Praying for Salvation, Unity, and Peace:  What’s the best approach to take when praying for the people of Israel and what’s the key that will make your prayers effectual and fruitful?

Understanding the Lord’s heart towards the people of Israel, knowing their true needs, and applying the wisdom to associate those needs with relevant scripture is the key to effectual prayer for Israel. In this way, you will be able to pray according to God’s perfect will and your petitions will be fruitful.

What is the Lord’s heart towards the people of Israel today?

“Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth; Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.” [Is 43:5-8]

The people of Israel are the “blind people that have eyes” yet the Lord says they’re called by His name [Israel] and they’ve been formed and created by Him to glorify His Name. The return of the Jewish people to the land of Israel in our day proves the timing of this verse and its intent as a great “sign” to all.

“Fear thee not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” [Is 41:10]

Messiah Yeshua is the “right hand of my righteousness”. He is the one who sparked the Zionist Movement and gathered the Jews back into their land. He strengthened them and He watches over them and helps them. This is a sign that the grace of God abides upon them. So when we pray for them, it’s very important to remember this as it will help us avoid asking the Lord for things

He has already provided for them.

What are the true needs of Israelis today?

“For thus saith the LORD; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, O LORD, save thy people, the remnant of Israel.” [Jer 31:7]

Nothing is more important to the Lord than the salvation of His people. He calls upon us in this verse to say, “O LORD, save thy people” and He directs us to do so “with gladness for Jacob”. The Lord is providing us with a scripted prayer here so we should joyfully shout, “Save your people Israel Lord”! This simple prayer causes the Holy Spirit to move upon Israeli souls and reveals Yeshua to them.

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” [Malachi 4:5-6]

The Orthodox Community in Israel does not consider Secular Israelis to be their children, but they are the children of Israel and the Orthodox regard them as such. Secular Israelis don’t regard the Orthodox as their fathers, but they certainly are. Orthodox – Secular division poses the greatest threat to Israeli society today, so call upon the Lord to loose the “Spirit of Elijah” to influence how they see one another so they can find ways to reconcile their differences. This is even more urgent than reconciling with their enemies.

“Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.” [Ps 122:6]

“Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her: That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory. For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend Peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees. As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.” [Is 66:10-13]

The continual failure of peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians has led many to believe that peace in the Middle East is impossible. With men it is impossible, but with God all things are possible. We saw before how the unity problem in Israel was a family affair. Let’s not forget that Jacob and Esau were twins. And the Palestinians are definitely the embodiment and manifestation of Esau’s resentment towards Jacob. The Arabs are resentful towards Israel because they consider Ishmael to be Abraham’s first born son, so they believe the land of Israel belongs to them. The entire problem in the Middle East appears to be a Family Feud. Take this into consideration when you pray for the peace of Jerusalem and seek the wisdom to find the needs and the appropriate scriptures for the task. May the grace of our Lord Yeshua abide upon you and guide you always.