Jerusalem,
Israel
FEBRUARY
2, 2024
Israel and
the Nations
GPW
News Prayer Update
What are Trial Balloons?
When global leaders cannot agree in private, they tend to air out
their differences in public. The media is used to ‘float’ trial balloons. Leaks
to journalists increase. Recently, this has been occurring more than usual…
The definition of a trial balloon is: “A tentative measure
taken or statement made to see how a new policy will be received.”
These trial balloons are not necessarily true and accurate
information. Often, they float what appears to be new policy initiatives taken
by governments. In reality, it’s ideas of policy makers or deep thinkers that
are released into the public arena to see what the reaction will be.
As intercessors, we can get caught up in trial balloons, thinking
that they represent breaking news, but our focus on this is a waste of
time. We should not be seeing these
floating ideas as facts on the ground. Even from what we deem to be credible
news sources, there are, sometimes, trial balloons being reported as fact.
As watchmen on the wall, we tend to want to be the first to discover
a breakthrough, standing at our guard post, looking to and fro. Yet, it is
important that we distinguish what is fact and what is not.
CRAFTED PRAYER AND SCRIPTURE:
Help us Lord to discern what is news and information and what is
speculation. Help us to know what the facts are… vs… what is opinion and
commentary. Gaining Your truth, and sharing
information with accuracy, remains our goal and purpose, in bearing lasting
fruit for Your Kingdom purposes.
2 Timothy 2:7: “Think over the things I am saying [grasp their application],
for the Lord will grant you insight and understanding in everything.”
Israel’s Current Relationship with the United States:
Often politicians and diplomats will say there is “no daylight”
between Israel and the United States, meaning that the two allies agree on major
issues. But, lately, the interests between these two nations have grown wider.
So, we are in a season of “daylight,” and this needs prayer.
In the first and second stages of the war in Gaza, regardless of
the differences behind the scenes, it appeared, publicly, that the U.S. was
supporting Israel’s efforts to defend itself… though, some of us knew better.
We knew better because of the background of relations between U.S.
Administrations and Israeli governments.
In previous wars and conflicts between Israel and its enemies, American
former presidents have been known to hold back military aid packages, funding, and
parts, including munitions and advanced weapons systems. Its been a form of leverage
over Israel, if Israel did not comply with U.S. demands based on U.S.
interests. So, the interests of these two allies, sometimes, are not the same.
In this third stage of the Gaza War, Israel is also ready to
expand the war on its northern border with Hezbollah in Lebanon. However,
U.S. President Joe Biden has different interests than Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu. Currently those interests are clashing!
Biden is in an election campaign for a second term in office. He
wants to see quiet in the Middle East. Stability. No threat of a regional or
global war.
Netanyahu, on the other hand, sees a prolonged war on the horizon.
There are still 200,000 Israelis displaced from southern and northern communities
in Israel because it is too dangerous for them to return to their homes. The
people are suffering. The economy is suffering. Employment is suffering. The
hostage situation is bordering on “hopeless,” in the eyes of Israelis. It’s an
intolerable situation. The majority of the Israeli population wants to fight
its enemies, to see a safer future for their children.
Netanyahu has also been challenged to step down in his position as
prime minister because of the security failure leading to October 7, 2023,
among other accusations…
Despite the incredible unity seen in Israeli society, especially in
the first and second stages of the Gaza war, that unity has been slipping away,
recently.
Some of Netanyahu’s actions are political in his efforts to
stay at the helm of the ship, during what he keeps saying will be a long-drawn-out
war. Such a scenario keeps him in power.
Yet, an expanded war in Israel, on multi-fronts, is something the
world community sees as a scenario of “instability” that could lead to a
regional and/or world war. This
threatens America’s interests, especially when U.S. soldiers are serving in the
Middle East.
PRAYER:
Israel sees America as the “superpower” of the world, rather than
seeing the LORD as the “superpower” over Israel and the nations! We ask You, the Holy One of Israel, to show Yourself
mighty, as the LORD of HOSTS, the Commander of the armies of heaven and of
Israel. Let the Jewish State see and receive the angelic hosts that are fighting
for Your covenant land, which the Jewish People steward on Your behalf, in
Yeshua’s name!
DECLARATIONS:
Matthew 24:6: And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you
are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
Psalm 112:6-7: “Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be
remembered forever. They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust
the LORD to care for them.”
The On-Going Gaza War:
Today, while Israeli leaders have declared that the IDF is still
in this third stage of the war, it means the fighting has not yet ended. Confronting
Hamas in Rafah; trying to capture thousands of Hamas operatives, including
Hamas leaders, Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed Deif; and attempts to free the hostages that remain
captive in Hamas tunnels, proves that Israel is still at war in the south! Rockets are still being launched from Gaza
because there are tens of kilometers of tunnels that Israel has not been able
to get to. The rocket launchers remain in those tunnels, along with thousands
of Hamas terrorists yet to be eliminated.
Meanwhile, Biden, for political reasons, is already looking at Stage
Four, which is the reconstruction of Gaza. In Stage 4, at this point in time, Netanyahu,
publicly, has only demanded that Gaza must become a demilitarized zone. This
allows Israel overall security control of Gaza, while other countries decide on
reconstruction efforts, as well as on who will govern Gaza.
The U.S., which has always been considered the main powerbroker in
the Middle East, is looking to control the “sovereignty” issue… but, not just
regarding Gaza. Also, Judea and Samaria!
Biden is looking to jumpstart negotiations for a Palestinian
State, and in his push to do so, is not showing, publicly, that he cares if
Israel is part of that process or not. This is a big change in U.S. policy!
In the past, the U.S. and other nations were intent on solving the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict through direct negotiations between Israel and the
Palestinians. It seems that, currently, that option is not on the table.
Instead, a new doctrine is in place, most likely created by Biden and his
predecessors, which they believe gives them the right to form a Palestinian
State now, by-passing peace negotiations. If so, then Hamas leadership is being
rewarded for its massacre of Israeli civilians on October 7, 2023!
The Biden Administration (and its partners) has made a definitive
decision that the vacuum in Gaza will be filled with new Palestinian leadership
and the formation of a Palestinian State. This was stated in a recent zoom call
hosted by the U.S. State Department, for Middle East journalists. U.S.
Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, Barbara Leaf, spoke on
that call, and is supposedly, in Israel now, in what appears to be secret meetings.
Could the Biden Administration be pushing for a land grab, to build
a Palestinian State, with a vision of also including Judea and Samaria (the
West Bank) into the plans?
It’s a new year and there are new tactics by outside political and
diplomatic forces. American leaders have pushed, for years, for the
establishment of a contiguous Palestinian State in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza. It
is no secret. The extra “caveat,” since 2023, has been a push by the White
House for a peace deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia, which Biden believes
will bring “regional stability.”
Recent Attempt at Changing the Status-Quo:
Reports indicate that Biden signed an executive order on Thursday,
February 1, 2024, sanctioning settlers, named as Jewish extremists, who he
claimed used high levels of violence, forcing the displacement of Palestinian people
and villages, and causing property destruction. Biden stated that these actions
had reached intolerable levels and constituted a serious threat to peace,
security, and stability in the West Bank and Gaza, a well as Israel and the
Middle East. Biden plans to impose financial sanctions and visa restrictions
against those who have attacked or intimidated Palestinians or have “seized”
property. He said this undermines the
viability of a two-state solution.
What it does is undermine Israeli sovereignty over Judea and
Samaria! There are a handful of settlers
that have engaged in this behavior, and they are being dealt with through the
Israeli justice system.
Here is Netanyahu’s public reaction to Biden’s public accusations:
“The overwhelming majority of
residents in Judea and Samaria are law-abiding citizens, many of whom are
currently fighting – as conscripts and reservists to defend Israel.
Israel acts against all Israelis who
break the law, everywhere; therefore, exceptional measures are unnecessary.”
Judea and Samaria are considered “disputed territory” by the international
community. The question remains: Is this an attempt, by the United States, to interfere
in Israel’s law and order established in Judea and Samaria, as a challenge to
Israel’s sovereignty over the biblical heartland of this nation?
DECLARATIONS:
God’s land covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel):
Genesis 12:3: “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I
will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
Genesis 15:28: “So the LORD made a covenant with Abram that day and said, “I
have given this land to your descendants, all the way from the border of Egypt
to the great Euphrates River.”
Genesis 26:2-4: “The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to
Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. Live here as a
foreigner in this land, and I will be with you and bless you. I hereby confirm
that I will give all these lands to you and your descendants, just as I
solemnly promised Abraham, your father. I will cause your descendants to become as numerous as the
stars of the sky, and I will give them all these lands. And through your
descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed.”
Genesis 28:12-14: “And Jacob had a dream about a ladder that rested on the
earth with its top reaching up to heaven, and God’s angels were going up and
down the ladder. At the top of the stairway stood the LORD, and he said,
“I am the LORD, the God of your grandfather Abraham, and the God of your
father, Isaac. The ground you are lying on belongs to you. I am giving it to
you and your descendants. Your
descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth! They will spread out
in all directions—to the west and the east, to the north and the south. And all
the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants.”
Current Negotiations to set the Captives Free:
A hostage deal is on the table. Netanyahu said recently that the more
public the deal is, the less likely that particular deal will come to pass.
There have been extensive trial balloons floating in the media, with awful
scenarios. The current deal on the table would be a bad deal for Israel.
Whatever deal is accepted, the current push by America, Egypt, and
Qatar is for a long ceasefire based on releasing the hostages, one day by one
day. Israeli officials see a long ceasefire as an attempt at ending the war
before Israel’s stated purposes are accomplished.
Since Biden is interested in ending the war, this fits in
perfectly with his plans. However, it is against the goals of Netanyahu and the
IDF, and it weakens Israel’s resolve. (We hope and pray the goals of the Israeli
government are not suddenly modified, publicly, by Netanyahu, to accommodate a signed
hostage deal).
Meanwhile, Hamas is demanding that hundreds of Hamas and
Palestinian prisoners be released, including those with blood on their hands. We
must pray that Netanyahu stands strong against this demand!
You are probably familiar with the Israeli prisoner of war, Gilad
Shalit, who was in Hamas captivity for 5 years. In October 2011, he was released in exchange for more than 1,000
Palestinian prisoners released, including some that were convicted of multiple
murders and attacks carried out against Israeli civilians. Sinwar was
among those Hamas prisoners released at that time. He is the current head of
Hamas in Gaza, responsible for the massacre and the war.
The families of the hostages are pressuring Netanyahu. The media
is pressuring the government. And, the result is that, reportedly, Sinwar is
digging in his heels, demanding more and more concessions. He wants to stay in
power, and will try and continue to use the hostages as bargaining chips. It’s
an impossible situation… but GOD!
CRAFTED PRAYER:
Father, we ask You, according to examples in Your word (Joel 3:1-3),
that you will bring back the captives who were taken hostage in Gaza. We entreat
You to deal with Hamas terrorists, as well as nations that support them, with Your
judgement.
We pray that you will gather hostile nations, that are working against
Your covenant land, down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There, according to Your word, put
them on trial for what they did to Your inheritance; Your possession; because
they scattered Your people in Gaza (and, maybe elsewhere), and are encroaching
on Your land, ready to divide it up.
The Northern Border of Israel with Lebanon:
Israel’s Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, has given Hezbollah limited
time to accept UN resolution 1701, issued after the 2nd Lebanon war
of 2006, demanding that Hezbollah retreat its forces to the Litani River. It’s
been almost 18 years, and nothing has been done. In fact (as reported in the
previous blog entry), Hezbollah is deeply entrenched in hundreds of homes, with
families, and rocket launchers in place, on the Lebanese border with Israel.
Now, there are preparations on Israel’s part to militarily push Hezbollah back,
so that a demilitarized zone can be re-established in the north, and the
residents can safely return there.
Israel has indicated it needs munitions from its ally, America, to
re-supply its arsenals. And, some military experts say that Israel needs an international
force of strength in place, to help Israel to defeat Hezbollah.
Hezbollah may be in possession of biological and chemical weapons.
They have already used white phosphorous in a mortar fired against Israel,
which melted a road in Metula, on the Israeli side of the border. This strongly
indicates the dangers Israel faces in an expanded war.
Beyond this, Iran is killing and threatening U.S. forces in the
region, unless America complies with Iranian demands.
Again, the instability in the region is a nightmare for the Biden
Administration and other nations, that want to limit any war on Israel’s northern
border, which could overflow into a regional, and possibly a world war.
Here is a comment from Assistant Secretary of State for Near
Eastern Affairs, Barbara Leaf:
“We have been working closely with the
Israeli government – in close discussions with them over these last several
months; to provide an understanding of what we are seeing in terms of activity
on the border; and, that the Israeli military knows what is, and what is not
happening. The two parties may not intend to go into conflict, but may
misunderstand the picture. Hezbollah is on a slippery slope with missile and
rocket attacks on the civilian community… We are first and foremost looking for
a diplomatic solution. Hope to find one soon.”
DECLARATIONS:
Excerpts from Psalm Chapter 2:
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… 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.” I will proclaim the Lord’s decree: He
said to Me, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father. Ask Me, and I
will make the nations Your inheritance, the ends of the earth Your possession…
Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the
earth. Serve the Lord with
fear and celebrate His rule with trembling. Kiss His Son, or He will be angry, and
your way will lead to your destruction, for His wrath can flare up in a moment…
Psalm 105:8-11: “He remembers His covenant forever, the promise He
made, for a thousand generations, the covenant he made with Abraham, the
oath he swore to Isaac. He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel
as an everlasting covenant: “To you I will give the land of Canaan as
the portion you will inherit.”
PRAYER REGARDING TROUBLES AHEAD:
Note: It has been documented that every time
America interferes with God’s sovereignty over Israel, storms and calamities
develop in the United States. A
whirlwind has already been developing that is threatening America’s sovereignty
on its southern border! This has caused division
between the states and the U.S. government.
Pray for President Biden, the U.S., and for Americans who get
caught in the crosshairs of politics. Pray for God’s mercy, as you stand in the
gap for this great nation!
Pray that God’s will be done in the south, and in the north of
Israel, and in the hostage situation. If some of these pressures and measures
of interference are to delay events for God’s purposes, then we agree.
However, if these delays are tactics which strengthen the plans of leaders
in nations that have their own agendas, and are also plans that help
Israel’s enemies, then we do not agree.
DECLARATIONS:
(Taken from several translations), excerpts from Zechariah
9:9-14: “Rejoice, O people of
Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your King is coming to
you. He is righteous and victorious, yet He is humble, riding on a donkey—
riding on a donkey’s colt… Your King will bring peace to the nations. His realm
will stretch from sea to sea and from the Euphrates River to the ends of the
earth. Because of the covenant I made with you, sealed with blood, I will free
your prisoners from death in a waterless dungeon. Come back to the place of
safety, all you prisoners who still have hope! I promise this very day that I
will repay two blessings for each of your troubles…. Then the
LORD will be seen over them, And His arrow will go forth like lightning. The
Lord GOD will blow the trumpet. And go with whirlwinds from the south.”
(Taken from several translations): Psalm 137:1-6:
By the rivers of Babylon, there we
[captives] sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion [the city God imprinted
on our hearts]. We put away our harps, hanging them on the branches of poplar
trees. For there they who took us captive demanded of us a song with words, And
our tormentors [who made a mockery of us demanded] amusement, saying, “Sing
us one of the songs of Zion.” But how can we sing the songs of the LORD while
in a pagan land? If I forget you, O
Jerusalem, let my right hand forget how to play the harp. May my tongue stick
to the roof of my mouth if I fail to remember you, if I don’t make Jerusalem my
greatest joy.”
The emphasis in the Psalm is the weeping and travail.
Have we done enough to travail for the release of the hostages in captivity?
The emphasis in Zechariah is that the captives are going to
be repaid two blessings for each of their troubles.
We can also see the power of the Lord when He is like an arrow
that goes forth with lightning and the sound of the trumpet; like a whirlwind
from the south!
CRAFTED PRAYER:
We declare that the LORD’S rule and reign, His dominion, stretches
from Sea to Sea and from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth! Israel
will not only get back the land ransacked by the enemy in the south, and stolen
by the enemy from Israel in the north, God also promises the Jewish People that
they will inherit His land, based on His covenant with them.
May His people return to Him, and return to their Promised Land,
to receive their inheritance. We can rejoice in knowing these promises will
come true!
(Source for this report: GPW News Prayer Update)