Why pray for Israel? What about Palestinians?
Sometimes it is very easy for us to look at things through human eyes and use human reasoning. Our compassion is aroused when we see things from both sides.
We see this sentiment rising up for the recent Israel/Gaza conflict. From a world view perspective, we increasingly hear a rising up of defense for the Palestinians who live in Gaza. The media is leveraging their ability to cause foment against Israel. Those with eyes to see, discern the spiritual battle to pit people against Israel. The ruler of the kingdom of the air (Ephesians 2:2) delight in causing confusion and pitting one side against the other.
We can get caught up in that. And some of us with the Spirit of Christ can reason along with the horror we see, and make conclusions that we NOT side with Israel.
And in part, as Christians, we are NOT to take a side that Israel be allowed to exact whatever they will upon Palestinians.
Right now the IDF is asking 1m Palestinians to flee from Northern Gaza. That is a lot of people that will have to suddenly leave their homes. Where will they go?
Did you know that 120K Christian Armenians began fleeing for their lives in September? Probably not. Here is a good article on what is happening to them. Note in particular how the US is redefining persecution so that it no longer comes under US policy that they must act upon. It is now getting categorized in a way that it is now classified as an issue between governments and their citizens. In other words, the US is taking a "hands off" disengaging from defending persecuted Christians. hese are things to take note of. As my last several blogs have been sharing, the LORD is redirecting me to world events. He is redirecting my time, energy, and focus to intercession and the great Harvest of this time.
Hamas' brutal and savage attack on Israelis just a couple of days ago is a type of confirmation I see in redirecting to the spiritual warfare ramping up worldwide. (More on that will be forthcoming.)
But related to Israel, are you praying for them? Why should you?
Because God says so. Psalm 122:8-9 as example.
We are cautioned to not to argue with God on this, Romans 11. We are to understand why He calls us to pray for Israel.
It's based upon covenant love and divine destiny. Christians are to reflect that we are under His covenant love, and that we were once wild branches who have been grafted in to the cultivated olive tree, Jesus.
He is the Root who supports us. The blindness and disobedience of Israel is nothing new to God. He's completely aware of wicked leadership and an entire nation whose hearts are astray.
And in part, we're told in Romans 11 that their blindness has happened so that the fullness of the Gentiles may come in. That is you and me. That is the Palestinians. It is all nations, tribes, and tongues. Jesus died for all.
And yes, the gift of Jesus' sacrificial death includes Israel. Jesus, the Jewish Messiah still longs for His own people, who wrongly put him to a criminal's death, on a cross of curse, to turn and receive Him! He willingly died a criminal's death when He didn't have to do so. He drank the cup of God's wrath for you and me, the world, and Israel!
Israel will be grafted back in if they turn from unbelief, Romans 11:23. So pray for Israel because God tells us to! Do not assess through human reasoning.
Surrender to His command to pray for them. It brings blessing upon you, your family, and YOUR CHURCH! . If you want to be led in a prayer for Israel, and hear some brief reflections, listen to Thursday's podcast episode.
AND A PRAYER ALERT FOR THE WORLD. A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO a Hamas founder is calling for a global mobile uprise of Muslims. Pray for peace.
"Lord the nations rage. We declare the rulers plot in vain. The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against His anointed. But the one who sits enthroned in Heaven laughs. Lord, you scoff at them. Rebuke them in your anger, bring their plans to nothing. We ask for division in their camp. For confusion and for conviction of those they are calling to stand down. We ask for the fear of the LORD to rest upon Muslims and for a great awakening. We ask for the Gospel to enter. Raise up laborers to go into the harvest and share the Good News of Christ. Release the message of the Peacemaker who changes natures, restores the soul, and renews our minds with His thoughts and ways. We confess that our thoughts are not your thoughts Jesus. Our ways are not your ways Jesus. Release a word from Heaven as you release the water and snow so that it waters the ground, causing it to bud and flourish, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater. Your word shall not return to you empty. It will not return to you void. It will accomplish the purpose for which you sent it. We bless the nations with the Good News of Jesus. We agree with you Jesus for a great harvest of souls, great advancement of the Kingdom of Heaven on earth according to the will of the Father. Awaken us to the times, to discernment, to knowledge of your will through all wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives. We join you with the authority you've given us to demolish arguments and destroy strongholds. Through our prayer and praise, hold thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ. Release a new song of childlike praise through us. Childlike praise establishes a stronghold against the enemy, it silences the foe and avenger, Psalm 8:2. Teach us to war in the weapons we've been given that are mighty in God for the destruction of strongholds. We declare victory in Jesus Name! We are on the side of the Champion, our Hero, the one who has vanquished all darkness. We await the time that all of your enemies are made as a footstool underneath your feet! Amen!"
And to followers, thank you so much for continuing to the follow the ministry while in transition. It is more critical than ever to draw near to Him, Psalm 105:4.
As this blog closes, meditate upon all of Psalm 105 which contains with a history of covenant with Israel that dates all the way back to Abraham!
Psalm 105
1 Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
make known among the nations what he has done.
2 Sing to him, sing praise to him;
tell of all his wonderful acts.
3 Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
4 Look to the Lord and his strength;
seek his face always.
5 Remember the wonders he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,
6 you his servants, the descendants of Abraham,
his chosen ones, the children of Jacob.
7 He is the Lord our God;
his judgments are in all the earth.
8 He remembers his covenant forever,
the promise he made, for a thousand generations,
9 the covenant he made with Abraham,
the oath he swore to Isaac.
10 He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree,
to Israel as an everlasting covenant:
11 “To you I will give the land of Canaan
as the portion you will inherit.”
12 When they were but few in number,
few indeed, and strangers in it,
13 they wandered from nation to nation,
from one kingdom to another.
14 He allowed no one to oppress them;
for their sake he rebuked kings:
15 “Do not touch my anointed ones;
do my prophets no harm.”
16 He called down famine on the land
and destroyed all their supplies of food;
17 and he sent a man before them--
Joseph, sold as a slave.
18 They bruised his feet with shackles,
his neck was put in irons,
19 till what he foretold came to pass,
till the word of the Lord proved him true.
20 The king sent and released him,
the ruler of peoples set him free.
21 He made him master of his household,
ruler over all he possessed,
22 to instruct his princes as he pleased
and teach his elders wisdom.
23 Then Israel entered Egypt;
Jacob resided as a foreigner in the land of Ham.
24 The Lord made his people very fruitful;
he made them too numerous for their foes,
25 whose hearts he turned to hate his people,
to conspire against his servants.
26 He sent Moses his servant,
and Aaron, whom he had chosen.
27 They performed his signs among them,
his wonders in the land of Ham.
28 He sent darkness and made the land dark--
for had they not rebelled against his words?
29 He turned their waters into blood,
causing their fish to die.
30 Their land teemed with frogs,
which went up into the bedrooms of their rulers.
31 He spoke, and there came swarms of flies,
and gnats throughout their country.
32 He turned their rain into hail,
with lightning throughout their land;
33 he struck down their vines and fig trees
and shattered the trees of their country.
34 He spoke, and the locusts came,
grasshoppers without number;
35 they ate up every green thing in their land,
ate up the produce of their soil.
36 Then he struck down all the firstborn in their land,
the firstfruits of all their manhood.
37 He brought out Israel, laden with silver and gold,
and from among their tribes no one faltered.
38 Egypt was glad when they left,
because dread of Israel had fallen on them.
39 He spread out a cloud as a covering,
and a fire to give light at night.
40 They asked, and he brought them quail;
he fed them well with the bread of heaven.
41 He opened the rock, and water gushed out;
it flowed like a river in the desert.
42 For he remembered his holy promise
given to his servant Abraham.
43 He brought out his people with rejoicing,
his chosen ones with shouts of joy;
44 he gave them the lands of the nations,
and they fell heir to what others had toiled for--
45 that they might keep his precepts
and observe his laws.
Praise the Lord. Hallelujah!!!
