Before the sons of Israel entered the Promised Land, Moses, their God-appointed leader and prophet of God, reminded them of several important truths. One of these truths is found in Deuteronomy 7:6. “For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth” (ESV). Three important truths about the identity of Israel are revealed in this verse. First, they are a people consecrated to the LORD their God. Second, they are God’s chosen nation. Third, they are a people cherished by God so much so that the prophet glowingly spoke of them as being God’s treasured possession.

This was God’s view of Israel

Certainly, this was God’s view of Israel before they entered the Promised Land. And this is still how He views the nation of Israel today. Consecrated to the LORD! Chosen by the LORD! Cherished by the LORD! This is the nation that came under attack on October 7, 2023. Hamas, an organization dedicated to the destruction of the Jewish people, launched an unprecedented attack on Israel. The attack was violent and vicious. It resulted in the death of hundreds of Israelis and other nationals in Israel on the day of the attack. Thousands more were injured in Israel on that first day. The death toll continues to rise as the atrocities committed by rampaging Hamas came to light. In fact, gruesome and graphic were the atrocities committed by a well-prepared Hamas militants.

Israel is now at war with Hamas

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, declared that Israel is now at war with Hamas – vowing to inflict “an unprecedented price.” He joined with a top political rival a few days later to create a war-time cabinet overseeing the fight to avenge a stunning weekend attack by Hamas militants. The Israeli government is under intense public pressure to topple and dismantle Hamas. The militants stormed through a border fence Saturday (October 7, 2023) and massacred hundreds of Israelis in their homes. Not only that, they callously and cruelly gunned down people on the streets and at an outdoor music festival. As at today (October 12, 2023), the war has already claimed at least 2,300 lives on both sides.

What Israel needs at this hour of distress is effective prayer

Indeed, what Israel needs most at this hour of distress is effective and effectual prayer on her behalf (see James 5:16b). Please join with us in praying for God’s gracious intervention in this war initiated by Hamas. Please feel free to pray in any order the Spirit leads you to pray. Thank you so much for standing in the gap for Israel at her hour of distress! May the Lord who hears prayer (Psalms 65:2), hear and answer your prayers on behalf of Israel! May He also do far more abundantly than all that you ask or think (see Ephesians 3:20)!

Stand in the Gap for Israel!

For the many who have lost loved ones, pray that the God of all comfort, will comfort them (see 2 Corinthians 1:3).

Call on God to have mercy upon Israel so that they will not have sorrow upon sorrow (see Philippians 2:27).

Also, pray that God will bring unbelieving Israelis to faith in Christ in these terrible circumstances.

Please, pray that God will replace the turmoil in their hearts with His peace, for He is the God of peace (see Romans 15:33).

Also, pray that they will seek and find God (see Jeremiah 29:13-14) in their hour of distress.

Fervently pray that God will replace their hatred and hostility against the Palestinians with care and compassion and vice-versa.

Earnestly pray for the cessation of the war – reminding God of His promise of making wars to cease to the ends of the earth (see Psalms 46:10).

Pray also for the protection and preservation of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).

Pray that those who are held as captives will be granted compassion in the sight of their captors (see 1 Kings 8:50).

Should the war continue, pray that God will give the leaders of Israel wisdom for waging this war successfully.

We must also pray for the Palestinians

Seek God’s face to comfort the many Palestinians who have also lost loved ones (see 2 Corinthians 1:3).

Ask God to help Hamas and the Palestinians to have a change of heart toward the LORD and the Jewish nation.

Pray that the Palestinians will turn from their wicked ways and live. For the Lord does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live (see Ezekiel 33:11).

Earnestly pray that the gospel of Jesus Christ will be proclaimed among the Palestinians and that Jesus will reveal Himself to them as the Son of God and the Savior of the world (see Matthew 14:33; John 4:42).

Travail in prayer for them to believe in the Only Begotten Son of God, that they may not perish, but have eternal life (see John 3:16).

Beseech the Lord of the harvest to grant them repentance that leads to life (see Matthew 9:38; Acts 11:18b).