About Israel
I will gather others to them
Besides those already gathered. Isaiah 56:8
Read Romans 11:13—22
Paul was a Jew who went to the Gentiles. Here he asks the Gentiles to go to the Jews. When I read my Bible I am reading mostly of the men and women of Israel: Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, Rachel, Gideon, David, Josiah, Jeremiah, Elizabeth, Mary, Joseph, Peter, James, John, Paul, Jesus! Jesus himself, sent to ‘the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’[1] It took a revelation of the Holy Spirit[2] and a special council of the first church in Jerusalem[3] to acknowledge the possibility of Gentiles in the church. So it will be a good thing for me to pray for the Jewish people, that they may find the fulfilment of their promised faith.
God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Messiah of Israel, you have grafted me into the vine. You have made it so that I can open the holy scriptures of Israel and join in the struggle with them as my brothers and sisters. Abraham and Sarah’s faith can be mine, and the promise to them mine. David’s sin, his miserable shame, mine. His cry for mercy, mine; his joyful praise, that, too, mine; Israel’s Messiah, my anointed Saviour and king; Peter’s denial, mine; Jesus’ restoration of Peter, mine too. So it is a privilege for me to pray for the children of Israel. Their faith has been fulfilled in the faith I know. May they know the fruition of the promises made to them. Bless the witness of those among them who call Jesus their Lord. Fulfil the true longing of true hearts.
[1]Matthew 15:34
[2]Acts 10—11
[3]Acts 15