Due to the current conflict in the Gaza Strip, the internet is full of calls to pray for the Jewish people, including mine. But people might ask themselves, Why should I intervene? Why should I pray for them? What does this have to do with me?
There are various biblical reasons:
"I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Genesis 12:3.
- The Jewish people are the natural offspring of Abraham, God promised to bless those who bless him and curse those who curse him (Genesis 12:3a). Countries like Argentina and Venezuela are experiencing tremendous economic crisis because they openly opposed Israel. On the contrary, the United States, which supports him militarily and spiritually, is a greatly blessed country.
- God promised to bless all the families of the earth through them (Genesis 12:3b). If you are a believer in Christ, whether Catholic or Protestant, you are a spiritual descendant of Abraham, and therefore the Jewish people are like your "elder brother" (Luke 15:31-32).
- God cares about them. As disciples of Christ, we must long and pray for their salvation.
"Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved." Romans 10:1
Now, our fight is not against any human group (Ephesians 6:12), the true enemy of the Jews is Haman, which means hatred or anger, this is a spiritual enemy that can only be fought with fasting and prayer (Esther 5-8).
While the Jewish people fight with weapons, we must fight with prayer and fasting. Regardless of who your leader or president is, God promises to bless those who bless them, and God's blessing is irrevocable.
"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!
I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I take pride in my ministry in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. For if their rejection brought reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? If the part of the dough offered as first fruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.
If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.
Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!
All Israel Will Be Saved
I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written:
“The deliverer will come from Zion;
he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
And this is my covenant with them
when I take away their sins.”
As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
“Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?”
“Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay them?”
For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be the glory forever!
Amen."
Romans 11:11-36 (Emphasis added)
Prayer for Israel (Esther 8, Romans 10)
“Lord and God, we as Christians, through the sacrifice of Christ, are one people together with the Jews, partakers of the same inheritance which was promised to both Gentiles and Jews. If through the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ we have earned your grace and favor; and if you think it is right to do so, please give a counter order that invalidates the decrees to annihilate the Jews who are in all the provinces of the world, which Haman forged. For how could we see the calamity that looms over your people? How could we watch impassively the extermination of your people? May your people emerge from this situation wearing royal robes of blue and white, a large gold crown and a cloak of fine purple linen thread. May the city of Jerusalem burst into shouts of joy. May this become a time of light and joy, joy and honor for the Jews. May there be joy and rejoicing among the Jews in every province and city, with banquets and celebrations. And may many people from all nations become one nation through them.”
In the name of our Lord Jesus we have prayed,
Amen.
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