Ransomed

After five years and four months of solitary captivity by Hamas, on October 18
Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, 25, was ransomed and allowed to return home to a
jubilant Israel. He was an 18-year-old active duty soldier when he was kidnap-
ped in a cross-border raid from Gaza by Hamas. All during that time he was
kept hidden and not allowed to see any people other than his Hamas captors.
Not even the Red Cross was allowed to visit him.

The price for Gilad's release was quite high: over 1000 jailed Palestinian terror-
ists, including 60 convicted of multiple murders of Israelis, were exchanged for
the one Israeli. Officials from the USA and Egypt brokered negotiations be-
tween Israel and the terrorist organization Hamas. In order to get the ball going,
US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta made a deal with Hamas to downgrade
its ties with Iran, Syria, and Hizballah, and loosen its hold on the Palestinian peo-
ple in return for greater patronage from the USA. Hopefully the way has been
opened for continuing and more fruitful dialogue between Israel and the Pales-
tinians.

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu faced a tough dilemma in agreeing
to the release of the young soldier. On one hand there was the absolute commit-
ment of the Israeli government to saving the Israeli captive, and on the other hand
there was the serious challenge of protecting Israel's national security. The Prime
Minister demanded an unanimous endorsement from his governmental ministers
to authorize the exchange. It is a high Jewish priority to ransom the captive. There
was unanimous consent and the exchange took place.

The ransom of 1000 Palestinians for Gilad Shalit is a glimpse into what Jesus
Christ, our ransom, does for us. In Isaiah 43:3-4, the Lord God proclaims:

I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as
your ransom, Cush and Seba in exhange for you. Because you are precious in 
my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in 
exchange for your life. 


In Mark 10:45, Jesus said: For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but 
to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. 


Just as Israel was willing to exchange 1000 political prisoners for one Israeli,
God loves us so much that He gave his Beloved Son in exchange for us. God
pays a heavy price to ransom us from sin and death. I pray that in the near future,
both Israeli and Palestinian would come recognize the Great Exchange when God
ransomed the life of His Son for us all.

Blessings to you and yours,