Why American Christians Should Pray for Israel

Israel is key to America's survival.

Now, I know that’s a dramatic statement, but it's not an overstatement. I believe America's future, in large part, depends on our relationship to the tiny nation of Israel.

Why?

Because of the promise God made to Abraham, the father of the nation of Israel, in Genesis 12:1-3:

The Lord had said to Abram:
"Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.
I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."

Notice the words of warning I italicized.

Through His chosen people, God intended (and intends) to bless the rest of the human family. He chose a Mesopotamian man named Abram and promised that he and his descendants would be a channel of that blessing. The entire population of Planet Earth—every man, woman, and child—was destined to be blessed through the nation of Israel.

Therefore, people who recognize God's purposes for Israel and do whatever they can to preserve, protect, and defend Israel will likewise be preserved, protected, and defended. God, to whom Israel belongs, will see to it.

Now, I don't think the promise of Genesis 12:3 is an isolated binary event. There are many other reasons why God blesses us and chastises us as nations. Yet Scripture makes it clear that to the degree America stands with, befriends, supports, and defends God’s chosen people, to that degree America will enjoy the favor of God.

As a citizen of America, I want to enjoy the favor of God upon my nation. Were I a political leader of America, it would be incumbent on me to lead the nation in such a way as to invite His favor. So why would I knowingly diminish America's support of the one nation to which God ties His promise of blessing or cursing? The histories of nations that have abused the Jewish people provide more than enough examples of the inevitable doom brought down upon their own heads.

You and I can do two things to influence America's support of Israel:

First, we can use whatever means are available to influence those who establish national policies in Washington.

We can vote, write letters, or call our senators and representatives—in short, fulfill the dream of the founders who wanted our nation to be governed "by the consent of the governed." We are the governed who need to make our voices heard by saying, "The United States simply needs to recognize that Israeli lands belong to the Jewish people and that Jerusalem is, indeed, the capital of Israel—and has been ever since God declared it to be so."

Second, we can pray, both for our leaders (1 Timothy 2:1–4) and for "the peace of Jerusalem" (Psalm 122:6).

As the spiritual children of Abraham, Christians everywhere can enter into the spirit of Psalm 122, which David wrote to express his heart for the city upon which God has chosen to place His name.

Here is a simple prayer we can pray for Israel today:

Heavenly Father,
The psalmist tells us to "pray for the peace of Jerusalem."
So I pray for peace for Your chosen people, Israel, and their beloved city today.
You have planned for Israel, provided for Israel, and protected Israel for thousands of years.
But as in days of old, there are those today who seek to harm, even destroy, Your people.
So I ask You to keep Israel in Your loving care. Put a spiritual hedge of protection around Your people and their land.
Watch over this nation as a Good Shepherd watches over His flock, and may Your chosen people find their ultimate safety and security in You.
While You watch over Your people, may Your Spirit awaken in them a hunger to embrace their Messiah—the One who died for them—until they see Him face-to-face.

We pray this in His name,
Amen.

For more on the importance of Israel and why we should support the nation, listen to Dr. Jeremiah’s sermon, Why Should We Care About Israel?

Original Publication date: April 13, 2016

Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Luke Franzen