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The Apple of His Eye
(Prayer Points for Israel)
“Not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit,” says the Lord of Hosts (Zech. 4:6)
Date: Nov. 29, 2024
Ponderings and Praise
In this week’s Sabbath readings two people are sent away: Jacob sent away to Paddam-aram by Isaac to find a wife and David sent away from Saul by Jonathan for his own safety. These show two very different reasons for being sent away, but they do have something in common. The sendings away both helped to fulfill God’s covenant plan.
God’s covenant needed a family and so Jacob needed a wife – and one that was not an idol worshipper. Jacob was sent to relatives because they would have known about the one true God. Laban still had household idols, but Isaac told Jacob specifically not to take a wife from the Canaanites.
Jonathan knew that his father wanted to kill David. He knew that David was set to be the next king. Still, he protected David and sent him away from danger. He did this at a cost of his own future, for if David died, he could follow Saul as king. Jonathan kept his covenant with David. The fact that David lived, allowed God to establish his kingly line and bring the Messiah through his descendants.
For over a year, Israeli soldiers have been going away to battle, to fight for the nation and their families. As we continue to pray for Israel, let us especially remember the soldiers this week.
Prayer Points:
(All scriptures NASB, unless otherwise stated)
1. Salvation of the Jews
Scripture: Psalm 94:14: For the LORD will not abandon His people, nor will He forsake His inheritance.
Prayer: Thank you Lord, that just as you did not abandon Jacob or David, You will not abandon Israel. Draw them to yourself. Amen.
(Note: the prayers are short, but are only suggestions and starting points. The compiler is aware that many people who will be reading these prayer points have prayed for Israel for many years.)
2. Aliyah
Scripture: Psalm 105:6-11: O seed of Abraham, His servant, O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones! He is the LORD our God; His judgments are in all the earth. He has remembered His covenant forever, the word which He commanded to a thousand generations, the covenant which He made with Abraham, and His oath to Isaac. Then He confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, To Israel as an everlasting covenant, saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion of your inheritance.
Prayer: Father, continue to call your people home. You have given them the land. Let your word be fulfilled. Amen.
3. Israel
A) Israel Society
Some Jewish people read the Parshah, the weekly Torah portion.
Torah: Genesis 28:5-9
The Haftarah Reading: 1 Sam. 20:18-42
-Arabs within Israel:
- -Please continue to pray for the Arabs within Israel.
-The Bedouin within Israel:
- -Please continue to pray for the Bedouin within Israel.
-The Druze within Israel:
-Please continue to pray for the Druze people within Israel.
B) The War
Scripture: Psalm 64:1-4: Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; preserve my life from dread of the enemy. Hide me from the secret counsel of evildoers, from the tumult of those who do iniquity, who have sharpened their tongue like a sword. They aimed bitter speech as their arrow, to shoot from concealment at the blameless; suddenly they shoot at him, and do not fear.
Prayer: Father, we thank You for the bravery of the IDF soldiers as they continue to fight. Give each of them good rests at night and good times with families and friends, to refresh them as they fight. Help them to find You, Jesus, for you are King of the Jews and Lord of Israel. Amen.
- IDF and families:
May the memories of all the soldiers killed in the war be a blessing.
Continue to pray for all the soldiers, their families, those who have been wounded and those who have lost loved ones. May the memory of all the soldiers killed be a blessing to their families.
News:
-The Hostages and Their Families
Scripture: Psalm 116:3, 4: The cords of death encompassed me and the terrors of Sheol came upon me; I found distress and sorrow. Then I called upon the named of the LORD: O LORD I beseech You, save my life”
Prayer: Father, please set all the hostages free. Let the bodies be recovered of those who have been killed in captivity. Amen.
-Continue to pray for the recovery of the hostages.
General News:
-The IDF is set to procure a new personal laser defense system to protect its infantry. The system is made by Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems company. Thank You Lord, for this protective equipment, that is produced in Israel, and not dependent on any foreign country's whims.
- Lebanon/Hezbollah Front
News:
-There was a ceasefire, but Hezbollah broke it.
-Israel approved a US-back ceasefire with Hezbollah in an attempt to end the war in Lebanon. It calls for a 60-day ceasefire, with both the IDF and Hezbollah terrorists leave southern Lebanon. It allows for the start of negotiations for a permanent ceasefire.
-Iran:
News:
-According to news reports, Iran has canceled plans to attack Israel, following the victory of Donald Trump in the recent US elections. Tehran’s decision not to attack was reportedly made to head off the scenario of the US administration bringing down the Iranian regime. It is also driven by Israel’s destruction Of Hezbollah.
4. The Middle East:
Scripture: Psalm 83:1-3: O God, do not remain quiet; do not be silent and, O God, do not be still. For behold, Your enemies make an uproar and those who hate you have exalted themselves. They make shrewd plans against Your people, and conspire together against Your treasured ones. They have said, “Come and let up wipe them out as a nation, that the name of Israel be remembered no more.”
Prayer: Father, thank you that you are continuing to fight for Israel. Amen.
A) The UAE:
News:
-The United Arab Emirates said three Uzbek nationals have been arrested for the assassination of Iraeli-Moldovan rabbi Zvi Kogan. He was found dead Sunday in the Emirati city of Al Ain, which borders Oman. He was a representative of Chabad, a religious movement of Hasidic Jews that have institutions in many countries.
5. The World:
Scripture: 2 Sam. 22:44: You have also delivered me from the contentions of my people; You have kept me as head of the nations; A people whom I have not known serve me.
Prayer: Father, please help the nations know that Israel does have a special place in the world. They are to be a priest to the nations. Amen.
A) The UN:
News:
-ICC (focused on individuals)
News:
-Israel is set to appeal the arrest warrants issued by the ICC against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The warrants were issued by ICC judges on Nov. 20, claiming that the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare and crimes against humanity such as murder and persecution. The warrants were sought by ICC prosecutor Karim Khan since May. Netanyahu’s office has condemned the warrants. Pray hat through this process God is honored.
B) Canada:
News:
-Prime Minister Trudeau has said that Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu would be arrested in Canada because of the ICC warrant. Pray that the Canadian prime minister realizes that one does not arrest the leadership of an allied nation, who is fighting a self-defensive war.
C) The UK:
News:
-A well-known Jewish neighborhood in London was targeted with leaflets. The leaflets, distributed in Henden, said “Every Zionist needs to leave Britain or be slaughtered”. It was written in English and Hebrew.
D) The Netherlands
News:
- Hundreds of people rallied against rising antisemitism in the center of Amsterdam Thursday. The rally occurred after the Dutch city’s first program since World Ware two and on attack on the pro-Israel group Christians for Israel.
Compiled by Katherine Carswell, Aided by Murray Carswell (Canada)