Pray for Israel

Israel.  The Chosen People and the Promised Land of scripture stand as testaments to the faithfulness of God’s promises.  Despite having very limited natural resources, Israelis have developed thriving agricultural and industrial sectors in less than twenty years.  Home to many historically and religiously significant Christian, Muslim, and Jewish sites, the capital city of Jerusalem has been conquered and reconquered for over 3,000 years, which has left the “Old City” quite divided.  The capital is not the only partitioned area of Israel, though, as most of the nation still reflects an ancient and violent rift between the Palestinian and Jewish communities that has only deepened through the centuries.

Despite various attempts to reconcile differences and settle land partitions, nothing has stymied the aggression between the Arab and Jewish peoples.  Each side of the issue views the other as the aggressor.  Palestinians believe the Jews are unlawfully occupying their homeland, whereas the Jews feel the land they are taking is theirs despite being exiled for thousands of years.  After multiple armed conflicts and nearly as many failed peace accords, resolution is still far from being reached.  Due to the conflict, Palestinians within Israel tend to be viewed with suspicion and are not fully accepted.  On top of the ethnic and religious disputes, cocaine, ecstasy, and heroin are increasingly trafficked from Jordan and Lebanon.|The Torah is viewed as both a historical record and religious law.  Freedom of religion is a legal right, but is not always respected as Messianic Jews still struggle for political recognition.  Christians are often harassed by conservative Jews and Muslims alike.  Seventy-five percent of the population follows Judaism, with barely two percent Christian and the rest Muslim.  Even in the face of animosity, the gospel is being spread and interest for the Word of God is increasing.  The most powerful witness has been the testimony of Christian Jews as they are able to minister to their lost brothers and sisters in ways that the rest of the world cannot.  As house churches grow, God’s grace is empowering and encouraging the evangelical leaders to spread the good news that Messiah has come and is coming back soon.