The Covenant That Binds Arab Christians and Messianic Jews

Note: This is part two of a two-part series. Click here for part one.

In 2015, the Global Gathering took place in Munich, at the very stadium where Israeli athletes where murdered in the 1972 Olympics. After several days of worship, intercession, prayer and fellowship, the Arab and Jewish brothers and sisters again came up to the stage for a period of prophetic proclamation, repentance and reconciliation.

During that time, the Messianic leadership team sought to honor the Arab leaders.

We realized that this was more than just honoring one another as fellow believers. There is a deep connection between Arabs and Jews, going all the way back to the time of Abraham, our mutual father. We pointed out that Ishmael was circumcised (Gen. 17) before Isaac was even born (Gen. 21). We are bound together by a covenant of almost 4,000 years. Because of this covenant, we have a joint destiny!

Covenantal Order

There was a profound heart reaction among the Arab brothers and sisters when the Messianics were willing not only to repent and bless them and honor them, but also to express our joint destiny and partnership. We also recognized that there is a covenant order: The children of Ishmael come to their spiritual destiny before the children of Isaac.

As Messianic Jews, we are very aware of our calling and destiny according to Scriptures. The gospel is “to the Jew first” (Rom. 1:16); there will be a great revival in the end times so that “All Israel will be saved” (Rom. 11:26); and we are to lead the world in inviting Yeshua to return with cries of “Blessed is He who comes” (Matt. 23:39). Our destiny is so important to us that it is difficult for us to perceive that because of the Abrahamic covenant our destiny is linked to our Arab Christian brothers and sisters. If our destiny is linked to them, then it is necessarily dependent on them as well.

Humility and Honor Required

For us as Messianic Jews and Arab Christians to recognize that we have a joint, interdependent destiny demands a tremendous amount of soul searching, as well as searching the Scriptures. It reminds us of the turmoil of soul that Jacob went through when he wrestled with the Angel of YHVH all night (Gen. 32) before meeting with his brother Esau (Gen. 33). This issue is so deep in the history of the people of God, that its coming into right order has a potential to release healing, reconciliation, alignment, unity and revival throughout the body of Christ and ultimately to Israel as well.

Not only is our joint, interdependent covenant connection difficult for us as Messianic Jews to accept; how much more so is the order that the Arab destiny must come first! The primary spread of the gospel in the first century went north from Israel into Turkey, then westward into Greece, then Italy (Acts 16:10, 23:11).

In this generation, the gospel has come around the world into East Asia, then to the non-Arabic Muslim world, then to the Arab world, and then finally to Israel. The nations of the world must come to their fullness before revival comes to Israel (Is. 19; Rom. 11).

With the great turmoil in the Muslim world today, it would seem apparent that this is the time and season (Acts 1:7) for an historic sweep of evangelism to Muslims. They are already fleeing their homes by the millions. For us as Israeli Messianic Jews who pray every day for the national revival of our people, it is a great revelation to perceive that the revival will come through the Arab peoples on its path to us. 

Revival on Its Way

The covenantal cooperation and partnership between Messianic Jews and Arab Christians has great potential as we head into the end times. In preparation for this year’s Global Gathering returning to Jerusalem, we are planning a joint Feast of Trumpets celebration and prayer meeting, to be led jointly by Arab and Jewish believers. As Revelation 11:15 says, when the trumpets are blown, we will seek to proclaim Yeshua’s kingdom on Earth and mobilize the body of Christ worldwide toward unity, alignment and revival.

We are looking forward to participating in the next Global Gathering here in Jerusalem Nov. 7-11. We invite you to come and take part in this move of God in our day. {eoa}

Asher Intrater is the founder and apostolic leader of Revive Israel Ministries, and oversees Ahavat Yeshua Congregation in Jerusalem, and Tiferet Yeshua Congregation in Tel Aviv. Asher was one of the founders of Tikkun International with Dan Juster and Eitan Shishkoff, and serves on the board of the Messianic Alliance of Israel and Aglow International.

For the original article, visit reviveisrael.org.