On Monday, May 18, Israeli Prime Minister and U.S. President Barack Obama will sit down for their first meeting since both were elected to their prospective offices. The issues to be discussed will likely be first the threat of a nuclear Iran and second, negotiations between the Israel and the Palestinians.
For Israel, the stakes couldn't be higher. They believe a nuclear Iran threatens the very existence of the nation of Israel.
While they might appreciate the attempt by President Obama to "engage" Iran, they believe the countdown for Iran to get a nuclear weapon might be measured in months, not years. The clock is ticking and they're not sure they can afford to wait for a breakthrough in U.S./Iranian diplomacy.
Because of the high stakes and seriousness of this meeting, many are calling people to pray and even fast for this pivotal meeting.
For example, the International Christian Zionist Center issued the following appeal:
"And the Lord said to Abram "Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are--northward, southward, eastward, and westward; for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever. Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you."
"Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God."
We call on you to join us for earnest prayer coupled with fasting for the sake of Israel at this perilous time, especially concerning the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Washington DC. We know that massive pressure is poised to be brought to bear on him in the name of nearly all the nations of the world - led at this time by President Barack Obama - to forsake Israel's God-given everlasting inheritance - the heartland of Israel which the world calls 'occupied territories' or the West Bank, but which the Scriptures call Judea and Samaria, the land the God of Israel promised and gave to His people.
Join us as we pray and fast for Benjamin Netanyahu - whose name in Hebrew means - son of my right hand and gift of God - and for his advisors, that they will be strong and not falter under the tremendous demands that will be made on them by the Obama administration; the insistence that they agree to a two state solution which will be a mortal danger to existence of the sovereign Jewish state, as even the late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin once remarked.
Mr. Netanyahu is scheduled to meet the American leader on Monday, May 18. May he, through our prayers and fasting, be strengthened to stand his ground - literally his God-given ground - the, to Israel, promised land of God!
Jan Willem van der Hoeven, Director
Stan Goodenough, Reporter and Commentator
International Christian Zionist Center
www.israelmybeloved.com
You might have heard of other appeals by prayer groups or churches throughout the world. They're following the Biblical injuction from the Apostle Paul when he exhorted prayer for leaders in his letter to Timothy.
He wrote: "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." I Timothy 2:1-5.
Both leaders - Netanyahu and Obama - will need prayer on Monday as they meet. While they face each other, they will also face history with the fate of many nations in the balance.
No wonder Paul exhorted prayer for our leaders.