Thought for Today

Genesis 15:15 As for yourself, you shall go to your ancestors in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age.  

Jeremiah 8:11 They have treated the wound of my people carelessly, saying, "Peace, peace," when there is no peace.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.  

Acts 9:31 Meanwhile the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was built up. Living in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.  

Years ago, when recording tapes and cassettes were state-of-the-art, one prominent manufacturer had an advertising line asking, “Is it real; or, is it Memorex?” I could not help but remember that line last night and this morning as I was inundated with “Breaking News!!!” stories about the temporary cessation of hostilities in the Middle East. Is it real?

Obviously, we do not know all the details of this proposed cessation. I did take note that following one report, the newscasters switched to their reporter in Jerusalem to report on the bombs and missiles still falling from the skies. Is this a real truce or a mockery? This morning, Greta heard one report that the Iranians are demanding that every vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz pay $2,000,000 to do so. That seems to me a preposterous suggestion. Is it real, or is it ‘fake news?’

Interestingly, the words ‘truce’ and ‘ceasefire’ do not appear in any Bible I own or in my Bible software. The word ‘peace’ does appear between 251 – 429 times. Sometimes it appears in a positive context. Sometimes, as in the words of the prophet Jeremiah, in a less than positive context.

Is this a prelude to peace or just a pause to allow Iran to replenish their stocks of missiles and drones? Will some of the tankers going through the Strait of Hormuz be carrying oil to be traded to China and/or North Korea for more drones? Is this a real prelude to peace or simply a pause to rearm?

The news reports this morning include statements released by Iran and by the U.S.A. both claiming victory. I do know that any treaty, pact, contract or agreement wherein both parties can claim victory is a desirable thing. The probability of such documents being successful is much greater if both parties believe that they have won.

As a Christian, I must ask, “is peace at any cost a good thing?” Are some prices, some demands too great? In this particular instance, is a cessation of hostilities leaving the same administration in power in Iran desirable? If so, what was the purpose of the hostilities in the first place? Have we merely delayed, postponed and put off for the future dealing with the main financier of Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis?

I do find a certain irony in the fact that the lectionary reading for this coming Sunday is from John 20:19-31. Twice in that passage, Jesus says, "Peace be with you," in Greek, εἰρήνη ὑμῖν. It is the phrase used to translate the Hebrew word shalom. The idea of shalom is more than a cessation of hostilities. It is more than the idea that we stop killing other of God’s children.

I understand the idea of shalom to be that state for which we pray each week during worship in the Lord’s Prayer, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” God’s will is far more than the idea that we stop killing each other. We might think for a bit on the story of Creation in Genesis, especially, “2:8 And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east; and there he put the man whom he had formed” and “2:15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it.” God’s will is that we live in an idyllic garden, that we till and keep that garden, and, as Jesus told us, "Luke 10:27 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself."

Is this proposed truce, this ceasefire a true and lasting peace? Is it real? I hope and pray it is. But, I must admit, were I the captain of the first ship to enter the Strait of Hormuz, I would get a running start with my engines in warp drive and not slow down until I reach my destination.

Stay safe, pray for real peace, trust God,

Pastor Ray