Jerusalem, Israel
NOVEMBER 2012 PRAYER UPDATE
Israel and the Middle East
·
The sins of Israeli society provide an opening for
the enemy. One example of this is
Israel’s abortion rate. Reports indicate
that nearly 20,000 applications for a legal abortion in 2010 were approved by
public abortion committees in Israeli hospitals. In 2011, that number was
19,000, which showed some decrease in legal abortions. But, if you consider all
abortions taking place in Israel, the number for 2012 is expected to be 40,000.
The abortion rate is 10.8 per thousand among fertile Israeli women.
At a recent city-wide prayer gathering of believers
in Jerusalem; and, at a nation-wide prayer gathering in the north; believers
have been repenting for the sins of this nation according to 2 Chronicles 7:14,
asking God’s forgiveness. This is
especially true regarding abortion.
Pray for the unborn child in Israel to be protected according to Psalm
139:13-16. Pray that Israeli women repent for ending the life of their babies
in the womb. Pray that the Lord will change the laws in Israel and make it
difficult for Israelis to get an abortion. Women in Israel are currently
entitled to one free abortion during their army service. Pray that all funding
for government approved abortions will cease immediately.
·
Because elections have been called in Israel, there
has been less public discourse on Iran within the country. Israeli leaders are
still speaking loudly in international forums that red lines must be set to
stop Iran from building a nuclear bomb. But, inside Israel, the focus is on
election campaigning. Meanwhile, Iran is
increasing the speed of installing centrifuges at its underground nuclear
facility, bringing it closer to being able to make weapons-grade uranium. Iran
is enriching uranium up to 20% now, and as it produces more, this will shorten
the time it will take Iran to “break out” and begin building a bomb. Nuclear
experts fear that Iran could accumulate significant quantities of weapons-grade
uranium for one bomb in as little as nine months.
Intercede for Israel, remembering Psalm 50:15. Pray that the citizens of
this nation will call upon the Lord in their day of trouble when Iran is aiming
to destroy the Jewish State. As God rescues His people by stopping Iran from becoming
a nuclear power, pray that Israelis will honor the Lord and give Him glory for
the things He has done on their behalf.
·
In early October, Iran directed Hezbollah to send a
drone into Israeli airspace. The
Iranians claimed that the drone was not only able to cross into southern
Israel, but to stay there gathering intelligence information for several hours
regarding Israel’s secret military installations. The drone was finally shot down
by Israel’s Air Force and landed in a forest so that no one was killed and no
property was destroyed. Israel has the Iron Dome anti-missile defense system in
place, but it is not designed to shoot down drones. It only has the capacity to
shoot down short-range missiles aimed at Israel. Meanwhile, Israeli southern
communities were subjected to increased missile fire from Gaza terrorists in
October, only partially protected by the Iron Dome.
Ask the Lord to protect Israeli air space where the drone violation
occurred. The drone intrusion exposed how vulnerable Israel’s skies are. Pray
that the Lord will seal shut every opening in Israel’s defenses that would be
susceptible to an evil incursion. Pray,
according to Ephesians 6:11 that Israel’s air force fighters would put on the
full armor of God in their battle with hostile forces, so they can stand, with
His authority, against the wiles of the enemy. Declare Psalm 91:7 over Israel,
praying that the Jewish people will be protected from the on-going missile war
in the south of the country.
·
Israeli leaders continue to observe the
strengthening of the Moslem Brotherhood in the Middle East. The first country
for this Sunni Islamic group to gain power was Egypt. Now, its increased
influence has extended into Syria and Jordan. It has close ties with Hamas in
Gaza, as well. A recent report indicates
that the Moslem Brotherhood does not believe in the sovereignty of nation
states. Gulf Arab countries are trying to work together to stop the Brotherhood
from taking over their governments in the region. The aim of the Brotherhood is to use its
increased power throughout the Middle East to establish one big Islamic state
under Sharia Law. The Brotherhood is
becoming a formidable enemy of Israel, and of moderate Arab nations.
Pray according to Psalm 9:3, that Israel’s enemies will turn back,
stumble and perish in the Lord’s Presence. Pray that as God’s people call for
help, He will answer them, and they will know that He is with them in their
struggle (Psalm 56:9). Pray that God will thwart every wicked scheme that the
devil is using to cause havoc and instability in the Middle East!
·
The IDF is concerned that Hamas or other terrorist
operatives may try to kidnap an Israeli soldier. The strategy would be to
develop a crisis that would force Israel to release Palestinian terrorists who
are being held in Israeli prisons.
Declare that God will rescue Israeli soldiers from any kidnapping
attempts because they hide themselves in Him. (Psalm 143:9). Pray that Israelis will see that their times
are in God’s hands and He will deliver them from the continual pursuit of their
enemies. (Psalm 31:15).
·
Al-Qaida inspired Salafist-Jihadists have
infiltrated countries surrounding Israel. They are especially prominent in
Syria, Egypt’s Sinai, Jordan, and Gaza. They are also stirring up trouble in
Yemen, Tunisia and Libya. They have penetrated Israel, as well. A court in Nazareth convicted an imam because
he founded a Salafist-Jihadist group with Al-Qaeda ideology.
These terrorist groups, which have been operating
among the rebels in Syria, could become a major threat to the Jordanian
government. Meanwhile, Israel’s border with Syria is being transformed from a
quiet zone to a frontier of global jihadists, especially on the Syrian side of
the Golan Heights. Israeli military officials have stated that Israel has to be
ready for war on multiple fronts, simultaneously. This could include Syria,
Lebanon, the Sinai, Gaza, and possibly Iran.
Pray that the Lord will foil all the plots of His adversaries and
disrupt any coordinated effort that would try to come against His Chosen
People, Israel. Pray that He will bring confusion into the ranks of the enemy
camps that surround Israel. Pray that Israeli leaders are provided with
excellent intelligence information; are prepared for any cross border
infiltrations; and will be alert to strike at any terrorists trying to harm the
Jewish State. Declare Psalm 27 over all of Israel, as a hope and encouragement
to the nation.
·
The Palestinians have threatened to take their
statehood bid to the UN General Assembly after the U.S. elections. Their goal
is to be seen as a UN member of a non-state entity. They want to change the
legal status of the settlements in Judea and Samaria, through international
law. Right now, those settlements are legally considered “disputed
territory”. The Palestinians have
already convinced diplomats and the media that the land is “occupied
territory”. They continue to demand that Israel withdraw from their territory, back to the 1967 Green
Line or the 1949 armistice lines. The
Palestinians, along with the rest of the world, have also declared that
Jerusalem is not the capital of Israel. The Palestinians proclaim that
Jerusalem is their capital.
Declare, according to God’s covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob, that Israel has inherited the biblical heartland… Judea and Samaria.
Proclaim that Jerusalem belongs to the Lord, Himself. He has given stewardship
over the land and His beloved city to the Jewish people. He is a covenant God,
and He does not break covenant with Israel. (See Exodus 2:24; Psalm 105:8;
Psalm 105:42).
·
There is a concern in Israel that a future missile
war could cause widespread wildfires. Israel has not fully examined the threat
of damage to the homefront by wildfires. Israel lacks a strategic plan that would
enhance the nation’s aerial firefighting capability. When a major fire broke out on Mount Carmel
in December 2010, Israel asked assistance from over 20 countries to contain the
fire. Today, Israel has made little progress in the ability to help
firefighters in spite of the growing threat of wildfires.
Pray that God would raise-up capable men and women who can help Israel
with aerial firefighting capability. Ask
the Lord for short-term and long-term strategies that will prepare Israel’s
Homefront Command to be ready during times of crisis.
PRAISE REPORT! The water level of the Sea of Galilee has
risen. It is at its highest level in six years!
In 2011, Israel had a wet winter after seven years of drought. This
year’s early rains were encouraging. Pray
for a wet and rainy 2012 fall and winter season in Israel.