This week in Israel:
Hanukkah December 12-19
This week in Israel:
1. THE MEETING IN BRUSSELS
"The LORD nullifies the counsel of the nations; He frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of His heart from generation to generation" (Psalm 33:10-11).
Thank you for your prayers last week concerning the EU meeting in Brussels at which the ministers from Sweden put forth an initiative designed to trigger an EU policy statement declaring East Jerusalem the capital of a future Palestinian State, and suggesting that the EU would recognize a unilateral Declaration of Independence by the Palestinians. In the end, the initiative fell far short of its desired purpose-the resulting EU statement an embarrassingly watered-down version which changed very little if any policy factors towards Israel or the Palestinians.
PLEASE PRAY:
* For God to guide our leaders in administrating a wise and humane oversight of the lands over which He has granted Israel stewardship.
* For Benyamin Netanyahu in navigating the thorny issues with which his administration is faced-that he will know what are God's priorities for the present regarding the people and nation over which He has granted him leadership.
* For believers to humble themselves to seek God on Mr Netanyahu's behalf, rather than automatically judging his every move according to their personal inclinations.
* For God's Kingdom to come in East Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, the Golan Heights, Gaza and all of the area He calls "The Holy Earth" in Zechariah 2:12.
2. HANUKKAH CONTINUES
The Festival of Lights continues in Israel. There are tours going through religious areas of town to see the Hanukkah Menorahs (Hanukkiot) sparkling in the windows-much like people in the west will drive around decorated neighborhoods at Christmastide. It is a time for thinking about light-and seeking the light. Unfortunately, every "light" is not the "true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world" (John 1:9). One Orthodox religious organization has organized a "group of righteous Torah scholars to visit 90 graves [of revered rabbis] in one day and to pray on your behalf at each and every one of them.the cost.is $72." PLEASE PRAY FOR REVELATION IN ISRAEL ON THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD WHO IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD.
Yesterday (Sunday) began the annual two-and-a-half day Katzir (Harvest) Hanukkah Youth Conference. This gathering for worship and prayer, teaching, small-group discussion and group recreation is now completely indigenous. Over 100 Israeli teens have gathered from around Israel. The leaders are mostly young Israeli adults who were once involved in these conferences during their teens, have now come through the military and into their higher education or careers-yet have a desire to help and bless those coming behind!
The theme this year is based on the Book of Nehemiah, "Arise and Build!"
PLEASE PRAY:
*For the speakers to share exactly what the Spirit is desiring to say to the youth of Israel at this time.
*For the young adult leaders who lead and speak into the lives of these youth.
*For lives to be changed so that the teens attending develop an ever deepening relationship with the God and Messiah of Israel.
*For God's angels to protect this conference/retreat from interference by the enemy-and for protection as the young people return to their homes.
*For the Holy Spirit to bring what has been released to life in these teens after they return to their schools.
3. FRIDAY IS ROSH CHODESH TEVET
Friday is the Head (Rosh Chodesh) of the Hebrew month Tevet (or Tebeth). The month is mentioned only once by name in the Hebrew Bible, Esther 2:16-17:
"So Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus, into his royal palace, in the tenth month, which is the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. The king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so he set the royal crown upon her head and made her queen instead of Vashti."
It is a month in which God in His precise timing granted grace to
*A chosen Jewish maiden of character through the agency of her godly uncle Mordechai -
* bringing her into favour and influence with Persian (i.e. Iranian) royalty-
* for the eventual purpose of uncovering and defusing a plot to exterminate the Hebrew people.
This "plot" begins to manifest in Ch 3:10 as the king (Esther 3:10) gives his signet ring to the evil Haman.whose intent is to destroy the Jews. In the end, Haman is himself destroyed and that signet ring of authority transferred to the godly Mordecai (Esther 8:2). In this very week's Torah Portion (Gen. 41:1-44;17), an Egyptian king hundreds of years earlier, removes his signet ring and places it on the hand of Joseph, who will be used to save the Hebrew people from the famine which is to come.
PLEASE PRAY:
*Thanksgiving to God for His faithful care and blessings over us during the past month of Kislev.
*For grace over Israel during this coming month of Tevet; for vision, hope, encouragement and guidance for believers here to walk in the ways God has prepared for them this month.
*For protection and nurture of those whom God is raising up "for such a time as this."
*Psalm 25:22: That God "redeem Israel out of all his troubles."-that He uncover plots, and hear and turn the threats of a new leading figure in Persia (Iran) who has publically advocated the destruction of Jews in Israel.
*That "Josephs" and "Mordecais" and "Esthers" be sustained through tempering trials to the day when they may be raised into positions of governmental authority and influence which will release God's favour and protection over His people Israel.
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 December 13-19 are called Miketz "at the end of two years'-time, Pharaoh had a dream.", and include:
TORAH: Genesis 41:1-44:17
HAFTARAH HANUKKAH II: I Kings 7:40-50
*Genesis 41:1; 15-16. "Then it came to pass, at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh had a dream.And Pharaoh said to Joseph, 'I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream, to interpret it.' So Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, 'It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.'"
PLEASE PRAY: That the LORD release dreams into our leaders-which can only be interpreted by those whom He has prepared. Pray that the Lord raise up young men and women who will be filled with His Spirit, and who will be able supernaturally (in a rationalistic age) to give our Prime Minister and other leaders "an answer of Shalom."
[The Torah and Haftarah portions for next week (20-26 Dec "Way'yiggash") will be: Genesis 44:18-47:27; Ezekiel 37:15-28]
next week (13-19 Dec "Miketz") will be: Genesis 41:1-44:17; I Kings 7:40-50]
