Heaven’s Heartbeat - A Call to Pray for and Bless Israel
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As believers, our sacred duty is to pray for and bless the nation, land and people of Israel, anchoring ourselves in the unchanging promises of God’s Word. In a world where self-serving politicians, biased media voices, and hostile ideologies sway opinions, we must stand firm on Scripture, which reveals God’s eternal covenant with His chosen people.
Today, Israel faces not only historical prejudices but also the growing evils of antisemitism and radical Islam, which conspire globally to undermine and destroy the Jewish state. As the Church, we are called to intercede, love, and proclaim truth in the face of these threats.
The Persistent Evil of Antisemitism
Antisemitism is a pervasive and ancient evil that has plagued humanity for centuries, from Haman, Herod and Hitler, this evil is often cloaked in religious, cultural, or political guises. From the pogroms of medieval Europe to the Holocaust’s unspeakable atrocities, the Jewish people have endured relentless persecution. This hatred persists today, manifesting in violent attacks, discriminatory policies, and subtle biases in media and academia. Globally, antisemitic incidents are rising—synagogues are vandalized, Jewish communities are threatened, and online platforms amplify hateful rhetoric. This evil distorts God’s heart for His people and seeks to delegitimize Israel’s right to exist as a sovereign nation.
The Threat of Radical Islam
Compounding this is the growing threat of radical Islam, which explicitly calls for Israel’s destruction. Extremist ideologies, propagated by terrorist organizations and their state sponsors, fuel violence and instability in the Middle East and beyond.
Groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and others openly advocate for the annihilation of Israel, launching rockets, inciting terror, and promoting propaganda that dehumanizes Jews.
These movements, often supported by international groups, reject peace and seek to eradicate Israel through both physical and ideological warfare. This radical agenda is not merely a political conflict but a spiritual battle that opposes God’s purposes for His chosen people.
“The Lord will never slumber nor sleep; he is the Guardian-God for his people, Israel.”
(TPT) Psalms 121:4
The Dangers of Replacement Theology
During a return flight from Israel via Copenhagen, I first encountered Replacement Theology, a doctrine as pervasive as it is misleading. At its core, it claims the Church has replaced Israel as God’s chosen people, inheriting all the blessings, promises, and covenants originally given to Israel. This theology has fueled centuries of antisemitism, providing a pseudo-spiritual justification for persecution. Historically, it has led to horrific consequences. Martin Luther, influenced by this doctrine, incited the burning of synagogues and wrote vitriolic anti-Semitic tracts. During the Spanish Inquisition, Church officials subjected Jewish “heretics” to unimaginable cruelty, including being roasted alive in brick ovens. The Crusades, medieval pogroms, and even modern anti-Semitic movements have roots in this theology, which dismisses Israel’s enduring role in God’s plan.
Replacement Theology not only distorts Scripture but also aligns with the same spirit of antisemitism that fuels hatred today. By denying Israel’s covenantal significance, it emboldens those who seek to marginalize or destroy the Jewish people, whether through physical violence or ideological attacks. As believers, we must reject this error and affirm God’s unchanging commitment to Israel.
Jesus and the Pharisees: Confronting Self-Righteousness
Some point to Jesus’ critiques of the Pharisees as evidence against Israel’s significance. Our Lord’s words in Matthew 23:2-3, however, clarify His stance: “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the Scriptures. So practice and obey whatever they say to you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach” (NLT). Jesus was not rejecting the Jewish people but confronting self-righteousness—a sin He challenges in all of us. His ministry was rooted in love for His people, fulfilling the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 5:17). Far from endorsing division, Jesus calls us to unity and love, a call that extends to the Jewish people.
The Church’s Call to Love and Share the Gospel
The New Testament unequivocally instructs the Church to love and honor the Jewish people. Romans 1:16 declares the gospel is “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (NLT). Ephesians 2:11-18 emphasizes reconciliation, breaking down the “dividing wall of hostility” between Jews and Gentiles through Christ’s sacrifice. Paul’s passion for his people is undeniable in Romans 10:1: “Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is that the Jewish people might be saved” (NLT).
In Romans 9–11, Paul articulates God’s promised plan for Israel. He writes in Romans 11:25-27: “I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and sisters, so that you will not feel proud and start bragging. Some of the Jews have hard hearts, but this will last only until the complete number of Gentiles comes to Christ. And so all Israel will be saved. Do you remember what the prophets said about this? ‘A Deliverer will come from Jerusalem, and he will turn Israel from all ungodliness. And then I will keep my covenant with them and take away their sins’” (NLT). This passage underscores God’s faithfulness to His covenant, promising Israel’s ultimate redemption despite current challenges.
God’s Unchanging Promises
The most compelling assurance comes in Romans 11:1 "I ask, then, has God rejected his own people, the nation of Israel? Of course not!" (NLT).
In V-29, Paul continues to refer to Israel, stating, “For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn” (NLT). If God were to revoke His promises to Israel, what assurance would the Church have that He would not do the same to us? God’s character is unchanging, as Jeremiah 31:35-37 powerfully affirms:
“It is the LORD who provides the sun to light the day and the moon and stars to light the night. It is he who stirs the sea into roaring waves. His name is the LORD Almighty, and this is what he says: ‘I am as likely to reject my people Israel as I am to do away with the laws of nature! Just as the heavens cannot be measured and the foundation of the earth cannot be explored, so I will not consider casting them away forever for their sins. I, the LORD, have spoken!’” (NLT).
This passage likens God’s covenant with Israel to the immutable laws of nature. Just as the sun rises and the seas roar, God’s promises to Israel remain steadfast. To doubt this is to question the very faithfulness of God, whose Word is eternal.
The Spiritual Battle for Israel
The global conspiracy of antisemitism and radical Islam is not merely a political or cultural issue but a spiritual battle. Ephesians 6:12 reminds us, “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world” (NLT). The forces seeking Israel’s destruction oppose God’s redemptive plan, which includes both Jew and Gentile. As believers, we must engage in this battle through prayer, truth and love, standing against hatred and division.
Our Response as Believers
As followers of Christ, we are called to align our hearts with God’s. This means:
Praying fervently for Israel’s protection, prosperity, and salvation, especially in the face of rising antisemitism and radical Islamic threats.
Rejecting antisemitism in all its forms—historical, modern, overt, or subtle—and condemning ideologies that seek Israel’s destruction.
Sharing the gospel with Jewish people, as Paul modeled, with humility and love.
Studying Scripture to understand God’s unchanging plan for Israel and the Church.
Advocating for truth against propaganda that distorts Israel’s history and legitimacy.
We are called to pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6) and to bless Israel, as God commanded Abraham’s descendants (Genesis 12:3). By doing so, we reflect the heart of our Savior, who wept over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41) and longs for all to come to Him.
A Call to Action
Brothers and sisters, let us stand firm in God’s Word in these hazardous days, resisting voices of hate aimed at the Jew for being Jewish. Let’s stand against the evils of antisemitism and radical Islam that seek to undermine God’s purposes—remembering that His promises to Israel are eternal.
As the Church, we must be a beacon of hope, praying without ceasing, loving without reservation, and trusting in the God who keeps His promises forever. Let us commit to being ambassadors of reconciliation, proclaiming the gospel to Jew and Gentile alike, and standing with Israel in this critical hour.
My friend Udi, from Jerusalem, sent me this photo of his breathtaking painting last week:
“My shepherd is faithful! I know it!!, I believe it!!!, but since others have abandoned me, I check from time to time that he is still there.” - Udi
