Praying For Israel Today

With heightened tensions spreading across the Middle East, we scan the news from Israel and can feel overwhelmed with questions, wondering how to direct our thoughts and prayers. Passover, Easter and Ramadan all overlapped this year, adding to the tensions. That combined with increased concerns over judicial reforms and many threats from hostile regimes on Israel’s borders.

It’s a good time to remember that Israel has a special place in God’s heart, along with plans and purposes that won’t be thwarted. He is fully aware of all that’s going on.

David Ben Gurion once said, “In Israel, in order to be a realist, you must believe in miracles.” In fact, despite the news stories, there have been at least 50 miracles in each of the first three months of this year – protection from terrorist attacks and other unexplained occurrences that have been described as miracles. Let’s pray that there are more and more!

We often admit to ourselves that we aren’t sure how to pray for a complicated and difficult situation. It’s then we must ask to see things from God’s perspective and not our own, certainly not relying on our own understanding. In 2 Chronicles 20:12, we are challenged that when surrounded on all sides, Israel was encouraged to look up and fix their eyes on God. It’s an amazing story where once again, God intervened. He chose Israel for his purposes and not for their own sake (Ezekiel 36:32). When he made promises to Israel (and it is estimated there could as many as 3,000) we can be sure he will not go back on his word.

As you pray for Israel at this time, focus on God’s faithfulness in the past and the many promises he made to Israel. Allow your faith to rise up, knowing he will fulfil all his purposes. In Israel, and throughout the world, spiritual restoration is what everyone needs.

How does God want us to pray for these? Here are some starting points for prayer: He and his Holy Spirit will guide us if we ask for more insight.

• Pray for godly wisdom for all in authority in Israel and in the nations who are opposing her existence.
• Pray for Israel’s government and security forces to look to the Lord and fix their eyes on him. God promises to be Israel’s defender but still cares about every innocent life affected and those being bullied or manipulated by hate-filled regimes. Pray that God exposes the plans of the wicked and hides the innocent from harm.
• There is so much tension and trauma in and around Israel at this time: its only supernatural intervention that can bring a real spiritual healing in any life. Pray for miracles of grace and mercy, and God’s provision.
• Pray that all believers in the nations recognise the call to pray for the peace (shalom) of Jerusalem and Israel, and that churches see the debt of gratitude we have to Israel, for our Saviour, the Bible, the Patriarchs, etc.
• Pray for a supernatural wave of spiritual restoration across the Middle East, and for each person to be challenged to love as God loves.

Returning to the 2 Chronicles 20 passage, I am intrigued by verse 17: “you will not fight, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD with you … the battle isn’t yours but God’s.” In many ways Israel is still a secular nation. But God is constant, steadfast, the Promise Maker and Promise Keeper – his promises to Israel still stand. Many have been fulfilled but there are still more to be worked out. Why not remind yourself of some of the promises God makes to Israel.

• Psalm 105:8-11:  It was God who gave the Land to Israel
• Deuteronomy 30:3-5: God restores and will regather Israel.
• Jeremiah 31:35-36: Israel will forever be a nation before God.
• Numbers 23:19: God doesn’t change his mind.
• Jeremiah 31:3: He loves Israel with an everlasting love.

Julia Soakell

14th April 2023