Millions have been stirred in the spirit of Isaiah 62 to pray, fast and intercede “for Zion’s sake.” But why Zion? Why Israel any more or less than any other nation?

It’s a question we have asked and attempted to answer numerous times. Most recently, during the COVID crisis, we asked you, our esteemed readers, what we could do to help. You laid down some powerful and Spirit-inspired challenges!

You told us that, as Bible Believers, your own stories are connected to Israel, and to the God of Israel; that this is an integral part of your faith – past, present and future. As followers of Jesus, the Heir to David’s throne, you are connected to Jerusalem and the End Times in a grand, globe-embracing drama. Your responses read like a sequel to the Book of Acts!

The whole world is watching what happens in Israel, while you pray for God’s Kingdom here and in your own nations. Your connection to Israel and the Jewish People has many expressions, ranging from following balanced Middle East news analysis and prophetic relevance, to better understanding the Bible, to cultural/technological/medical developments in Israel, to prayer inspiration.

Here are some selected stories, excerpts and highlights from YOUR answers to the question:

Why is news about Israel important to YOU?

1.) You spoke of the centrality of Israel in understanding the Bible and God’s plan as it applies to current events. God instituted His interactions with mankind through Abraham, the “Father of all who believe” (Romans 4:11). His offer of salvation to all peoples is an extension of His workings with the tribes of Jacob (Isaiah 49:6):

“Israel’s role is central in God’s plans… Jesus is coming back, and Israel is at the center of that…”

“…much has been written in Scripture about Israel” … “I want to know everything about the land of the Aleph and Tav….”

2.) You wrote of how reading faith-based Middle East news informs your prayers as Watchmen. In addition to “stay informed to pray informed” in every sphere of our lives, some of you are carrying a specific burden to pray for the ultimate fulfillment of God’s foundational redemption saga with Israel – the sons of Jacob – both “in spite” of themselves as a proof of God’s faithfulness (Jer. 31:31-37), and as a harbinger for the rest of humanity:

“It’s important to me because it’s important to G-D. Also, it keeps me informed of prayer needs relating to Yisra’el and the Jewish people.”

“We pray for Israel and the Messianic community. God has called us to connect with the Jews.”

“…God has not finished with Israel and I watch it to see its resurrection.” … “In 2003 He called me to be a watchman and I visited for the first time.”

3.) “My God-given faith comes from Israel.” You write that “Christianity is based on the Bible – a Jewish book.” Your understanding of the “roots of our faith” gives you insights into your personal faith journey and His will for your life – something that others often miss. Honoring the Jewish people, the way you do, allows you to “feel a deep connection” to Israel and “grafted in” to God’s people and plan. You read the Bible differently by “understanding the roots of my faith.”

4.) “As a Christian, I love Israel and the Jewish people.” This comes across loud and clear for so many of you, and you long to “comfort My people” according to the Biblical commandment. You stand up for Israel in a hostile world where “we do not get balanced news about Israel in the UK.”

You take a personal interest in “what is going on in the land,” and in issues like “news about how Israel seeks cure for Cancer and Covid-19, and technical developments by the Israeli tech community,” which testify to God’s blessing. You see this, too, as part the role of the Jewish people to be a “light to the Gentiles.”

“I just want to see what is going on in the land … as Israel and its people have an important role to play in the world.”

5.) Faith-based, balanced Middle East NEWS. You want to get involved in what is happening here, and to play your part in salvation history as it unfolds from Jerusalem to every continent; from Abraham to David to Yeshua; from the Holocaust to the rebirth of Israel to God’s victorious End Times culmination. You feel it is important to get “balanced… nonbiased news from Israel.” And you read Israel Today “…to get understanding of Biblical Hebraic thought concerning issues of the day and historical perspective.”

“News about Israel is important to me because I believe in the promises God made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and in the fulfilment when Messiah returns to reign as King from Jerusalem over the whole world.”

“Because Israel is central to God’s view of the World, and His purposes and plans for mankind are through His everlasting covenant with the Jewish people and His Land.”

 “News about Israel is important to me because of its centrality to a full understanding of the Bible. What God is doing in Israel is primary to the world and the Messiah’s arrival.”

Dear ones, we thank you for these inspiring thoughts. It is good, too, that you can know what your fellow readers understand, believe and see. May you know the Peace of God that passes understanding and the love and faith from God the Father and our Lord Yeshua the Messiah.

We would also take the opportunity to invite you to partner with us by supporting the work of Israel Today.

Your contributions are what keep our offices in downtown Jerusalem running – Support Israel Today!

Shalom,

The Israel Today team

Additional items of interest:

One quarter of the survey respondents were women. Three quarters were men! Yay, Gentlemen!

Alphabetical list of home countries of survey responders:  Australia, Canada, Italy, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Romania, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland; and then anchoring the list with the most responders… UK and USA.

Two in-depth responses we felt we should repost for you to read:

1. The fate of the entire world hinges on Israel, particularly in these last days. Since the end of the Roman exile, particularly Gentiles like me should heed the words: “Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God. “Speak kindly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her, that her sentence is served, her penalty is paid, that she has received from Hashem’s hand double for all her sins” (Isa 40:1–2 Anchor Bible). I was born in Germany … [but] besides the growing anti-Semitism, the German spirit/mentality still smells of “master race”” (my wife is Polish). Understanding the Jewish people, religious or not, and understanding what’s happening in Israel helps me to understand history and current events in general. Besides, most of the headlines are direct fulfillments of Scripture, which is exciting anyway. My life has changed through my visits to Israel, and if I could make Aliyah, I would.
2. The Creator has had His hand on me before I was even following Him. In the mid 1970’s I had a desire to know why Arabs and Jews were fighting over a smaller parcel of land.  In the early 1980’s I met two MESSIANIC JEWISH ALASKAN GOLD MINERS [!] and I joined them for two gold mining seasons.  They spent winters in Jerusalem and asked me to join them there too, but at that time I wasn’t interested. In the early 1990s our Creator gave me a love for the people and the Land of Israel and an intense desire to go to the Land of Israel. In 2003 He called me to be a “WATCHMAN” and I visited for the first time.  My first night in Israel was August 19, 2003, the night of the horrific Number 2 bus bombing.  I was on a mission, by myself to walk the streets and pray. I’ve returned and now visited 6 times.  In 2008 my wife and I were newlyweds and the Torah portion the day we left the USA to travel to Israel for our honeymoon was in Lech Lecha where Elohim told Avraham to “leave the land of your fathers and travel to a land that I will show you.”  The day we flew over Tel Aviv on our way to Ben Gurion airport the Torah portion said, “Arise and walk the land from north to south and east to west.  I will give this land to your descendants forever.”  We don’t believe in coincidences.  We started hiking.  Masada at sunrise, Mt Meron trail, the streets of Jerusalem etc etc.  In 2018 we hiked about 600 km of the Israel Trail from Dan. December 2019 we hiked in the Negev! I belong to a Messianic Congregation. I also have an online ministry… I therefore find ISRAEL TODAY articles very helpful in backing up some of my teachings…