A Call to Pray from Ezra Benjamin

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
May those who love you be secure.”
(Psalm 122:6 NIV)

Shalom, my friend.

While we celebrate many victories this week – including the historic partnership between Israel and Bahrain and the deepening friendship with Egypt – I’m reminded by the Scriptures that we must remain vigilant in praying for continual peace.

This is especially true now, as it appears the Iran nuclear talks in Vienna are on the verge of concluding – though the outcome is at best uncertain.

That’s why I want to invite you to continue to pray with me and everyone at Jewish Voice on behalf of God’s people. And may you and yours experience the blessing of God in a special way.

EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT’S GESTURE SHOWS SIGNS OF WARMING RELATIONS BETWEEN ISRAEL AND EGYPT

Haaretz reported last week that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi made a moving gesture that likely indicates warming relations between Israel and Egypt.

In last week’s conference of North African and Middle Eastern countries in Cairo, a smiling President Sissi crossed the conference hall to personally greet Israel’s Energy Minister, Karine Elharrar.

According to Haaretz, a video of the action has been widely shared online. The Egyptian President left multiple delegates waiting as he spoke with Elharrar – telling her that he hoped she would visit his country again in the future.

Haaretz reports that Energy Minister Elharrar is a member of the Yesh Atid party and has been in office since June 2021. She uses a wheelchair due to muscle atrophy and made international headlines earlier this year after she was unable to attend a session at the United Nations’ climate summit in Glasgow since the hosting venue was not wheelchair accessible. 

While Israel and Egypt have had diplomatic relations since 1979, it is widely considered a “cold peace” that is maintained by the countries’ political and military leadership but isn’t widely popular among the general Egyptian public.

For that reason, according to Haaretz, the Egyptian President’s gesture to Elharrar was celebrated as a sign of change.

ISRAEL BOOSTS NATURAL GAS EXPORT TO EGYPT BY 50% 

Alarabiya News reported last week that Israel will boost natural gas export to Egypt by as much as 50 percent by the end of the month, deepening energy ties between Middle Eastern neighbors.

According to Israel’s Energy Minister Karine Elharrar, the firms that own Israel’s two biggest offshore reservoirs, led by Chevron Corp., will pipe another 2-2.5 billion cubic meters more gas per year to Egypt.

Israel currently sends 5 billion cubic meters each year to Egypt via a pipeline that connects southern Israel to the Sinai Peninsula, according to Alarabya News. And Israel’s Energy Minister said that the aim is to reach a capacity of 6.5 billion cubic meters by next year.

“Egypt is a big strategic partner for us,” Minister Elharrar said.

The added fuel would help Egypt meet its domestic energy needs and push forward plans to consolidate regional resources for export to bigger markets such as Europe.

ISRAEL’S PRIME MINISTER URGES BAHRAINI OFFICIALS TO FIGHT THE THREAT FROM IRAN IN HISTORIC VISIT

The Jerusalem Post reported last week that a Bahraini military band played “Hatikvah,” Israel’s national anthem, outside the royal palace in Manama as Prime Minister Naftali Bennett made history as the first Israeli leader to visit the Gulf state.

The Prime Minister, according to The Jerusalem Post, was received by Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who is also the kingdom’s Prime Minister, before a one-on-one meeting and a working lunch.

Iran was at the top of Bennett’s agenda.

“Israel and Bahrain are dealing with major security challenges that stem from the same source, which is the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the Prime Minister said. “Iran destabilizes the entire region. We will not allow that. We are fighting Iran and its henchmen in the region day and night, and we will help our friends in promoting peace, security and stability, whenever we are asked.”

The Prime Minister also met with U.S. Fifth Fleet Commander Vice Adm. Brad Cooper amid a military exercise led by the fleet with the participation of the Israel Defense Forces and other armies.

Bennett praised the cooperation between the IDF and the U.S. military, saying the Fifth Fleet “is an important factor in maintaining regional stability in the face of security threats.”

According to The Jerusalem Post, Prime Minister Bennett also said that Israel is working to increase military cooperation with its friends in the region to bolster security and stability.

ISRAEL’S DELEGATION TO VIENNA DURING NUCLEAR DISCUSSION APPEARS TO ANNOY, ANGER SOME IN IRAN

The Times of Israel reports that Israeli diplomats traveled to Vienna last week to meet with negotiators involved in talks aimed at restoring the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, for the first time since the Vienna talks resumed in April.

The appearance of an Israeli delegation in close proximity to the high stakes talks over the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) apparently angered some in Iran.

“The overt and unexpected presence of the Zionists in Vienna is undoubtedly a deterrent to progress in the current sensitive situation,” Iran’s Nour News wrote on its Hebrew Twitter feed.

Israel is not a party to the Vienna talks and has said it reserves the right to act as it sees fit against Iran’s nuclear program regardless of the negotiations’ outcome.

While the Israeli government is officially opposed to a return to the 2015 deal, which U.S. President Donald Trump pulled the U.S. out of in 2018, it has also sought to influence negotiations to seek tighter curbs on Tehran and more robust security arrangements.

The unusual decision to send an Israeli envoy to Vienna comes amid a growing sense of urgency among involved parties to reach a deal to revive the 2015 nuclear accord with Tehran.

According to The Times of Israel, officials involved in the talks have indicated that they are nearing a conclusion, and experts have predicted that the next few weeks will either see a deal reached or talks fall apart for good.

LET US PRAY TOGETHER

Please pray with me for:

• God to move in the hearts of world leaders and give wisdom to address the global threat of a nuclear Iran
• God’s protection to be upon His people in Israel, who are constantly facing threats and violence from surrounding enemies
• God to bring peace and safety to the situation in Ukraine, protecting the lives that could potentially be at risk
• Peace in the hearts and minds of the people of Israel and their enemies
• Jewish people to recognize Yeshua (Jesus) as their Messiah

Will you pray for us as we head to Zimbabwe for our first Outreach of 2022? Although we have ministered to the Lemba in this region before, this will be our first time in this particular community, and we are excited! We chose this location because of the many Messianic Jewish congregations in the area, and we look forward to partnering with these Lemba congregational leaders in reaching out to this community.  We know the region and have good partnerships there, yet we know that nothing of lasting value will happen apart from prayer. That’s why we covet yours.

Please pray with us starting today for our Zimbabwe Medical Outreach, March 3–13. Help cover these dates in prayer by signing up on our Jewish Voice 24-7 Prayer Watch schedule and using these daily prayer points. Please pray for:

Wednesday, February 23–Wednesday, March 2 | Proverbs 3:5-6

• Last details of preparations to fall into place at the Clinic and campsite locations
• The spiritual atmosphere to be prepared for the kingdom of Light to advance
• Hearts prepared to receive Yeshua
• Forces of witchcraft and darkness to flee as the King of Glory ministers

Thursday, March 3 | 1 Corinthians 16:9

• Safe travels for all participants, including the 6-hour drive to the campsite on Friday
• Good health and protection of all kinds; negative COVID-19 test results in time
• Every participant to be rested and prepared for the spiritual opposition that can accompany open doors for effective ministry

Friday, March 4 | Numbers 6:24–26

• The unity of the Spirit to reign among the various team members (staff, medical, Outreach, workers) and for all things to be done in love
• Fellowship to begin during Erev Shabbat dinner tonight and to grow all week
• Help from above in adapting to different time zone, food and culture
• Blessings and favor for each team members’ family back home

Saturday, March 5 | Philippians 2:13

• Each participant to be prepared, equipped and anointed to fulfill God’s purposes through them
• Successful orientation and training for each Outreach department and area
• Good, mild weather throughout the week and that the Lord would draw many to come and receive spiritual and physical care

Sunday, March 6 | Matthew 19:14

• Ease and order, effective treatment and miraculous healings as the Clinic opens today
• The Zehra Kids team to be fully equipped and have love and unity regarding God’s heart and vision for children
• Anointing and favor on the new curriculum based on The Shema regarding prayer and friendship with God
• Children to understand their identity, calling and heritage in Messiah as Jewish Believers

Monday, March 7 | 2 Thessalonians 3:1–3

• Open doors and favor in the community for the Living Waters team as they distribute LifeStraws® and share the Good News in surrounding Jewish villages
• That the Word would run swiftly, accompanied by signs and wonders, and produce fruit for eternity
• Each outreach team member to trust in the Lord’s design of them and allow His Spirit to move powerfully through them
• Protection from the enemy’s schemes and the battle of the mind

Tuesday, March 8 | 2 Corinthians 6:2

• Many to visit the prayer tent and receive salvation, healing, deliverance and encouragement
• Local congregational leaders to have great love, wisdom and stamina as they lead the prayer tent ministry
• The strength of the Lord to operate supernaturally in the fruit and gifts of the Spirit as we love, serve, minister and pray

Wednesday, March 9 | Colossians 1:13–14

• Daily morning prayer times and Wednesday evening worship gathering to set the spiritual atmosphere for the Clinic, campground and surrounding area
• Any opposing forces in the spiritual or natural realm to flee in the name of Yeshua
• The Lord to prepare ground for ongoing ministry in the community, even after we’re gone

Thursday, March 10 | Philippians 2:10–11

• The ability to see and minister to the maximum number of patients on this last half-day of the Outreach
• Order, favor and safety in closing and packing up the Clinic plus shalom and salvation for hired workers
• The spiritual seeds that were sown to continue bearing fruit for eternity

Friday, March 11 | Psalm 18:19

• Safe travels back to Harare with a timely turn-around and negative COVID-19 results required to travel internationally
• Rest and a sense of “well-done, good and faithful servant” for each participant
• Effectiveness and encouragement for the local congregational leaders as they follow up with new Believers and continue outreach in the community

Saturday, March 12 | Acts 2:42

• Yeshua’s (Jesus’) presence to continue to be felt in the city and for the kingdom of Light to advance, drawing many to Him
• The Lord to continue to grow the congregations and build up the Believers in the Masvingo region, including establishing new Believers in Him

We know the Lord will meet with you as you pray for this Zimbabwe Medical Outreach, and He will meet with us there as a result of those prayers! Thank you.

Let’s pray together now:

Lord, help us as we seek to bring Your Light, love and Good News to the people of this Zimbabwe community. We declare You are worthy to be praised in this region and that the forces of darkness must flee at Your name! May many men and women, and many children, come to know You! May many receive healing and deliverance. And may You receive the worship and glory You are due! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem . . .” 
Psalm 122:6 (NIV)

Shalom, my friend. 

The crisis in the Middle East – the conflict, uncertainty and animosity against Israel and the Jewish people – continues to escalate. 

And while there’s every reason to be concerned, I stand on the knowledge that God is in control of every situation. I believe He will intervene and work everything according to His own purposes. As the Scriptures declare, “God’s ways are not our own.”

But in the midst of it all, God has called us to pray. Our prayerful actions are what you and I are able to control today, tomorrow and in the days and weeks ahead. We can – and must – be obedient in this. 

Praying for the peace of Jerusalem is not an option. 

Thank you for standing with us so faithfully. And for your love for God’s Chosen People. 

Please continue to pray for the work and ministry we do together at Jewish Voice. And pray for God to open more doors to share the Good News of Yeshua (Jesus) with the Jewish people. 

IRAN EXPANDS TERROR THREAT IN MIDDLE EAST AND ISRAEL THROUGH IRAQI MILITIAS

While negotiations continue with Tehran for their return to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), The Jerusalem Post reported last week that Iran has recently established even closer ties with Iraqi militias and is now using them to attack Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and other states.

The Jerusalem Post indicates that Iran has been arming, mobilizing and advising militias in Iraq since the 1980s. But recent attacks demonstrate Iran’s larger expansion through Iraq and its greater threat.

The most recent attack being the drone strike in UAE. The news that a militia in Iraq may have been behind the attack on the UAE is an important new milestone in Iran’s role.

The Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen attacked the UAE on January 17, 24 and 31. The expansion of attacks to include Iranian-backed ones from Iraq is being seen, according to The Jerusalem Post, as a new threat. The attack from Iraq reportedly involved up to four drones and was launched by a group tied to pro-Iran groups in Iraq.

Another significant indication is the May 2021 attacks in Israel.

While Iran had targeted Israel with drones for several years from Syria, The Jerusalem Post reports that Tehran upped its drone threats to Israel in May 2021 during Israeli clashes with Hamas in Gaza. Iran had already provided Hamas with drone technology just as it had done with Hezbollah and the Houthis.

But in May 2021, Iran was behind the drone threat to Israel from Iraq, with a drone apparently flying all the way from Iraq into Israel’s airspace before being shot down. The incident was reported at the time. Jerusalem said the drone was an Iranian UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) at the time and indicated it came from Syria or Iraq. Subsequent reporting said it came from Iraq. 

GERMANY OFFICIALS REJECT “APARTHEID” LABEL FOR ISRAEL IN RECENT AMNESTY REPORT

According to Deutsche Welle (DW), one of Germany’s international news outlets, Germany’s Foreign Ministry gave a statement late last week in connection with the report published earlier in the week by the human rights organization Amnesty International regarding Israel's treatment of Palestinians . . .

The Amnesty report accused Israel of subjecting Palestinians to a system of “apartheid” founded on policies of “segregation, dispossession and exclusion.”

Germany, as reported by DW, disagrees with the use of the term “apartheid” in reference to Israel, the Foreign Ministry said.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Christopher Burger said at a press conference, “We reject expressions like apartheid or a one-sided focusing of criticism on Israel. That is not helpful to solving the conflict in the Middle East.”

Germany is one of Israel's staunchest supporters and has pursued a special relationship with the country as well as with pro-Israeli Jewish groups in Germany.

The Central Council of Jews in Germany labeled Amnesty’s report “antisemitic” and called on Amnesty International's German chapter to distance itself from it.

Amnesty International Germany published the report on its website but noted that, in the current climate and historical context, an “objective, factual debate” on the report is difficult to achieve – and said it would not organize any activities around the publication to deter “misinterpretations of the report.”

According to DW, the report was no longer prominently placed on the Amnesty Germany website late last week, despite being at the top of the Amnesty International page.

ISRAEL’S DEFENSE MINISTER’S FIRST OFFICIAL VISIT TO BAHRAIN SENDS CLEAR MESSAGE TO IRAN

The Jerusalem Post reported last week that Israel’s Defense Minister, Benny Gantz, made his first official visit to Bahrain.

According to The Jerusalem Post, Defense Minister Gantz signed historic military agreements, met with King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa and met with the commander of the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet.

The public meetings, a year after the Abraham Accords were signed, come as tensions with the Islamic Republic of Iran are at an all-time high, and missile attacks by their proxies in Yemen and Iraq against the UAE have increased.

Bahrain, according to The Jerusalem Post, has been of strategic interest to Iran for years. The kingdom has previously seen several large attacks by the terror cells organized by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Hezbollah – and continues to face threats posed by Sunni terror groups.

With the meetings a mere 200 kilometers away from Iran, Israel is sending a clear message to Iran: We are building bridges with your neighbors, and we are here to stay. 

Let Us Pray Together

Please pray with me for:

• God to move in the hearts of world leaders and give wisdom to address the global threat of a nuclear Iran 
• God’s protection to be upon His people in Israel who are constantly facing threats and violence from surrounding enemies
• Peace in the hearts and minds of the people of Israel and their enemies
• Jewish people to recognize Yeshua (Jesus) as their Messiah

Quick! Name a country where Jewish Voice has ministered.

Ethiopia. Zimbabwe. India.

Yes, yes and yes. And don’t forget Poland, Ukraine, Argentina, Mexico. The list goes on.

However, despite the international nature of our ministry, a burden for the United States, where we are headquartered, has never been far from Rabbi Jonathan Bernis’ heart.

We frequently ask you to pray for Messianic Jewish congregations in Africa and other parts of the world. But the Messianic Jewish Movement in North America is very much on our hearts and minds in 2022. There are approximately 300 Messianic Jewish congregations in the USA, with about another 30 in Canada. We would love your prayers for these communities to not only continue strong in the Lord but to flourish and grow.

Please pray for:

• Each Messianic Jewish congregation in North America to have a solid commitment to keep Yeshua (Jesus) at the center of the congregation’s shared life
• Existing congregations to experience a fresh infusion of life, unity, grace and hope from the Holy Spirit
• The establishment of new congregations
• Healthy leadership committed to the Lord, their own spiritual health, marriages, families and congregations.
• All congregations to be grounded in their Messianic Jewish identity and calling and fulfill the unique purposes for which the Lord has planted them in their communities and spheres of influence
• A vibrant witness and outreach to Jewish people and a deep desire and vision to also be a light to the Nations, whether across the world or in their own neighborhoods
• Openness to cultivate healthy relationships and partnerships with other Believers, including Gentile Christians and churches, in order to further the work of the Kingdom through shared expressions of the Messiah’s love

Let’s pray:

Lord, You desire to make Yourself known across the globe through Your Body. Thank you for each of these Messianic Jewish congregations in North America and their unique impacts and influences as local expressions of Your Body. May You strengthen and encourage them and motivate them to continue being lights in the world, for Your name’s sake. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.

“Comfort, comfort My people, says your God.”

Isaiah 40:1 (NIV)

Shalom, my friend. 

Thank you for standing with God’s Chosen People through your prayers and generosity. I find tremendous hope in knowing that you love and support Israel and the Jewish people around the world.

When I think of the ministry your support makes possible, I can’t help but remember the words above from the Prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 40:1) issued thousands of years ago. Your faithfulness is helping to provide “comfort” to the Jewish people (and their neighbors) during a season of so much uncertainty.

Only God knows how the future will unfold as the enemies of God’s people surround them. But we continue to serve – and you’re with us every step of the way. Only God knows how the nuclear standoff with Iran will conclude.

And I can’t thank you enough. 

Please continue to pray for the work and ministry we share at Jewish Voice. And pray for God to open more doors to share the Good News of Yeshua (Jesus) with the Jewish people. He’s the only One able to bring the eternal “comfort” that so many long for. 

“WE WILL PRESERVE OUR FREEDOM TO ACT”

Late last week, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett didn’t mince words addressing Iran when he told The Jerusalem Post that “the Israeli strategy doesn’t depend on whether there’s an agreement or not. We will protect ourselves by ourselves. Even if there is an agreement, we’re not committed to it. We will preserve our freedom to act.”

The Prime Minister’s interview with The Jerusalem Post comes as talks continue with Iran in Vienna, along with negotiations for their return to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). A deal that Prime Minister Bennet tells The Jerusalem Post is a mistake . . . 

“We and the Americans don’t see everything eye to eye. A deal that will send tens of billions of dollars to this rotten and weak regime will be a mistake because this money will go to terror against IDF soldiers and Americans in the region. When the money enters Iranian coffers, they attack American soldiers . . . through their proxies.”

The Jerusalem Post reports that Iran is very weak. Its currency is currently depleted, and regions of the country lack water. Further, there are large demonstrations taking place against the government. According to the Prime Minister, Tehran “is playing poker with a very weak hand, but they’re bluffing.”

Israel has relayed the message to its friends in the U.S. and Europe who are negotiating with Iran – but any deal remains far off in the current discussions to resolve the nuclear standoff. 

ISRAEL LAUNCHES NEW EFFORT TO CRACK DOWN ON CHINESE ATTEMPTS TO STEAL ISRAELI DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY

According to Breaking Defense, sources in the Israeli defense establishment say that enforcement has ramped up because of increased Chinese efforts to obtain Israeli technology, including Chinese firms making direct contact with Israeli industrial experts.

Breaking Defense also reports that China is operating a web of companies inside Israel as part of a dedicated effort to acquire advanced defense technologies. 

Chinese attempts to infiltrate Israeli defense firms are not new. But, according to Breaking Defense, the Chinese are now operating straw companies to partner with Israeli companies. They create corporations that can look very legitimate but, in fact, are aimed at moving Israel defense technologies to China. 

“These straw companies are well disguised, and it is very hard to identify who is the real client,” an Israeli defense industry said. 

This China situation has been thrown into the public eye due to a high-profile legal case against a drone company the Israeli government alleges was part of a multi-million-dollar effort from a Chinese firm. 

This case is viewed as more serious than others because it involved Israeli citizens and the test of the systems within Israel.

Breaking Defense reports that in December, Israel’s Financial Department of the State Prosecutor’s Office accused 10 individuals and three companies of helping sell loitering weapon systems to China without having received official approval.

According to an official statement, as reported by Breaking Defense, the suspects “manufactured dozens of cruise missiles and carried out different tests in Israeli territory, endangering people’s lives.” Per the statement, Ephraim Menashe, the head of drone manufacturer Solar Sky, allegedly worked with a Chinese firm to help supply loitering weapon systems to the Chinese army. 

Allegedly the scheme led to the production of dozens of systems, which were then transferred to China. It does not appear any of the systems have been actively used by the Chinese military.

ISRAEL URGED TO OFFICIALLY DECLARE HOUTHIS TERRORISTS AFTER DEADLY UAE ATTACK

The Jerusalem Post reported last week that Coalition MK, Zvi Hauser, has issued a letter calling on the Israeli government to declare the Houthis (a Yemeni Iran-sponsored militia), a terror organization.

The letter came after the Houthis launched missile and drone attacks on Abu Dhabi and Dubai in January, killing three people.

According to The Jerusalem Post, the Houthis has been steadily growing in its military capabilities over the past decade and has begun to take an interest in regional affairs.

“The Houthis have an ideology that is hostile to Israel and the West, and tout the slogan ‘Death to America, death to Israel, a curse on the Jews and victory for Islam,’” MK Hauser said, pointing out that this was originally an Iranian motto.

“Their desire to strike Israel, as the long arm of Tehran is proven,” Hauser stated. “Iran stands behind the organization and helps it economically and militarily, providing it with weaponry and training its people.”

Israeli officials have shown solidarity with the UAE in the days since the Houthis began the latest round of attacks.

Israeli President, Isaac Herzog, plans to travel to the UAE to meet with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Mohammed bin Zayed (MBZ) this week. Herzog condemned the Houthis in a call with MBZ soon after the attack took place.

The Israeli Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett, also spoke with MBZ recently, offering his condolences following the terrorist attacks.

Let Us Pray Together

Please pray with me for:

• God to move in the hearts of world leaders and give wisdom to address the global threat of a nuclear Iran 
• God’s protection to be upon His people in Israel who are constantly facing threats and violence from surrounding enemies
• God to give insight in how to address, protect and move ahead as the Jewish people, Israel and the world continue to feel the impact of COVID-19 
• Peace in the hearts and minds of the people of Israel and their enemies
• Jewish people to recognize Yeshua (Jesus) as their Messiah

Have you ever run into someone who wonders if God’s heart for Israel and the Jewish people has changed now that Jesus came and the New Testament is in place? Or someone who believes God has set aside His plans for Israel because, for the most part, the Jewish people have rejected His promised Messiah Jesus? Or maybe you’ve been unsure how the Old and New Testaments fit together regarding God’s love for Israel. 

If so, this collection of Bible verses is for you. It outlines Israel’s place in God’s heart, providing biblical evidence of His abiding love for and commitment to the Jewish people. And amid the verses, we confront the ultimate question lurking beneath all others on the matter. Let’s dive in.

God’s Love for Israel

God chose Israel on whom to set His affection.
 “Yet the Lord set His affection on your ancestors and loved them, and He chose you, their descendants, above all the nations—as it is today” (Deuteronomy 10:15).

Israel is God’s treasured possession.
“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession” (Deuteronomy 7:6).

Israel is precious to God.
“But now, this is what the Lord says—He who created you, Jacob, He who formed you, Israel: ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are Mine…. Since you are precious and honored in My sight, and because I love you….’” (Isaiah 43:1, 4a).

“For this is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘…for whoever touches you touches the apple of His eye’” (Zechariah 2:8).

God’s love for Israel is unfailing.
“‘Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet My unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor My covenant of peace be removed,’ says the Lord, who has compassion on you” (Isaiah 54:10).

“Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with Him is full redemption” (Psalm 130:7).

God’s love for Israel is everlasting.
“The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying, ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness’” (Jeremiah 31:3).

God’s love for Israel shows through His favor toward those who love her.
“‘I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you’” (Genesis 12:3).

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May those who love you be secure’” (Psalm 122:6).

Has God stopped loving Israel because of her unfaithfulness? No!

As the apostle Paul wrote, may it never be! How can God not love Israel? He IS love. He continues to love all humanity despite our unfaithfulness.

God is love. 
“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:8).

Love never quits.
“Love never fails…” (1 Corinthians 13:8a).

God is faithful.
“If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot disown Himself” (2 Timothy 2:13).

God will never forget or forsake Israel.
“For the Lord will not reject His people; He will never forsake His inheritance” (Psalm 94:14). 

“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands; your walls are ever before Me” (Isaiah 49:15–16).

Has God rejected Israel because many Jewish people rejected His Sent One, Messiah Jesus? No!

God still longs for Israel to come to Him.
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing” (Matthew 23:37).

God has not rejected Israel.
“I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. God did not reject his people, whom He foreknew….” (Romans 11:1–2a).

Israel has not stumbled beyond God’s ability to redeem.
“Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring!” (Romans 11:11-12).

The question that must be asked

The subject of God’s faithfulness to Israel and His ongoing love for her affects every Believer in Jesus – Jewish or Gentile. The matter sifts down to one audacious question: Is God faithful and trustworthy or not? 

Either God is faithful to keep all His covenants, or He can’t be trusted to keep any of them. If God has ceased to love Israel and has broken His covenant with the people He chose for His own, how can we trust His love for those who Believe in Jesus the Messiah? If He changed His mind regarding Israel, how can we trust that He won’t change His mind regarding Believers today? 

Thankfully, Scripture answers that bottom-line question with an emphatic “Yes!” The Bible reveals the Lord is eternally faithful and unfailingly loving. He is a promise-fulfilling, covenant-keeping God. Take a look at the verses below, offering this assurance.

God is trustworthy and unchanging

God is trustworthy.
“Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is trustworthy in all He promises and faithful in all He does” (Psalm 145:13).

God does not lie or change.
“God is not human, that He should lie, not a human being, that He should change his mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?” (Numbers 23:19).

God’s faithfulness is forever.
“For great is His love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever” (Psalm 117:2).

God’s love is forever.
“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever” (Psalm 136:1).

“I will declare that Your love stands firm forever, that You have established Your faithfulness in heaven itself” (Psalm 89:2).

God keeps His covenants.
“Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven above or on earth below—You who keep Your covenant of love with Your servants who continue wholeheartedly in Your way” (1 Kings 8:23).

“He remembers His covenant forever, the promise He made, for a thousand generations” (Psalm 105:8).

Israel will always be a nation before Him.
“This is what the Lord says, He who appoints the sun to shine by day, who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—the Lord  Almighty is His name: ‘Only if these decrees vanish from My sight,’ declares the Lord, ‘will Israel ever cease being a nation before Me’” (Jeremiah 31:35–36).

How can we know Israel is still God’s Chosen People?

Here’s one more important proof that God has not rejected Israel, has not reneged on His promises and covenants and has not stopped loving the Jewish people.

God’s callings are irrevocable.
 “For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29).

Scripture after Scripture, we see that God’s heart for Israel and the Jewish people has not changed and will never change. We can trust God. He is faithful and He keeps His promises.

“All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations will bow down before Him . . .” 
Psalm 22:27 (NIV)

Shalom, my friend.

Today, on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, we remember and honor the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Those who suffered and died at the hands of the ideological madness of Nazism, and those who were able to escape.

Days of remembrance like this are critical. We remember so that we never
forget . . . so that it never happens again.

As you remember God’s Chosen People, as you thank God for the Auschwitz liberation that took place today in 1945, please pray that the Jewish people will experience true liberation that can only come from Yeshua (Jesus), the Messiah.

And as you pray, please lift up the ministry of Jewish Voice and the work we’re doing together for the Jewish people – in Israel and around the world.  

ISRAEL RESPONDS TO TERROR ATTACK IN UAE AND OFFERS MILITARY, INTELLIGENCE SUPPORT

Three people were killed and six were injured in a drone attack on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) last week.  Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement immediately claimed responsibility for it.

The Jerusalem Post reported last week that of those killed in the drone attack, one was Pakistani and two were Indian. They were killed by an explosion of tanker trucks. Meanwhile, those injured are lightly to moderately injured, according to local media.

Israel’s Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett, formally condemned the attacks last week. According to The Jerusalem Post, the Prime Minister sent a letter to the UAE Crown Prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, offering security and intelligence support to help protect citizens from “similar attacks.”

Israeli President, Isaac Herzog, reportedly also called UAE’s Crown Prince last week to condemn the attacks. According to The Jerusalem Post, President Herzog gave his full backing to the UAE and supported its right to act in self-defense. 

U.N. APPROVES RESOLUTION THAT CONDEMNS HOLOCAUST DENIAL

The U.N. General Assembly approved an Israeli-sponsored resolution late last week condemning any denial of the Holocaust, urging all nations and social media companies “to take active measures to combat antisemitism and Holocaust denial or distortion.”

According to Ynet News, the 193-member world body approved the resolution by consensus – without a vote – and with a bang of a gavel by Assembly President Abdulla Shahid.

“We now live in an era in which fiction is becoming fact and the Holocaust is becoming a distant memory,” Israeli U.N. Ambassador Gilad Erdan told the assembly in urging support for the resolution. “And as this happens following the greatest crime in human history, now comes the greatest cover-up in human history.”

Erdan, the grandson of Holocaust survivors, said the resolution is a commitment to make sure that Holocaust distortion and denial “will be tolerated no more.”

Ynet News also reports that the resolution will commend countries that have preserved Nazi death camps and other sites from the Holocaust and urges member states “to develop educational programs that will inculcate future generations with the lessons of the Holocaust in order to help to prevent future acts of genocide.”

Furthermore, the resolution requests the U.N. and its agencies to continue developing and implementing programs aimed at countering Holocaust denial and distortions and to mobilize civil society and others to provide truthful facts about the Holocaust.

ISRAEL LEADS THE WORLD IN NEW DAILY COVID-19 CASES PER CAPITA – AND WHAT THE NUMBERS MEAN

The Times of Israel reported last week that a top health expert advising Israeli officials indicated figures showing 0.6 percent of the Israeli population was testing positive for COVID-19.

According to Professor Eran Segal of The Weizmann Institute, this number places Israel at the top of the list in new daily COVID-19 cases per capita.

But, according to The Times of Israel, Professor Segal noted it’s likely that Israel is not truly the country with the highest infection rate. Rather, the figures indicate that Israel is a leading country in the number of tests performed each day, relative to its population size.

Speaking on the state of the pandemic, Professor Segal also predicted that the outbreak sweeping the country will end soon. “We are very close to the height, or even at the height of the Omicron wave.”

At the peak of the current outbreak wave, Professor Segal said that one in ten Israelis will test positive for COVID, if they are tested. But once Israel passes the peak, “there will be a relatively fast decline.”

The Times of Israel also reports that current health ministry data shows nearly 65,000 people tested positive for COVID-19 last week and current active infections are climbing to over 400,000.

Over 2 million have been infected since the onset of the pandemic in 2020.

LET US PRAY TOGETHER

Please pray with me for:

• The world to never forget the global horror of the Holocaust so that nothing like it ever happens again.
• God’s protection to be upon His people in Israel who are constantly facing threats and violence from surrounding enemies
• God to give insight in how to address, protect and move ahead as the Jewish people, Israel and the world continue to feel the impact of COVID-19
• Peace in the hearts and minds of the people of Israel and their enemies
• Jewish people to recognize Yeshua (Jesus) as their Messiah