NOVEMBER 12 , 2012

 

 

1. HAMAS-THE TIME TO ACT IS APPROACHING

As we write, rockets and mortars are continuing to explode in south-eastern Israel. During the past two days, over 140 projectiles have been fired into Israel by terrorist groups operating in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. This latest round began on Saturday when an anti-tank missile hit an IDF jeep on patrol on the Israeli side of the border, injuring four soldiers, two seriously. Israel's retaliatory fire was claimed by Palestinians to have killed several civilians, thus granting an excuse for the release of rocket barrages. This time there have been direct hits on Israeli homes-six civilians were injured and hospitalized Sunday. Today a Grad rocket slammed into a Netivot building, leaving 26 people suffering from shock. Schools are closed; tens of thousands are required to repeatedly dive into bomb-shelters. The spirits of many Israelis in the danger zone are becoming discouraged, feeling abandoned. Israel continues to attack launching positions and what it deems to be terrorist infrastructures from the air. But this cannot go on. Today Prime Minister Netanyahu told a group of foreign ambassadors, "If an alarm sounds, people in southern Israel - 1 million people - have 15 seconds to find shelter. I don't know if any of your governments will accept this reality. I cannot accept this. The world needs to understand that Israel has the right and duty to defend its citizens. We will act to stop the rocket fire."

These and other words of the Prime Minister were obviously meant to warn the world at large that a ground operation into Gaza may be imminent. Why has Israel hesitated until now in ways no other sovereign government in the world would have done? Any large-scale attack on the Strip will certainly result in a large number of civilian deaths; the militants themselves will see to that, purposely launching their attacks from dense population centers and filming everything. What will be the response from Egypt, whose new government has warmed itself to Hamas? From Turkey, which has based its whole anti-Israel campaign of the past two years on lying propaganda related to the "Cast Lead" incursion of 2008-9? And what about our north, while such a southern campaign is going on? What if Iran chooses such a time of perceived vulnerability to order Hezbollah to begin firing rockets from Lebanon? Or what if the civil war in Syria spills over into the Golan Heights? During the past week Syrian tanks have entered the demilitarized zone outside the border, and during the past two days, shells landing inside of Israel have resulted in the first shots being fired into Syria from Israel since the end of the 1973 Yom Kippur War. But if things continue as they have the past three days, Israel will almost certainly feel forced to reinter Gaza.

It appears that the terrorists believe that Israel will not launch a broad military incursion into the Strip before the January 22 elections. Some analysts believe that Hamas itself is not behind the initial attacks made against Israel this week, that these were carried out by terrorist groups over which Hamas doesn't have absolute control. They point out that the Muslim Brotherhood dominated government of Egyptian President Morsi, intent on solidifying its position in Egypt, is pressuring Hamas not to lure Israel into a large ground offensive at this time (Hamas was itself originally formed as a militant branch of the Brotherhood). Hamas leaders themselves probably don't want a major Israeli invasion. Besides the suffering of its people and instability to its hold on the Strip which would likely result, it wishes to remain on good terms with Morsi in Egypt, and to capitalize on the recognition recently begun to be granted it by other Muslim heads of state. This past month the emir of Qatar, in a move approved by Egypt, became the first head of state to officially visit Gaza since Hamas forcibly took complete control of the Strip in 2007. The President of Turkey has also recently reiterated his desire and intention to visit the Strip. Whoever may claim to be ultimately in charge-the situation presently erupting against Israel from Gaza is an uncontrollable lawless violence (the Biblical word for this used in such places as Genesis 49:5; Psalm 25:19; 27:12 is actually spelled and pronounced Hamas), which can only be quelled by a holy Power from above.

PLEASE PRAY:

*For angelic protection over the Israelis living in the line of fire.
*For courage, counsel and strategy and timing of the God who arrays the Armies of Israel (I Samuel 17:45) over Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defense Minister Barak and Chief of Staff Benny Gantz.
*Spiritual strength and preparation for believing soldiers who may be called upon to go into combat-that they be lights of faith, courage and compassion.
*Strength, courage, unity and sustaining grace for Christian Arabs living in the Gaza Strip. They are among the most persecuted Christians in the Middle East. Pray that they move in wisdom and integrity, shine like lights in the darkness and lead many to righteousness (Daniel 12:3).
*Psalm 86:7, 14, 17: "In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me.The arrogant are attacking me, O God, a band of ruthless men seeks my life-men without regard for you.Give me a sign of your goodness, that my enemies may see it and be put to shame, for you, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me."
*I Samuel 17:46-47. "That all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. That all the assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD's!"

2. A UNILATERAL CALL FOR A STATE

Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas has reiterated his intentions to this month (probably either the 15^th or 29^th of November) unilaterally request that the UN General Assembly upgrade the recognized status of all land taken by Israel from Jordan and Egypt in 1967 to that of a "non-member observer state"- Palestine. The "state" would encompass Judea, Samaria (the so-called "West Bank"), the Gaza Strip, and much of eastern and southern Jerusalem (including the present "Old City", the Temple Mount, and the Mount of Olives). Thursday the Palestinians circulated a draft resolution requesting support to the 193 member states of the UN. It is thought that such a resolution would pass-the Palestinians expect 115 (including at least 12 EU nations) to vote in favor-perhaps another 55 or so to abstain. The United States is strongly opposed to the move, but unlike with the Security Council, no members of the General Assembly have powers to veto. As pointed out in the November 2012 "Monthly Report" of the European Coalition for Israel,

"Behind the innocent-sounding phrase [of "non-member statehood"] lies a web of deception. An upgrade of the Palestinian Authority at the UN would be a de-facto recognition of the Palestinian claim for statehood. To quote the PA leader Mahmoud Abbas; 'After the vote, Israel could no longer claim that it occupies "disputed territories" but it would be clear that it occupies another nation state.'"

Mr. Abbas has steadfastly refused to negotiate with Israel on a future status, citing Israel's refusal to halt all "settlement" activity (although a 10-month settlement freeze initiated by Mr. Netanyahu in late 2008 resulted in no moves towards negotiations on the part of the Palestinians). We should remind here that the halting of "settlement activity" is hardly the end desired; the Palestinian leadership has long made its intentions clear that eventually there will be no Jews whatever in its "nation state". For the UN to allow "Palestine" to be unilaterally recognized as a "state" (whatever its present voting status) along Mr. Abbas' borders would effectively mean an end to any form of negotiations regarding 'final status' issues which have been seen as being necessary to be mutually agreed upon from the beginning.

Ironically, Mr. Abbas purports to speak on behalf of all the Arab peoples living in the territories encompassed by his proposed state, there are presently two entities exercising authority in these territories. Abbas maintains a semblance of rule over the Arab occupants in Judea and Samaria; but he includes the Gaza Strip as part of his proposed state-and that area is presently under the rogue-government of Hamas (see above) over which his Palestinian Authority is able to exercise no authority whatsoever. An op-ed appearing yesterday in ynetnews.com actually suggested that with the present situation of the two sides growing further apart and the push by more and more Arab powers to legitimize the Hamas government, perhaps the answer is to begin considering a Three-State Solution!

PLEASE PRAY:

*That Mr. Abbas will be dissuaded from his plan to ask for statehood status in the UN this month.
*For integrity and wisdom for Israel's leaders to 'know what to do', whatever decisions are made regarding Israel in the UN. "Who is the man who fears the LORD, He will instruct him in the way he should choose" (Psalm 25:12).
*Ezekiel 36 over the "Mountains of Israel" (i.e. Judea and Samaria).
*Zechariah 9:5-7 over Gaza.

3. RAIN!

"Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praises on the harp to our God, Who covers the heavens with clouds, Who prepares rain for the earth, Who makes grass to grow on the mountains!" (Psalm 147:7-8).

WE GIVE THANKS FOR THE PLENTIFUL RAINS WHICH HAVE FINALLY FALLEN OVER ALL ISRAEL THIS WEEK. Please pray that these 'former rains' continue to water our thirsty soil-and that the Spirit continue to pour out from on high to water the thirsty souls of Israelis with Life from which they will never thirst!

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

From ancient times there has been a weekly portion (Parasha) from the first five books of Moses (The Torah) and an ending (Haftarah) from the Prophets read on the Sabbath in synagogues around the world. This portion is given a Hebrew name drawn from the opening words of the Torah passage. An illustration of this practice appears to have been recorded in Luke 4:16 where Yeshua (Jesus) arrived in the synagogue in Nazareth and was asked to read the portion (Isaiah 61) from the Prophets. We have found that in perusing these weekly readings, not only are we provided opportunity to identify in the context of God's Word with millions of Jewish people around the world, but very often the Holy Spirit will illumine specific passages pertinent that week in our intercession for the Land and people of Israel. All texts are those of English translations of the Scriptures.

The readings for this week 11-17 November are called Toldot- "Generations":

TORAH: Genesis 25:19-28:9
HAFTARAH: Malachi 1:1-2:7

Well at the site of ancient Be'er Sheva

"Then he [Isaac] went up from there to Beersheba. And YHVH appeared to him the same night and said, 'I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for My servant Abraham's sake.' So he built an altar there and called on the name of YHVH, and he pitched his tent there; and there Isaac's servants dug a well (Genesis 26:23-25).

*Genesis 25:22. "If this is so, why then am I . . .?" So she went to inquire of the LORD." Please pray for believers in Israel.that when faced with the perplexity of inexplicable conflicts (of which there are many in Israel), we would be quick to "go to inquire of the LORD" rather than leaning to our own understandings as to how to respond.

*Genesis 26:18. "And Isaac dug again the wells of water which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father, for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham. He called them by the names which his father had called them." Isaac's life is much associated with "wells"-from when his future wife Rebekah was revealed at one (24:45) and he came from another to meet her (24:62), to the reopening of old wells and the digging of new ones recorded in chapter 26.

PLEASE PRAY for the reopening of ancient sources of truth and blessing and song in returned Israel-as well as discovery of new reservoirs of understanding reserved for latter days (Daniel 12:9). Pray for rediscovery and proper identification of the well of "Righteousness through Faith" (Genesis 15:6); that Israel will find and open again her true "Well of Salvation".and His Name. "Behold, God is my salvation (Heb: Yeshu'ah), I will trust and not be afraid; for YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation. Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of Salvation."

*Genesis 26:19-22. "Also Isaac's servants dug in the valley, and found a well of running water there. But the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled.so he called the name of the well ESEK ("Exploited", "deprived of"). Then they dug another well, and they quarreled over that one also, so he called its name SITNAH ("Sataned", "Accusation", "Enmity", "Adversary"). And he moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. So he called its name REHOBOTH ("space", "widenesses"), because he said, 'For now the LORD has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.'"

For over a hundred years the returned Hebrews have faced quarreling, exploitation, and deprivation over the land God has promised to them. As they have attempted to become rooted, and to re-dig the "wells" of their ancient homeland, they have continued to be accused by the world and to be surrounded by enemies and adversaries. PLEASE PRAY that more and more of returned Israel will come to realize that we will never "make room for ourselves" in this Land. Alone, we have no idea how to come into such a relationship with those already dwelling in the land as will quell the quarreling. We must turn in faith to our LORD, Who alone can "make room for us" (and those yet to come) to become permanently rooted and "fruitful in the Land".

*Malachi 2:7. "For the lips of a priest should preserve and guard knowledge, and people should seek the law from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the LORD of Armies." Revelation 1:6 says that the One who loves us and washed us from our sins in His own blood has made us into a kingdom of priests. As such, our mouths are of exceptional importance-guarding knowledge for release to those seekers with whom God will bring us into contact. The Hebrew word for "messenger" here is exactly the same as that often translated "angel". Angels, besides their positioning in the Armies of the LORD are heavenly messengers sent to "minister to those who will inherit Salvation". As priests before God we are often called to work hand in hand with these supernatural beings. PLEASE PRAY for a keen understanding of our responsibility as priestly messengers of God to His people-and that in the power of the Holy Spirit we move in step with His angels--while keeping a close guard on our tongues.