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- Attached is Kathleen Michell's prayer directive, which gives
us a look at today's circumstances in Israel, and what desperately
needs prayer. As tonight begins Yom Kippur, the "Day of
Atonement" many in Israel are reflecting on this past years
events, in particular in each individual's life. But certainly
Israel as a nation has gone far astray from the ways of the Lord.
My heart breaks as I continually hear and read of all the terrible
things that are happening here.
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The Day of Atonement is a time set aside for reflection, repentance
and for turning fully to the God of Israel for His mercy and
instruction. It is a time of fasting and soul searching for
the purpose of drawing near to God, seeking His forgiveness and
blessing. Clearly it is the holiest day of the Jewish year.
When the Temple was still in operation, all of Israel would
wait breathlessly on Yom Kippur for the indication that the sin
of the nation had been successfully atoned for and that God's
forgiveness had been given to the people. During those hours
the fate of the nation hung in the balance of God's mercy.
More than ever we are in need of God's forgiveness and mercy.
Unlike the nation of Israel in Temple days, few people understand
the concept of their fate ... of their very existence and their
prosperity being held solely in the hands of God. The sin of
Israel in these days is great. The sin of the United States
is very great. The sin of all the nations must be a repulsive
thing in the eyes of God. Perhaps our greatest sin is believing
that we have no sin and offer no accountability to the God of
Israel. We are walking on very thin ice as we declare lordship
over our own destiny.
Believers around the world have been asking about all the hurricanes,
earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, fires and illnesses that have
been assailing the nations around the globe. They ask, "Is
God trying to get our attention before it's too late, or is He
telling us it's too late for anything except judgment?"
Clearly it is no coincidence that these things are happening
with such a high level of severity and with such frequency throughout
the world. As bad as things seem to be getting, I suspect they
are still a mere shot across the bow for us to wake up. God
is a great God of abundant mercy. His discipline is a form of
mercy. Withdrawing His hand of protection for a season for us
to be impacted by the consequences of our sin, is an act of mercy.
If we continue in our arrogance, living our lives as if we are
gods, then we just might be faced with something like an impact
from a large comet to really upset our world on a broad scale.
Certainly the bird flu is poised and ready to mutate into a
deathly pestilence that could wipe out millions of human lives
in a very short time. Surely we desperately need an urgent,
worldwide Yom Kippur experience of repentance and accounting
before the Lord. The increase in terror attacks/organizations
is likely the result of a world in rebellion against God, thereby
unleashing violent rebellion in the form of Al Qaeda etc. Lawlessness
is increasing, while morality is decreasing. Political systems
are being perverted toward increasing corruption and self interest.
Justice has yielded to humanistic tolerance and inequity toward
people of faith in the God of Israel. The atonement for sin
has been fully established, but the gift is mocked and rejected.
If God called in the accounts right now, no nation could stand.
Now is the time that we need to repent and to cry out for mercy
for each of our nations, but also especially on behalf of Israel.
Here are some serious reasons for His intervention and mercy:
--A Palestinian convicted terror leader, Marwan Barghouti, is
serving several life sentences in an Israeli jail for killing
more than 35 Israeli Jews. This arch-terrorist is accredited
with being the founder of the terrible Al-Aksa Brigade. Yet,
the PA is requesting his release so that he might run as a candidate
in the upcoming January, PA elections. He is not the only jailed
terrorist being requested for release status in order to run
for political office in the PA. Who would ever do such a thing?
Crazy left wing Israelis are agreeing to the request and encouraging
Sharon to move forward with this gesture of good will.
--While charges are still pending for settlers in Gush Katif
for their protest and resistance against the Gaza disengagement,
the numerous charges filed for the violent police brutality,
enacted against the settlers, are being categorically dismissed
with no investigation. The reason for this dismissal of charges
is listed as: No Public Interest.
--The previous promises made by the Israeli government to keep
the Gaza settlers together in new living quarters have been severely
broken. After nearly two months of displacement, these precious
people are being split up and sent in to substandard quarters
without the promised care and benefits. By the end of this month,
none will be allowed to live in hotels anymore, but must accept
whatever quarters are given to them, wherever they are. The
promised construction of new community quarters has not come
forth. It seems that the funding is lacking. At the same time
a very large endowment of government money has been given to
provide shelter and care for the stray dogs and animals in Israel.
(That reminds me of the Green Peace activists fighting to protect
the whales as they sport pro-abortion bumper stickers on their
vehicles.)
--As factional conflicts rock the Palestinian political scene,
threatening civil war, its leader, Mahmoud Abbas, is suggesting
that Israel must allow his government to purchase armed personnel
carriers and weapons to help restore order, and in order to curtail
the weapons smuggling through Egypt. Israel is agreeing to these
sales, at the behest of the USA. Imagine selling a gun to an
announced murderer, so that he can kill you.
--Palestinian terror organizations based in Syria are now relocating
their headquarters into the newly acquired areas of Gaza. Al-Qaeda
has clearly moved into Gaza and has distributed flyers announcing
its intention to wage major war against Israel. The organization
demonstrated its intentions by launching rockets into Israel
from Gaza, and by smuggling in large shipments of powerful weapons
and terror personnel through Egypt immediately after the Gaza
disengagement. Recently it has joined with Hamas and other terrorist
groups in the area, in order to accomplish their common goal
of violently destroying Israel.
--Meanwhile, out in the interior of the Sinai in Egypt, Al-Qaeda
has set up terror bases for training and operation, undisturbed
by the Egyptian government. They have dug into the rugged terrain,
much like they did in Afghanistan, making their detection and
removal difficult. Their purpose in operating out of the Sinai,
is to have easy access to Israel by way of Gaza. If Israel is
forced to hand over land in the West Bank to the Palestinians,
there will be no way to stop the flow of terror and arms from
Egypt all the way to Lebanon and Syria. Israel will be a divided,
sitting duck waiting to be blown apart in the middle.
--The threat by Syria against Israel just increased geometrically.
While intelligence sources in Israel have confirmed that Iraq's
deadly weapons were moved into Syria before the American attack
began, those weapons have never been uncovered. Meanwhile, Syria
has just purchased 26 advanced Iskander SS-26 surface missiles
from Russia. These are the most advanced missile of its kind
in use anywhere in the world. Syria is expected to receive the
delivery of these devastating weapons sometime in the Spring
of 2006. Their intended use is against Israel. These weapons
are so formidable that they can deliver their payload with extraordinary
accuracy in spite of fog, storm, or darkness. The speed and
flexibility of its self directed system makes this weapon nearly
impossible to prevent its launch or to facilitate an intercept
in flight. It's name stands for Alexander the Great, but it
is also known as the Russian STONE missile by its code name.
--As a final piece of evidence of the need for Israel to seek
and to receive the mercy of God in these days, is the crisis
of suicides occurring among the young Israeli soldiers serving
in the IDF. Six out of seven recent IDF suicides have been directly
attributed to the Gaza disengagement. The pain and the error
of removing Jews forcibly from their homes, then destroying those
communities and handing them over to the sworn mortal enemies
of Israel ... to be a praise to their god, Allah ... has been
too much for many of their soldiers. There is a guilt, a shame
and a hopelessness which have followed these disengagement participants.
Even though they were under orders, they carried out the orders
against their own conscience. Some of these soldiers have been
unable to forgive themselves for this wrong done against God,
the nation and her people. It is adding tragedy to tragedy as
the atonement for sin comes in the form of self death.
There are so many more examples which could be offered concerning
the state of peril in which Israel is living these days. Pray
into each situation as the Lord leads. However, do not stop
with intercession. Press on with a heart cry of repentance for
the way our nations have imperiled Israel for our own purposes.
Pray for God to forgive us and to forgive Israel. Cry out for
mercy on behalf of our nations and on behalf of Israel. Cry
out for the true and established atonement in the Messiah to
be revealed to Israel during this holy day. Cry mercy and do
not cry out in a weak voice or in a divided heart. In a heart
beat the Lord could step into each situation of peril for Israel
and bring down every plan and strategy of the enemy. The year
2006 could well be the year that Isaiah 17 will be a reality
on the earth. The stage is certainly being set right now.
Without the wisdom of God leading the course of the nation of
Israel, the foolishness, greed and self-interest of fallen flesh
and of demonic purpose have governed the nation. Without Godly
moral standards of operation, corruption has become widespread
in every corner of government and throughout the judicial system
of Israel. The nation is set for two things: #1. A devastating
blow from her enemies #2. A revelation of her desperate need
for her God and Redeemer. As we seek God for the examination
of our own hearts ... as we cry out in repentance, seeking God's
mercy for own lives during his holy day, let's be intentional
about doing the same for our nations. Let's be very intentional
about seeking God's mercy for Israel. There is still time to
turn away the destruction and to release revelation. Cry out
to the God of all mercy, so that mercy will overcome judgment.
The events that will form in this new year of 5766 certainly
depend upon it.
Blessings!
Kathleen D. Mitchell
IN THE CLEFT OF THE ROCK MINISTRIES, INTERNATIONAL
PO Box 498548 Cincinnati, OH October 11, 2005
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