Is U.S. Occupying Afghanistan?

The American Ambassador to Afghanistan spoke out rather undiplomatically yesterday when Afghan President Hamid Karzai compared the U.S. military to “occupiers.” Considering that nearly 80% of the Afghans want us to leave their country and their President speaks out against our continued military presence, yet we refuse to leave, why should we be surprised that they see as “occupiers?”

The word “occupy” immediately made me think of Jesus’ words in Luke 19:13, “So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas, and said ‘Occupy till I come’.” Other translations say “Do business till I come;” “take what you have and put it to work;” “Make this money grow.” In spiritual currency, then, the word “occupy” means to do the work of the Kingdom with the gifts and calling He has given to you.

Jesus is telling us to “occupy” in the territory where God has planted us, to fulfill our God given destiny, to do the “greater things” (John 14:12) Jesus promised we would do. The question is ‘are we really occupying in our sphere?’ Israel is our example of failure to occupy. They were given Canaan and commanded to “occupy,” but they never did. Why? because of unbelief! (Heb 3:19).  

Perhaps, in that respect, you could say the U.S. soldiers really are “occupying”—they are fulfilling their destiny! Are we? Let us heed Paul’s warning: “Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest [occupying His Land] still stands, let us be careful that none of you...fall short of it [our destiny]” (Heb 4:1).