An urgent call to prayer on behalf of Israel

These are momentous times for Israel and the Jewish people. On 23rd December 2016, the UN Security Council condemned all Jews living in the old city of Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria as “illegal”. In a speech just a few days later, U.S. Secretary of State Kerry’s speech again condemned Jewish “settlements” and called on the international community to divide the land of Israel and ensure the creation of new State of Palestine with its capital in Jerusalem. This Palestinian State is apparently going to solve the Israel/Palestine conflict and usher in world peace and security.

This week, at the invitation of French President Hollande, many nations are preparing to attend a so-called “Peace Summit” in Paris coming Sunday 15th January 2017. There, the nations will consider adopting measures, without Israel’s consent, that would implement the so-called “Two-State solution”. This effectively means dividing Jerusalem and removing the Jews from the old city of Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria. It is possible that, next week, these plans will be implemented by means of resolutions in the European Parliament and the UN Security Council.

It is remarkable that representatives of 70 nations are apparently planning to attend this so-called “Peace Summit” in Paris. Their goal is to divide the land promised to Abraham and his descendants as an everlasting possession. In Genesis 10 we read that G’d determined the nations according to the territories and languages of the descendants of the sons of Noah – seventy in total. This corresponds with the number of the descendants of Jacob who journeyed from Canaan to Egypt – also seventy in total (Genesis 46).

It is surely no coincidence that this summit will take place in Paris – the city where the great revolutions in Europe commenced. The city where man rejected God, and in His place, in the name of freedom and autonomy, chose man himself as their god.

Last Sunday we witnessed the terrible attack on the Haas Promenade in Jerusalem. “Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more”, according to the text that was cited by Matthew in relation to the murder of the Jewish children of Bethlehem. In Jeremiah, the prophet continues:

“Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded,” declares the Lord. “They will return from the land of the enemy. So there is hope for your descendants,” declares the Lord. “Your children will return to their own land”.

Two thousand years ago, the enemy of God tried to stop God from fulfilling His revealed purposes. He used the Roman ruler Herod to do so. In our days, He is using the nations, the United Nations and all who hate God and His Anointed One. The prince of darkness knows that he has little time left, and is doing all he can to disrupt God’s plans of redemption.

But – against all apparent opposition – God will do what He has promised. If the nations think they can divide God’s land (Joel 3), then they will encounter God who will prevent their plans. As Psalm 2 states:

Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying “Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.” The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.”

It is an amazing privilege to live in the generation in which God is restoring Zion and bringing His people home. We are allowed to discern the signs of the time (Matthew 16). That privilege should inspire us to go into our inner chambers, and to seek the Lord on behalf of His people Israel. It is time for the church to open her eyes and enter into genuine, heartfelt repentance and intercession on behalf of the Jewish people. These are the birth pangs of the coming Kingdom (Matthew 24).

Be encouraged. God is with you.

When the Arameans sieged the city of Dothan, Elisha prayed that the Lord would open the eyes of his servant to see the horses and chariots of fire surrounding the prophet. The Lord heard Elisha’s prayer, opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw that “those who are with us are more than those who are with them”. (2 Kings 6)

So it is today. The God of Israel will enter into battle for His people. We are allowed to enter into this battle in prayer. He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep (Psalm 121). He is faithful and true, His plans shall never fail.

In His shalom,

Roger van Oordt, Director Christians for Israel Netherlands
Andrew Tucker, Director Christians for Israel International

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