This week in Israel:
This week we have chosen to center our prayer suggestions round the portions from the Torah Readings.
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 22-28 are called VaYetzeh "And [Jacob] Went Out"-and include:
TORAH: Genesis 28:10-32:2
HAFTARAH: Hosea 12:12-14:9
The ANGELS of GOD
This Torah Portion begins and ends with "The Angels of God"
*Genesis 28:12. At Bethel (In present-day Samaria). Jacob has the eyes of his heart opened in a dream to see the angels ascending and descending upon a ladder which has been 'set up'. We would suggest that that ladder or 'portal' (vs. 17: a "gate of heaven") had been established in the worship and praise of his grandfather Abraham years before (Gen 12:8; 13:3-4). Jacob, like Elisha's servant (II Kings 6:17) and Nathanael (John 1:51) was granted a glimpse into the heavenly comings and goings of these holy beings. Although they did not speak, he was made aware of their presence.
*Genesis 31:11. In Haran (Present-day southeastern Turkey). Again in a dream, this time "the Angel of God" speaks to him, assuring him of God's awareness of his circumstances. It then becomes God's voice for directing him that it is time to leave one location and go to another. Centuries later, Joseph would find himself directed similarly by an angel in a dream (Matthew 2:13; 19-20).
*Genesis 32:1-2. In Gilead (East of the Jordan River in present-day Jordan). This time Jacob is met by the angels in person-not in a dream. Perhaps the 20 hard years in Haran had in fact resulted in a spiritual maturing, allowing for a progression in his movement in spiritual spheres. His grandfather Abraham seems to have moved comfortably and with confidence in these holy realms, experiencing appearances of the Lord Himself, as well as those of angels. Although we are not told what transpired in this meeting, it resulted in Jacob realizing that he was safe in "God's Camp" and these beings he had seen while sleeping twenty years before, were real and had been sent to meet him at his return (cf: "The angel of the LORD encircles all those who fear Him, and delivers them."-Ps. 34:7).
"Paga"
It is interesting that in both holy meetings, that in Bethel (28:11, Jacob "came to" a certain place) and that in Gilead (32:1, the angels of God "met" him), the word used for "came to" and "meeting" is Hebrew paga. Those of you who have been exposed to Pastor Dutch Sheets' teachings will know that this is the Hebrew root related to our English word "Intercession." Intercession is first of all not "prayer" (although that may be involved)-it is rather a "meeting", an "encounter", a "connection" with God on behalf of the release of His purposes here on earth. It can also mean "hitting the mark" or "lighting upon"-as when we pray in the spirit, and the powers of Heaven are released to "light upon" the one for whom or the situation for which we intercede. The opportunities for such "connection" may be waiting for us-as when Jacob "came to" Bethel-or they may come to us, as when the Angels were sent to meet him in Gilead.
PLEASE PRAY:
*For growth and maturity of the Israeli Body of Messiah in the understanding of and cooperation with God's heavenly messengers, whether in dreams or waking encounters.
*For ancient heavenly portals/gates in Israel, to be discovered and reopened in our own times.
*For growth in spiritual discernment-so that when given a directive from heaven, we will not hesitate but know, and be able to get up and move instantly.
*For deep awareness of the spiritual encampments around us-a knowledge that the armies of our God are far greater and more numerous than those of our enemies.
*For strong, sound, authoritative teaching in the Body in Israel on Intercession-how to be prepared, how to know when we are being drawn into it, and how to quit ourselves skillfully and well during those times of releasing His will "on earth as it is in Heaven."
The God of Bethel
*Genesis 28:13-15. "And behold, YHVH (The LORD) stood above it and said: 'I am the LORD God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your seed. Also your seed shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad (Hebrew: Burst Forth/Break Through) to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; and I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.'"
The land on which Jacob was lying is located north of Jerusalem in the midst of an area in which Muslims and much of the world are demanding establishment of a permanent Palestinian "state". Yet this location is part of the exact area that "the God of Bethel" (31:13) has reserved for the seed of Jacob. When He promised here not to " leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you", we take the promise to still remain in effect for the Hebrew people. He will not leave them until they occupy that land-and are being a blessing to all the families of the earth (includingthe non-Hebrews living in and around them).
Although we have no problem with believers using "Bethel" as a symbol from which sound spiritual principles may be drawn, we question this being done to the exclusion of any concern whatsoever for God's desire that His Word and Will be physically fulfilled there.
PLEASE PRAY.that the Orthodox Jews living on "settlements" in that area will have revelation of the Living Word, Yeshua (Jesus)-that He is the One who "stood above the ladder" and spoke to Jacob. PRAY that God would, even as He did to Jacob, meet with them there in dreams and visions, that they would come into their true Inheritance-and "burst forth" with the Gospel to the "east and west, north and south!" PRAY that their light will shine and Palestinian Arabs surrounding them will come to that light. PLEASE PRAY that the heavenly portal, the "Gate of Heaven" opened by Abraham and Jacob in Bethel would be reopened in our day!
The Fear of Isaac
*Genesis 31:42a, 53b. "Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had been with me . . .And Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac."
Relatively little is written in the Hebrew Scriptures about Isaac. He comes across as a gentle man, quietly going about Canaan digging and re-digging wells (Ch 26). Yet we must remember that he was a man of meditation in the presence of "the Living One Who sees me" (24:62-63). And, as the above passage makes clear, though his name meant laughter, his delight was, like the Messiah whom he prefigured, "in the Fear of the Lord" (Isaiah 11:3). This fear of the LORD served to strike terror into his enemies and made an impression on all with whom he came in contact-including his headstrong and conniving son Jacob. Perhaps it was knowledge and experience of his father's godly fear which enabled Jacob to feel and recognize the awe when he awoke at Bethel (28:17). 20 years later, when Laban would swear by both Abraham's God and Nahor's pagan deities, Isaac's reverence for the One God was still guiding him (31:53). Wrestlings and new knowledge of the Holy were still to come, but there would arrive a time when Jacob would go forth, as had his father, and as he journeyed "the terror of God would be upon the cities round about" (35:5).
PLEASE PRAY for Knowledge and Awe of the Holy among believers in Israel.that we would rediscover the walk of Isaac-the Joy of the Lord our Strength and Laughter.the Fear of the Lord the spring of our Wisdom.
[The Torah and Haftarah portions for next week (29 Nov-5 Dec) will be: Genesis 32:3-36:43; Obadiah 1:1-21]
