Letter 373 (Personal)

Shalom Fellow Israelite, February 8, 2008

It is not my custom to open letters with a request for prayer, but this time I would appreciate your prayers for our daughter who is stationed by the Egyptian border, where she and her comrades are guarding what has now become a very sensitive area. Additionally, over a year ago a girl soldier committed suicide on the very watch tower where Hadar has occasion to be stationed on. Hadar gives her self totally to her responsibilities as a 1st sergeant. However, the division where she serves is now overseen by a new commander whose interests, among the very important matters that he is in charge of, appear to be centered on every detail of his subordinates' daily routines, to the point where they are actually being harassed and demoralized. This type of attitude is making for an erosion of motivation on the part of Hadar, along with the others soldiers (including those under her command). As you know, in the past few weeks thousands of Gaza residents have been flooding the Sinai, after Hamas broke through the Gaza-Egypt border. This new situation makes the Israeli-Egyptian border a very volatile and potentially dangerous place; our soldiers do not need to be distracted by petty harassments which could affect their morale and hence their alertness, especially with having very long shifts! We know that many of you pray for us on a daily basis and we appreciate it very much. Thank you.

There are wonderful things happening here in the land. In spite of all the political and social problems in this country, YHVH is working in the hearts of those whom He is calling out at this time. We are beginning to see the Father opening the eyes of a remnant in the House of Judah to the Messiah and to the prophetic understanding of the two houses of Israel (Isaiah 8:14). Some of the local believers are finding the congregations too much like churches and are looking for other ways to assemble. We know that our unity in the body of Messiah will never come through religion, but through our restored identity as a nation, under YHVH's kingdom government, ruled by our Messiah Yeshua via the Spirit of Holiness.

We greatly appreciate your kindness, patience, prayers and support. It is always good to hear an encouraging word. We love to have personal letters and good teachings but the many "forwards" "bog" us and our computer down. Likewise, please do not put our names on group lists, without our permission, as these have a tendency to mushroom, one leading to another, and to another ad infinitum.

Yesterday morning in a prayer time with a brother down the street, the burden for prayer was very strong for our government, especially the legislative branch. Out of this intensity we prayed Daniel's prayer (Daniel 9: 4-19). When Daniel saw that it was time for YHVH to restore a remnant of Judah back to the land, his heart was moved to pray. How much more in this day of the restoration of the whole House of Israel (both Judah and Ephraim)! May this prayer be on our hearts as we move towards the feasts of Purim and Pesach:

"Alas, O YHVH, the great and awesome Elohim, who keeps His covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, 5 we have sinned, committed iniquity, acted wickedly, and rebelled, even turning aside from Your commandments and ordinances. 6 "Moreover, we have not listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, our princes, our fathers, and all the people of the land. 7 "Righteousness belongs to You, O YHVH, but to us open shame, as it is this day-- to the men of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and all Israel, those who are nearby and those who are far away in all the countries to which You have driven them, because of their unfaithful deeds which they have committed against You. 8 "Open shame belongs to us, YHVH, to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, because we have sinned against You. 9 "To You our Elohim belong compassion and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against You; 10 nor have we obeyed Your voice, to walk in Your teachings which You set before us through Your servants the prophets. 11 "Indeed all Israel has transgressed Your Torah and turned aside, not obeying Your voice; so the curse has been poured out on us, along with the oath which is written in the Torah of Moses Your servant, for we have sinned against You. 12 "Thus You have confirmed Your words which You have spoken against us and against our rulers who ruled us, to bring on us great calamity; for under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like what was done to Jerusalem. 13 "As it is written in the Torah of Moses, all this calamity has come on us; yet we have not sought Your favor YHVH our Elohim by turning from our iniquity and giving attention to Your truth. 14 "Therefore, You, YHVH, have kept the calamity in store and brought it on us; for are righteous with respect to all Your deeds which You have done, but we have not obeyed Your voice. 15 "And now, YHVH our Elohim, You, who brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand and have made a name for Yourself, as it is this day-- we have sinned, we have been wicked… 17 "So now, listen to the prayer of Thy servant and to his supplications, and for Your sake, O YHVH, let Your face shine on Your desolate sanctuary. 18 "O my Elohim, incline Your ear and hear! Open Your eyes and see our desolations and the city which is called by Your name; for we are not presenting our supplications before Your on account of any merits of our own, but on account of Your great compassion. 19 "O YHVH, hear! O YHVH, forgive! O YHVH, listen and take action! For Your own sake, O my Elohim, do not delay, because Your city and Your people are called by Your name."

We pray that you will have a rest-filled Shabbat.
In the love of Messiah,

Shabbat Shalom
Ephraim