It was a joy to pray on ZOOM with many of you these past few days for yesterday’s meeting between President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu. A deep-down thanks to each of you who joined us – or who couldn’t join us but prayed anyway.
If you have not yet learned of yesterday’s official press conference with POTUS Trump and PM Netanyahu, and its groundbreaking announcements, you can watch a recording of it here.
Our initial reaction to the press conference is, first and foremost, to thank and praise God for hearing and answering our prayers according to His ways which are perfect – and often well beyond our understanding. We believe our prayers, along with those of countless others, made a difference.
After the press conference, Trump and Netanyahu spoke further over dinner. Details of their discussion have not yet been disclosed. Meanwhile, we wanted to share with you our very general, quick initial thoughts about the press conference, focusing on POTUS Trump’s plan to rebuild Gaza.
First, we rejoice over the strong support President Trump expressed for Israel. We do not take that support for granted. We will keep praying into the Israel-US relationship, that it align with God’s will in the weeks and years ahead.
Given complex practicalities and facts on the ground, we suspect Mr.Trump’s novel notion of America taking over and owning Gaza could be a strategic first step in a negotiation process that will ultimately play out very differently.
If Mr. Trump were actually to execute his startling proposal of rebuilding Gaza into what he described as “The Riviera of the Middle East,” would American ownership of such land, which God allotted to the Jews in Genesis 15:18-21 and elsewhere, represent an unbiblical division of Israeli territory? Could God’s judgment befall the US as a result, according to Joel 3:2 and other Scriptures?
Not necessarily.
We can envision a scenario in which America might hold ground temporarily in a manner where Jews and others could live safely, and with with some level of Jewish governance. How matters might play out would depend on countless, undetermined details.
Is Mr. Trump’s plan, as it was announced last night, realistic? As best we can tell at this early stage, probably not. Here are just a few reasons why:
First, a unilateral claim to Gaza by the US and/or any forced relocation of the Palestinian population, would likely violate international law – as the law has recently been interpreted (or reinterpreted) when Israel is involved. POTUS Trump may not care much about potentially violating international law. But most or all of America’s allies care, as do many Americans.
Second, no Middle East/North African nation has ever willingly sheltered or absorbed refugee Palestinians, as the past 77 years have shown. Many, perhaps even most, so-called innocent Gazans are, or at least were, Hamas collaborators or sympathizers. They represent a threat to the governments of neighboring states, who have already voiced strong opposition to Trump’s plan. Other countries in other parts of the world might be willing to absorb the refugees, but that willingness could come at a very high price.
Third, many Gazans do not want to leave Gaza. Generations of Palestinians have been raised on murderously anti-Semitic, jihadist ideology. With fiery zeal, many still believe their high calling by allah is to occupy not only Gaza but all Israel, from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. Their goal is to establish an Islamist caliphate for the coming of their (false) messiah, the mahdi — or die trying.
HOWEVER, despite what may seem unrealistic, it is always realistic to believe for miracles!
We encourage you to keep praying in faith, hope and love for both Israelis and Gazans. Pray for God’s rebuilding plan to be discerned and implemented, with blessing for all who cooperate with it.
Specific prayer points include:
- God’s will to be done and His kingdom to come to Israel, Gaza and the entire Middle East/North Africa region. (Matthew 6:10)
- Raising up of leaders and divine shifting of times and season only according to God’s purposes, which stand firm and cannot be thwarted. (Psalm 75:6-7, Daniel 2:21. Psalm 33:10-12)
- Protection, peace and the grace of the fear of the Lord on Netanyahu, Trump and other key leaders and decision makers. (Proverbs 9:10)
- The map of the Middle East to be re-drawn on earth as it is in heaven, setting free not only Israeli captives in Gaza, but multitudes of Muslims who have been held captive to Islam. May doors open through new governance for the Gospel of the Kingdom in Israel, Gaza, Judea, Samaria and across the Middle East/North Africa. (Jeremiah 1:10, Deuteronomy 32:8, Luke 4:18-19)
- All the protections afforded by the Blood of the Lamb to be released over Israel and the ekklesia in the Middle East/North Africa as the regional map is re-drawn. (Hebrews 9:14, Revelation 12:11)
- Godly, wise counselors to surround Netanyahu, Trump and other key leaders and decision makers, along with the exposing and neutralizing of evil counsel. (Proverbs 15:22)
- Implementation of God’s specific plans for rebuilding Gaza – if it is to be rebuilt. If POTUS Trump’s plan reflects God’s plan, may it be blessed with great success. If it does not reflect His plan, then may His plan quickly come forth.
- All traps of the enemy in plans to rebuild Gaza to be exposed and defeated. (Psalm 9:15; 35:8)
- All evil globalist, witchcraft, or antichrist schemes through ungodly or false alliances to be repelled by the angel armies of heaven. May any forthcoming alliances between Israel and Arab states be blessed for the sake of the Gospel and for a period of peace before the establishment of end times antichrist structures. (Numbers 23:23, Revelation 13; 17:17, Psalm 2)
- We remain deeply concerned about Iran. Pray for God’s plans to unfold speedily and boldly regarding Iran. There is a window of opportunity at this time to defang the Islamist regime and its nuclear program. May God’s justice be released on Iran in a manner that results in the least amount of collateral damage possible, with the greatest blessing possible. (Jeremiah 49:35-39) Pray Psalm 91 protections over Israel and the US in the days ahead as plans unfold regarding Iran.