Days 1 – 4 Days 5 – 8 Days 9 – 12 Days 13 – 16 Days 17 – 20 Days 21 – 22
Day 9 | 15 May 2023
The Jewish people were exiled from their land with the Assyrian and Babylonian invasions (721 BC and 586 BC) and the destruction of Jerusalem by Emperor Titus in AD 70.
“Aliyah”, which in Hebrew means to “go up”, refers to the return of the Jewish diaspora from all over nations to the land of Israel. Since Israel’s re-formation as a state in 1948, we have seen a progressive return of the Jewish people back to their homeland.
Some have returned with the help of strong support and assistance in their return. Others have returned because antisemitism or crises have forced them to flee from danger back to the promised land. An example is the recent Russia-Ukraine war where many Jewish people were forced to return to Israel.
Whether through assistance (organisations, leaders or individuals assisting their return) or through crises, God will bring His people back (Jer. 16:16).
God will keep His covenant to Abraham to give his descendants the land of Israel (Gen. 15:18–21). In His zeal for His name, God will bring the Israelites back to their homeland from the lands they have been scattered to (Isa. 11:11–16; Ezek. 36:24).
How To Pray:
- Pray for God to stir the hearts of many Jewish people to return to the land.
- Pray for the directing of their hearts to His zeal for the land (2. Thes. 3:5).
- Pray for the hastening of the work of Aliyah even in the midst of tensions in Israel (Hab. 3:2).
- Pray for the raising up of people of authority and influence who will help facilitate the migration of the Jewish people back to Israel.
- Pray for the Jewish people to be strengthened with God’s grace to return despite the difficulties they may face in making Aliyah (Zech. 4:7).
Day 10 | 16 May 2023
For many Jewish people, Aliyah would mean leaving behind comfortable careers, lifestyles, and relationships, to start over in a land foreign to them. One of the reasons that deter Jewish people from returning to Israel is the lack of resources, such as a lack of finances or educational qualifications necessary to help them settle down in Israel. Getting a new home and finding a new job are some of the practical needs and concerns that Jews face after they return to Israel.
Returning Jews may also face prejudice amongst the Israeli Jewish community, depending on which nation they have returned from. These Jews are discriminated against and may be treated poorly — such as having their homes located at the forefront of potential war-prone areas in Israel. They may also not be readily accepted by the community around them, and face challenges in adjusting to a new language and fitting in in an entirely new society.
God promises Israel in Isaiah 61:7 that she will have a double portion of prosperity and fruitfulness in the land. He promises her permanent habitation in the land and manifold blessings upon them. Let us pray this promise over the Jewish people as they heed the call to return to Israel.
How To Pray:
- Pray that the Jewish people will experience the Lord’s mighty hand of supernatural provision, protection and power as they return to the Land, just as Israel did as the Lord led them out of Egypt (Heb. 13:20–21; Hab. 3:2).
- Pray that after they return to the land, God would release His abundant grace and provisional blessings over them so that they would have no lack.
- Pray that the Jewish people will experience the promise from Isaiah 61:7 in these different aspects in Israel (Jude 3):
- Ministries and agencies helping them to settle in;
- Assistance in learning the language and settling into society;
- Communities that will welcome them as fellow Israelis;
- Aid from Gentiles who help without expectation of anything in return (Isa. 60:10, 14);
- The supernatural hand of God from barrenness to fruitfulness (Joel 3).
Day 11 | 17 May 2023
Jerusalem is the Holy Land, yet it is a far cry from God’s glory for her as the Holy City. Israel is currently no different from any other secular nation. Yet, God is zealous for her and will not leave her as she is (Zech. 1:14; 8:2). Zechariah 5 reveals God’s heart to cleanse Israel of her unrighteous ways and wickedness. God will orchestrate a divine removal of wickedness from her in the End Times (Zech 5:8–11).
The cleansing of the land of Israel refers to cleansing from her immorality, idolatry,
disobedience, unfaithfulness and wrong value system that has been embraced over time.
God will cause a fountain of cleansing to spring up for sin and uncleanness (Zech 13:1). He will set His standard of holiness in the land of Jerusalem and amongst the people of Israel so that once again, they will be called out of the world and set apart for Him.
While the fullness of this cleansing will take place right at the End of the Age, God can and will progressively cleanse her even as we pray.
How To Pray:
- Pray for God to cause the fountain of cleansing to spring up in Jerusalem, and cleanse the hearts of many from idolatry, immorality, impurity and sin (Zech. 13:1).
- Pray for God to refine Israel to bring her into alignment with His heart and His values (Col. 4:12).
- Pray for the Spirit of conviction to fall on the Jewish people that will lead them to repentance and cause them to turn away from their false idols and back to God.
- Pray for the fear of the Lord to be put in their hearts so that they will return to Him (Jer. 32:40).
Day 12 | 18 May 2023
God promised through Jeremiah that He would restore the Jewish people back to the land of Israel and rejoice in doing them good “with all His heart and with all His soul” (Jer. 32:41). Such is the zeal of Yahweh! This is what the God of Israel will do to fulfil the covenantal promise He first made with the forefathers of the nation — Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Throughout her history, Israel has often departed from fearing God and walking in His ways. The nation often worshipped other gods and turned her back on Yahweh. Nevertheless, God has been long-suffering in His relationship with her.
Even though God would send her into exile, He promised that there would come a time in the future when He would put the fear of the Lord in the hearts of the Jewish people so that His people will not depart from Him anymore (Jer. 32:39-40).
This is that hour in history where His zeal will accomplish this promise for Israel. She is back in her land, and He, with all His heart and soul, will put the fear of the Lord back in her heart.
Let us pray with confidence for this promise of God to come to pass.
How To Pray:
- Pray for the Spirit of the fear of the Lord to be poured out upon the hearts of the Jewish people that they will once again fear the Lord, turn to Yeshua and turn away from all other gods and idols (Jer. 32:40; Isa. 11:2–3).
- Pray that God will do a supernatural work to give the Jewish people a singleness of heart to fear His name (Ps. 86:11–12).
- Pray that the Jewish people will have the true fear of the Lord in their hearts, not one of outward religion having “fear taught by the commandment of men” (Isa. 29:13).
- Pray for the Holy Spirit to teach the Jewish people to fear the Lord whenever the Word of God is read and taught.
- Pray for the secular Jewish people that they may encounter the fear of the Lord and return to the God of Israel through His Son Yeshua (Isa. 29:23–24).
- Pray for God to raise up God-fearing men and women in Israel who will teach and call the Jewish people back to the fear of the Lord and to walk in His ways (Deut. 31:9–13; Josh. 24:14–15; 1 Sam. 12:23–25).
- Pray that the Jewish people will delight in walking in the fear of the Lord in both good and difficult times (Isa. 11:3; Neh. 1:11; 5:15).
