Praying for Israel and Provoking them to Jealousy: A Biblical Perspective
I am often asked: “How do I pray for Israel and the Jewish people?” The other question frequently asked is: “How can I provoke Israel to jealousy?” These are great questions, and the answers are relatively simple, as we will soon find out.
Let us first talk about how to pray for Israel. There are several areas that I think are extremely important. First, we must, of course, pray for their salvation. It requires us to pray that the veil that covers their eyes will be removed. Paul said: “Their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ” (2 Corinthians 3:14, NKJV).[i]
The Jewish people are being held captive in great deception that has resulted in their outright rejection of their Messiah. And their expressed hatred borders on the irrational. However, I have also seen a gradual softening of hearts towards Christians who have displayed a love for the Jewish people.
Before my father passed away, I took him to a friend’s church that genuinely loves Israel. They even had an Israeli flag hanging up in their sanctuary. My father was surprised and asked: “What’s our flag doing up there?” I said: “These are the true Christians who love us.” “They love us,” he responded. “Yes, they love us.” He was so moved, almost to tears, that he said he might consider becoming one of them.
Yeshua quoted Isaiah when He said: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;” (Luke 4:18). Just like Yeshua, we are also called to free the captives so that they might receive the love of His truth.[ii] We do this through prayer and fasting as Yeshua instructed: “This kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17:21).
However, more than just praying for Israel’s salvation, the church is called to intercede for and stand in the gap for Israel. Yeshua said on the cross: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34). And in the book of Joel, we see a picture of the church crying out for the salvation of Israel and their return to the land, even pleading with God to remove the defilement of His name. As it is written, “Let the priests [those who are in Christ], who minister to the LORD, Weep between the porch and the altar; Let them say, Spare Your people [Israel], O LORD, And do not give Your heritage to reproach, That the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, Where is their God?” (Joel 2:17).
Therefore, the redemption of Israel is the sanctification of God’s name, while their exile continues to profane God’s name amongst the nations. As it is written: “And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the Lord, says the Lord God, when I am hallowed in you before their eyes. For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land” (Ezekiel 36:23-24).
Lastly, we must pray for the peace of Jerusalem, for in doing so, we are praying for the return of Christ.[iii] He is the Prince of Peace, and only when He returns to the earth shall all of Israel be saved and the Kingdom of God established in Israel from Jerusalem.[iv] On that day, the Lord declared: “I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication” (Zechariah 12:10). This implies that all those living in Jerusalem, including the sons of Ishmael, will receive the Holy Spirit. Therefore, praying for Israel and the Jewish people should not preclude prayers for their Arab cousins’ salvation.
Imagine Israel as “one nation” stretching from the Mediterranean Sea to the Euphrates River and from Egypt to Syria, bringing all the natural descendants of Abraham together as one people of God in Christ Yeshua. As it is written, “In that day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria—a blessing in the midst of the land, whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance” (Isaiah 19:24-25). It is the only peace process between Israel and her surrounding nations that will ever succeed.
Now, let us talk about how the church is going to provoke Israel to jealousy. I believe the church needs to be restored to a proper understanding of God’s prophetic plans and kingdom purposes for the nation of Israel, including an appropriate recognition of God’s calling for the church to come alongside Israel to provoke them into jealousy.
Paul said: “Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:28-29). Paul was not talking about the irrevocable gifts of the spirit or other administrative gifts given to the church. Paul was talking about Israel’s calling to be a light and a blessing to all the nations.[v]
These were his proceeding words: “For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?” (Romans 11: 15). Paul was telling the church that once Israel received her Messiah, she would be resurrected from the dead [vi] and that this resurrection would bring life to the church and bring God’s Spirit to the whole earth.
It is when the Kingdom of God will be established on earth, and the Kingdom itself belongs to Israel. We read that Yeshua’s disciples came to Him and asked: “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). Yeshua gently told them they need not worry about the time of His return, but the fact He did not rebuke their question confirmed their understanding. The Kingdom of God belongs to Israel.
Paul said it like this: “For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises” (Romans 9:3-4). Here, we read that every promise made by the Lord to Abraham, Moses, and King David remains for the Jewish people. The nations (Gentiles) can only share in these promises by the Lord’s grafting them into Israel, as it is written: “And it shall be that in whatever tribe the stranger dwells, there you shall give him his inheritance, says the Lord GOD” (Ezekiel 47:23). And Paul said: “That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel” (Ephesians 3:6).
This sharing of Israel’s promises and blessings has been given to the nations because of Israel’s transgressions, including the rejection of their Messiah.[vii] And yet, God made a promise to Israel that He would provoke the Jewish people to jealous anger, and it would be the work of His Holy Spirit through the Gentile church to provoke them.[viii] The Lord spoke through Moses, saying: “I will provoke them to jealousy by those who are not a nation; I will move them to anger by a foolish nation” (Deuteronomy 32:21). He spoke of a nation that was ignorant about the God of Israel and had no knowledge of Him. He was speaking of the Gentiles.[ix]
But the singular vernacular specifically indicates one Gentile nation. Could this nation be the sons of Ishmael? It is written: “As for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation” (Genesis 17:20). Therefore, let us pray for the salvation of Ishmael. Prayer is crucial. Still, there are some practical things that God requires of us. First, we must love the Jewish people unconditionally, meaning without prejudice to their current spiritual condition. The church is supposed to love all people.
Yeshua said, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). Because Israel is God’s firstborn son, the church must also honor them like the older brother. The second born of Abraham is Ishmael (even though he was born first in the natural).[x] God chooses the one He wants, and not necessarily in the order we are born. Therefore, the church should honor all the sons of Abraham.
Next, I believe the church must preach the good news of the gospel to the Jewish people, as is written, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). Giving people bread without giving them the “bread of life” is not enough.[xi] Yeshua said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). We need to feed their bodies and provide for their souls. Yes, they might reject the word and even despise you, but that is our calling as followers of Christ.
Also, I believe the Gentiles are called to bless the Jewish people materially. Paul said, “If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things?” (1 Corinthians 9:11). Anti-Semitic rhetoric often proclaims the Jews control most of the money in the world. That is a deception and a lie from Satan. Thirty percent of the Jewish people in Israel are living in poverty. And one of the most neglected groups of Christians in the world is our Messianic brothers and sisters in Israel. Second to them are the Arab Christians. The church has and retains a mainly Western view of the world. God’s firstborn (Israel) and second-born (Ishmael) are some of the least honored and most neglected people within the church.[xii]
Finally, I believe the church needs to be restored to its proper biblical Messianic foundation and needs to understand and honor the sacred assemblies of the Lord. These include the Sabbath and the Lord’s Holy Convocations (feasts and celebrations). Besides, who wants to miss an elaborate celebration? Listen to what the Lord says:
“In this mountain [in Jerusalem] The Lord of hosts will make for all people a feast of choice pieces, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of well-refined wines on the lees. And He will destroy on this mountain the surface of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces; The rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth; for the Lord has spoken. And it will be said in that day: Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for Him; we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation” (Isaiah 25:6-9).
I’m going to this party. Don’t you want to come with me?
The Lord has established a Hebrew calendar that identifies the seventh day as the Sabbath—a day that is uniquely set apart (and was sanctified) and made holy (hallowed) at the time of creation.[xiii] The Lord also established seven yearly feasts and celebrations that create a cycle of expectancy for the return of our Messiah. The church and the world must follow God’s calendar, not vice versa.
While these gatherings are not required as a legal obligation nor a means of salvation, I believe when the Jewish people see the church celebrating and honoring the feasts of the Lord with such zeal and spiritual passion, they will question what they have been missing. They might even become angry and accuse the church of stealing their traditions and what they feel rightly belongs to them. They might be provoked to jealousy.
I continually hear stories about certain people who grew up in a Jewish neighborhood or have several close Jewish friends or family members. These are not coincidences or accidents. God has intentionally placed your feet in their path and has given you these associations for a purpose.[xiv]
While the Jewish people have an irrevocable calling to be a light to the nations, the Gentiles have a calling to provoke Israel to jealousy. For this reason, it is the Lord’s work and not exclusively yours. He has anointed you, and He will open doors for you. He will convince hearts and open eyes for people to see His Kingdom through you. We are all vessels, instruments in His hand for His work and glory. And the Gentiles are ultimately called to restore God’s heritage, Israel, and rebuild Jerusalem, as it is written:
“Thus says the LORD God: Behold, I will lift My hand in an oath to the nations, and set up My standard for the peoples; they shall bring your sons in their arms, and your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders. Kings shall be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers” (Isaiah 49:22-23).
“The sons of foreigners shall build up your walls, and their kings shall minister to you; for in My wrath I struck you, but in My favor I have had mercy on you. Therefore your gates shall be open continually; They shall not be shut day or night, That men may bring to you the wealth of the Gentiles, And their kings in procession” (Isaiah 60:10-11).
And for this calling towards Israel, the Gentiles will receive the earth as an inheritance.[xv] God’s Kingdom will then be complete—Israel at its center, and all the nations of the earth who are grafted into Israel will come up to Jerusalem to worship their God, the God of Israel. “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance” (Psalm 33:12).
[i] All Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Bible (NKJV) unless otherwise noted, Thomas Nelson Inc., 1982.
[ii] 2 Thessalonians 2:10.
[iii] Psalm 122:6.
[iv] Romans 11:26.
[v] Isaiah 27:6 & 42:6, Acts 13:46-47.
[vi] Ezekiel 37:1-14.
[vii] Romans 11:11.
[viii] Romans 10:9.
[ix] Ephesians 2:12.
[x] Genesis 21:12.
[xi] John 6:51.
[xii] Exodus 4:22-23.
[xiii] Exodus 20:11.
[xiv] Psalm 37:23.
[xv] Isaiah 45:3.