The young people of Afghanistan know war too well. They’ve grown up in a country torn apart by fighting. Sadly, war has long been a way of life in the midst of a tribal culture in this country. People groups in Afghanistan clash with one other. They have, ever since the region was settled.
Afghanistan sits at the crossroads of Central and South Asia. It’s a landlocked country, surrounded by Pakistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and China. As people groups have move in and out of this region, there have been wars over power, boundaries, and resources such as oil. Today, a group called the Taliban wants to control the laws, beliefs, and actions of all Afghans.
God gave Afghanistan some of the highest and most rugged mountains in the world. The mountains are dangerous and hard to navigate. That harsh terrain creates excellent hiding spots for fighters. It makes the country difficult to govern.
Some Afghan villages are built like castles into the mountains. Like fortresses, they help to protect the people who live in them. The majority of Afghans will fight for their entire lives. They have nowhere else to go. “Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men; preserve me from violent men, who plan evil things in their heart and stir up wars continually,” says Psalm 140:1-2.
According to Operation World, Afghanistan is one of the least reached countries in the world when it comes to the gospel of Jesus. It’s home to approximately 160,000 Muslim mosques. But there isn’t a single church building in the entire country. That’s because Afghanistan is an Islamic country.
Muslims are people who practice the religion called Islam. They call their god Allah. The Taliban is an extreme group of Muslims who have taken control of Afghanistan. Taliban members do not know Jesus Christ. They demand that people obey their strict laws and worship their false god. It is especially hard for women and girls in Afghanistan now. There are many extra rules for women.
The Bible is clear that one day all fighting will cease. That day must be hard for Afghans to imagine. But Revelation 21:4 gives us hope that day is coming. “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Pray: For the gospel to reach Afghanistan and for God to restrain the harsh control of the Taliban.
