Balkans Devastation

As the former Yugoslavia disintegrated, rival ethnic and nationalist forces ran amok. Month after month the media churned out graphically illustrated news of fearful human suffering. Just how degraded could "civilized" peoples become in their treatment of one another? The whole ugly picture so amply endorses the divine verdict on mankind in alienation from God:

With their tongues they have used deceit...

Their feet are swift to shed blood;

Destruction and misery are in their ways;

And the way of peace have they not known (Rom. 3:13-17).

Deceit and treachery have characterized the conflict: agreements made only to he disregarded; cease-fires arranged and almost immediately broken. How remimscent this is of Daniel 11:27, which refers to kings whose hearts are bent on evil sitting at the same table and lying to each other.

The Balkans conflict has familiarized the world with the odious term "ethnic cleansing". This is no new concept, of course, for Hitler's monstrous policy of purging Europe from people of "non-Aryan" blood

expressed the same principle. The three main ethnic groups of former Yugoslavia have each been trying to expand their own territory at the other's expense. Whichever group happened to secure military control in a given area, people of minority groups would be forcibly expelled often with loss of life and widespread destruction of property. Floods of refugees have as a result been accommodated in make-shift quarters, either among their own ethnic group or in foreign countries willing to offer them shelter.

This emphasis on ethnic groupings in the Balkans may well reflect a feature which it seems will be characteristic at the time of the end. For regarding the final phase of the times of the Gentiles we read in Dan. 2:43:

"Whereas thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men; but they shall not cleave to one another, even as iron doth not mingle with clay". This is thought to suggest that ethnic groupings will tend to become increasingly assertive on the international scene: yet wish to maintain independence of each other. The fragmentation of Yugoslavia may perhaps

be seen as an example of this trend.

As is so often the case in times of war, the civilian population has been deeply involved in the suffering. Defenceless children, mothers, old people and the like are the victims of all kinds of brutality at the hands of rival armies and local war lords. Some towns have been besieged for long periods, resulting in famine and breakdown of adequate medical care.

Yet against this generally dark background there stands out in bright contrast the dedication and courage of those engaged in humanitarian relief operations. Working in most difficult and often dangerous conditions, they have eased the lot of thousands of sufferers and made it possible to evacuate many from the war zones.

World opinion has been outraged by the camage and suffering of the Balkans conflict, but strenuous international diplomacy repeatedly failed to resolve the complicated problems involved. Sanctions were applied in an attempt to restrict supplies of weapons, but the conflict dragged on. Other European nations were reluctant to take military action for fear of widenmg the conflict and endangering relief

workers. So to a great extent might became right, the parties with greatest military strength consolidating their own gains at the expenses of the weaker parties.

As believers in God's sovereignty and love we are privileged to be His remembrancers (Is. 62:6) in regard to the peoples so gravely affected. How much greater suffering this world might experience were it not for the restraint of an almighty Hand in response to the prayers of those who believe God. Faith also draws comfort from the assurance of Scripture that "yet a very little while, He that cometh shall come, and shall not tarry" (Heb. 10:37). The prophetic Word clearly portrays the Lord's future manifestation of both His power and His compassion. Irresistible in power, "all kings shall fall down before Him: all nations shall serve Him"; but His compassion is seen to be as great as His power:

For He shall deliver the needy when he crieth;

And the poor that hath no helper.

He shall have pity on the poor and needy.... (Ps. 72:11-14).

unknown | Nov 1993
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