The Jerusalem Prayer List – 2 August, 2024
by Joseph Shulam - From Jerusalem Israel
This Shabbat is the last reading from the book of Numbers. The reading is a double portion.
The two portions are Mattot & Massei, from Numbers 30:2 – 36:13.
The reading from the Prophets is dramatic and very important for understanding some texts that are most often misinterpreted: Jeremiah 2:4–28and the addition of one verse from Jeremiah 3:4.
From the New Testament, the reading is also double. We will be reading from Luke 13:1-9 and Mark 11:12-23. All these readings are essential for all of us as disciples of Yeshua. Of course, all the words of God from Genesis to Revelation are crucial, but especially for these crazy days and the events happening around us in the Middle East, the USA, and Europe, Our whole world is a mess, and the challenges are all challenging and stressful.
Today's news, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, is alarming, and we need earnest and sober prayer for Israel. Last night, Israel eliminated Ismael Hanniah, the arch-terrorist and one of the chief leaders of Hamas in Gaza. He was eliminated during his sleep in Teheran, Iran, in a protected secret apartment belonging to the Iranian security services. This elimination was just 24 hours after the elimination of the Chief of Staff of the Hezbollah in Lebanon, also while sleeping in a secret secured apartment in the neighborhood of the Dachia in Beirut, Lebanon. These eliminations were in response to the murder of 12 little children in a village in the Golan Heights. Hezbollah shot a big heavy rocket into the football field where these young children were training and playing. There is a bloody ping-pong "game" between Israel and the Iranian proxies like Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Both are governed, financed, and supplied with modern weapons that Iran manufactures and gets from China, North Korea, and Russia.
Please pray for Israel! Please don't stop praying. Every time you pray and thank God for your food, mention Israel and the people in Israel. On active duty, we have dozens of Jewish disciples of Yeshua in the Israeli military. Our Yudah was +80 days in Gaza and a few days on the Lebanese border, and he already has an appointment to show up north for active duty again very shortly. Please pray for the good angels of our Lord to surround our men and women in uniform and protect them like all of Israel's soldiers. Pray for God to reveal the evil schemes and hidden tunnels and traps that the enemy has hidden. Please help the Israeli army to continue to be the most moral in the world today. Please protect the civilian population in Gaza and Israel from harm and death.
Now, let's go to our Torah reading for this Shabbat!
In the portion Mattot in chapter 31, we find a new instruction in the Torah that the soldiers that go to battle have to give a portion of the booty that they capture in battle to the tribe of Levi, to the Levites, and also a gift of gratitude for the safe return of the soldiers who were in battle and had victory. This principle has been so alive and living in us, in Netivyah, for the last nine months. It is so often that what we read in God's Word, our Torah portions, and the portions from the Prophets are almost like reading our daily newspapers.
God has used Netivyah to bless our military in the most dramatic, generous, and super-valuable ways to provide needed equipment and supplies for our soldiers. I can say the following for sure. Netivyah is not the only ministry in Israel that has supplied and mobilized to provide much-needed and even strategic equipment for our men on the battlefields. I can say for sure that Netivyah was among the very first organizations that have mobilized to stand with the Israeli soldiers and provide tactical equipment like modern helmets and modern life-saving vests with modern bulletproof protection, and very hi-tech drones that, as the officers say, are life-saving for our men in the battlefield. The Lord has used Netivyah in Israel and has used Netivyah International to speak and encourage Christians to stand with Israel and help fight antisemitism.
In our Torah reading, we see the principles that have guided us, which Moses had commanded:
"Now the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: "Count up the plunder that was taken—of man and beast—you and Eleazar the priest and the chief fathers of the congregation; and divide the plunder into two parts, between those who took part in the war, who went out to battle, and all the congregation. And levy a tribute for the LORD on the men of war who went out to battle: one of every five hundred of the persons, the cattle, the donkeys, and the sheep; take it from their half, and give it to Eleazar, the priest as a heave offering to the LORD. And from the children of Israel's half, you shall take one of every fifty, drawn from the persons, the cattle, the donkeys, and the sheep, from all the livestock, and give them to the Levites who keep charge of the Tabernacle of the LORD." So, Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the LORD commanded Moses." (Numbers 31:25-31 NKJV)
The verses teach a different principle for sharing with those serving the people and the Lord than the teaching in most Protestant churches, the daughters of Rome. Most churches teach that people ought to give 10% of their income to the church's work; however, this is an Old Testament principle that is commanded explicitly to Israel and specifically designed for the tribe of Levi and those who serve in the Tabernacle in the wilderness and later the temple in Jerusalem. This teaching is not found in the New Testament in the letters that the Apostles wrote to the Churches in Asia Minor and Europe. Interestingly, these churches vote hands down against anything commanded in the Torah and in the prophets in the Old Testament!
In this command of God to Moses and through Moses to all of Israel, we see that even gain and wealth gained in war as booty must be shared with the Levites who are serving God. Second, we see Israel as ONE NATION, with different tribes and different callings between the tribes. Also, the tribe of Levi is commanded to be servants of God for the people of Israel. I don't know and don't claim to command my Christian brothers and sisters what and where to give their financial contributions. However, the principle in this Torah reading is not too complicated to understand. Giving to the Lord's work in modern times is only a recommendation and a principle based on Paul's teaching in 2nd Corinthians, a principle that says that what you sow will also be reaping.
Christians would not need preachers and pastors to spread this good news if they believed this. They would be running with and banking on this divine principle that works in every area of human existence. We see that God commands Moses to command the people of Israel that gain from war and battle will be used to bless those who serve God and represent, teach, pray, and serve the people of God. People gave so much that God had to tell Moses – "it is enough," and tell the people to stop. What is interesting is the commander's contribution to their soldiers' safe return (chapter 31).
The next important principle is found in chapter 32 of Numbers, where we see three of the tribes go to Moses and tell him these words:
"Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of livestock; and when they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead, that indeed the region was a place for livestock, the children of Gad and the children of Reuben came and spoke to Moses, to Eleazar, the priest, and to the leaders of the congregation, saying, "Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Shebam, Nebo, and Beon, the country which the LORD defeated before the congregation of Israel, is a land for livestock, and your servants have livestock." Therefore, they said, "If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants as a possession. Do not take us over the Jordan." (Numbers 32:1-5 NKJV)
This request of the three-and-a-half tribes of Israel that want to stay east of the Jordan River is very selfish and self-serving. God doesn't stop them, gives them some very reasonable and interesting conditions, and allows them to keep these lands east of Jordan. What can we learn from these events? One thing that amazes me in the last few Sabbath Torah readings is that God is not a legalistic, mean, harsh God! In the last few weeks, we have seen God in a different light from how Christians picture God. Christians, generally speaking, picture the God of Israel as harsh – legalistic – demanding the impossible – requesting absolute obedience, judgment, and punishing with harsh punishments. They see the God of the New Testament as loving and kind and soft and gracious.
I remember the first English Bible I received when I arrived at Georgia Christian School in Valdosta, Georgia. In the back of the Bible, there were some maps and charts, one of which showed the difference between the God of the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament.These old charts don't exist anymore in most English Bibles. I searched and didn't find such charts.
The Old Testament God is a God of judgment and punishment.
The New Testament God is a God of love and grace.
In the Old Testament, God is not forgiving.
In the New Testament, God is forgiving.
In our reading, we see in more than one episode that God is very understanding and gracious, bending in favor of a request that is totally out of God's original promises and even different from God's promises to Abraham and our forefathers.
The God I see in the Torah is not a different God from the God who so loved the world that He sent his only begotten son as a sacrifice to save it.
Another idea from our Torah reading this Shabbat is that all of God's requests were from the three and a half Tribes who wanted to stay on the east side of the Jordan River in the land of Moab and northward. God wished to preserve, feed, and strengthen the unity of the nation of Israel. The unity of Israel was essential for God. The unity of the Body of Christ is a central theme in the New Testament. We see in the New Testament that unity is also significant for God and our Lord Yeshua. See, dear brothers, how we today emphasize unity and one identity under one God and One Savior and one Body, family, and community.
Here are some key passages that highlight its importance:
John 17:20-23: In Jesus' prayer for all believers, He emphasizes unity, praying that they may be one just as He and the Father are one. This unity is meant to show the world the truth of Jesus' mission.
"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."*
Ephesians 4:1-6: Paul urges believers to live in a manner worthy of their calling, emphasizing the need to maintain unity through the Spirit in the bond of peace.
"As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."
1 Corinthians 12:12-27: Paul uses the metaphor of the body to describe the church, emphasizing that all members are essential and should care for one another to maintain unity and function effectively.
"Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts forms one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so, the body is not made up of one part but of many. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it."
These passages, among others, underscore that unity within the Body of Christ is crucial for the church's witness, effectiveness, and growth. It is presented not only as a desirable trait but as a vital element of Christian life and testimony. God allowed the three and a half tribes of Israel to stay on the east side of Jordan, but Israel's unity would have to be kept and honored by all sides, as would participation in peacetime and wartime.
A second Torah portion is read on this Shabbat, and the last Torah portion in the book of Numbers is named Massei. This fascinating text must be studied to understand how God works with people, an education I had never heard of in church. From the age of 16 in Georgia Christian School and through the years of College at David Lipscomb University in Nashville, and through thousands of hours and days on Sundays and Wednesday night church meetings, I never heard mention of the seven daughters of Zelophehad and the problem of daughters inheriting their father's property. There is a significant issue here in the Torah. As you might remember, the problem was first introduced to us in the last Shabbat's Torah portion, in the portion of Pinchas. There are two out-of-the-box teachings in that Torah portion, new principles that are so important for all of us to learn, especially as Bible Teachers. God rewarded Pinchas for taking the law into his own hands, resolving the problem, and stopping the plague by killing Zimri and Cozbi, who were having sex right at the entrance of the Tabernacle, while Moses and Aaron were standing at a total loss of what to do and how to deal with this outrageous event of rebellion.
Pinchas took the matter into his own hands and resolved it, but he did it outside the customary authority and without permission. In the Torah portion of Pinchas, another out-of-the-box request never made before was asked for Seven Sisters to inherit their father's property because the poor man had seven daughters and not one son—only the male children inherited from their father. Girls would get married to someone from another tribe. Fear was that property would not remain in the tribe, which initially received that territory for an everlasting inheritance. God understood the problem and understood the request of these seven daughters of Zelophehad.
Now, in our portion of Massei, the daughters come to Moses and receive the good news that God understood their problem, changed the laws of inheritance, and allowed women to inherit their families. This is terrific because I know God understands humanity and will change the Torah when it is no longer relevant or practicable. What a great and flexible and loving and understanding and gracious God we have; the creator of the Universe is not harsh, not difficult, and very, very loving. So loving that He sent His only begotten SON Yeshua, to die and be sacrificed for the forgiveness of sins of the whole world. The angels of God's presence must have looked into God's face in those moments and seen God scratch his head and say, "Those seven girls of Zelophehad are right; I should have seen this problem in my laws earlier. Thank you, dear daughters, of this poor man who had seven daughters and not one son! Thank you, dear Girls, for bringing this problem to my attention." This is a beautiful window into God's true character and nature. The God of Israel is so different from the view that Christians have of God the Father of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah; a lesson that all of us must remember is that our God is loving, gracious, kind, and patient with all of us His children.
Pray for Israel during these crazy days of war that are in great danger of spreading in the whole Middle East, including Iran, Turkey, and other countries, and might develop into a world war. This major world war could include Russia, China, the USA, and France; you name it… might join in this war….
Last week we shared this opportunity to participate in assisting the local congregation in Jerusalem.
Netivyah Bible Instruction Ministry and Roeh Israel Congregation in Israel have an urgent need to repair the roof of their building before the rainy season starts. There is a significant problem with leaking water from the ceiling. Water leaks from the roof into our synagogue three floors down and must be fixed immediately. The only way to fix this water leak is to remove the whole roof and redo it right to seal and waterproof the roof. The estimated cost of this urgent repair work on our building in Jerusalem is around USD 100,000. It is significant repair work, and it has to be performed by experts, and it has to be finished before the end of August 2024. Please help.
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Your prayers for brothers and sisters you don't know personally are pure love and building of the Body of the Messiah. It is Agape Love since you are doing this without any selfish interests and casting a vote in Heaven for someone who is your brother. Still, you don't know them, and God looks at these prayers that are unselfish and genuine expressions of love and care for another link in the long chain of love and faith that binds us together even though we might not know each other in this world.
When we all get to Heaven, it will be a joy to meet people we prayed for and sometimes even cried for. Brothers and sisters who are physically strangers but spiritually a part of the same body of Christ, I believe that one day we will have the privilege to sit together and share: "I remember praying for you to be healed!" "I remember praying for you to be safe when you were fighting in Gaza to free the hostages from the cruel hands of the terrorists of the Hamas in Gaza."
Pray for the following brothers and sisters who need divine grace and the gentle touch of the hand of God for healing and strength.
In Jerusalem:
new Uri Nichayev will be having an angiogram in Hadassah on Sunday.
Joseph & Marcia Shulam
Additional test and scans are scheduled next week for his Thyroid with biopsy were done in the stomach and we are waiting on results. We pray for meaningful findings.
Ilana Ahijervie is a dear sister who is 98 years old and suffering from memory problems.
Please pray for our dear sister, Lea Kurkey.
Pray for Adam's father and mother, Barry and Dalia. They have some health problems and challenges.
Pray for Hannah suffering from Migraine Headaches. Miriam is a dear sister old age dementia.
Pray for Daniel S. and his children.
Pray for Gary, our dear leader in the Ro'eh Israel congregation, and his health, as well as for his wife Melanie and their family.
Pray for Um Mahmud Abu-Eid, Jimmy Abu-Eid, and all of the family. This is a dear family of old friends that needs healing and wisdom for the children and for their work.
Please pray for the Romero family, who live deep in the Negev desert. It is hot there, and they are far from our congregation, and we miss them.
In the U.K.:
Pray for Deborah Isaiah. I pray for the Lord to find Deborah Isaiah and lead her to a blessed life, family, and a solution to her problems.
In Finland:
Mauno Lemponen has been diagnosed with cancer in advanced stages. We are asking for God's Will to be done, giving him healthy days with family—prayers for Hilka, Miika, and Ester, who support each other.
Pray for Keijo and Salme, our dear partners and fellow workers in God's flock. Both Keijo and Salme have some challenging heart issues.
Pray for Satu-Maria, Sinni Tuuli, Anne Mirjami, our dear sisters
Pray for Eva H., Patty, Andrea, Julia, Victor, Aaron Tani, and Hillel.
In Brazil:
new Max Rodrigues. his mothers health issues. she has stomach problems that have yet to be diagnosed. The hospital is taking a long time to complete tests. Pray for her salvation. Pray for Max as he navigates a challenging period in his life. He has confidence Gods victory in his life.
Pray for the Congregations related to Netivyah in Brazil to have the strength and stamina to face the challenges ahead of them with courage and strength of faithfulness to the Lord and to the vision of the restoration of the church and Israel.
Pray for the millions of victims of the Spanish and Portuguese Inquisition who have been forced to convert to the Catholic church and now want to return home to the land of Israel and the faith of our fathers.
Pray for a dear young man, Paulo, from Curitiba, Brazil, who seriously needs our prayers for sanity and mental health.
Pray for a dear sister named Claudia Rita Souze Arau. She has cancer and needs God's healing hands to touch her with healing.
Pray for Fatima Maria Docarmo Guimararaes - pray for her health and her granddaughters' twin babies.
Guilherme Antonio Nothen Becker is suffering from back problems.
Aratuza de Oliveira and his wife. Pray for their 3-year-old child, Caique de Oliveira Becker, who has severe problems with his eyes, and ask the Lord to give healing to his eyes.
In Asia:
Pray for Pastor TJ in Taiwan.
Pray for Deborah Ruth, a dear sister from China.
Pray for Sister Yoko Nagumo in Japan.
Tony Tam, his wife Luisa, and his son Marco need special prayers for their situation.
We continue to pray for Zhou Wenrian, the Abe family, Toru San, Yumi Ohara, and her family: Deborah Ruth, Ayla, Daniel, and their daughter.
Pray for Dr. Song and his wife, Sister Harriet Kim and the KIBI Ministry.
In the United States of America:
new Jerry Rogers - a long time prayer warier and supporter in Dallas has been diagnosed with cancer. he is starting treatments and we lift up his doctors and medical team & family in prayer.
new Baby Kaylan - 10.5 month old with COVID is recovering from being hospitalized. Pray for restoration of health.
Larry is asking for prayers for his grandchildren. I would say most of us that have grandchildren are concerned about the states of the world. The state of intolerance. The temptations out there. Please pray for the holy sprit to guide them in making good choices.
update Bill C. is doing well. He is on a scheduled treatment plan and last weeks number show an improved reduction on the cancer markers. Pray for Jill supporting him. - We are grateful for the good news.
Please continue to pray for the daughter of Bill Culwell, who is sick with cancer and is receiving a new third round of treatment. Please pray for success and healing.
Brother Philip Slate and his wife. She is suffering from several physical and mental health challenges.
Barbra and Angie in Alaska. Barbra has some pains and discomfort related to old age. Please lift them in prayer for strength and reduction in pain.
Jonathan Bernis is continuing recovery from a liver transplant. Please pray for Elisangela and the girls and the doctors and nurses attending our dear brother Jonathan Bernis.
Please pray for Danah, my daughter's health issues. I pray for the Lord to give Danah wisdom, peace, and calm in life and her work.
Aaron Hook, Nancy Hook's oldest son, needs our prayers for wisdom and healing from past life issues.
Lift for blessing and healing Jonathan B., his wife Aviva, their new baby, his mother, and his brother Daniel.
Pray for these important men of God: Rabbi Salt, his family, and Rabbi Hasselblad. They are both older and need protection and blessings.
Also, pray for Ilana Avramov, who is married to my cousin Nissim and lives in New York City. Ilana has fallen and is now in rehab, learning how to walk again. We pray for her full recovery. She and Nissim both need our prayers.
Pray for Steve Mock - His cognitive condition has declined, and we ask for the grace of God and His Healing and strength. Steve and Josie's son Joseph has received a wonderful and glorious report. After the last bone marrow transplant, the report is that the doctors didn't find any leukemia in his body! Praise the Lord!
I am asking for a special prayer for a dear brother and friend who is now doing very important work in a very dangerous and precarious part of the world. Just mention DadyLion in your prayers and ask for divine protection and angelic accompaniment for this man of God.
For updates or requests please email us at:Prayer@netivyahinternational.org
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