Dear People Who Keep Company With God,
When the Lord revealed the Father’s heart to me in 2003, He also spoke to me concerning His love and heart for Israel. Becky and I have personally supported and prayed for Israel our entire Christian life so it was not a new revelation that Israel is on the Father’s heart, rather, I felt He was emphasizing and revealing the priority that Israel has in His heart.
There is a belief in certain streams of Christianity called replacement theology, which views God’s relationship with Christians as being either the “replacement” or “completion” of the promises made to Israel. In my view you would have to remove Romans 11 from the Bible to even believe such a thing. Israel is on God’s heart and He desires for Israel to be on our hearts.
Here are some basic understandings that give perspective on how we should relate to and think about Israel and the Jewish people.
May all who hate Zion be put to shame and turned backward. Psalms 129:5
The Bible and world history prove that any nation that opposes God’s heart and love for Israel will ultimately be brought down. It seems our nation is moving more and more away from supporting Israel; we should be very concerned about this, as eventually our nation will lose the favor and blessing God has given us. I also believe this applies to us individually and to local congregations. The Body of Christ should love and cherish the nation of Israel, as Jesus Christ came in the flesh as a Jew. The Bible also promises any individual, congregation or nation that alignswith God’s heart and love for Israel will be blessed and prospered (Psalms 122:6).
“Comfort, O comfort My people,” says your God. 2 “Speak kindly to Jerusalem; Isaiah 40:1-2
Regardless of our political views or personal opinions concerning Israel and the Jewish people we are called by God to comfort His people and He tells us how to do this, by speaking kindly to and about Jerusalem. We cannot excuse the sins and error of the Jewish people as with any people group, but if you will notice many believers have little tolerance and grace for Jewish people, and the church worldwide has been and is currently overly critical of Israel. That is really wrong and it only hurts us. If you take a close look at the rest of Isaiah 40 you will discover the whole chapter is about preparation for the coming of the Lord. Comforting the Jewish people is the first thing God says to do to prepare for His coming. I believe this speaks of the literal second coming of Christ and also of the coming moves of the Holy Spirit that will precede the return of Christ. It is apparent that comforting the Jewish people is a key to the greatest revival and awakening the world will ever see.
“For I, the Lord, am your healer.” Exodus 15:26
I believe it is significant that the first revelation that God gave Israel of Himself after He delivered them from Egypt was that He was their healer. God never changes and thousands of years later, when Jesus came to Israel as the Savior and Redeemer, He came “doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil” Acts 10:38. Every time we pray for the sick or for breakthrough in a person’s life we are declaring God’s healing nature and healing covenant with Israel. It is no wonder there is such opposition and abuse concerning healing and deliverance ministry. Healing is about the very nature and goodness of the Lord toward Israel first, and then all people.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Psalms 122:6
Many Blessings, BW