YOUNG SOLDIERS AND PROPHETS – THE ELIJAH LEGACY
Clogged Wells
Whenever we pray for the Body of Messiah in Israel, we pray that God will restore the prophetic ministry that has existed in the past among our people in this nation.
Avraham Avinu (our father Abraham) dug wells of water in our land. These wells were plugged by the Philistines after his death. Itzchak reopened Avraham’s wells, and his servants found living waters!
Genesis 26:18-19 (TLV)
Then Isaac dug again the wells of water that had been dug in the days of his father Abraham—the Philistines had stopped them up after Abraham’s death. He gave them the same names that his father had given them. Then Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and found a well of living water there. ( In some translations we read the expression: spring water.)
Regarding the prophetic ministry in Israel, we believe that wells have been dug which have released waters of the Spirit in our nation. The prophets Eliahu (Elijah), and Yochanan haMatbil (John the Baptist), for example, had a difficult ministry, in which they dug spiritual wells so that their successors, Elisha and Yeshua could release living waters for our people.
Elijah and John confronted the idolatry, sexual immorality, and pride brought about by the spirit of Jezebel and prepared the way for Elisha and Yeshua to perform miracles of healing, multiplication of loaves, and the resurrection of the dead.
Elijah Legacy
A few years ago we received a book written by David Davis, a deceased brother, who founded Kehilat haCarmel, a congregation located on Mount Carmel in Israel.
The book, written in English, is called “The Elijah Legacy.” This week God led us to read again some parts of that book.
In the chapter called “The Restoration of the Prophetic in Israel,” he recounts an episode described in 1 Kings 20.
Young Soldiers
At that time, Ahab was king in Israel and Ben Hadad, king of Syria along with 32 other kings, invaded Israel and besieged Samaria. The king’s messengers told Ahab that the next day they would return to take all the king’s possessions along with their wives, children, and whatever else they wanted.
Ahab gathered the elders, seeking advice. A prophet approched the king and said:
… Then behold, a prophet approached King Ahab of Israel and said, “Thus says Adonai: Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will deliver it into your hand this day, and you will know that I am Adonai.” Ahab asked, “By whom?” He said, “Thus says Adonai: By the young men of the rulers of the provinces.” Then he asked, “Who should begin the battle?” “You!” he answered. So he mustered the young men of the rulers of the provinces. There were 232. After them he mustered all the people of all the children of Israel, 7,000.
1 Kings 20:13-15
God’s direction to win the war was to have the young men who assisted the leaders of the provinces as the leadership of the Israeli army. Just as Saul consented to young David’s fight against Goliath, Ahab accepted God’s direction from the prophet. Let’s see what happened next:
They marched out at noon, while Ben-Hadad was drinking himself drunk in the booths—he and the 32 kings allied with him. The young men of the rulers of the provinces marched out first. Ben-Hadad sent out scouts, who reported to him saying, “There are men coming out from Samaria.” He said, “Whether they are coming out for peace, take them alive, or whether they are coming out for battle, take them alive.”
Now when the young men of the rulers of the provinces marched out of the city, with the army following them, each man struck down his foe. Then the Arameans fled and Israel pursued them, but King Ben-Hadad of Aram escaped on a horse with horsemen. Then the king of Israel went out, struck the horses and chariots, and inflicted on the Arameans a great defeat.
1 Kings 20:16-21
David Davis, the author of the book “The Elijah Legacy” points out that the war was won by young people (teenagers) – leaders positioned by God.
On the following year, Ben Hadad attacked Israel again. Israel won the war, Ben-Hadad fled again and was brought before king Ahab. The king of Israel made an alliance with him, letting him live.
1 Kings 20:33-34
The men took it as a good sign and were quick to catch on, so they said, “Yes, Ben-Hadad is your brother.” “Go, bring him,” he said. So Ben-Hadad came out to him and he took him up into his chariot. Then he said to him, “The cities which my father took from your father I will give back, and you may set up markets for yourself in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria.” “Then I will let you go with this covenant.” So he made a covenant with him and let him go.
Through a prophet, Ahab was rebuked and judged by God for his attitude:
Then he said to him, “Thus says Adonai: ‘Because you have released out of your hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction, therefore your life will be in place of his life and your people in place of his people.’” Then the king of Israel went home to Samaria sullen and resentful.
1 Kings 20:42-43
God had appointed to death the king of the enemy’s army. Why do we think that God will not act in the same way today? There is no such a thing as “the dispensation of law and the dispensation of grace”. There is a God who says:
“I will be gracious toward whom I will be gracious, and I will show mercy on whom I will be merciful.”
Exodus 33:19b / Romans 9:15
In the midst of this war against the Syrians, Elijah and Elisha trained the “sons of the prophets” (2 Kings 2:3,5,7,15; 4:1,38; 9:1,2) since God had promised Elijah that there were 7,000 who did not bow down to Baal.
So, there was a revival going on in the midst of the war!!
Just as God raised up young men to fight the Syrians, He raised up young prophets in Israel. The prophets brought direction to kings on how to win wars.
Called up!
In our days, we need to continue praying for our young soldiers fighting the Iron Swords War in the South against Hamas and Hezbollah in the North.
As we were writing this article, we saw on the news that the Supreme Court of Israel has just ruled on an issue that had been discussed for years. Ultra-Orthodox youth studying in yeshivot (schools for Torah study) will also be drafted into the IDF – Israel Defense Forces.
The exemptions offered to the ultra-Orthodox (Haredi community) date back to the early days of the State of Israel in 1948, when the first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, exempted about 400 students from military service so they could devote themselves to religious study. In doing so, Ben-Gurion hoped to keep alive sacred knowledge and traditions nearly wiped out in the Holocaust.
From 1948 until today, the ultra-Orthodox population has multiplied and secular society always feels wronged since only their sons are obliged to serve in the army.
On the other hand, there have always been some ultra-Orthodox men in the army. Before October 7 there were already about 1800 religious men serving voluntarily and after the beginning of the current war, more than 2000 young people signed up for military service. The difference is that under this new law, all Israeli men between the ages of 18 and 26, regardless of whether they are religious or not, must be recruted to the army.
In light of this, we have several prayer points regarding the government and the IDF for this season:
- May the ultra-Orthodox youth be prepared and anointed by God for victory, just like the young people summoned to fight against the Syrians in the story of 1 Kings 20. May the Torah come alive in the midst of battle!
- May the young men who have already been serving in the war for 8 months, be renewed in their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual strengths
- May Jewish believers in Yeshua who serve in the army continue to be an example and make a difference just like our brother Chaim Malespin
- May they take the enemy by surprise as in 1 Kings 20
- Let leaders seek divine guidance to bolster Israel’s military defenses
- Let there be unity among leaders
- Protecting Critical Infrastructure
- A clear and effective strategic plan
- God’s Intervention to Thwart the Enemy’s Plans
- For Effective Diplomatic Efforts
- Provision for support for evacuees and new immigrants
- That the leaders of the terrorist groups will not be able to flee as Ben Hadad did
- That the government of Israel will not make an alliance with the enemy as Ahab made
Young Prophets
Let us also pray that today, the young prophets who will make a difference in our nation will be raised, those who will stand before the leaders of the government bringing direction and also calling the nation to repentance as Elijah did.
July and August in Israel are vacation months, in which most young believers in Yeshua travel to camps. Many camps are focused on worship, prayer, and teaching the Word. Others are focused on preparing young people for their entry into the army.
Pray
- For mature leaders like Elijah who will pass the staff to the next generation
- May there be the long-awaited spiritual awakening among young people
- For unity between Christian Arab youth and Israeli Jews
- For good teachers and pastors to disciple young Arabs so that they know their identity in God and know the Old Testament (since many have been evangelized by the Catholic Church)
- Healing and Deliverance among young people – May they open theirselves to it
- Let the young prophets rise up and attain places of influence in the government as in the case of Hananya Naftali
- Let us pray for revival in the midst of the present war!
Support Us Through Prayers and Donations
Since a partnership involves committing to a long-term relationship, consider a monthly donation as well.
We pray that you will be blessed as you invest in what the Lord is doing in Israel through the support of your prayers and donations.
“For they were content to do so, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they must also be useful to them in material blessings.”
Romans 15:27
Join us for the establishment of the New Mevasseret House of Prayer. Learn more through our project.
In the sublime and wonderful name of Yeshua haMashiach!