GOD HAS ESTABLISHED AN EVERLASTING COVENANT WI TH I SRAEL

“And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your descendants
after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to
you and to your descendants after you.” Genesis 17:7 RSV

“God said, ‘No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his
name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for
his descendants after him.’” Genesis 17:19 RSV

God made a unique pact with His friend Abraham. He has established
an everlasting covenant with him and his descendants, in which
He promised to be their God. This covenant is transferred to Isaac, but
Ishmael received a blessing as a son of Abraham.

God bound Himself to the sons of Jacob in a unique way. He became
their God, and Israel became His people forever. His covenant is the red
thread of His story with them. His faithfulness to His covenantal promises is the “why” behind the “what.” God keeps rescuing and loving His people
even when they rebel and repeatedly reject Him. His discipline is an
important part of His faithfulness. God will not let them go astray without
calling them back to Him. He pursues His people and continually offers
them a fresh start even after their stubborn disobedience. Even if God
uses the rod of judgement against Israel temporarily, He persists in welcoming
them back over and over again.



PRAYER I

Our Father,

We bless Your holy name. We praise You for Your everlasting covenant
with Israel. We are so grateful to see Your faithfulness generation after
generation. You have been loyal to Israel. We can rely on Your fidelity
toward us as we are part of the new covenant. You will never give up on
us. We worship You.

Open the eyes of Your Church worldwide to Your everlasting covenant
with Israel. Let the Body of Christ see that the sons of Jacob have a unique
place in Your heart because of Your covenant with Your friend Abraham.
Lead the believers to pray for those You love.

Teach us to “read” Your discipline toward Israel as a manifestation of Your
faithfulness. Help us to rightly interpret Your dealings with Your ancient
covenantal people. Let us see that You keep pursuing them generation
after generation.

In the name of Jesus. Amen.



PRAYER II

Day 8 (Day 38 of the Omer, 14 May 2023)

Verse 8(a) “The Lord has sworn by His right hand and by the arm of His strength.”

Covenant Keeping God, through the ages You have been faithful to Your Word, but we, Israel, have not. I humble myself, pray, seek Your face and turn from my wicked ways. I plead for our people and our land. O my God, incline Your ear and hear from heaven. Open Your eyes and see our need of You. I come before You and present my supplications, not because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies. O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, respond for the sake of Your covenant faithfulness and Your holy name! Ever-Faithful One, with eternal thanksgiving I personally take to heart the blessing of Your unconditional covenant with my forefathers and mothers. I acknowledge it is not mere happenstance that today, May 14, marks the day of Israel’s national rebirth. In truth, it is a mark of Your faithfulness to Your own unconditional promise. When You swear by Your right hand and engage the arm of Your strength, nothing in heaven or earth prevails against You. As the Feast of Shavuot (Weeks/Pentecost) approaches, when Jews around the world celebrate the marriage-like covenant You gave at Sinai, please reveal to them the reality of Your covenant-keeping nature.

Stir longing in Israel for personal and intimate, not abstract and theoretical, relationship with You. Arouse godly jealousy, I pray, for experiential intimacy with You as expressed by, in and through Your ekklesia. As I fast before You these 21 days, I ask You to reveal to Christians around the world the unconditional nature of Your covenant with the sons and daughters of Jacob. Downpour on them a spirit of grace and supplication, that they would intercede for the fulfillment of Your covenant promises to Israel. Show them You do not love or esteem them any less (or more) than You love or esteem Israel. Bless them as they pray for Israel, according to Your covenant promise to bless those who bless Israel. Thank You for inclining Your ear toward my prayer and responding in Your boundless grace.

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SI Moderator - Greg Gordon