RACHEL BOSKY -- A "WATCHER" IN ISRAEL--- --"GOD, IN HIS SEVERE MERCY, IS BEGINNING A PROCESS TO GET THE ATTENTION OF HIS PEOPLE."

Embrace Israel Ministries email TO Embrace Israel: prayerfocus@embraceisrael.org Friday, December 01, 2000

"On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have appointed watchmen; all day and all night they will never keep silent. You who remind the LORD, take no rest for yourselves; and give Him no rest until He establishes and makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth." [Isaiah 62:6-7 NAS]

PRAYER FOCUS FROM JERUSALEM 12-1-2000 REUVEN DORON

Living in the gap, as I call life and ministry in Israel, is in itself the heart of our presence in this land and at this time. The "works orientation" typifying much of western Christendom does not work here, --rather one learns, slowly and painfully, the value of waiting, persevering, hoping, and living in the reality of God's promises, faithfulness, and goodness, while the world around is in turmoil.

Rachel Bosky, a housewife, mother of four, and one of our most gifted songwriters in the small Messianic community of Israel, has sent out recently her perspective of life in Israel during these eventful and difficult days. I know that you will be blessed.

RACHEL BOSKY WRITES:

"I am a 'watcher' of this nation, and I live in the heart of it. I read the newspaper daily, listen to radio news and watch the local TV news in Hebrew, as well as CNN and BBC. I talk to my neighbors, parents of my children's friends, their schoolteachers, as well as comparing notes with believing friends around the country.

A recent newspaper article talked about the whole Israeli nation experiencing 'free-floating depression,' and this mirrors the words I have heard from many. People are fearful and anxious, depressed and despairing. Starting at the Feast of Trumpets, when the rioting began and soon escalated into what is now a mini-war, there has been a wake-up call for our nation. It is possible that the Feast of Trumpets, September 30th, 2000, began the next chapter of God's prophetic timetable.

KNOWING THE PROPHETIC SCRIPTURES

Those of us who know the prophetic Scriptures can draw comfort from knowing that the Lord is in charge, but this knowledge does not take away the pain and agony of soul for us who are in the midst of it, watching.

God, in His severe mercy, is beginning a process to get the attention of His people. There is a great deal of soul-searching going on right now in this nation. Issues are coming into clearer focus and dividing lines are being drawn. Both a prophetic friend and a local newspaper have predicted a war of attrition, which could go on for some time to come. Others are predicting a regional Middle East war.

THE DEATH TOLL AMONG JEW AND ARAB IS A SOURCE OF GRIEF

Whatever the case, the future looks grim. I am convinced that God, in His mercy, and because of the prayers of the saints, has up to this point limited the amount of deaths among the Israelis. The death toll among Arabs, especially children, is also a source of grief. God has raised up one nation to deal with another.

"ASSYRIA, THE ROD OF MY ANGER"

Isaiah 10:5 talks about "Assyria, the rod of My anger, and the staff in whose hands is My indignation." This verse also applies to those Arabs of today who have set their hearts in blind rage and hatred against Israel. They are a tool in God's hand and, like Assyria, they are going beyond God's heart in their hatred of Israel and will be severely judged. How awesome and terrible it is to say these words.

Oh that the Redeemer of Israel would come and cut short the time of suffering and reveal Himself to all! We are entering a time of transition. Those of you who are women and have borne children know what 'transition' means. These are the painful birth pangs of the coming of the Lord.

The pressure in the spirit realm over this nation and this region of the world is stormy and heavy. As the lines of distinction become clearer, many Israelis find themselves trying to figure out, "Just exactly what do I believe about the peace process? Which camp am I part of? Why are we having these troubles?"

DECISIONS REGARDING GOD'S HEART AND PROMISES FOR THE JEWISH PEOPLE

Even though those of us, here and around the world, who know the Lord and have our lives hidden in God for all eternity, are forced by the present tensions to make decisions as to where they stand regarding God's heart and promises for the Jewish people and the land of Israel.

Israel is a nation that has seen much debate and division over many issues. One camp is still convinced that peace is possible. I believe that behind the Oslo peace process is an ideology motivated by spiritual powers that are paving the way for the antichrist. This ideology draws some of its roots from secular humanism - the zeitgeist, the spirit of the age, which exalts itself against the Lord.

UNITY IN ISRAEL AT THE PRICE OF WAR

There is another camp in Israel - the growing majority that now knows that the peace process is dead. Historically, it has been times of trouble that have pulled Israelis together. Unity in modern Israel has often come at the price of war.

From these two camps, the Lord is calling forth the remnant of Israel, which is spoken of in Romans 11:2 - "and thus all Israel will be saved." The road between here and there is paved with bloodshed, suffering and a great humbling of this nation. It is paved with signs, wonders and martyrdom of the saints. God spoke through Hosea (5:15), saying, "I will go away and return to My place until they acknowledge their guilt and seek My face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me." Our eyes wait expectantly to see that day come.

TO KEEP MY BALANCE AS AN INTERCESSOR

As an intercessor, I need the Lord's help to keep my balance. I must guard against watching this nation so closely that I forget to fix my eyes on Yeshua. As I experience the nation's pain, I must receive the consolations of the Lord. Please pray for me in this matter."

End of Rachel's quote.

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Rachel Bosky and her husband, Avner, are in the final stages of producing one of our finest Hebrew/English Messianic recordings here in Israel, which will soon be released on both CD and cassette. Our ministry, Embrace Israel, has committed to see the project through ($20,000 still needed), and we ask you to ask the Lord and to consider contributing toward this timely production. Music has always led the moves of God, and today there's a new sound in our land. Rachel is one of those releasing it. Thank you. (Gifts should be made out to Embrace Israel Ministries and marked "Rachel.")

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FROM GROUND ZERO As you probably know by now, Prime Minister Barak's government was voted down recently in our Knesset (Parliament) as his base of power completely eroded, and the big parties are gearing up for new elections, due probably in late spring or early summer.

BARAK'S RARE OPPORTUNITY

Meanwhile, Barak enjoys a rare opportunity to see some progress in his efforts to revive the political process with the Palestinians, and the "million Shekel" question is: will Prime Minister Ehud Barak succeed in cutting a deal with Arafat that will save him from disaster at the polls?

Barak thinks so. He figures that Arafat appreciates that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to negotiate an agreement, something that no other Israeli leader, under any other circumstances, would come close to. And while the argument sounds logical, it is flawed at its foundation.

Arafat will negotiate with Barak all right, but each time they negotiate, Barak, out of desperation, will offer greater concessions and agree to more compromises. How far can he bend? How far can Israel bend?

DANGEROUS CONCESSIONS

These dangerous concessions, of course, will be presented to the public as either insignificant, or at the least, not seriously endanger the Jewish State.

At the same time, Arafat will make the most of whatever measures he can squeeze out of Barak as the price for continuing the negotiations. The Palestinian army and the various militias will then be able to exploit these measures - opening of borders, of airports, etc. and stock up on weapons, ammunition and equipment for the coming war.

Should Barak lose the coming elections without concluding an agreement with the Palestinians, Arafat would then have the best of both worlds as the negotiations with the new PM will resume from whatever weak starting point Barak already established.

And if the new prime minister rejects the process as unrealistic? Then Arafat will turn up the violence and blame it on Israel, which won't be hard to do since the new PM would have been already painted as a warmonger by Barak's election propaganda; a perfect candidate for international displeasure and disgust.

SEEKING WORLD CONSENT FOR UNILATERAL ACTION

That is not to say, in no way, that Arafat actually expects to complete any negotiations with any Israeli prime minister. The purpose of the exercise is quite different, as has been so often openly declared from Arab platforms. Arafat does not want an agreement with Israel; he wants the consent and support of the world for unilateral Palestinian actions.

That is why even a "salami-process" agreement that offers Arafat land but keeps other key issues open, is unlikely to succeed, since every day that Barak goes without a deal in his hands is one more opportunity to squeeze out yet another Israeli concession.

NO MILITARY SOLUTION ON THIS LEVEL OF THE CONFLICT

Naturally speaking, the situation is grim. After two months of violent clashes, with more than two hundred and fifty Palestinians and nearly forty Israelis killed, thousands wounded, the disputed territories sealed, huge economical losses for both sides, and the immeasurable psychological damage, the Israeli leadership is facing the fact that there may be no military solution on this level of the conflict. To the mind of man, it appears that there is no alternative to negotiations, and that one does not choose one's partner.

NO WAY TO STOP THE UPRISING WITHOUT A SERIOUS ESCALATION?

Even as the Palestinian terror was escalating in recent weeks, the Israeli leadership's dilemma was very clear: without a serious escalation in the means employed to stop the Palestinian uprising, there was no way to win. But such an escalation - costing thousands of Palestinian lives instead of hundreds, using war planes instead of combat helicopters, destroying neighborhoods instead of houses - threatened to jeopardize Israel's fragile stand with the US administration, and certainly the U.N. and European Union.

GOD'S PURPOSE FOR ISRAEL

The answer is hidden in God's unfolding purpose for Israel, the Arabs, and the Middle East. Pray with us, my friend; call on the Lord to fulfill all His promises and bring to pass all His good words. Thank you for remembering us during this busy season of enjoying family and friends, celebrating Heaven's greatest gift to man. We appreciate both your prayers and financial support toward our livelihood and ministry in Israel.

FROM JERUSALEM

REUVEN DORON Embrace Israel Ministries PO Box 10077 Cedar Rapids, IA 52410-0077 USA Voice: (319) 393-1096 / Fax: (319) 393-2912 E-Mail: mailbox@embraceisrael.org Internet site: www.embraceisrael.org

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