When I was a child and had been through some substantial suffering, I thought God owed me something.  This was reinforced every Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), when I would fast and my mother’s friend would say, “You don’t have to fast, you’ve suffered enough.”

In other words, I found a way to compromise in obedience to what was my conception of Torah, since I thought God was my debtor.

Years later, after having been a believer in Messiah for about fifteen years, I evidently had still been carrying this spiritual chip on my shoulder!  Clearly a root of bitterness had been growing even during the time I was reading the Scriptures, praying, and telling others about His love.

I was very upset one day and I admitted to a friend that I had a root of bitterness.  She said, “No you don’t, you have an OAK TREE of bitterness.”

I had no response; she was right.

So how could I uproot this oak tree of bitterness from my heart?

I searched the Scripture and came to Job chapter 41.  Job, as most know, suffered immeasurable pain.  He had lost his health, his children, his wealth, his friends and his position of esteem.

In this chapter, the Lord was revealing His greatness to Job, while dealing with his attitudes.  He describes Leviathan, the great sea creature, to get his point across.  I was actually rebuked by what I read. Please take a moment to read from the text:

“Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook?
Or press down his tongue with a cord?
“Can you put a rope in his nose
Or pierce his jaw with a hook?…

“Lay your hand on him;
Remember the battle; you will not do it again!…

“No one is so fierce that he dares to arouse him;
Who then is he that can stand before Me?” (Job 41:1-2,8,10)

In a moment I knew that my sin of bitterness was a Leviathan in my life.

Even as Leviathan could not be pulled in with a simple fish hook, this sin of bitterness could not be removed by human means.

But, God gave me a “two for one”… The very next verse is:

“Who has given to Me that I should repay him?
Whatever is under the whole heaven is Mine.” (Job 41:11)

The Lord, in His rebuke to Job, stated emphatically:  “I AM NOT YOUR DEBTOR!”

This verse is so important that the Apostle Paul quotes it in Romans chapter 11:35!

The context of this passage (verses 11-27) has to do with the cycle of mercy:  That Jewish unbelief about the Messiahship of Yeshua opened the way for the Gentiles to receive mercy.  Now Gentiles have opportunity to come into the Kingdom of God.  Paul then exhorts the Gentiles to show mercy to the Jewish people, who have experienced a partial hardening until the full number of Gentiles come in (to the Kingdom).

Ultimately, the Holy One of Israel will again deal with the Jewish people as a nation in bringing them to Messiah.  He has always preserved a remnant of Jewish people who believed in Messiah Yeshua through the centuries, as promised in Romans 11:5 and Romans 9:27.

Paul continues to exalt the LORD’s greatness in verses 32 through 35:

“For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.”

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!

For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? (Paul quotes Isaiah 40)

Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN?” (Paul refers to Job 41!)

Believer or nonbeliever, Jew or Gentile — The LORD, the Master of the Universe, owes us nothing.

Everything we are, everything we have or ever hope to be, is from His gracious hand.

So, if you are blocking your own blessing, as I had, through bitterness and thinking God is your debtor, please consider these clear truths of Scripture.  Whatever your “Leviathan” is, you can’t lasso it in.

Whatever expectation you have of God because of your suffering, or your good works, God owes you nothing.

But, God is full of grace and mercy.  Agree with Him that you are a debtor to Him (and not the other way around). In fact, you do owe Him — because if you have been living for yourself, you have been sinning against the One who made you for His glory and purposes, not your own.

Then find His heart of mercy and love by calling on the Name of Yeshua (Jesus), our intermediary.

“For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Messiah Yeshua.” (1 Tim. 2:5)

(To my fellow Jewish readers who may think we have a ‘direct dial’ to the LORD: Moses served as an intermediary, and interceded for the people of Israel when the Holy One of Israel wanted to destroy them for their sin.)

For a more detailed understanding of how to come into a relationship with the Living God, who loves you, please consult these previous posts:  “How A Chinese Waiter Found True Fortune“, “He Has Set Eternity In Your Heart” and “No Passover Seder, But The Passover Lamb“.

“Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)

1 John 5:14-15 says, “And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us:  And if we know that He hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.  When we pray the Scriptures we are praying wisely, because we are praying His will!

The context of the Gospel is Jewish (“Salvation is of the Jews”, said Yeshua–John 4:22) and the Scriptures are replete with verses revealing how to pray for Israel with the Father’s heart. We must ask Yahveh (The LORD) to reveal His love for the Jewish people and His burden for them (He says in Jeremiah 31:3, “I have loved you (Israel) with an everlasting love, therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn you.”)

The Jewish people are a brokenhearted people and if we intercede for them it must be with a humble and tender heart.  Then we know we are praying in accordance with the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh).

When we pray for Israel, we are praying not only for the country in the Middle East, but for all Jews everywhere in the dispersion (Diaspora).

Here is a sample prayer to guide you in your praying.  Prayer for Israel is a very important ministry in which Yahveh, the Holy One of Israel, wants to engage us in these last days:

“Abba (Father), in the Name of Yeshua, I thank You for preserving the Jewish people.  Truly this reveals Your faithfulness to keep Your Word and Your covenants.  Thank You that the only time Israel will cease from being a nation is when the fixed ordinances (sun, moon and stars) depart from before You (Jeremiah 31:35-36)  Thank You that no weapon formed against Israel shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17).  Israel has faced many enemies over the centuries.  I understand Satan has wanted to destroy Israel because she is the apple of Your eye (Zechariah 2:8) and because Messiah will return when Israel’s eyes are opened and they call upon His name (Zechariah 12:10).

Thank You for Michael the Archangel that You have assigned to protect Israel (Daniel 10:13).  O Yahveh of Hosts (hosts = armies in Biblical Hebrew), please station angels about her borders and the people.  Thank you that You who keep (guard) Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps (Psalm 121:4).

Abba, as the prophets of old, we confess our sins and the sins of our fathers, particularly where Christians have participated in the sin of anti-Semitism, failing to show the love and patience of Your Son to the Jewish people.  These scars formed in history have wounded and confused Your chosen people.  Cleanse us from this sin which breaks Your heart.  Your Word says they are beloved and their gifts and calling as a nation are irrevocable (Romans 11:29).  I ask You to convict church leaders and teachers who have taught that You are finished with Israel.  Please forgive them and open their eyes.  Like the Apostle Paul, let them say, “My heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved.” (Romans 10:1).  May I extend mercy to the Jewish people even as Your Word commands in Romans chapter 11, verse 31 that “through my mercy they may also obtain mercy.”

Thank You that only a partial hardening has happened to Israel (Romans 11:25).  Thank You for the remnant (Romans 11:5) that has believed and for those who will come to faith.

I do not beg You for the salvation of the Jewish people, for Messiah Yeshua already died for them (1 John 2:2).  Rather, I wrestle them out of the domain of darkness (Colossians 1:13) with the weapons of our warfare which are not carnal but mighty through You to the pulling down of strongholds (II Corinthians 10:3-5).  I cast down the thought patterns of unbelief, fear and  father-rejection.  I take captive these thoughts and all confusion to the obedience of the Messiah (II Cor. 10:5).  As Your Word says, ” …Yahveh (The LORD) rebuke thee…”.  (Zechariah 3:2 KJV)

Father, Your Word says that “… to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away (2 Corinthians 3:15-16 NASB)”  Thank You that You are able to take the veil away and please do so for (personalize with the Jewish person, or people, you know).  I pray for religious Jewish people – the Orthodox and Hasidic Jews. In the Name of the Lord Yeshua, I come against the spirits of deception that would tell them that religion will save them.  Reveal to them, Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit), that it is only by the blood atonement of the Messiah Yeshua that they are saved.  Have mercy on them O, God, Who delights in mercy (Jeremiah 9:24).

I pray today for the approximately 300,000 Jewish people in the former Soviet Union who have not yet left in fulfillment of prophecy (Jeremiah 23:3,7,8).  Protect them from the growing violence against them because they are Jews.  I thank you for delivering approximately 90% of the Jewish people out of the former Soviet Union in faithful fulfillment of Your prophetic Word.   I thank You for the many Russian believers who are now in Israel.  Strengthen them and give them grace in adjusting to their new home.

I pray for the Jewish people of Europe and Latin America who know they need to leave their countries because of growing anti-Semitism and return to Israel.  Please make a way–let every mountain of hindrance be removed so they can depart speedily. I pray for provision and the way of escape to be made clear to them.

I pray for Your Body of believers in Israel– for protection, growth, unity, boldness and provision.  Protect them, dear Lord.

I pray for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – for a hedge of protection, wisdom and courage, as the Gentile nations pressure him to return land that You promised to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their descendants forever (Genesis12:7; 15:18; 17:8)  Thwart and confuse all plots and plotters against the Jewish people (Psalm 83, Psalm 124, Psalm 129:5).  Bring her enemies to repentance (Matthew 5:44).  Let them henceforth use their energies to build Your kingdom and to comfort Israel. (Isaiah 40:1)

I pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6).  Thank You for prospering my life because I love her (Psalm 122:6)  Speak to my mind the ways You want me to reach out to Your people.  Make me a comfort to Your people (Isaiah 40).

I particularly pray for Holocaust survivors who need a revelation of Your personal love after experiencing such devastation.  Holy One of Israel, naturally, I don’t desire to feel the brokenness that the pogroms of Russia or the Holocaust have caused.  I am willing to receive the prayer burdens of Your heart for the Jewish people.  I am willing to stand as a watchman for the nation of Israel (Isaiah 62).  I give You no rest until You make Jerusalem a praise on the earth (Isaiah 62).

I pray for more laborers in this end time harvest, particularly for those to labor among elderly Jewish people in South Florida, New York City, Los Angeles & Chicago.  I pray for those laborers to be wise, tender and kind, full of your Ruach HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit).  I pray for divine appointments for them, that their steps would be directed to Jewish people searching for You, Your love, Your forgiveness, Your peace, Your touch, Your comfort. May they be anointed to speak your Word with power, conviction and the Ruach HaKodesh.  May they walk in humility and in the bond of peace with other laborers in the same part of the harvest.  May they be protected from all harm.  May their families be exceedingly blessed.

I pray Lord Yeshua for Your speedy return.  Soon may You hear the Jewish people say, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD.” (Psalm 118; Matthew 23:39). Maranatha, even so come, Messiah Yeshua!

I pray all these things on the authority of the blood atonement and in the name of Yeshua, the soon returning King of the Jews.

Copyright ©1996 Prophetic Prayers by Prophetic Prints.  If you wish to copy this prayer for free distribution, permission is hereby granted to duplicate it provided there are no changes or omissions made to this prayer and this byline is included.  Please note this prayer has a Spanish translation, as well.  Please email us through our contact form to receive a copy.