Gaza could have been a paradise – Hamas chose terror instead

In the 1970s, John Lennon asked us to imagine. He wanted us to imagine a world of peace.

Today, I want you to imagine. Imagine a Gaza that had peace.

Because this is the reality of what could have been.

Gaza could have been a paradise. It was a small plot of land that the Palestinians were given as their own.

Jews were pulled out. It was theirs.

A beautiful coastline where hotels could have been built.

Sitting out on the sandy beach, getting the perfect tan. Can you just imagine that now?

Going out for the day and visiting an archaeological site, learning about the past, or even learning about Gaza in the Bible.

Coming home, jumping in the hotel pool, then having a wonderful meal and a glass of wine on the balcony with the one you love.

It sounds wonderful. It sounds like paradise.

Imagine the economy. Before the war, Israel's economy generated between $6 billion and $8.5 billion in revenue. Gaza could have had its share of that.

Palestinians would be happy going to work every day, serving in the many hotels next to the golden sandy beach.

Driving buses for tourists.

Tour guides would be sharing the wonderful history and getting nice tips for their work.

Industry would also get its share from the tourism sector: cleaning, provisions, etc.

Can you imagine all this money going into the Palestinian economy and making people wealthy?

Can you imagine the possibilities? They are endless. A Gaza of beauty and peace.

But instead, Gaza was developed into a terror network. No hotels, but terror tunnels. Instead of soft drinks, beer and wine, rockets were smuggled in.

Gaza was destroyed, and the aim was also to destroy Israel.

They even managed to destroy their own Palestinian town of Bethlehem, which relied so heavily on tourism.

The tourists disappeared, and the money dried up, leaving the Palestinians of Bethlehem poor and without hope.

Instead of a paradise, virtually all of Gaza now relies on humanitarian aid, and even that is being stolen by Hamas.

John Lennon asked us to imagine a world of peace. His ideals were far from reality, and the same is true for Gaza today.

Now Gazans want to bring more trouble upon themselves by flying kites into Israel. We know they have been used for terror in the past, so they had better heed the warnings today.

Everything we have spoken about was possible. It's just sad that it was never a reality.

It is sad for the Palestinians, and it is sad for the world.

It is also sad for Israel because the world imagines all kinds of evil and horror about it. The imagination really hasn't been lacking there.

Today, the Bible calls us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Can you imagine a day when there is peace here?

Isaiah 11:6 says:

“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb,
The leopard shall lie down with the young goat,
The calf and the young lion and the fatling together;
And a little child shall lead them.” NKJV

You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.

The Messiah is coming soon, and he will rule in peace as the Prince of Peace.

Can you imagine that?