I’m a Palestinian. I was born in Saudi Arabia, lived there six years, lived in Palestine the next three years, and am living in America since then. I started my school years first through third grade in Palestine. My family is all fully Palestinian. My childhood best friends are Palestinian. I grew up loving Palestine.
When I came to know the Lord in high school, I heard from Him multiple times to forgive the Israelis. My response for a very long time was, “That won’t happen.”
Me? Forgive Israelis? Israelis who have occupied my homeland for decades? Israelis who still build settlements on Palestinian land? Israelis who I have seen videos and pictures of demolishing homes and beating and shooting Palestinians? The murderers? The thieves? The last people I believe should live on this Planet? But why? How can I forgive evil people? How can I approve of such a thing?
Those were some of the thoughts going through my mind as I pondered on God’s request.
Then something struck me.
God didn’t ask me to forgive the Israelis precisely because they were good people nor because what they’re doing is right. He didn’t ask me to forgive them as a way of approving of what they’re doing.
God asked me to forgive the Israelis so that I can be free of any bondage of bitterness. He wanted to bring me to another glory but was waiting for me to empty more of myself. God wanted me to be more like Him when I choose to forgive. God wanted me to be just, forgiving everyone just as Christ forgave me.
I came to realize holding grudges against anyone does more harm on me and my spiritual walk with God than anything else. Lack of forgiveness happens when there is a significant imbalance of justice. When I refuse to forgive someone, I in a way tell God that I can bring justice on my own. On the other hand, forgiveness is an act of surrender to God believing He is a just God.
As a side note, please understand that I am not a Zionist. I don’t have a political agenda and I could honestly care less what political agenda you have, but what matters is the fact that you, me, Palestinians, and Israelis are all God’s people through the blood of the Lamb and God loves us all equally. Moreover, no matter what your political opinions are on what land belongs to whom, Palestinians deserve land to live on just as much as Israelis deserve land to live on, and in the end we really have to think and define about what our home is. The Kingdom of Heaven should be considered our homeland. We are called to bring people to the eternal Kingdom. There is one King who rules over all of us, and it is His Kingdom you should be defending and fighting for. The moment after you give your last breath, will God ask you how much you fought for land? Or will he ask you how much more did you care about sharing the Good News of Christ with the people who were around you? In the end, the souls are what matter, not the soil. ¹
I’m a Palestinian Christian who has forgiven and loves Israeli Jews. God has helped me through this process of forgiveness and He has raised me to view forgiveness as a tool to strengthen me.
When I hold no grudges against anyone, the enemy can’t hold me down. I am forever free of the bondage of bitterness.
Forgiveness paved the path to freedom in my life. I don’t forgive as a declaration of what’s right or wrong. I forgive because there is no measure compared to what Christ paid for on the cross. If Christ forgave Peter who’s betrayed Him more than once, who am I to not forgive when Christ commands me to?
I urge you to pray about every area of bitterness in your life. Surrender your bitterness to God, and declare forgiveness and love over every person and situation. Free yourself from this burden and bondage of bitterness. Hold on to God’s hands as He guides you to the next glory of forgiveness, love, and further enlightenment of His character and grace.
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¹Much credit given to Saed Awwad’s wisdom
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