On Sunday Turkey suffered a powerful 7.2 magnitude earthquake, killing hundreds, injuring over a thousand, destroying more than 2000 buildings, leaving thousands homeless and struggling.
Israel offered immediate rescue assistance to Turkey, but the Turkish government refused the initial request, saying they could manage without Israel’s expertise. With the suffering and emotions rising, the Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan changed his mind, and asked Israel for help with pre-fabricated temporary housing units, which Israel was quick to dispatch.
Turkey, as leader of the Islamic Ottoman Empire for 400 years in Palestine, until defeated in 1917 by the British allied forces, had in recent years been an ally of Israel in the region. More recently, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, Turkey has reverted to its hostility towards the sovereign Jewish nation, and has acted as a provocateur and an enemy.
Despite this, the God of Israel has instilled in His people an ethic that makes little logical sense, yet calls for a higher standard than other nations with other gods. Christians as individuals are called to this standard in a more knowledgeable way, with the example of the Lord Jesus Christ not only teaching, but also demonstrating the way:
Mt 5:43-48
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
Pr 25:21-22
“If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat;
And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
For so you will heap coals of fire on his head,
And YHVH will reward you.”
Rom 12:17-21
“Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore,
“ If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
