Michael Oren, Israeli Ambassador to the United States spoke tonight at UC Irvine here in Orange County.
His speech was interupted several times by angry Muslim students, leading to 12 arrests.
The anger of the protesting students seems strange to many of us in America.
But for Muslims and Jews, it is part of the norm after thousands of years of tensions, dating back to Ishmael (who Muslims identify with) and Isaac (who Jews identify with) in Genesis 16:8:
"The child grew and was weaned, and on the day Isaac was weaned Abraham held a great feast. 9 But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking, 10 and she said to Abraham, "Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac."
There has been tension, anger and hatred ever since.
How Are Christians to Respond?
As Christians, we are called to "pray for the peace of Jerusalem" (Psalm 122:6).
Yet I also believe we are called to pray and have a heart for Muslims, for Jesus loves the world and that includes our Muslim friends.
The following video makes me sad and honestly makes me frustrated at the Muslim students acting so rudely. Yet, I pray that as you and I watch this, the Holy Spirit will begin to develop a heart of compassion for both people groups as we realize that the good news of Jesus Christ and the riches of God's amazing grace is available for any Muslim or Jewish person who is willing to receive it!
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