I imagine the Gaza border is not high on the itinerary for many tourists exploring Israel, but I am glad it was on mine. I will never forget walking the grounds of an Israeli moshav community and being able to see through the trees over to Hamas-controlled territory. Knowing my destination, I admit I had prayed a little extra hard that morning. It’s not often that I’m in a region that had just experienced a rocket attack the day before. Nor do I often sit in community centers with windowless “safe rooms” to dart to in case an air raid siren sounds – not an unfamiliar occurrence in those parts.

And yet, I am so thankful to have visited there. Not only did I see a beautiful testament to Israel’s focus on “making the desert bloom,” but also I sensed a determined hope for a brighter future. I was particularly impressed with the Jewish woman who spoke to our small Christian group. She did not gloss over the very real and regular threat of rockets, incendiary balloons, and other terrors aimed at her home and agricultural livelihood. However, she also lived a life of intentional charity. She purposefully would travel down the short stretch of road to the closest Gaza checkpoint and seek out Palestinian neighbors who needed a helping hand. Despite the fears and enmity present in the region, she had built individual friendships by offering rides to the hospital and other acts of love.

View Comments (6)

Israel is a complicated place with millennia of complicated history. It is a nation that has impacted the world like no other. As I visited holy sites in Jerusalem where the Lord Jesus walked, taught, died, and rose, I could not help but feel humbled, amazed, and empowered in my spirit. And I am not the only one so stirred. The hearts of many are drawn to the land of Israel, and eyes around the globe are always watching it.

Israel is also small. This is not complicated in concept, but it is in effect. It also is not always well understood here in the U.S. – at least it wasn’t by me. Roughly the size of New Jersey, a trip from the Lebanese border to the southern Negev is a matter of hours. You would need even less time to get from Tel Aviv by the Mediterranean Sea to Jordan in the east. In that compact area, many people with many personal and community narratives interwoven in the web of history are living and interacting with each other every day. Every societal complexity and every story of joy, faith, fervor, and pain is always close at hand.

When President Donald Trump unveiled his “deal of the century” this week, I was grateful to see that it attempted to recognize and deal carefully with the close-quarters complexity of the land. Indeed, the “Peace to Prosperity” document offers a helpful review of the history and challenges of the long-running Israeli-Palestinian conflict. There are frank assessments of current on-the-ground realities and proposals that would require compromise by all parties. The Trump Administration’s plan may not be the final say on a peace deal, but I hope it will galvanize good faith engagement by all concerned.

It is remarkable that in such a difficult environment, Israel has embraced robust democratic values and has become a leader in advanced agriculture, medicine, technology, and humanitarian aid. May we pray that hearts committed to freedom, life-saving innovation, and simple charity will prevail in Israel and throughout the Middle East. Indeed, in the spirit of Psalm 122, may we pray for true peace in Jerusalem and for all in that precious land.

Here are some verses to pray and proclaim on behalf of Israel (thanks to Prayers and Proclamations by Derek Prince):

Hear the word of the Lord, O nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, “He who scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him as a shepherd does his flock.” (Jeremiah 31:10)

Let all those who hate Zion be put to shame and turned back. Let them be as the grass on the housetops,
which withers before it grows up . . . (Psalm 129:5-6)

The scepter of the wicked will not remain over the land allotted to the righteous . . . (Psalm 125:3)

The Lord will not abandon his chosen people, for that would dishonor his great name. He made [Israel] a special nation for himself . . . (1 Samuel 12:22 TLB)

Aaron Mercer is a Contributing Writer with two decades of experience in Washington, D.C.’s public policy arena and Christian associations. A seasoned strategist, he aids organizations with research, analysis, and writing services, and he reflects on faith, technology, and the public square. Connect with Aaron on LinkedIn and Twitter.