Red Cross says people displaced by conflict in Colombia doubled last year
The doubling of displaced persons in Colombia amid ongoing armed conflict echoes the biblical sign of wars and rumors of wars, where civilians bear the brunt of violence between nations and groups.
Matthew 24:6-7
Prophetic Fulfillment“And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.”
Why this passage
In Matthew 24, Jesus speaks to His disciples on the Mount of Olives, answering their question about the sign of His coming and the end of the age. The phrase 'nation will rise against nation' (ethnos epi ethnos) refers to conflicts between peoples and political entities, not merely formal nation-states.
The original hearers understood this as a pattern of escalating conflict preceding the end.
This prophecy is not limited to a single event but describes an ongoing era of wars that characterize the age between Christ's ascension and return. The doubling of displaced persons in Colombia due to continued fighting between armed groups is a concrete instance of this pattern—civilians suffering as 'kingdoms' (including non-state armed groups) rise against each other.
Behold, the Lord Jesus warned that 'nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom' (Matthew 24:7). In Colombia, the doubling of displaced persons is a stark reminder that such conflicts are not distant prophecies but present realities.
Take heed, O reader: the suffering of civilians in these wars is a call to prayer and action. Scripture declares that these are but the beginning of sorrows, urging us to watch and be ready for the coming of the King.
Today's Prayer
Pray for the displaced civilians in Colombia, that God would provide for their needs and bring peace to the warring factions.
Further Scripture
Additional passages that illuminate this event, each grounded in a distinct interpretive lens.
“He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire.”
Why this passage
Psalm 46 is a song of confidence in God's sovereignty over the nations, even amid chaos. Verse 9 declares that God alone has the power to end wars—He 'makes wars cease' by breaking weapons of war.
The psalmist's original audience faced threats from surrounding nations, yet they trusted that God's ultimate purpose is peace.
This principle applies directly to Colombia's conflict: human efforts to end the fighting have failed, as the doubling of displacement shows. Only God can truly 'break the bow' of the armed groups and bring lasting peace.
The verse judges the futility of relying on human treaties or ceasefires apart from divine intervention.
How it applies
The continued fighting in Colombia, despite years of peace processes, demonstrates that wars cease only when God acts. The Red Cross report highlights the failure of human solutions—displacement doubled, not diminished.
This should drive believers to pray for God to 'break the bow' of the armed groups and to trust that He will one day bring universal peace.
Until that day, the church is called to be agents of reconciliation and mercy, reflecting the peace that Christ alone provides.
Related by Scripture
Other events we've interpreted through the same passage or hermeneutical lens.
Middle East crisis live: US war on Iran has cost around $29bn, Pentagon says
Wars & Rumors of WarsShares Matthew 24:6-7Lebanon says two paramedics among 13 killed in Israeli strikes
Wars & Rumors of WarsShares Matthew 24:6-7Iran sets forth five conditions to resuming negotiations with US — agency
Wars & Rumors of WarsShares Matthew 24:6-7Ukraine hits Russia’s distant gas facilities after Moscow’s attacks kill 6
Wars & Rumors of WarsShares Matthew 24:6-7
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Source: aljazeera— we link to the original for full context.