Afghanistan – what a tragedy! – It is an indictment of historical proportions against our nation’s government which played checkers at a three-dimensional chess match…I will not digress into the current politics of the day…
Yet – there is Scripture which indicates what is happening in Afghanistan. We will talk about that in a moment. As the Second fastest-growing church in the world (next to Iran) – the Gospel has proliferated in Afghanistan as a result of the Arab Spring of 7-9 years ago. The consequences of that particular political move by the West (USA), allowing radical and strongly religious Islamic government leaders to arise, demonstrated a desire to foment it. The US indirectly released a wave of Islamic persecution against Believers in many Muslim nations. Both Syria and Afghanistan lost the majority of their Coptic, and ancient-practice Christians due to scattering and direct persecution with loss of life. However, underground in Afghanistan, a new wave of the Gospel percolated throughout the land and new Believers began to arise, as the Taliban lost power city-by-city. Children began to be raised without burqas and hijabs, and the militant influence of Islam in everyday life diminished over a period of 7-8 years.
Now, the tables have turned back to yesteryear, and the most heinous of atrocities are being lived out daily in the lives of all Afghanis – especially Believers – where the threat of annihilation is ever real before them. I have been in contact with a few who have family or directly know those who are serving and preaching the gospel there. It is catastrophic what is happening, and we have cried out to God for their lives, protection, and families, along with so many others. We know these times would come to different parts of the world – the Bible is clear about that in Matthew 24:9-14, Luke 21, & Revelation 16.
However, we also see the Gospel permeating the earth like never before during these times. These events are art of the fulfillment of the drawing close of what we all know to be true – what seemingly are indicators of last day events. The Disciples lived like this, had expectations such as this, and 2000 years later, we see the imminency of the earth’s groaning, and the question still is – “…are you ready?”.
Now as to how Afghanistan relates to Scripture – let us look at what it is called in Scripture – and how this relates to Israel – contrary to many people’s opinion…the center of Scripture does not focus on the United States…if that is news to you – look at Israel – because even though the Bible was written FOR you -anyone who calls Jesus/Yeshua King of Kings and lives a life of believing loyalty, it was NOT written TO you…It was written to people of a different time and place – Israel – stop and ponder that for a moment.
Scripture addresses the area of Afghanistan –According to Scholars and Rabbinical writings (Avihail & Brin) the people of Afghanistan are part of the lost tribes who landed in Assyria, who became the Pashtuns (or Puktuns). They have been there for more than 2000 years according to archeological finds and writings. The Biblical places of the refuge and exile of the Ten Lost Tribes in Media and Arachosia are therefore the regions which lie between Herat, Peshawar, and the Oxus River. Their tribal relations and defense have afforded them victory over several empires, now including the USA. The idea here is not just the fact they are tied to lost tribes, but now play a huge role in our current geo-political climate.
The testimony of Afghani Jews living in Israel also affords evidence because of their attention to detail in their heritage and lineage. Customs, writings, origins, and religious practice detailed by many Afghani Jews point to unmistakable similarities between the customs and practices of current Judaism and folklore traditions of Afghanis.
Because the real estate of Afghanistan is so viable, China, Iran, and Pakistan all desire political inroads to it – and the USA has been the referee in between the radicalized tribes of the Taliban, ISIS, and Al Qaeda and the people of Afghanistan, as well as the relations in the Middle East, formed during the 20th century and formulized in the early 21st century.
Now with that natural background in mind, let us take a look at what the Bible says about them. – Job 8:14-15 says this, “What they trust in is fragile; what they rely on is a spider’s web. They lean on the web, but it gives way; they cling to it, but it does not hold.” It seems the nationalist Afghani trust in the West was the only strength they had, and when that spider web was pulled away – they had nothing to hope in or trust in resulting in the atrocities we see. It falls as an indictment on the USA, and we will be held accountable for it. Going to the relevance in Scripture, Jeremiah declares much about the lost tribes and here are 3 examples:
- Jeremiah 3:12 “Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say: ‘Return, backsliding Israel,’ says the LORD.”
- Jeremiah 3:18: “In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given as an inheritance to your fathers.”
- Jeremiah 31:8: “Behold, I will bring them from the north country.”
God has a desire for the Afghanis – to know Him and return to Him. Just because a small number of them have become radical and depraved in a death-inspired religion, the call to return is still there. They are not a forgotten people. Although it was generally believed that the Israelites who were “carried away into Assyria” (Which would account for the Afghani lineage) – II Kings 17:3 describes them brought together – I Chronicles 5:26 indicates the lost tribes survive “unto this day.” This belief was kept alive by prophetic utterances that God would gather in the “remnants of Israel” from the four corners of the globe – Isaiah 11:12. Ezekiel 37:15-28 tells of his vision of the union of Israel and Judah, who would unite them under the Messiah of Israel – Zechariah 8:13.
We need to pray for and minister to the people of Afghanistan. The enemy of our King and our soul strives hard to destroy the people he knows are a part of the fulfillment of the end times. This current chaos and atrocities are no different. We MUST pray for our brothers and sisters there, that they can reach more people for the Kingdom, in spite of the oppression they are enduring and will be under, going forward. Please make Afghanistan a part of your regular prayer time. Pray for protection, Shalom, and hearts to find Yeshua as Messiah.
