Even when you and I are going through difficult times, we can have hope. Because of God’s great love, we are not consumed. His compassion for us never fails. He is faithful. This is a great promise we can hold on to no matter our circumstances.

This week there is some good news on the coronavirus front in Israel – the government just approved a new plan to help financially support Israelis who have been hit the hardest. The leaders are learning from past mistakes as they make decisions regarding this second wave of the pandemic. Another piece of good news that I want to highlight – a health technology group has developed a test that will give results in as little as 30 minutes. Here are more details about these developments.

ISRAELI GOVERNMENT APPROVES CORONAVIRUS FINANCIAL RESCUE PLAN

Late last week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Israel Katz presented a financial rescue plan. Netanyahu conceded that the government reopened some parts of Israel’s economy too quickly which lead to a resurgence in coronavirus cases nationwide.

The financial rescue plan was approved on Monday.

The plan includes expanding the number of people eligible for unemployment benefits, assistance to self-employed workers and businesses, adaptation grants (grants to help those who don’t qualify for unemployment) for people who are 67 and over, and a number of tax breaks.

To guarantee economic certainty for the coming year, the plan includes a social safety net for waged and self-employed workers and a financial safety net for businesses until June 2021.

The government would also provide training for individuals making a career change to “coronavirus-era professions.”

Netanyahu also said that additional financial and health plans will be devised in the coming weeks and that Israel’s powerful economy allowed the country to take loans with low-interest rates, according to Ynetnews.

“The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him; to the one who seeks him. It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord”

Lamentations 3:25-26 (NIV)

I pray God’s faithful goodness for your life this week, as the above Scripture in Lamentations promises to those whose hope is in Him.

In recent news, it seems to be a love-hate relationship between Israel and Jordan.

Publicly, Jordan is pushing for a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine. However, back-channel conversations imply that Jordan’s security and military leaders would rather side with Israel over the Palestinian Authority (PA).

With tensions rising inside Jordan, this is a story you’ll want to keep tabs on. Here’s what we know...

"FOIL ISRAEL'S PLAN..."

Last week Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi warned that Israel’s West Bank annexation plan would “kill the two-state solution.” This comes amid the appearance of a step-up in coordination between Jordan and the PA to “foil Israel’s plan to extend its sovereignty into parts of the West Bank, including the Jordan Valley. This is according to the Jerusalem Post.

In an unexpected visit to the Palestinian capital of Ramallah last week, Safadi is said to have delivered a message from Jordanian King Abdullah to PA President Mahmoud Abbas, emphasizing Jordan’s strong opposition to Israel’s annexation plan.

Hussein al-Sheikh, a senior Palestinian official, said that the Jordanian minister’s visit was “part of a joint effort to confront the Israeli annexation plan and its repercussions on the region.”

Meanwhile, in less public conversations, Jordan, which must ultimately be on board with any Israeli-Palestinian agreement on the West Bank, seems to be siding more with Israel.

Israel Hayom, the online news and opinion magazine, quoted a senior Jordanian official last week as saying, “The Palestinian interest is obviously important to us, but what’s more acute from our perspective is Jordan’s national and security interest. . . . we prefer an [Israel Defense Force] presence west of the kingdom in the Jordan Valley over any other alternative. . . . We have no interest or intention of damaging our security relations with Israel on behalf of the Palestinians,” he said.

The many congregations we either help support or partner with are on our hearts at this time. Two members of our Congregation and Leadership Development team were scheduled to make congregational visits in Africa in May. As you might guess, their visits had to be canceled this year due to COVID-19.

We are in ongoing contact with these leaders and congregations and are also staying up to date as to how the coronavirus is impacting their nations and communities. We missed seeing them this spring and would have loved to be able to pray over them in person. Instead, will you join us in wholeheartedly praying for them from afar, asking the Lord to visit them powerfully by His Spirit?

Here is the latest as of this writing:

UPDATES:

• Compared to many nations, Ethiopia and particularly Zimbabwe have relatively low numbers of cases and deaths related to COVID-19. However, there has been a sharp and continuing escalation in both countries since around May 25. There is grave concern about the spread of the virus throughout Africa
• Ethiopia still limits public meetings and requires a mandatory two-week quarantine for international visitors. Zimbabwe has begun allowing meetings, including congregational gatherings, as long as they consist of fewer than 50 people

PRAISES:

• The leadership teams for Messianic congregations in both countries continue adapting to the changing conditions in their nations as they care for their fellowships and others
• We received a report from one area in Ethiopia noting that requests from Believers for immersion (being immersed in water as a testimony of faith in Jesus) have increased during this season

REQUESTS – Please pray for:

• The Lord to restrain the spread of COVID-19 in Africa and enable the people and economies to gain health
• Wisdom for leaders as congregations begin to meet in person again – that they would do so in ways that promote health and safety
• Leaders and congregants to perpetually seek the Lord, so that the enemy would have no in-roads during this unsettling and somewhat idle season
• The development of new leaders who understand the call to righteousness as they see current leaders model godly lives and healthy congregational government
• Our Congregation and Leadership Development Team at Jewish Voice as we undergo some transitions requiring the Lord’s guidance and provision
• The many congregations we support – not only in Africa but also in Israel, Europe and the United States – to experience a season of maturing, spiritual encouragement and increased salvations

LET’S PRAY:

Lord, please strengthen our Prayer Partners as they lift up these nations, congregations and leaders in prayer.  Who knows but that You might use these very prayers to lift the head of a leader bowed under the weight of shepherding his congregation in a time such as this? May we who pray and those who lead be encouraged and not wearied by well-doing. May we know that You, as Lord of the harvest, will bring great fruit from faithfulness, in due time. In Yeshua’s name, AMEN.