(Ezekiel 11:16)The Feast of Tabernacles reminds us that God’s people dwell under His provision and protection. There is a sanctuary for the people of God. He calls His people to take shelter in the secret place and abide in His shadow (Ps. 91). He spreads a cloud for a covering, and a fire to give light at night (Ps.105). Though the tabernacle was temporary, it was needed for a reason – rest for the present and preparation for a future hope. The Lord remembered His holy promise, He brought out His people with joy (Ps. 105). Praise the Lord in His sanctuary; let everything that has breath praise Him (Ps. 150).There is a beautiful promise in Ezekiel 11:16 that speaks of God’s provision for the Jewish people wherever they are in the world. As God was faithful to the Jewish people when they dwelt in tabernacles during the Exodus, the Lord remains a sanctuary for the Jewish people dispersed throughout the nations. It states, “Thus says the Lord God: ‘Although I have cast them far off among the Gentiles, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet I shall be a little sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone.’”
As we enter the Feast of Tabernacles, and as we consider the spread of Jew-hatred that has infected hearts and minds across the nations, we pray that the Jewish people will experience the ‘little sanctuary’ that is promised them according to Ezekiel 11:16. Just this week we saw an attack on a synagogue in Canada and we saw a foiled ‘imminent’ terror attack against Jews in Manchester. We praise the Lord that none of these attacks achieved their aims, but there is serious need for us as Christians to pray for the safety and protection of Jews worldwide. May God Almighty be a little sanctuary in the countries where the Jews are present. And may we as Christians recognise our responsibility to support that sanctuary: “For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things,” (Romans 15:27). This is the heart of CUFI; please pray for our ministry as we seek to bless Israel through our support.
We have also seen at the United Nations this week how the leaders of many nations around the world have turned their backs on Israel. Pray for Israel’s leaders who are making a stand against this antisemitic hatred on the global stage.
The Feast of Tabernacles represents a prophetic picture of a future event when the nations will gather in Jerusalem. What a day that will be! On that occasion, Israel will not be scattered and seeking safe haven from peoples that hate them; no, the Jewish people will be in their Land, according to the Covenant of promise, and the nations of the earth will worship the God of Israel.
As we close, we must ask for your specific prayers for Neria Leiter and the entire Leiter family during this difficult time. Neria is the son of Israel’s ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, and was a guest speaker at the CUFI Summit in Washington in July. His son was seriously wounded on Wednesday in a Palestinian car ramming attack. Neria continued to serve in the reserves after losing his older brother, Moshe Yedidya Leiter, who was killed serving in Israel’s military operation in Gaza after October 7th. We pray that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will preserve Neria’s life, bring complete healing and restoration, and grant wisdom and strength to every medical professional caring for him. May the Leiter family be surrounded by the peace that surpasses all understanding and experience the Lord’s sanctuary of strength and comfort as they stand beside Neria.
“I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.” — Psalm 118:17
