Jerusalem,
Israel
NOVEMBER
9, 2023 PRAYER UPDATE
Israel and
the Nations
THE MEDIA FIASCO:
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and the Israeli
Government Press Office (GPO) have released documented evidence that
photographers working with the international media joined in covering the
brutal acts of murder perpetrated by Hamas terrorist on Saturday, October 7th
in Israel’s southern communities adjacent to the Gaza Strip.
Reportedly, Hamas photographers were hired by the media as
“stringers” (free-lancers). Associated
Press (AP) and Reuters, who are usually, first on the scene reporting the news
are, first and foremost, being accused of allowing this to happen, as well as
CNN, and the New York Times.
The organization, Honest Reporting, broke the news which
the GPO said, “crosses every red line, professional and moral.” Four
photographers who worked for these networks are the ones that were embedded in
Hamas units as Hamas breached the barriers that allowed them to attack Israeli
southern towns, documenting the atrocities committed by Hamas against Israeli
civilians. The early morning presence of these photographers, in the areas that
were attacked by Hamas, is raising serious ethical concerns. The big question
is whether Hamas coordinated its actions with these so-called media representatives.
At the same time of this breaking news today, the GPO sent
out a message to journalists that their safety cannot be fully guaranteed in
the Gaza Strip. Therefore, it was decided to limit access to Gaza by journalists
as has been happening for all civilians in recent weeks. The GPO emphasized
that the Erez Crossing remains closed, as it was devastated by Hamas on October 7,
2023.
It’s expected that the news cycle will become focused on these
accusations of the media, and it is wise if Israel feeds this current cycle,
offering spokespeople to talk about the issue for at least 48 hours.
This is because, at the same time this media fiasco is happening,
the IDF is close to attacking the Hamas stronghold in the area of Shifa
hospital, where it is possible that Gaza terrorists are hiding in hospital
wards adjacent to patient wards. It is a known fact that Hamas command and
control centers are located under the hospital, supposedly abandoned by Hamas. Israeli
military officials have warned the Shifa hospital director to move patients out
of the hospital, as Israel may have to use firepower in the wards to attack
militants who may be using the patients as human shields.
It is still not known, yet, if this is the area where some of the
hostages might be found.
PRAYER POINTS:
*Pray for wisdom and understanding to come to Israeli leaders in
how to position themselves ahead of the media, as they have not been so savvy in
their strategies until now
*There is a department in the Prime Minister’s office called the
National Public Diplomacy Directorate that has not appeared to be particularly
useful throughout this war. Pray that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s staff
will give much more attention to analyzing and disseminating information
through this department, focused on reaching public opinion, using methods that
will not feed the media frenzy against Israel.
*Pray for international and local journalists to show
responsibility in their coverage of this war, rejecting lies and liars in their
use of sources, and looking to tell Israel’s story through truth and accuracy.
Pray for more stories that show God’s miraculous intervention, His compassion
and care, His love and protection over the citizens of Israel and of Gaza. Pray
that the faith of citizens will be increased, as they read stories of God’s
intervention in the lives of the Israeli people through miracles, signs, and
wonders.
*Pray for His justice to come, and pray against any injustice that
is operating through the media. Ask the Lord to tear apart demonic structures
and expose ungodly and unholy ties formed against Israel in media circles.
*Habakkuk 2:1-2: “I will stand at my guard post. And, station myself on the tower; And I will keep watch to see what He will say to me, And, what answer I will give [as His spokesman] when I am reproved. Then the LORD said to me, “Write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others.
Proclaim that the messages out of
Zion will be real news, not fake news, and clearly understood of what God’s
intentions are, so that believers can be effective in their prayers, like the
sons of Issachar, sensing the times and seasons we are in, and what Israel
should do! (See 1 Chronicles 12:32).
REPENTANCE, FAITH, MIRACLES:
The rescue of an Israeli female
soldier, and other miracles being reported, is building faith in Israel! A video story was widely reported about the
dedication of a mother, who cried out for the rescue of her female soldier
daughter. This mother did everything she knew in her heart to do before God, while
her family and community also stood with her in prayer. The rescue was one of
the greatest stories in Israel’s modern history, of the IDF’s courage to save a
soldier on the battlefield that has been taken hostage. The story went viral in
Israel! At the Knesset, a female MK talked about this mother’s great faith,
wishing that she, herself, had that kind of faith (called emunah in
Hebrew).
There have been testimonies by
believers, including a soldier we know who is serving on the northern border.
He has said that there has been a great openness among Israelis to hear the
gospel, especially among the soldiers.
There have been several videos
released of soldiers praying, singing, and reciting Hebrew prayers before going
onto the battlefield in Gaza. And, stories of miracles that have been reported
on podcasts by Israeli religious Jews.
Recently, Israeli MK Rabbi Yehuda
Glick, along with Rabbi Tuli Weisz, led a National Day of Prayer in Jerusalem.
While it was not officially called for by the Prime Minister and his war cabinet,
it was a beginning of repentance in the nation among the Jews. It was also the
first time that Orthodox rabbis invited Messianic believers to be with them in
prayer. A full-page ad in the Jerusalem Post of Evangelical Christians and
Messianic Jewish leaders throughout the west, showed a connection between
rabbis and other religious Jews in prayer and solidarity with Israel during
this time. Sponsored by the organization Israel365, the ad stated: “Day
of Prayer Upon the Shloshim of the Hamas Massacred. The Israel365 Action
Network is working with churches and synagogues to advocate more effectively
for Israel across the United States.”
We see this also as a network that
can be used to gather the Jews together for a future move of Aliyah from North
America, as well!
Continue to pray for full repentance on a national governmental level in Israel. Netanyahu has said that the government, including himself, will eventually have to speak to how the attack was allowed to happen in the first place. He also said, "Everyone will have to give answers on the debacle - including me -- but all that will happen only after the war."
PRAYER POINTS:
*Keep praying for boldness and courage
on the part of the Body of Messiah in Israel to continue to share the gospel
wherever possible, asking the Lord for signs and wonders to accompany the
testimony of His Word! (See Romans 15:19).
*Pray that the Body of Messiah, worldwide, will continue to view
Israel as a major focus of God’s attention in this critical hour.
*Romans 1:16: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because
it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to
the Jew, then to the Gentile.
*Romans 2:9: There will be trouble and distress (calamity)
for every human being who does evil, first for the Jew, then for the Greek.” (Note: This is why it is imperative to
share the gospel with the Jew first! Get them saved!!)
*Acts 3:26: “It was for you, first of all, that God raised
up His Servant and Son (Jesus), and sent Him to bless you by turning every one
of you from your wicked ways.” (See also
2 Chronicles 7:14).
*1 Corinthians 1:24: “But, to those who are called, both
Jews and Greeks (Gentiles), the Messiah is the power of God and the wisdom of
God.”
*Psalm 71:15: “My mouth will tell of Your righteous deeds,
of Your saving acts all day long – though I know not how to relate them all.”
*Psalm 119:46: “I will speak of Your testimonies before
kings, and will not be ashamed.”
A WARNING OF WHAT IS COMING “THE DAY AFTER” THE WAR HAS ENDED IN
GAZA:
A certain sector of Israeli society, made up of liberal former
high-ranking military officers, from Israel’s security branches, have been
releasing, to the media, their plans for “the day after” the Gaza war is over.
In their plans, which are circulating through media zoom forums,
they are pressuring the Israeli government to consider taking Israel out of the
discussion of who will be the controlling force in Gaza. The Israeli
government has expressed that it does not want overall control over the
citizens of Gaza, but as in the West Bank (Judea and Samaria), the IDF wants a
situation of security control. This is because they have been able to bring
the military into Palestinian areas when Israel finds there are terrorist cells
forming that could harm the Israeli population. This way, the IDF is able to
constrain terrorist attacks from emanating out of the West Bank (Judea and
Samaria). They want to do the same in Gaza.
These former military officers are pushing the scenario of a
temporary force made-up of Arab countries, including Egypt, Jordan, and the
Abraham Accord nations, to stand in the gap until there is stability in Gaza.
Then, they are encouraging a new Palestinian Authority rule in the area, with
non-Hamas supporters (which would be impossible to know who are and who
aren’t). The current Palestinian Authority has no legitimacy, no legal right
(according to their own by-laws), and very little civilian support as a governing
body to rule over the Palestinians. There would have to be new elections in the
Palestinian territories to put in place a proper ruling authority.
In the scenario being pushed by the liberal former military
officers, the heartland of biblical Israel (The West Bank/Judea and Samaria),
would be united with Gaza as one entity – something most Israeli conservative leaders,
under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership, have not encouraged. This
would be the formation of a Palestinian state, side-by-side Israel.
This is a non-biblical division of the land of Israel, which would
forsake God’s land covenants with the Jewish People. So,
these liberal former high-ranking military officials are now planning to bring
back the call for a “two-state solution,” which has also been the cry of the
Biden Administration, which emanates from the U.S. State Department.
Reportedly, Arab leaders, speaking in the Arab media, said they would
be content with the Palestinians from Gaza sent to Egypt, and the Palestinians
from the West Bank (Judea and Samaria) sent to Jordan. But, both the Egyptian
and Jordanian governments are adamantly opposed to this option. Egypt has not
been cooperative in the current war, regarding the displacement of Gazans to
the southern part of Gaza, and has only supplied limited humanitarian aid,
medicines, and medical help needed. Jordan, which reportedly, has a Palestinian
population of 70-80%, is heavily involved with the Palestinians both in the
West Bank (Judea and Samaria) and Gaza. But, they are not willing to take any
responsibility for what happens to those Palestinians in the future.
One of these former high-ranking military officials was asked how
the Palestinians in the West Bank (Judea and Samaria) could eventually be
trusted to take over Gaza, since a majority of them were Hamas supporters even before
the war. The response was to deny this was true (though the information was
given from a well-known pollster). He called for Israel to trust the
Palestinians, and his only solution to the problem was the formation of
a Palestinian state.
Some believers think the Middle East is on the verge of a Psalm 83
war. Why should Israel trust nations that surround it, when these nations could
turn around and conspire against the Lord and against His land?
Psalm 83:3-5: “With cunning, they scheme against
Your people, and conspire against those You cherish, saying, ‘Come, let us
erase them as a nation; may the name of Israel be remembered no more. For with
one mind, they plot together; they form an alliance against You.’ ”
PRAYER POINTS:
Declare and remind God of His covenant promises regarding the land
given to Israel through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to steward for Him. (Psalm
105:8-10; Exodus 6:8; Leviticus 26:42; Joshua 1:4; 1 Corinthians 16:16-17).
Ask God to contend with those who contend against Him and Israel.
(Isaiah Chapter 35).
Put in the hearts of liberal-leaning secular Israelis, who do not
know Your Word, a strong sense of Your eternal land covenant with them and with
all of Israel!
Protect the Israeli leadership from signing any kinds of future
accords with Arab nations that will bring a temporary peace, and divide God’s
land, in Jesus’ name!
Declare that the nations belong to His Son:
Psalm 2:6-8: “But, as for Me I have installed My
King Upon Zion, My holy mountain. I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord.
He said to Me, ‘You are My Son; today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I
will surely give You the nations as Your inheritance, and the very ends of the
earth as Your possession.’ ”