This week in Israel:
We are thankful for your prayers last week when our Prime Minister met with the U.S. President. The talk lasted longer than originally scheduled. In a most unusual way, those discussions have remained shrouded in secrecy. Supposedly, there were discussions regarding the Iranian threat, but little more has been leaked of what went on. We know that the Lord heard His people.and we are glad that this week has seen negative reaction from both the U.S. and Europe to the possibility of there being a unilateral Declaration of Independence on the part of the Palestinians.
1. THE "SETTLEMENT" OF GILO
Gilo is a large neighborhood in southwest Jerusalem. With a population of some 40,000 Israelis, it is one of the city's largest suburbs. An area with this name is mentioned in Joshua 15:51 as having been a portion of the tribe of Judah; it is also mentioned in II Samuel 15:12 as the home of Ahithophel, one of David's counselors. Prior to 1948 much of this area was land which had been purchased by Jews. During the War for Independence it was occupied by the Egyptian army which used it as a base for shelling West Jerusalem. Afterwards, it was held by the Kingdom of Jordan until that power was driven out by the Israelis in the 1967 war. At that time the area began to be built up, contiguous to surrounding neighborhoods pre-dating the war. It has now lain within Jerusalem's municipal boundaries for over forty years. During the Second Intifada the community came under heavy gunfire and mortar attacks from Hamas forces taking over nearby Beit Jalla and Bethlehem, resulting in a cement protective barrier being built as protection. It is predominantly Jewish, but does contain some Israeli Arabs. There is also a substantial Messianic Jewish presence there.
This past week controversy erupted in America and Europe because of Israel's plan to build 900 new housing units in the community. Gilo is part of a city; it is not some isolated Jewish settlement out in Judea or Samaria, nor is it one of the large contested "blocks" such as Maale Adumim or Ariel. It is not even a Jewish area located within the parameters of so called "Arab East Jerusalem". Yet as of this week, a daily increasing number of nations appear to be adopting the Palestinian definition of "settlement"-any area developed and populated by Israel within land taken from Jordan or Egypt in the 1967 war. Suddenly this neighborhood has interred internationally into the category of "settlement." As recalled last week, in his Cairo address, President Obama decried the legitimacy of Israeli settlements, calling on Israel that they "stop". On Tuesday White House spokesman Robert Gibbs expressed "dismay" at the decision to build more homes in Gilo. The British Foreign Office followed suit by issuing a statement that, "The Foreign Secretary has been very clear that a credible deal involves Jerusalem as a shared capital. Expanding settlements on occupied land in east Jerusalem makes that deal much harder, so this decision on Gilo is wrong and we oppose it." What makes this statement absurd (and goes a long way to illustrate how a negative foreign policy towards Israel can literally cause blindness) is that Gilo has nothing to do with "east Jerusalem"-it is located in the south-west corner of the city. A similar confusion of fact reportedly came from UN Secretary-General Ki-moon, when he is quoted referring to Gilo as a "settlement" built on territory "conquered from the Palestinians in 1967." This sadly brings into focus a rapidly growing revisionist history which has Israel "conquering" Palestinians in 1967. In truth, the only armies fought against and defeated in that war were Egypt, Jordan and Syria. As of this writing, the European Union, China and (of course) Iran have joined in the chorus of disapproval.
If Israel cannot build in Gilo, neither can it build in other flourishing Jewish areas of Jerusalem built after the Six Day War; areas such as Ramot Eshkol, French Hill, Pisgat Ze'ev, or East Talpiot. At present Prime Minister Netanyahu appears to be standing his ground against this new pressure from outside, as is Jerusalem's mayor Nir Birkat, who states that he will not halt construction in any part of the capital-"Israeli law does not discriminate between Arabs and Jews or between east and west of the city.The demand to cease construction just for Jews is illegal, also in the United States and any other enlightened place in the world. It is inconceivable that the U.S. government would demand a construction freeze in the U.S. based on race religion or sex, and the attempt to demand this from Jerusalem constitutes a double standard that is unacceptable. The Jerusalem municipality will continue to enable construction in every part of the city for Jews and Arabs alike."
As nations begin more and more to focus disapproval on Israel and in particular on her relationship to the ancient capitol over which she claims sovereignty-we would call Believers to pay close attention to what is written about this city throughout the Prophecy of Zechariah: The LORD is "jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with great zeal"; He is "returning to Jerusalem with mercy"; He will "again comfort Zion and will again choose Jerusalem."This last is repeated over and over; in fact, mention of this "choosing of Jerusalem" is part of the Word which actually defeats satan in Zechariah 3:2!
PLEASE PRAY:
*A mantle of integrity, courage and heavenly guidance over PM Netanyahu and Mayor Birkat as they are faced with enormous pressures over the decisions they must make over the Holy City.
*Zechariah 12:10 over the citizens of Gilo-that a spirit of Grace and Supplication be poured out. Pray for faith, hope and love-and release of vision and the unction of the Holy Spirit in the Messianic body of that city to spread the good news of Messiah.
*That "Jerusalem will be inhabited as a town without walls"-as God enlarges it according to His Word and purposes, and that He will be a "wall of fire all around her, and the glory in her midst" (Zechariah 2:4-5).
This week's Torah Portion:
From ancient times there has been a weekly portion from the five books of Moses (The Torah) and from the prophets (Haftarah-final reading) read on the Sabbath in synagogues around the world. This portion is given a Hebrew name taken from the opening words of the 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 Haftarah 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 November 15-21 are called Toldot : "Geneology"-of Isaac, and include:
TORAH: Genesis 25:19-28:9
HAFTARAH: Malachi 1:1-2:7
*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 wife was discovered 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: Yeshuah), 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 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--and keep a close guard on our tongues.
TORAH and HAFTARAH portions for next week: Genesis 28:10-32:2; Hosea 12:12-14:9.
