 says, “But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!”
Luke 6:28 says, “Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.”
We know when we do things God’s way, not only are we blessed, but others are blessed as well. God promises that love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8).
Blessed to Be a Blessing
“I will bless those who bless you,and I will curse him who curses you;and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”– Genesis 12:3(NKJV)
God promised great blessing to Abraham, so he could bless all humanity (Genesis 22:17-18). Then, God made a way for others to get in on that blessing cycle by saying, “I will bless those who bless you!” In other words, “I will help whoever helps you bless others.”
Let’s continue to bless Israel and keep the cycle of blessing going! As our annual Night to Honor Israelapproaches, we are investigating through prayer and research what the Lord would have us do to be the biggest blessing to Israel as they reach out in bigger ways to bless even their enemies. Be praying with us, and remember to mark your calendars to join us Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018 for the Night to Honor Israel.
Night to Honor Israel is a nonconversionary tribute to the nation of Israeland the Jewish people of the world. Its purpose is to promote respect and understanding between Christians and Jews to emphasize that the beliefs we hold in common are far greater than the differences we have allowed to separate us.
