PRAYER POINTS

 

 

For Christians with a burden to pray for Israel, there are several very important truths which can be drawn from the two times when the intercession of Moses spared his people from the destructive wrath of the Lord.

The first occurred with the sin of the golden calf, when God was about to “consume” the Israelites for their rebellion and start over with Moses alone. God could have done so and still kept every promise He had ever made to the Hebrew Patriarchs. Yet Moses pleaded with the Lord and turned away His hot anger (Exodus 32:9-10).


In his first line of defense, Moses asked God to consider what the Egyptians would say about Him as a faithful, loving God. “Why should the Egyptians speak, and say, ‘He brought them out to harm them, to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth?’” (Exodus 32:12)


In his second line of defense, Moses urged the Lord to “remember Abraham” and all his covenant promises to the Patriarchs, including to multiply them and to give the Land of Canaan to their descendants (Exodus 32:14).

Later in the same chapter it adds that Moses offered his own salvation if necessary, saying ‘blot me out of Your book...” (Exodus 32:32).

In the end, the intercession worked as God relented from utterly destroying the Israelites and they proceeded on towards the Promised Land. Yet Moses found himself pleading for their very lives again when the people believed the bad report of the ten spies, as recounted in Numbers 13 and 14. God was about to consume them once more and Moses again returned to his first line of defense: Lord, what will the Egyptians and also the Canaanites say about You?

“[T]he nations which have heard of Your fame will speak, saying, ‘Because the Lord was not able to bring this people to the land which He swore to give them, therefore He killed them in the wilderness.’” (Numbers 14:15-16)

Finally, Moses appealed to the longsuffering of God and the “greatness of His mercy”. And again, the intercession worked.

From this we learn that:

1. God is sensitive to what the Gentiles say about His covenant relationship with Israel. In fact, Ezekiel 36 repeatedly state that for the nations to say God is unfaithful to Israel amounts to “profaning” His name. Hence, we also can be assured that it pleases God to hear us affirm in prayer His eternal bond with Israel.
2. God will always remember His covenant with Abraham and keep His promises to Israel. Praying those very biblical promises back to Him is always a recipe for moving God’s hand on Israel’s behalf.
3. God has an incredible love for Israel, which was reflected by Moses and even Paul when they offered to give their own salvation for their people (Exodus 32:32; Romans 9:1-3). We may not be ready to go that far ourselves, but we can get a sense of God’s own deep attachment to Israel in their professions of sacrificial love. This, too, can be carried back to God in prayer.
4. God’s mercies are truly great! He forgave Israel for their sins. And Israel today, like every other nation, is still sinful and needs our pleas for God to be merciful and forgive.

So God’s heart ties with Israel survived the sin of the golden calf, and the rebellion provoked by the ten spies. Remarkably, it also has survived their rejection of the Gospel, as Paul insists: “Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” (Romans 11:28-29)

This all provides a firm foundation for our own prayers for an Israel still in need of our intercession
today.


 portions taken from ICEJ
  
   



PRAYING INTO ISRAEL'S CURRENT SITUATION

 

 

 

And it happened when the ark pulled up, Moses said, Rise up, YHWH, and let Your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate You flee before You. And when it rested, he said, Return, O YHWH, to the many thousands of Israel.Numbers 10:35-36

We bless You for life and all the ups and downs that are found in it.

Thank You for Your steadfast love to us.

Thank You for our Messiah Yeshua, who sits at Your right hand (Psalm 110:1; Acts 2:34-35; Hebrews 1:13).

Hallelujah! Greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world - regardless of how we feel (1 John 4:4)!

Numbers 11:23 led us to also praise God for all He has done in restoring Israel - up to this very day.

• Has YHWH's hand become short? You shall see now whether or not My word shall come to pass to you.

  Numbers 11:23

• We thank You for the increase in aliyah, as You watch over Your word to bring Your people home from the north, south, east and west (Isaiah 43:5-7).
• We are thrilled that the increase in salvations is greater than the increase in aliyah and we continue to ask You to Save O YHWH, Your people, the remnant of Israel. (Jeremiah 31:7)
• We affirm that You have established Israel's current borders, though they are not its final borders. Your eyes shall see, and you shall say, YHWH will be magnified beyond [or 'upon'] the border of Israel. (Malachi 1:5)
• You said that when Israel returns, You would make Your people an exceedingly great army (Ezekiel 37:10), a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth (Isaiah 41:15), that they would be Your weapons of war (Jeremiah 51:20). We see the IDF as fulfilling these verses literally and want to give You all the praise and glory for faithfully watching over Your word (Jeremiah 1:12).
• How wonderful You are to have answered our persistent intercession for Israel's water situation.
• We bless You for enabling Israel's economy to remind strong in the midst of the global economic shakings.
• Abba, although for those of us who live in Jerusalem the tension seems to increase almost daily, we do stand in amazement that we are in the days when You - not man - are making Jerusalem a source of contention among the nations of the world. Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling to all the peoples all around, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. In that day I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all peoples. All who lift it shall be slashed, even though all nations of the earth be gathered against it… [And] in that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. (Zechariah 12:2-3, 9)

PRAYING FOR ISRAELI LEADERS

AND

IRAN SITUATION

 

 

Israeli leaders: The three leaders who will be responsible for way the next war is fought are Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon and the IDF's Chief of Staff Benny Gantz. They especially need our prayer support.

• Lord, thank You for raising them up at this time (Daniel 4:25).
• Anoint each to fulfill that for which You have created them.
• Give unity of mind and heart to this threesome.
• Make them like that three-fold cord in Ecclesiastes 4:12b: …a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
• Provide all the counsel they will need to make godly decisions (Proverbs 11:14; 15:22; 20:18; 24:6).
• As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the face of his friend. (Proverbs 27:17) May these men develop such a close relationship that they end up making each other sharper!
• Protect them from deception and bad advice.
• As per Your word, may Your counsel to prevail in all of their ways. There are many purposes in a man's heart [Hebrew = mind, emotions, will], but the counsel of YHWH shall stand. (Proverbs 19:21)
• Enable the communications between them and the upper echelon of the IDF to be super clear.
• Cleanse the IDF from all confusion and demoralization.
• Ultimately, Lord we trust in You, not in Israel's army. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of YHWH our God. They have bowed down and fallen; but we have risen and stand upright. Save, YHWH; let the King hear us when we call. (Psalms 20:7-9)

 

Iran.

• I will set My throne in Elam [ancient Iran], and will destroy the king and the rulers from there, says YHWH.

  Jeremiah 49:38

• Lord, we thank You for setting Your throne in Iran and saving multitudes. Bring more in every day.
• Abba, destroy the current Islamic king and rulers.
• If possible, use the June elections in Iran to bring them down.
• The latest IAEA report is very negative on Iran - saying it is racing towards nuclear weapons development. Use this to wake up the Western nations to see how dangerous this would be - to them.
• God, arise and destroy Iran's nuclear industry - whatever it takes.
• Use the IAEA report to speak to Netanyahu, Ya'alon and Gantz concerning what Israel needs to do.
• If Israel is to deal with this threat, we ask for Your timing and methods (Jeremiah 51:19-24).
• Give Israel clear intelligence from her spies and informers - and protect them who are in Iran.
• Lord, we remind You of Your promise to protect Israel when You regather it the nations: He who scattered Israel will gather him and keep him, as a shepherd keeps [guards] his flock. (Jeremiah 31:10)

portions taken from Intercessors for Israel

THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE

 

 

From ancient times there has been a weekly portion (Parashah) from the first five books of Moses (The Torah) and an ending (Haftarah) from the Prophets read on the Sabbath in synagogues around the world. This portion is given a Hebrew name drawn from the opening words of the Torah passage. An illustration of this practice appears to have been recorded in Luke 4:16 where Yeshua (Jesus) arrived in the synagogue in Nazareth and was asked to read the portion (Isaiah 61) from the Prophets. We have found that in perusing these weekly readings, not only are we provided opportunity to identify in the context of God's Word with millions of Jewish people around the world, but very often the Holy Spirit will illumine specific passages pertinent that week in our intercession for the Land and people of Israel. All texts are those of English translations of the Scriptures.

 

The reading for this week 26 May-1 June is Sh'lach L'cha-"Send for Yourself" (--men that may scout out the land of Canaan).

TORAH: Numbers 13:1-15:41

HAFTARAH: Joshua 2:1-24

This week's reading focuses on the 12 spies sent out by Moses at the command of the LORD to spy out the land of Canaan soon after Israel left Mt Sinai. It relates the differing reports which were brought back and the spirits behind those reports. It then recounts the judgment released over the entire adult generation of those who followed the spirit of fear and unbelief. In the Haftarah, it is almost 40 years later and spies are once again being dispatched, this time from the next generation and from a different border.

*Numbers 13:16: "These are the names of the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Hoshea the son of Nun, Joshua."

Hoshea means "Salvation". Joshua (in Hebrew pronounced YehoSHUah), is a contraction for "YEHOVAH SAVES". Over 1500 years later a still-shorter form of that name Yeshua, would be given by the angel to Joseph (and in Luke 1:31 to Miriam-"Mary", his wife), ".and you shall call His name Yeshua, for He will save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21).

*Numbers 13:30; 14:6-9: "Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, 'Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it..Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh.spoke to all the congregation of Israel, saying: 'The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. If the LORD delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land which flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the LORD, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the LORD is with us. Do not fear them.'"

It is remarkable that the Hebrew root for the word "war" and that for "bread" are identical (The two-edged sword in the hands of God's warriors (Psalm 149:6) is literally a "many mouthed" sword to devour His enemies-while the mouths of the warriors themselves are filled with His praise!


*Numbers 13.33. "There we saw the nephilim (the sons of Anak came from the nephilim); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight."
*Numbers 14:24 "But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it."

PLEASE PRAY against Israelis responding to the giants we face in a spirit of fear, that we realize that if we trust in God, he will not allow the land to devour us. Pray against cynical conversation amongst older believers in the Land about the land devouring those within it; this only serves to discourage and dishearten the generation God wishes to raise up for strength, victory and governance here. Please pray that men and women of "a different spirit" would rise up in Israel, not focusing on the giants but trusting in the God who made the heavens, and Who has promised to give us a land flowing with milk and honey in which righteousness dwells.

 
*Numbers 15:38-40: "Speak to the children of Israel: Tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue thread in the tassels of the corners. And you shall have the tassel, that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of the LORD and do them, and that you may not follow the harlotry to which your own heart and your own eyes are inclined, and that you may remember and do all My commandments, and be holy for your God."

The "blue" thread in these tassels or fringes (Hebrew: tzitzit) was "tehellet", a sky-blue dye thought to have been made from a particular species of snail (For centuries this creature was assumed to be extinct and consequently the colored thread was not placed in the fringes of observant Jews. In the past 15 years this crustacean is believed to have been rediscovered in the Gulf of Aqaba; now many are again wearing the "sky blue" thread in their "tzitzit"). Much of the specific significance for the fringes and the colored thread remains uncertain-some have suggested that they served as a reminder that because of the "harlotry to which our hearts and our own eyes are inclined" victory in overcoming these inclinations can only be obtained by calling on the Holy One who dwells in the heavenlies (sky-blue). It was these 'fringes' on the garment of Yeshua which the woman with the issue of blood (Mark 5:25, Luke 8:43) touched and "power went out of Him" and healed her.

 Please Pray that Israelis would be convicted of their need to obey God, but also aware of their natural "inclination" against doing so. Pray that they would seek salvation in the One out of whom comes power to be Children of God (John 1:12), to please and draw near to the Father.

*Joshua 2:12; 2:18: RAHAB: "Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the LORD, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father's house, and give me a true token." SPIES: "We will be blameless of this oath of yours which you have made us swear, unless, when we come into the land, you bind this line of scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you bring your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father's household to your own home."
There is a wonderful picture here. Rahab requests that the spies show her and her family "loving kindness" (Hebrew: hesed) and give her a token of "truth" (Hebrew: emet). The token of loving kindness and truth (hesed and emet) is a scarlet thread which, when seen, will protect them from a destruction of judgment soon to come upon all of her wicked nation. When God the Father sent His Light into the world, we are told that although the Torah had been given through Moses, "Loving kindness and Truth (Hebrew translation: hesed and emet) came through Yeshua the Messiah" (John 1:17)-"in Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of God's Loving kindness (Hebrew: hesed) (Ephesians 1:7).

 Please pray for revelation in Israel regarding the urgent necessity of being saved from the wrath to come-and of the loving kindness and Truth which are offered to those who will put their trust in the finished work of the Messiah! Psalm 33:18-19 says that "the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him and whose yearning hope is in His hesed-to deliver them from death and to keep them alive in famine!"

portions taken from Israel prayer list






SYRIA

 

 

We have been hearing that Russia is going ahead with its plan to sell "game-changing" S-300 anti-aircraft missiles to the Assad regime in Syria. Israel needs to know what action to take in the face of Assad becoming able to attack its aircraft at long range. Assad has also been speaking out more forcefully about attacking Israel. Meanwhile the European Union has been talking about the possibility of supplying arms to the rebel forces opposing Assad. Hezbollah have been speaking out about their role in support of Assad and part of this has been the (alleged) expulsion of Hamas from Lebanon because of their support for the rebels.

 

PRAY:

 

Give wisdom to Israel's leaders especially Netanyahu, Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon and IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz to know how to prepare for the possibility of Syria being supplied with these new weapons.

 

Thank You, God that the enemies of Israel are continuing to fight each other. (see 2 Chronicles 20 especially verses 22-23)

 

Thank You that You have promised that, No weapon formed against you shall prosper. (Isaiah 54:17)

 

Declare verses from Psalm 83 including: Do not keep silent o Lord. Make Israel's enemies like the whirling dust (verse 13). Let them know that You are most high over all the earth (verse 18).

 

Lord, fight on behalf of Israel and defend us!

 

We know modern Israel is not (yet) a righteous nation, yet we are still bold to claim that the bows of the wicked (S-300 missiles!) shall be broken (Psalm 37:14-15) Cause these missiles not to arrive or to malfunction or to be destroyed!

 

Cause the nations to be caught in their own pit (Psalm 9:15).

 

Confuse the enemies of Israel, o Lord! Put them to shame and turn them back (Psalm 129:5). Disrupt the relationships between Syria, Iran, Russia, China, Hezbollah.

 

Let God arise. Let His enemies be scattered. Let those also who hate Him flee before Him. (Psalm 68:1)

 

portions taken from Intercessors for Israel

 

SHABBOT SHALOM EVERYONE!



Israel to build in Jerusalem

 

 

An official in the White House reacted angrily on Wednesday, after Channel 10 News reported that Israel had approved tenders for the construction of 300 new homes in Jerusalem and plans to build more housing units beyond the “Green Line”.

 

The report explained that the tenders in question, for construction in Jerusalem’s Ramot neighborhood, were published last November, right after the Palestinian Authority’s unilateral move at the United Nations which got it upgraded to the status of a non-member observer state, and before U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry began his latest push for the renewal of peace talks.

 

Channel 10 cited a Housing Ministry document it had obtained and which discusses the publications of tenders for another 797 new housing units in the Gilo neighborhood.

 

"Given the Ministry’s decision to immediately market 797 housing units on the site, there is an urgent need to complete the details of the design, as the marketing will be published in the coming weeks," says the document.

 

A White House official told Channel 10 in response, "We do not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlement construction, which undermines efforts to achieve peace and are contrary to the obligations that Israel undertook upon itself.”

 

"It is the President’s opinion that Israel should recognize that the settlement policy is not conducive to achieving peace and hampers the Palestinians chances of establishing a state on sustainable borders," added the official. "In our opinion, the two sides must take confidence-building measures, which will make it possible to resume negotiations."

 

Meanwhile, Yossi Deitch, a member of the Jerusalem City Council, welcomed the decision to build in Jerusalem.

"We are delighted that there is marketing in Ramot, and we turn to the Prime Minister of Israel and tell him, ‘You have thousands of more housing units in Jerusalem’. Jerusalem will not be divided to east and west. All of Jerusalem is the capital of the State of Israel forever," Deitch told Channel 10.

In recent weeks, Kerry has been pushing the sides to resume peace talks, and reports last week indicated that he has proposed that Israel freeze construction east of the 1949 armistice line so the talks can resume.

It was not clear if Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu responded favorably to Kerry’s suggestion of a new construction freeze. Israel formerly froze construction for several months in an attempt to bring the PA back to the negotiating table. The PA agreed to talks shortly before the freeze ended, but refused to continue meeting when the construction ban was not renewed.

Netanyahu has reportedly put a stop to new construction in Judea and Samaria (Shomron), but has not issued a public ban on construction, and has not stopped construction for Israelis in Jerusalem.
It is also not clear if PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has accepted Kerry’s proposal. Since the last construction freeze Abbas has announced other demands that he considers preconditions to talks with Israel.

SCRIPTURES:

The prophetic context is Israel's regathering and end-time restoration. This is one of the most relevant verses relating to the current "two-states, land for peace political process that much of the world wants to force Israel to accept.  Yet these verses are a clear threat by God to judge any and all nations that divide His land.

Joel 3:1-2 "For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem (Jews living in the nations are described by God as living in captivity or exile), I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat ("YHWH is judged"), and will plead with (judge; pronounce sentence on) them there for My people and for My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and divided (and/or plundered) My Land.

God describes how He "sees" His relationship with Israel using a very interesting metaphor:

Zechariah 2:8  "Zion, escape, you who live with the daughter of Babylon, For thus says YHWH of Hosts, after glory He has sent Me to the nations who stripped (spoiled; plundered) you; for he who touches the apple (pupil) of His eye."

Consider that we see the world through the pupil of our eye. God views the world through His chosen filter, His people and His land.

Zechariah 12:2-3, 9  "Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling to all the peoples all around, when they shall come against Judah and Jerusalem. And in that day I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all peoples. All who lift it shall be cut to pieces, and all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it....And it shall be in that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem."

portions taken from Israel National News


NATIONAL EMERGENCY WEEK

 

Entrance to the "sealed room" in an apartment. For some years now it has been required that new apartments built in Israel contain a sealed room with reinforced walls. The boxes on the stool at the entrance contain gas masks, and injections for use in case of the release of nerve gas in a missile attack. On the box is the simple designation in Hebrew, "Defense Kit". Within the room are also water supplies, and a radio with which to monitor for the 'all clear' signal.

 

This morning the rising-and-falling wail of the "incoming missile" siren sounded over all of Israel. It wasn't for real this time; a drill rather, for people in businesses and children in schools to practice getting to where they will need to be when they really are coming in. Tonight it will sound again, a practice for families at home. This is all part of a two-day nationwide chemical warfare drill, as part of an entire week devoted to examining and testing the nation's readiness for national emergency. At his weekly cabinet meeting yesterday morning, Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke of Israel as being "the most threatened state in the world." After all, the largest stockpile of poisonous gas in existence lies a few miles away in Syria. This week it was finally publically acknowledged what was already known, that the Shi'ite Hezbollah forces based in southern Lebanon are fighting, with Iranian support, in Syria on behalf of the besieged Assad. The Syrian President is also being aided by Russia. But it is also now clearly known that among the leading factions fighting against Assad are jihadists openly linked with al Qaeda. If Israel sees the WMD's headed for either the Hezbollah or Al Qaeda, she will take measures to stop them. Although they are enemies following separate streams of Islam, these two groups harbor a common hatred of Israel. For his part, Assad has, according to a Sunday Times report deployed long-range missiles capable of carrying 1,100 lb. warheads with their coordinates set on Tel Aviv, with orders that they be prepared to fire should Israel attack again.

 

Meanwhile, a Foreign Policy "Middle East Brief" examined the ways in which Iran is continuing to expand its nuclear activities. Israelis were encouraged by a US Senate resolution last week demanding American support should Israel find it necessary to attack the Iranian nuclear facilities. The resolution, which was passed with the approval of all but one Senator read:

 

"If the Government of Israel is compelled to take military action in legitimate self-defense against Iran's nuclear weapons program, the United States Government should stand with Israel and provide, in accordance with United States law and the constitutional responsibility of Congress to authorize the use of military force, diplomatic, military, and economic support to the Government of Israel in its defense of its territory, people, and existence."

 

This Sunday our Benyamin Netanyahu ended his remarks to the Cabinet on "Emergency Week" by asserting, "In the end, no protection can be a substitute for the striking power of the IDF and the stamina and strength of the Israeli public in time of attack."

 

We are grateful for the American Senate's initiative; and we think we understand where our Prime Minister is 'coming from' with his remarks. But of course, neither the support of our allies, nor the "striking power" of our military, nor the "stamina and strength" of our citizens is enough. Yes, we are in need of wise and skilled strategy and timing by our governmental and military leaders, and prudently planned preparations for our citizens. But most of all we are in need of the counsels and protection of God. Psalm 33:11 tells how those counsels "stand forever"-the thoughts of His heart "from generation to generation".

 

We mentioned the boxes for Israeli gas-masks bearing the description "Defense Kit". The word for "defense" here is the word magen which, in the English translation of the Hebrew Scriptures is at least 45 times translated "shield".

 

PLEASE PRAY:

*That Israel will be adequately prepared on the 'home front' for any future attack from outside her borders. Pray for the mercies of God to release His divine counsels into the consciousness of those formulating and implementing these preparations.

 

*For the truth of Psalm 44:3 to come into the awareness of our leaders, "It was not by our sword that we won the land, nor did our arm bring us the victory, it was Your right hand, Your arm and the Light of Your face, for You loved us."

 

 

*THE FOLLOWING AND OTHER MAGEN-"SHIELD" PASSAGES OVER ISRAEL:

Genesis 15:1. "Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward."

 

Deuteronomy 33:29. "Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD, the shield of your help and the sword of your majesty!

 

Psalm 3:1-3. "LORD, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me. Many are they who say of me, 'There is no help for him in God.' But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head."Psalm 28:7-9. "The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him. Save Your people, and bless Your inheritance; Shepherd them also, and bear them up forever."

Psalm 33:20-22. "We wait in hope for the LORD, He is our help and our shield; in Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name. May Your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in You."

 

portions taken from Israel Prayer list