World Conflicts Now Include the Ukraine

The Ukraine has been a nation in turmoil during the last few years and for its Jewish residents, on a daily basis it is becoming an increasingly dangerous place. The current political protests in the Ukraine have been accompanied by organized attacks against the Jewish people. One publicized attack was that of Dov-Ber Glickman who was on his way home from a Shabbat meal when assailants arrived by car to attack him. They severely beat and kicked him while wearing combat boots with blades. This attack and others have caused fear in the Jewish people of the Ukraine that is keeping them from freely walking their neighborhoods.

In news reports, the situation in Ukraine is being called a “revolution” and a country on the very tipping point of civil war. Europe is looking on this with such a sense of urgency and concern that an emergency summit of the Ukraine’s neighbors, known as the Visegrad Four, was called. Meeting in Budapest were the prime ministers of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia. The Czech Republic’s PM had been sworn into office just hours before he had to rush to this summit.

The violence that has erupted in Kiev contains within it something very dark. Indybay.org reports that “One of the three main parties of the united opposition leading the rioters in the streets of Ukraine is Svoboda, a neo-Nazi party that openly celebrates the Nazi occupation of Ukraine.” During Hanukkah, several events were canceled for fear of anti-Semitic attacks. Just this last week, the annual commemoration of International Holocaust Remembrance Day was canceled. Some 400 people were had been expected to attend the event at the Brodsky Synagogue in Kiev.

Svoboda’s leader, Oleg Tyangnibok, is opposed to what he sees as undue Russian influence in the former Soviet Republic. Jpost.com has quoted him as saying that his country is, “controlled by a Russian–Jewish mafia.” Reports of anti-Semitic speeches coming from the Svoboda have been recorded.

Europe is stepping into this chaotic world with the spirit of revolution or anarchy, depending on your point of view, bubbling in the Ukraine and threatening to spill past its borders. This has begun to alarm countries of the former USSR. According to world.time.com, “Mikhail Gorbachev, the former leader of the Soviet Union, piped up on Thursday [January 23] with a wake-up call for the Western world: Ukraine is now everybody’s problem.” In Gorbachev’s open letter to the US and Russia he stated, “[the turmoil in the Ukraine] threatens not only Ukraine and her neighbors, but Europe and the entire world.”

Now let’s take a look at the worldwide situation. It is just the end of January in the year 2014, too early to predict a coming year of turmoil. But if you go to Google and enter “world in turmoil 2014” you come up with over 118 million results.

You’ll find some articles talking about possible economic crisis. The New York Times lists the “fragile five,” while worldnews.nbcnews.com lists the seven countries to watch over the year. The Bitcoin (decentralized digital currency) and certain other economic decisions may pull some countries into various economic crises.

Along with the economic uncertainty, many countries are also in a state of political turmoil: Afghanistan, Brazil, China, Iran and South Africa, to name a few. Egypt appears to be rotating governments on a consistent basis. Syria is in its third year of a violent and bloody civil war where the participants in the Syrian government opposition also keep changing. Turkey has had its share of protests in the streets and is being drawn into the Syrian conflict as is divided Lebanon. Thailand is seeing violent protests as they head into elections.

The violence the Jewish people are facing in the Ukraine is one example of the potential for 2014 to fulfill initial indications of a violent year.

Source

(By Leslie McLinden, Bridges for Peace, January 30, 2014)

 

 

Prayer Focus

Pray for those caught up in the conflicts around the world. Pray for safety and direction for the Jewish people who are being attacked both verbally and physically in the Ukraine.

Scripture

But You, O God, shall bring them down to the pit of destruction; bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in You.
- Psalm 55:23

Finding out His enemies

"Watchful over My Word to perform it"
(Jeremiah 1:12)

Almond blossoms (which in Hebrew have a root also meaning "watchful/diligent")
frame the Temple Mount and Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. The blossoms
are the first to open in mid-Winter, and should begin appearing during the new month.

"Your hand will find out all your enemies; your right hand will find out those who hate you. .Though they plan evil against you, though they devise mischief, they will not succeed. For you will put them to flight.Be exalted, O LORD, in your strength! We will sing and praise your power!" (Psalm 21:8, 11-12a, 13 -ESV).

"For David. To You, O LORD, I lift my heart. My God, in You I trust. Let me be not shamed, let my enemies not gloat over me. Yes, let all who hope in You be not shamed. Let the treacherous be shamed, empty-handed" (Psalm 25:1-3 -Alter).

Last week Israel's internal security agency Shin Bet released news of having uncovered a massive plot aimed at perpetrating a rash of high-level bombing and shooting attacks in Israel. Directed from al-Qaeda operatives in the Gaza Strip, it involved suicide bombings at the US embassy in Tel Aviv and at the Jerusalem Convention center (the latter involving an additional suicide-truck to arrive and blow up rescue workers after the original detonation); an attack on a bus between Jerusalem and Maale Adumim, with shooting of passengers after the bus was overturned; kidnapping of an Israeli soldier at the Jerusalem Central bus station; and blowing up of a residential building housing Jews in the Abu Tor neighborhood of Jerusalem. The three young recruits who were captured (another is still at large) were from Jerusalem, one a father of four living in the Abu Tor neighborhood mentioned.

We thank God for His merciful protection and watch over Israel. He who watches over her "neither slumbers nor sleeps" (Psalm 121:4).


PLEASE PRAY:

*Thanksgiving with us for God's uncovering of this plot against His people.

*For angelic protection over all of our borders.

*For the power of Praise to be released in houses of prayer throughout the capital. God "is enthroned on the praises of Israel!" (Psalm 22:3), and high praise releases angelic armies. 

A house of prayer was recently established on the border of the neighborhood from which one of the terrorists was arrested.

* Psalm 8:2-"Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, because of Your enemies, that You may silence the enemy and the avenger."

  As mentioned in a recent Prayer Update, we take very seriously the awakening role of believing children in affecting the spiritual atmosphere in Israel. One house of prayer in Jerusalem is currently developing a weekly watch of 4-13-year-olds-who worship and praise (with their own band) and pray for sick who are invited to come to their watch. For a raising up of "childrens' watches" in houses of prayer about the country, whose ministering to God in Spirit and in truth will help to "silence the enemy and the avenger!"

portions taken from Israel prayer list