What God Does With Terrorists

Throughout the Bible, the people chosen by God lived under terrorism. Israel lived under tyrants, threats of annihilation and genocide. Yet Israel survived and thrives even in this age of terrorism.

We have hope in God’s history of dealing with terrorists as recorded in the Bible. We can aim our faith to believe that He can do today what He did for His people. While a book can be written about this, I’m encouraged by how God has dealt with terrorists.

He demonstrates His authority and power.

In 2 Kings 19, King Hezekiah faces a tyrant and his army that are on their way to annihilate him and his people. The Assyrian King Sennacherib tells King Hezekiah:

“Thus you shall speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying: Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you, saying: Jerusalem will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria” (2 Kin. 19:10)

Assyria is the ancient version of Syria. Assyria had a reputation for brutality as they skinned their captors alive, cut their tongues out and decapitated their enemies. The decapitated heads were set on stakes throughout the captured city to intimidate residents.

After King Hezekiah receives the letter from the tyrant king, he goes to the Lord’s Temple and spreads it out before the Lord. King Hezekiah pleads with God:

“So now, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You, O Lord, are God alone” (2 Kin. 19:19).

God answers by sending one angel who kills 185,000 Assyrian soldiers (2 Kin. 19:35). In this moment, a king realizes that no army, no ally, no treaty can rescue him from his foe. Only God can rescue. Only God can deliver.

He sends a deliverer.

Israel is under Roman occupation and cries out for a Messiah. He answers in the most unlikely way through a young teenage girl who gives birth to Jesus. Jesus is born despite the mass genocide in his home village with the slaughter of every baby boy under the age of 2.

Jesus is born into the danger zone and never leaves it. The same spirit that threatens the extinction of the people of Israel creates the climate for His unjust, cruel crucifixion when He becomes a pawn of religious politics of the day. The resurrection of Jesus breaks the power of sin and death and brings power to His people to live without fear under tyranny.

Jesus doesn’t overthrow the Roman empire. Instead He empowers the people who would eventually see God’s kingdom advance in pagan empires. The enemy sought to destroy the deliverer and instead triggers an invasion of heaven on earth.

He converts the terrorist.

Saul is Israel’s “ISIS” leader during the birth of the infant church. He is a zealous Pharisee devoted to killing the followers of Jesus.

Saul witnesses the stoning of Stephen and “agrees completely with the killing of Stephen” (Acts 8:1). He leads a wave of persecution going from house to house throwing men and women into prison. He was “eager to kill the Lord’s followers” (Acts 9:1).

Saul was on his way to Damascus to meet with the high priest to send letters to all of the synagogues asking for their cooperation to arrest the followers of Jesus. He meets the “High Priest” Jesus on the road to Damascus.

“As he went he drew near Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’ He said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ The Lord said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ Trembling and astonished, he said, ‘Lord, what will You have me do?’ The Lord said to him, ‘Rise up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do'” (Acts 9:3-4).

Saul is blinded and led into Damascus.

The Lord visits another believer, Ananias, and orders him to meet with Saul. Ananias protests, reminding Jesus that Saul is terrorizing believers.

“But the Lord said to him, ‘Go your way. For this man is a chosen vessel of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and their kings, and before the sons of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake'” (Acts 9:15-16).

Ananias prays for Saul and the scales fall off his eyes. Saul stays in Damascus and preaches about Jesus in the synagogue. The terrorist is converted to be a preacher.

The war on terrorism is ultimately a war against the followers of Jesus. Let’s pray that God demonstrates His power and authority, raises up deliverers and converts terrorists. We can’t trust governments, alliances or world powers to fight this ancient battle. Only God can rescue and save.

Leilani Haywood is an award-winning writer and online editor for SpiritLed Woman. A frequent contributor to Charisma, tell her what you think of this article on Twitter or on Facebook.