By John Conrad
The first priority in blessing Israel is to pray. In Genesis 12 God promises Abraham that those who bless his seed will be blessed by Him. Since the time of Yeshua the Messiah, the Jews have been the visible, physical seed of Abraham recognized the world over. Not only has God promised the Land to the seed of Abraham but it became the only place on earth where Jews could gather to escape both national and personal persecution. Returning to their promised inheritance has also allowed them to defend themselves–something denied to them for nearly 2000 years.
To obey Psalm 122:9 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you. Lifting up the nation of Israel and Jerusalem to our Father is obedience and the best possible way we can flow in God’s will for the nation of Israel. We must also pray for the Palestinian people. Particularly that leaders would be raised up who truly desire the best for their people. Leaders who model and articulate hope for the Palestinians and reject the current climate of hate and resistance that has done nothing but destroy Palestinian aspirations for a better life.
The second thing we can do is educate ourselves and those in our circle of influence. Too many Christians and Messianics are unaware of the true history of the Land that God gave to Abraham and his descendants. There has been an unbroken, continuous presence of Israelites in the Land since the time of the Exodus. Even through the dispersion of the Northern Kingdom by Assyria and the exile of the Southern Kingdom of Judah to Babylon there remained a remnant of Israelites in the Land. In 1948 when the United Nations approved the establishment of the modern state of Israel, 50% of the inhabitants of Jerusalem were Jewish. The idea that the present-day Jewish population of Israel represent colonizers who have displaced the indigenous people is not true. In the last 3000 years there has never been a day when there was not an Israelite population living in the Land.
The present war in the Land is not an ethnic dispute between Jews and Arabs. While there is certainly a troubling antisemitic element in the worldwide Arab population, it is important to realize that there are 2 million Arabs living in the nation of Israel. They are both Muslims and Christians. They serve in the government, the military, as doctors, lawyers and in various professions—they see themselves as Israelis. They are loyal to the nation of Israel and they are allowed to pursue and realize their personal goals as Israelis in the modern nation of Israel.
It is essential, important and pivotal to see this salient point–Hamas does not want or never has wanted peace with Israel. Even those like Yasser Arafat who purported to be seeking a two-state solution really have never sought anything but the total eradication of the Jewish state of Israel. A former Israeli government basically granted Arafat everything he asked for and he turned it down. Sadly, to date, Palestinian leaders have one goal. It is stated in everything they have ever said or written—this goal is the elimination of the Zionist state. For Jews in the land of Israel the war with Hamas is not a political nor philosophical debate—it is an existential question. Israel wants to continue to exist and Hamas and its allies seek to terminate Israel’s existence.
As we pray for Israel and seek to know the truth, we can’t forget that this conflict is as much a spiritual battle as a physical one. Less than 24 hours after Hamas overran the nation of Israel on October 7, 2023, killing, raping, and devastating over one thousand Israelis, Hamas sympathizers over the face of the globe rioted and protested against the “genocidal” Israeli government. This was before the IDF had formally initiated a military operation against Hamas. The spiritual origin of Hamas and its sympathizers is the nation of Amalek who attacked Israel in the wilderness of Sinai without provocation and without any pretext. For those who see Israel as committing genocide against the Palestinians it is important to see that Israel shows repeatedly by the actions of the IDF that they value the lives of Palestinians and their children much more than does Hamas. It is right that we weep for the Palestinian lives lost but it is critical to remember who could end this conflict tomorrow—it is not the nation of Israel.
Third, we can bless the nation of Israel by physical and tangible assistance. We can donate to ministries and groups that are feeding, clothing, and housing displaced Israelis. We can support groups who are ministering to Israelis—children and adults—who are suffering extreme mental and emotional trauma resulting from the attacks. PTSD is a constant feature of many Israelis’ lives stemming both from endless attacks and the debilitating fear of living under the constant threat of terrorism. Examples of such groups are Shiloh Children’s Fund headed by David Rubin, Vision for Israel run by Barry and Batya Segal, the Israel Guys/HaYovel and Bethel Communities operating in Zikron Yaakov. There are many other worthy groups that are helping—these are just some of the ones I know personally that can be trusted with your donations. Be a blessing!
Fourth and finally, be a voice in your communities for the truth. We must be clear—we are not anti-Palestinian—we oppose those whose stated goal is the elimination of the nation of Israel and, in tandem, the Jewish people. Groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis trumpet their desire for the destruction of Israel and its people. On humanitarian grounds alone, we oppose these ideologies. Write to your local paper, your congressional representatives, talk to your neighbors. Explain what “From the River to the Sea, Palestine must be free!” really means. Show people a map and point out the Mediterranean Sea and the river Jordan. Help people see the “freedom of Palestine” means eliminating the Jews from their historical homeland. The slogan sends a message that there is nowhere on earth a Jew can call home and be safe.
Many Christians are reluctant to support Israel because the vast majority of Jews have not accepted our Messiah. Remember the words of Paul speaking of his brothers the Jews in Romans 9: 4 who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the [temple] service and the promises, 5 whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Messiah according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen. All these promises remain. God is giving us, his scattered church/assembly the chance to redeem 2000 years of antisemitism and horrific persecution. “Today, if you hear his voice” reach out your hand to bless his people, the Jews, in their struggle to dwell in their inheritance.
