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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: Oct. 4, 2024
Ponderings and Praise
God is faithful and keeps covenant, but He expects people to keep faith with Him. In Deut. 32:48-52, God told Moses that he would see the promised land but not enter it. The reason? It was because Moses had broken faith with Him in the midst of the sons of Israel at the waters of Merib-kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin. Moses had not treated God as holy. The incident is recorded in Numbers 20: 1-13. The people complained to Moses that there was no water. God told Moses to speak to the rock and water would gush forth. Instead, Moses called the people rebels and asked if water should be brought forth from the rock. He struck the rock twice. He did not speak to it, as the Lord had told him to.
Moses could not enter the promised land – despite his faithfulness, despite the fact that he had led the people for years, despite the fact that Moses had pleaded for the people before God when God was so angry he wanted to smite the people and make Moses a great nation (Numbers 14:1-38). Moses’ argued that the Lord should forgive his people, because if He killed them in the wilderness the nations would think that God could not bring them into the promised land. Moses’ argument was about God’s fame among the nations.
God is still using Israel to increase His fame among the nations. He is also still calling people to sanctify God as holy among others. I have thought about how I treat my Lord and Savior. I have thought about how I treat others. I have not thought about how I treat my Lord and Savior in the midst of others. This story is a reminder that I am to treat the Lord as holy as I do my every day tasks, as I deal with those people that I deal with.
Prayer: God increase your fame among the nations and among those I come in contact with. Amen.
Murray’s Musings
In this week’s Haftorah, Hosea 14:2-9, we see the compassion of the Lord. Even though the Israelites rebellion is obvious, God’s forgiveness is so much more so. Ephraim is broken and in repentance. The Lord’s gentle correction is so filled with comfort, verse 8 particularly. So. The Lord’s conclusion is so filled with wisdom. Verse 9 says “whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them, for the ways of the LORD are right and the righteous will walk in them, but transgressors will stumble in them.
In the end, do you want to stumble or walk? Let His wisdom be with you.
Prayer Points:
(All scriptures NASB, unless otherwise stated)
1. Salvation of the Jews
Scripture: Deut. 33: 28, 29: So Israel dwells in security, the fountain of Jacob secluded, in a land of grain and new wine; His heavens also drop down dew. Blessed are you, O Israel; who is like you, a people saved by the LORD, who is the shield of your help and the sword of your majesty! So your enemies will cringe before you, and you will tread upon their high places.
Prayer: Father, let the people of Israel see how You are protecting them, even as they have to flee to bomb shelters. Be a shield round about them and wield the sword of Your majesty in the defense. 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 126, 1, 2: When the LORD brought back the captive ones of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter and our tongue with joyful shouting; then they said among the nations, the LORD has done great things for them.
Prayer: LORD, as You bring Your captive ones back to the land may Your jyr fill them and let their lips praise you. Amen.
3. Israel Society
Some Jewish people read the Parshah, the weekly Torah portion.
Reading for Oct. 5, 2024:
Par shah: Deut. 32:1 - 52
Maf: Deut. 32: 48-52
The Haftarah (Half Torah) Reading: Hosea 14:2-10,
Also Joel 2:15-27 and Micah 7:18-20
Scripture: Deut. 32:48-52: The LORD spoke to Moses that very same day, saying, “Go up to this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab opposite Jericho, and look at the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the sons of Israel for a possession. Then die on the mountain where you ascend, and be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother died on Mont Hor and was gathered to his people, because you broke faith with Me in the midst of the sons of Israel at the waters of Meribah-kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin, because you did not treat Me as holy in the midst of the sons of Israel. For you shall see the land at a distance, but you shall not go up there, into the land which I am giving the sons of Israel.”
Also: Deut. 32:10: He (God) found him (Israel) in a desert land, and in the howling waster of a wilderness; He encircled him, He cared for him, He guarded him as the pupil of His eye.
Prayer: Father, we thank You for how You are guarding Israel. Please draw Your people back to yourself. Help the leadership, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, treat You as holy in the midst of the sons of Israel. Let Israel finish the job You have given them to do. Let the nations rise up in support of Israel at this time. Amen.
News:
- 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.
A) The War
Scripture: Deut. 32:35: “Vengeance is Mine, and retribution, in due time their foot will slip; for the day of their calamity is near, and the impending things are hastening upon them.
See also Deut. 32:39-42
Joel 2:18: Then the LORD will be zealous for His land and will have pity on His people.
Prayer: Father, let there be repentance among Isreal’s enemies and let them humble themselves before the God of Israel. Thank You for how you are protecting Israel. Amen.
News:
-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Iran had made “a big mistake” by attacking Israel on Tuesday and would “pay the price.”
-IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen Herzi Halevi, who spoke Wednesday, stated Israel’s military has the capability ‘to reach and strike any point in the Middle East,” adding that the approximately 200 missiles Iran had fired on Tuesday, targeted civilian areas.
-The attack damaged buildings in various parts of the country, with the army acknowledging that airbases had been hit, but called the damage (ineffective.” (Times of Israel)
-In Judea and Samara, (also known as the West Bank) a Palestinian man was killed when he was hit by shrapnel from the Tuesday missile attack. Two Israelis were also injured.
-Iran has said that the attack was in retaliation for the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Revolutionary Guard General Abbas Nilforoushan, who were both killed last week in Beirut and Ismail Haniyeh, a Hamas leader, who was killed in July.
-The IDF killed Muhammad Ja’far, head of Hezbollah’s Unti 4400, which delivers weapons from Iran to Lebanon and the commander of the Imam Hossein Division, part of an Iranian militia.
-Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed during operation “New Order” in Beirut on Tuesday. Others killed include Ali Karaki, the commander of Hezbollah’s southern front, Muhammad Yousef Anisi, a top official in Hezbollah’s weapons production division, and Nilforoushan (mentioned above.)
-The IDF also said that anti-ship missiles were destroyed in the Beirut air strikes. The strikes took out six warehouses where the missiles were stored.
- IDF and families:
News:
-Eight Israeli soldiers were killed by Hezbollah terrorists as the terror group bombarded border areas with close to 300 rockets over the past 24 hours. Six of the soldiers were killed in a single battle. They are Cpt. Eitan Itzhak Oster (22), Cpt. Harel Etinger (23), Sgt. First Class Noam Barzilay (22), Sgt. First Class Or Mantzur (21), Sgt. First Class Nazar Itkin (21) and Cpt. Itai Ariel Giat (23). These soldiers were part of the Egoz and Yahalom commando units and fought under the 98th division. Two soldiers from the Golani Brigade reconnaissance unit, Staff Sgt. Alemken Terefe (21), and Staff Sgt. Ido Broyer (21), were killed in a second firefight.
-The Hostages and Their Families:
Prayer: Lord, protect and comfort the remaining hostages that are alive. Comfort all the hostages’ families and the former hostages who are recovering from their experiences in captivity. Amen.
-Gaza Front
News:
-On Monday, Fateh Sherif, the commander of Hamas forces in Lebanon was killed in the city of Tyre. He coordinated “the activities of Hamas from Lebanon with Hezbollah elements” according to the IDF. He also recruited operatives and purchased weapons. He was the principal of UNRWA’s Deir Yassin School in Tyre.
-Judea/Samaria Front (aka the West Bank)
News:
-18 people were killed in an IDF airstrike in Tulkarem according to the Palestinian Authority health ministry.
-Other areas of Israel:
News:
-Hamas has claimed responsibility for a deadly terror shooting in Jaffa.
-No injuries were reported after 10 rockets were fired at the Haifa Bay area from Lebanon. Some rockets were intercepted and the rest struck open areas.
- Lebanon/Hezbollah Front
News:
-Lebanese media reported airstrikes in the southern suburbs of Beirut on Thursday. The Lebanese health ministry reported that 46 people were killed in an Israeli strike, with 85 people wounded in the past 24 hours.
The IDF had called on Lebanese civilians to evacuate immediately before hitting the Dahiyeh, a known Hezbollah stronghold in southern Beirut.
--Hezbollah is said to be hesitant to tap a new leader, fearing that Israeli infiltration risks the successor.
-Israel began a limited ground invasion of Lebanon on Monday. Its purpose is to remove the threat that Hezbollah poses and allow the northern residents of Israel to return to their homes.
-also see “News;” under the B) War section
- Yemen/Houthi Front
News:
-Israel’s Air Force has responded to recent ballistic missile attacks by Houthi terrorists. The IAF bombed targets near Yemen’s Hodeidah port (located 1,800 km or 1,100 miles from Israel) on Sunday, including power plants and a seaport which is used to import oil and transfer Iranian weapons to the region.
-Iran:
News:
-Iran fired 180 ballistic missiles toward Israel in an hour-long attack on Tuesday, targeting every part of it. There were no reported Israeli deaths. The Arabs celebrated the attack on Israel.
-An Arab in the Jericho region of Gaza was killed by a missile. Unconfirmed reports state that five Iranians were killed and 12 wounded while they were launching a ballistic missile.
-Syria:
-Hassam Qassir was killed in an Israeli strike in Damascus. He is the brother of deceased senior Hezbollah commander Muhammad Ja’far and according to various media reports, the son-in-law of Nasrallah.
4. The Middle East
Scripture: Micah 7:18-20: Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in unchanging love. He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities under foot. Yes, You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. You will give truth to Jacob and unchanging love to Abraham, which You swore to our forefathers from the days of old.
Prayer: Father, let the middle eastern nations see and understand that you are blessing Israel. Help them bring themselves into alignment with that. Amen.
-Iran:
News:
-The Ayatollah went into a secure location after finding out about the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Please pray that the Muslims would understand that if their Supreme Leader must hide in a secure location, then Allah is not supreme. Prayer: Please Lord, use the situation of Iran’s Supreme Leader being in a ‘secure location’ to open the eyes of the Muslims that Allah is not supreme. Let Jesus appear to many Muslims. Amen.
-Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian pledged a stronger response if Israel responds to the missile attack. He was speaking at a press conference in Qatar.
5. The World:
Scripture: Psalm 96:10: Say among the nations, “the LORD reigns; Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved; He will judge the peoples with equity.”
Prayer: Father, let the nations understand that there is a God in Heaven and that He rules on the earth. Let the nations kiss the Son. Amen.
A) The UN:
News:
-The G7 countries have expressed their concern over the crisis in the Middle East, calling for all players to “act responsibly and with restraint.” They reiterated their commitment to the security of Israel. The G7 countries include The United States, Britain, Canada, Italy, France, Germany and Japan.
-Israeli UN Ambassador Danny Danon called Iran a “very real and present danger to the world” at a UN Security Council meeting on Thursday.
-Iranian Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani said the launch of the missiles was to “restore balance” after Israel’s recent attacks on Iranian proxies. Iran has also claimed the attack was in response to the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Revolutionary Guard Gen. Abbas Nilforoushan, last week in Beirut.
-Russia’s UN envoy Vassily Nebenzia praised Iran’s “exceptional: restrain in recent months.
B) The US:
News:
-US President Joe Biden stated Wednesday that he opposes Israel striking Iran’s nuclear facilities, stating that Israel should respond “proportionally” to the attacks on it. (Iran fired 181 ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday.) He added that sanctions would be imposed on Iran. Pray that Israel’s leadership, both in government and the military, would hear from God and obey Him, and not be pressured by any outside countries.
-The US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell called Tehran’s attack on Israel “deeply irresponsible” and that a “return message” was needed. He expressed the US’s concern over Israel’s limited invasion of Lebanon on Monday.
-The US State Department rejected Iran’s claim that the attack was a response to a violation of its sovereignty in the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, a Hamas leader.
-The US is leading the world in calling for a 21-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. (Hezbollah, who is fighting Israel is in control of southern Lebanon, but is not officially the Lebanese government.) Nations that have joined the call for the ceasefire include Canada, France, Australia, Qatar and the United Kingdom.
Compiled by Katherine Carswell, Aided by Murray Carswell (Canada)
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