Years ago, a well-known worship song was written and called, “Just Give Me Jesus.” As I (Sandra) begin this letter to you, my heart is stirred to just give you Jesus – or at least more of Him – in the paragraphs that follow. In these days of Israel’s dire distress, what we need and cherish most is connection with Yeshua: His supremacy, goodness, wraparound love, forever faithfulness, and His shalom. So despite the following discussion of difficult events, including a threatened, devastating, and imminent attack by Iran, I pray you will finish this letter with even “more” of Yeshua.
A Perspective of Israel’s Troublesome Times
The Lord has personally encouraged me to process these grievously difficult days as a woman in childbirth might process her hours of difficult labor. To help ease the pain, she breathes deeply and intentionally. She might set her sight on a tangible picture, object or other uplifting point of reference. She remembers the suffering is about birthing the baby she has long awaited and loves. She might gain strength and comfort from a midwife standing faithfully at her side. Sometimes, the knowledge and loving skill of a midwife saves both her life and the baby’s.
Similarly, you and I can breathe deeply by and of Holy Spirit, inhaling with intention the oxygen of His steadying faith, hope and love; exhaling the grief, worries or anxieties of this life (Luke 21:34). We can look up and focus on the beautiful eyes of Yeshua, knowing our redemption is at hand (Luke 21:28). We remember, sometimes hour by hour, that our suffering is about birthing the return of the One we’ve long awaited and loved.
The international Church (ekklesia) can be seen as a midwife aiding Israel in these hours of travail. Your faithful and prayerful assistance to Israel, as well as your loving support – in many ways and means – is critical to our survival through the hard labor of birthing the Messianic Age. How we need and thank you!
As a brief theological aside, given today’s harsh realities, many have asked whether we believe the prophetic “time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7) is past, present, or in the future. The best scholarship that I can discern, which happens to be consistent with what I sense in the Spirit, is that Jacob’s time of trouble is not a one-off occurrence. The first “time” would have been in reference to the overtaking of Jerusalem and Jewish exile in the 6th century BC. A final “time” appears to take place at the end of this age, followed in context by Messiah’s glorious restoration. Through history, there have been many other times of widespread, murderous antisemitism, including the Nazi Holocaust. In a sense, they could all be considered times of Jacob’s trouble.
October 7, 2023, marked the start of another such time, launching war with Iran-Hamas-Hezbollah-Houthis and other terror groups. That war now indirectly involves Turkey, Russia and China. Yet, let us remember this present time of trouble began on Simchat Torah, the annual day of rejoicing over God’s Word. His purposes will prevail as written in Scripture, and in that, we can still rejoice.
Sharing Yeshua with Israelis
Two weeks ago an Israeli man we did not know struck up a conversation with Kerry and me. I casually asked him how he felt the war in Gaza would end up. In a heartbeat he replied, “It’s about the coming of Messiah.” A moment later he added, “You know, some of our rabbis have seen the Messiah.”
I told him I had seen the Messiah, that I’d personally met Him, and I know Him. The man, whose name is Chaim, was visibly intrigued. “Tell me more! Who is he?”
I looked Chaim straight in the eye. “He is the one you call Yeshu. His real name is Yeshua.” (In Hebrew, “yeshu” means “cursed” or “may his name be blotted out.” Because this is what our rabbis have taught, most Israelis sincerely think that “yeshu” is Jesus’ actual name in Hebrew.)
Chaim winced. I could see and feel the tug of war inside him as he asked question after question, attempting to refute every answer I gave. In the end, Chaim’s rejection of Yeshua amounted to his unwillingness to oppose established, rabbinic tradition.
Chaim repeatedly reminded me (as if I didn’t already know) that faith in Yeshua means formal exclusion from the people of Israel. He also felt the need to state, over and again, that his rabbi and his wife would each reprove him severely if they knew he was talking with believers in Jesus. In our final moments together, he confessed he was extremely perplexed because although he believes we are heretics and traitors, he saw a light in us that he knew had to be the light of a Jewish soul. Once again I told him Who the Jewish Light is in us. And again we went round and round about rabbinic tradition before parting company (quite amicably). The experience was both encouraging and heartbreaking.
Please pray for Chaim, whose name means “Life.” Chaim typifies many religious Jews, so near and yet so far from salvation and everlasting life. Pray according to 2 Corinthians 3:15-16: “Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” Please also pray that we will have more encounters with Israelis who are willing to dialogue about He who is the Light of Zion.
Intercession for Israel
In what could only be a divinely ordered agenda, a few days after talking with Chaim, we found ourselves part of a small team of Israeli prayer leaders journeying to the city of Yavne. Yavne is the presumed site of the Sanhedrin council which ruled, in approximately 90 AD, that Jews who believe in Jesus are no longer Jewish, but must be excommunicated from the people of Israel. The same council established a prayer liturgy that includes curses, still prayed daily, against Messianic Jews. At Yavne we prayed for a breaking of the stronghold of religious tradition contrary to Scripture that keeps our people from faith in Yeshua. We released forgiveness and identificational confession-repentance. We blessed those who curse us, prayerfully proclaimed passages of Scripture, partook of the Blood and Body of Yeshua, and much more.
The trip to Yavne was part of an Israeli Messianic intercessory prayer journey taking place over many months, and covering a dozen strategic locations. Next month, God willing, we will convene in the Negev. Meanwhile, Kerry and I are blessed to hold our post here in Jerusalem, leading prayer in different venues and on ZOOM throughout the week.
Last month we were given an unusual but blessed opportunity to speak to a wide range of believers from Israel and the nations. Perhaps you know that with very rare exception, Messianic congregations in Israel do not permit women to preach or teach during their main services. It was therefore a joyful honor to be asked to give the main message at our congregation, King of Kings Community in Jerusalem. In an apparent “first” for the congregation, I was asked to teach fundamental basics about intercessory prayer. You can watch the recording here. Another congregation has asked us to visit and share a similar message later this month. Thank you for praying with us that Messianic women in Israel will be freed from any unbiblical restraints on the Spirit-submitted exercise of gifts given them to edify the whole Body.
Warring Against Enemies
Once again, and even as I write, we are preparing for a potential, wide scale war with Iran and its terror proxies. Following Israel’s presumed assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, as well as Hezbollah’s Fuad Shukr, we pray in faith for divine protection from Iran’s threatened retaliation. There are predictions of missiles striking all across the country, which could occur at any moment, or tomorrow, or next week. We are told that this time, Iran will target civilians.
The annual observance of Tisha b’Av falls this year on August 13, marking the recurrent date on which horrific devastations have befallen the Jews, including the destruction of Israel’s First and Second Temples. It is rumored that Iran plans to pummel us with over 1500 missiles on Tisha b’Av for its symbolic and psychological significance. Another rumor is that the attack will come tomorrow, August 5. Yet another rumor is that yesterday the US positioned nuclear weapons in Qatar in potential defense of its interests in the region. Rumors aside, both Israel and Iran are repeatedly announcing they are ready for “all-out war.”
I would like to think that God will use an impending war to break the stronghold of fundamentalist Islam, completely destroy Iran’s nuclear program, and allow Israel to regain all her biblically promised land. But neither Kerry nor I can at this time say God has clearly shown us this is what He is about to do. While we are quite aware of the evil of Islam, we are also sadly cognizant of Israel’s overall, present condition of grievously straying from God. Such a condition He cannot and will not condone.
It pains us to say many of our people remain viciously divided against each other, with hateful and violent protests raging in the streets even under threat of war. Immorality at nearly every imaginable level persists. To be sure, a very significant minority of Israelis is turning and crying out to God. More Jewish hearts are open to Yeshua in Israel than ever before. Nevertheless, as a nation, we believe Israel is experiencing a deserved and divine, holy chastisement. God is lovingly shaking us in order to cleanse, refine and restore us fully to Himself. In the process there is widespread trauma, grief and pain. It is a time to comfort His people, speaking to her in love — but not at the expense of also tenderly speaking truth. And so we plead for a merciful, spiritual awakening in the land.
Given the complexities, only God can orchestrate a victorious outcome to any war with Iran and its terror proxies in which many on all sides will turn to Him, and in which He alone is glorified. For this we pray daily and encourage you to do the same. God desires and promises to bless Israel and despite what we see unfolding, we believe He is.
We pray for the full extent of God’s covenant and kingdom purposes at this time and in this conflict to be achieved, with the least amount of collateral damage, innocent bloodshed, and devastation to all involved. This general principle guides our prayers for the myriad other, specific matters, such as release of the hostages, protection and anointing of our leaders and soldiers, return of Israeli evacuees, etc. (You can access a detailed list of suggested prayer points, replete with Scriptures, here.)
Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av
Tonight we celebrate Rosh Chodesh Av, the start of the fifth month of the biblical year (Numbers 10:10). Historically, the fifth month is not a happy one for the Jewish people. In Scripture, Israel’s first high priest died on the first day of Av, which was regarded as an ominous event (Numbers 33:38). According to tradition, on the 9th day of Av God decreed that the generation which left Egypt would have to die in the desert (Numbers 13:28 -14:38). A list of subsequent tragedies occurring on Av 9, known as Tisha b’Av, can be found here.
Despite the sorrow associated with Av, the month is often called Menachem Av (“Comfort by Father”). This reflects the rabbis’ understanding that on the heels of tragedy, God comforts His people as a caring, compassionate father. And so we pray this month that His comfort will indeed wrap around Israel. May His compassionate care melt many Jewish hearts as our people experience His precious embrace.
May the comfort of our heavenly Father surround each of you this month as well. May He bless you and give you oh-so-much more of Jesus.