By Amy Zewe—
While Americans enter the latter portion of this week getting ready for Thanksgiving festivities, let us not forget the 101 hostages still held captive in Gaza and the families who ache for their return. In Israel, when one says “family,” it really means the whole nation. Nary one Israeli is untouched by the horror of October 7, 2023, and the nearly 14 months of torment occurring since.
The Jewish people worldwide are suffering from the greatest outpouring of antisemitism witnessed in modern history. Rivaled only by the systemic murder of the 1940s, the global reach of antisemitism seems to know no bounds.
From the highest level of elite international halls to the quiet corners of quaint college campuses, institutions are accepting overt racist rhetoric and violence against Jewish community members. The ICC Court produced sham indictments against the leaders of Israel during their defensive war. University campuses and public squares see open calls for violence and the explosion of Jews. Media coverage is so biased that finding accurate news has left folks fleeing to X, Telegram, and WhatsApp—also replete with nefarious agents looking to deceive the masses. Be alert, the deception is also targeting Christians whose traditional alliance with Israel and the Jewish people. Evangelical support for Israel and the Jewish people is now openly in the crosshairs of the enemy.
The tragedy of replacement theology whose centuries paved the road from “Augustine to Auschwitz” preached a division between Christians and Jews and a dislocation of Christians from their Jewish roots. These divisions led to apathy, as well as contributed to the elimination of Jews in Germany and Europe. Hitler and the Nazis had their campaign of replacement theology by removing the Hebrew Testament of the bible from German churches. Replacing it with an Aryan testament, they added two commandments and swapped out the Jewish Jesus for an Aryan Jesus (to name a few of the heresies). We now are witnessing the latest iteration of Replacement Theology as the “Jesus was Palestinian” movement creeps into the Christmas narrative. Traditionally reliable news sources such as Christianity Today and The Sojourner have abandoned their journalistic (let alone Christian) integrity. Christian pastors and leaders, including the Catholic Pope, are leading people astray by demonizing Israel, repeating false accusations and libel, and failing to consult the Bible for foundational principles.
This Thanksgiving, between the portions of turkey and mashed potatoes, and re-portions of leftovers, consider extra time to pray for Israel. Pray for the resolution of the seven-front war they maintain even while still reeling from the trauma of Oct. 7. Wounds physical, mental, and spiritual are not yet healed. Captives have not yet returned. Attacks on many fronts with constant rocket attacks kill daily. Soldiers are falling and civilians live under constant threat. Outside of Israel, rabbis are kidnapped and killed, students are harassed, the elderly are beaten, kangaroo courts indite leaders in a defensive war while self-proclaimed genocidal regimes get recognized in international forums.
Educate yourself. Find credible films and documentaries. Be inspired by stories of heroism and yet be informed with accurate news.
But fear not, we are told. And be not deceived. These are commands, not suggestions. In all things, give thanks, and with everything in prayer and supplications, make your requests be made known to God. Please consider your requests this week to include the Prayer for the IDF, the Prayer for Israel, and the Prayer for the Hostages.
Consider leaving an empty place setting at your table so we will not keep out of mind those who are out of sight. The Lord God sees them all, but be the prayer warrior who releases God’s power into the hands and feet of those who may liberate them.