The Chosen People

The Apple of G-d's Eye

G-d chose a nation that was not powerful (Deut. 7:7) to demonstrate His power and sovereignty in the world. The Israelites were chosen to be examples to the rest of humanity. Therefore, G-d established a religious system that allowed the Israelites the privilege of a personal relationship with Him.

G-d made a covenant with Israel (Deut. 29:1) saying that if the Israelites obeyed Him, He would bless them more than any other nation (Deut. 28:1-14) but if they rebelled against Him, He would curse them more than any other nation (Duet. 28:15-68). The final curse for rebellion would result in their being scattered among all nations, from one end of the earth to the other:

"And among those nations you shall find no rest....but there the L-rd will give you a trembling heart, failing eyes, and anguish of soul. Your life shall hang in doubt before you; you shall fear day and night and have no assurance of life....because of the fear which terrifies your heart, and because of the sight which your eyes see." (Deut. 28:65-67)

G-d's warning of dispersion for their rebellion, however, was accompanied by His promise to regather His people to the Land of Israel:

"Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, and gather you from the west; I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' and to the south, 'Do not keep them back!' Bring My sons from afar, and My daughters from the ends of the earth." (Isaiah 43:5, 6)

This prophecy was not fulfilled when the Jews returned from Babylon because the Jews returned from the seventy-year Babylonian exile only from the north, not from the east, west and south as well. More importantly, Isaiah spoke of a second return of the Israelites to the Land:

"...in that day that the L-rd shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people...and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth." (from Isaiah 11:11-12)

The second return spoken of in this passage began in the late 1800's and increased steadily until the nation of Israel was 'born' on the day the United Nations voted to establish a homeland for the Jews in former Israel, the land known as Palestine. (When the Roman invaders of Israel expelled the Jews in 135 CE, they chose the name Palestine, land of the Philistines, to 'erase' every trace of their presence in the region.) On May 14, 1948, Israel declared herself an independent Jewish state as foretold by the prophet Isaiah:

"Who has ever heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion in labor than she gives birth to her children." (Isaiah 66:8)

The proof that the re-establishment of the Nation of Israel was authored by G-d, was seen in the events that followed their declaration of statehood. Israel was immediately attacked by the five surrounding Arab nations who vastly outnumbered her in both armed forces and military equipment. Israel miraculously defeated the invading forces. By the end of the war, in fact, she had nearly doubled the area of land that had been allotted to her by the United Nations. All this could have happened only because G-d was on their side to fulfill His promise concerning the return of the Jewish people to the land of Israel. History records that each war in which Israel was forced to engage was accompanied by the miraculous. From a tactical military standpoint, Israel should have been defeated each time. Yet, she prevailed. It is clear that Israel's success was due to supernatural intervention by G-d Himself.

Many Christians throughout the history of the Church longed to see the restoration of the Nation of Israel because they knew from the Scriptures that it would precede the L-rd's return. Those Christians that literally interpreted the prophecies predicting the return of the Jews to Israel were known as Christian Zionists. They spent much time in prayer asking G-d to fulfill His Word in the same way that Daniel prayed for the return of His people from exile in Babylon. The Jews themselves have best described the importance of the role of Christian Zionists in the history of the Jewish people. In 1757, Rabbi Emden of Hamburg said:

"...For if it had not been for the Christians, our remnant would surely have been destroyed, and Israel's hope would have been extinguished amidst the Gentiles, who hate us because of our faith....But G-d, our L-rd, has caused the Christian wisemen to arise, who protect us in every generation." (The End of History­­Messiah Conspiracy, Philip N. Moore, 1996, p. 590)

It is clear that Christian Zionism, as it is known, existed long before the renowned Theodore Herzl sought in 1897 to establish a Jewish homeland in Israel. In fact, it was a Christian Zionist, Chaplain William H. Hecheler, that motivated Herzl in his Zionist activities. During W.W.II, true Christians continued to play an important role in the preservation of the Jewish people. In 1989 the names of 6000 'righteous Gentiles', who risked their lives to save Jews during Hitler's Holocaust, had been recorded in the Archives of Yad VaShem Holocaust Museum in Israel. It was expected that the number would reach 7000 within a few years, bringing to mind the story of Elijah running from Jezebel. He thought he was the only one left that remained true to G-d; but G-d assured Elijah that there were 7000 that had not bowed the knee to Baal. After W.W.II, the Jewish author Sholem Asch, wrote:

"...Christianity also distinguished itself, in the particular of rescuing Jewish children, by the highest degree of self-sacrifice. It may be stated without exaggeration that almost the entire remnant of Israel which was found in the liberated countries­­no matter how small its number­­has the Christians to thank for its preservation. (The End of History­­Messiah Conspiracy, Philip N. Moore, 1996, p. 570)

The New Testament parable of the Good Samaritan speaks allegorically of what should be the proper relationship between true Christians and the nation of Israel. When no one else would help the dying Jew, not even his own brethren, the Samaritan (non-Jew) came to the rescue. True Christians love and do not persecute the Jewish people who are the apple of G-d's eye (Zech. 2:8). The L-rd has instructed the Gentiles:

"Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, 'O L-rd, save Your people, the remnant of Israel!'" (Jeremiah 31:7)

"Hear the word of the L-rd, O Gentiles (nations), and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, 'He who scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him as a shepherd does his flock.'" (Jeremiah 31:10)

Christians have been called to be watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem. The L-rd said:

"I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the L-rd, do not keep silent, and give Him no rest till He establishes and till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth." (Isaiah 62:6-7)

"...Go through the gates! Prepare the way for the people;....the L-rd has proclaimed to the end of the world; 'Say to the daughter of Zion, surely your salvation is coming;" (Isaiah 62:10-11)

It is clear from the Scriptures, that Christians were meant to play an active role in the lives of the Jewish people and Israel. G-d has made promises to Israel that He says He will keep:

"....I am G-d and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure'...Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it....My salvation shall not linger. And I will place salvation in Zion, For Israel My glory." (from Isaiah 46:9c-13)

True Christians are Zionists and should be praying for G-d's purposes to be fulfilled in the Nation of Israel and in the lives of the Jewish people. The following prayer is a compilation of Scriptures that call for the restoration of the Nation and its people to the G-d of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Please pray these Scriptures in your churches, your fellowships, and in your personal prayer closets. Praying for Israel is tantamount to praying for the return of the L-rd. Jesus said that He would not return until the nation of Israel acknowledged Him as the Messiah:

"...for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the L-rd!" (Matthew 23:39)

There is a blessing in store for those who bless The Chosen People, the physical descendants of Abraham. G-d said to Abraham:

"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)

INTERCESSORY PRAYER FOR ISRAEL

By Susan Castell

G-d of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, we are coming to you on behalf of Your covenant land and of Your covenant people, Israel. Father, You have said that You will not break Your covenant nor alter the thing that is gone out of your lips. You have given to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their descendants the land of Israel, and we declare that no other nation has any rightful claim to possess that which You have sworn to Your people. We declare that no weapon formed against Israel, the land or its people, shall prosper. We pray for your mercy upon the enemies of Israel because truly they do not know that they are touching the apple of Your eye.

Father, You have promised to regather the scattered remnant of Israel from all the nations to which You have driven them, so we pray for the remnant of Israel in every nation to hear and obey Your voice as You call them to return to the land of their inheritance.

Father, we thank You that to the nation of Israel belongs the adoption as sons, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of G-d, and the promises. We declare, Father, that every promise that You have made concerning the nation of Israel shall be fulfilled. We acknowledge that the spiritual blindness which has kept Israel from recognizing and accepting her Messiah has been a partial hardening which You Yourself have imposed for a time and for a season until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in, and then all Israel shall be saved. Father, we believe that we are now entering the day and the hour for the spiritual blindness of the nation of Israel to be healed, and we command the spiritual eyes of Your people Israel to be opened that they might behold the glory of G-d in the face of Jesus, their Messiah and King.

We offer ourselves, Father, to stand in the gap and make up the hedge for Your people Israel until such time that they can cry out for themselves: "Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the L-rd." Father, we pray for the outpouring of the Spirit of grace and supplication upon the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that they may look upon Him whom they have pierced and mourn for Him. We thank you, L-rd, that in that day a fountain will be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for impurity.

Father, we pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and we say: "May peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your palaces." L-rd, we declare that for Zion's sake we will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake we will not keep quiet, until her righteousness goes forth like brightness, and her salvation like a torch that is burning.

Father, we declare that if the rejection of Israel brought about the reconciliation of the world that her acceptance will be nothing less than life from the dead! L-rd, You have said that the gifts and the calling which You have bestowed upon Israel are irrevocable, so L-rd we pray for the restoration of Israel and the full manifestation of Your divine purpose through that people.

Scripture References:
Psalm 89:34; Exodus 6:8; Isaiah 54:17; Zechariah 2:8; Jeremiah 23:3; Romans 9:4; Exodus 4:22; Romans 11:25-26; Matthew 23:39; Zechariah 12:10; 13:1; Psalm 122:6-7; Isaiah 62:1; Romans 11:15,290