“He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the
spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. Be still and know that I am God: I will
be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Ps. 46:9-10)
Dear Intercessors for Israel:
The world’s attention this week is again focused on the ongoing war between Russia and
the Ukraine. The conflict is now in its eighth day with no sign of ending. As I write
this prayer letter, the main nuclear plant near Kyiv, the Zaporizhzhia facility has been
captured by Russian forces. One “offline” reactor has been damaged, in this conflict
although other buildings in the facility were set ablaze. No rising radiation levels
have been detected so far.
Ukrainian President Zelensky stated: “No country other than Russia
has ever fired on nuclear power units.” This is the first time in our history. In the history
of mankind. The terrorist state now resorted to nuclear terror.” (Note: Hamas
terrorist groups readily shot missiles in the direction of Israel’s Dimona nuclear facility
during the last IsraelGaza war). Ukraine has 15 nuclear reactors. The Zaprizhzhia facility,
until its capture generated nearly one half of the Ukraine’s electrical power. Earlier
Russian forces had seized the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, setting off fears that the
containment barrier around the deactivated facility might have been breached thus releasing
plumes of radiation into the atmosphere.
Again, as the nonsensical war continues, there are over a million Ukrainian
refugees already that have fled their land and crossed over to Poland, and Romania
(UN sources). There are still some 42 million Ukrainians either trapped or
defending their homeland. Reports have come in that over 400 babies were born
last week in the subways of Kiev. Food is also becoming scarce, with little to buy
when/if grocery stores are open.
A woman named Svetlana gave this report concerning her quest to buy food: “One
person walks out, of the store and another is allowed in,”. “The scenes I witnessed
were grim. The egg fridge was bare, there was no bread, cheese or milk and the
shelves for oil were nearly empty,” I was able to buy a few packets of concentrated
milk, but there was no meat to be had. “I managed to get yeast to bake bread, two
packets of frozen dough, frozen dumplings, and the last pieces of yellow cheese,”
she said. “I was at a loss. This is exactly how things were in the late 1980s and
early 1990s during the fall of the Soviet Union when stores were empty, and food
was scarce,” (ynetnews.com)
My prayer is that the babies and children would have food, this day, as well as the
citizens of Kyiv. Pray for miracles of provision. Pray “give us our daily bread” for
Kyiv and for the citizens of other Ukrainian cities under attack.
It appears that President Putin is trying to encircle Kyiv and cut off any support to
this besieged city. Recent photographs of Kyiv show whole apartment blocks
destroyed, schools bombed, and bridges knocked out. Special “Russian
assassination teams have been reported within Kyiv that are seeking to “neutralize”
high profile figures. Ukraine’s President Zelensky has already “survived three
attempts. Tentative efforts at peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine have
also started with little progress except the promised establishment of a
humanitarian corridor, so as to allow refugees to escape, and some aid to enter the
battle zone. Russian President Putin in talks with France’s President Macron
indicated “the worst is yet to come, but that it is the fault of the Ukraine.” Putin
alleged that the Ukraine had carried out a “seven-year sabotage” of the Minsk
agreements, a peace process that he ended with his ordering a “Special Military
Operation” against that nation. Putin stated to Macron that he “wants all of
Ukraine.” The United Nations in a vote last week condemned Russia’s invasion of
the Ukraine but has done little else to aid Ukraine. Russia sits also has a
permanent seat on its Security Council and can veto any military “peacekeeping”
missions. At this time also, no other nation wants to send its military forces into the
Ukraine, fearing Russian retaliation. The Ukraine is alone in its battle against
Russia, something Israel and Taiwan who are also threatened note.
Many Ukrainians suspect though that Putin intentions are to split the nation in half,
thus “cutting the nationalist Ukrainian speaking Western part of the nation from the
remainder of the country.” He would then turn the Eastern part of the Ukraine into
a so called “vassal state” while leaving the rest of nation as a buffer state without a
coastline or having major industries. Thus, being wholly dependent on Western
European nations for its economic survival (jpost.com).
Pray Psalm 46: 9-10, that God would break the spirit of war, and of the bow, cut
the spear in half and burn the chariots. Proverbs also counsels that “A man that
does violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit; let no man stop
him.” (Pr. 28:17).
Israel “Conflicted”
The nation of Israel finds itself between “a rock and a hard place” regarding its
relations between Russia and the Ukraine. Israel is conflicted between standing
for what is morally right and condemning Putin’s invasion of Ukraine while also
not being overly anti-Putin so that it can maintain its freedom to attack Iranian
weapons and outposts in Syria – thus being able to protect its own citizens. Lord
God, in this no-win situation for Israel, guide it to do that which is in line with Your
will. ( I Sam. 15:22)
300 Refugees Arrive in Israel
The beginning of a tsunami wave of Jewish refugees from the Ukraine arrives in
Israel this Sunday. as part of a joint operation led by the Ministry of Aliyah and
Integration, the Jewish Agency for Israel and the International Fellowship of
Christians and Jews. The new immigrants are coming on three separate flights
from Warsaw, Moldova and Romania and will include 100 orphans from Lasi (a city
in Romania). Our dear ETH Becky Walsh who has given her life for Romania and
runs Casa Shalom center in Bucharest has recently housed some 200 Ukrainian
refugees. One family she offered shelter to, had 12 children. She needs your
prayers, encouragement and assistance in this hour.
New Israeli Communities planned for Ukrainian Refugees
Israel’s Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked announced that the nation’s Absorption
Ministry is planning on receiving some 10,000 Jewish immigrants from the Ukraine
soon, but “We are also expecting hundreds of thousands of more people to arrive
from Russia, Ukraine, and other countries in that region.” Shaked stated that later
this month, the government would be making a decision regarding the
establishment of between seven and twelve new communities in the Negev
region. Meanwhile, the Golan Heights has room for refugees as does the
“settlements” in Judea and Samaria, but due to pressure from outside governments
to freeze housing in these areas, the Negev will be filled. (jpost.com)
Pray for a Purim Miracle for the Ukraine
Pray for the Ukraine and this war be shortened. Pray for the safety of its
people. Pray that the Russian bear returns home. Pray for Russian President
Putin. Pray “the heart of the king is in the hand of the LORD” (Pr. 21:1). Pray for
“Esther’s” to arise in prayer and save the Ukraine from this evil Haman. The feast
of Purim is March 16-17. It is time for a Purim miracle for the Ukraine.
The Lake of Galilee is almost Full!
The Israel Metrological Service recently reported that the Sea of Galilee is only .9
meters (2 feet, 11 inches) from being totally full. Thank You Lord for the rain and
snow with which You have already blessed Israel this season, and for the minimal
damage that has been suffered from the weather (Ps. 65:9-10). We again ask You
to fill the Sea of Galilee and the aquifers completely before the end of the rainy
season – and open many Israelis’ hearts to know that this is from You (Is. 41:17-
20). (www.ifi.org.il)
Shabbat Shalom,
Gene and Marylois/House of Peace