IDF combat soldier receives the Good News of Yeshua

Be'er Sheva, Israel  

Biblical History: 

Be'er Sheva's name has several meanings that are based on biblical stories.  The seven wells dug by Isaac ("Sheva" - seven). The oath of Abraham and Abilmelech ("Shvua" means oath).   

The nearby archaelogical site, Tel Be'er Sheva, contains many artifacts that show the region has been destroyed and rebuilt many times over the centuries.   

Mentioned in the Book of Genesis, Be'er Sheva (Beersheba) was the place where Abraham made his agreement ("oath") with Abimelech (Genesis 21:31-33). Isaac built an altar in Be'er Sheba(Genesis 26:23-33). At Be'er Sheva, God spoke to Jacob (Israel) in a vision 

(Genesis 46:1-7).    

Modern Day:  

Be'er Sheva is the largest and most successful city in the Negev (Israel's southern desert) and the sixth largest city in Israel. It is a modern-day city that is home to the highly respected Ben Gurion University and the Soroka Medical Center.    

IDF combat soldier receives the Good News of Yeshua  

By the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we, Messiah of Israel Ministries team traveled to the beautiful city of Be'er Sheva in southern Israel.    

While team was praying, Messianic Rabbi Zev saw a very tall IDF combat soldier was standing in a corner. Zev walked up to the soldier and introduced himself: "Are you from Be'er Sheva?" Egal said yes he is, but he is stationed in Nahariya near the Lebanon border. Zev asked Egal how it is possible that so many rockets were fired into Be'er Sheva and other cities in Israel but there was so minimum damage. Egal replied: "In my whole life 20 years, I am against God but after the miracle I saw this time, I knew it was the hand of God, therefore I'm thinking of doing teshuvah (to Jews, teshuvah means turning back to Jewish religious observance). In fact I was supposed to go back to my base last night but for some unknown reason my commander told me to return 24 hours later."

                                                                                       

Zev with Egal    

Glory to the King Yeshua! This was an ordained meeting. Zev understood why God had sent him to Be'er Sheva. It was clear as glass. This IDF combat soldier was hungry for truth. He understood that what really was protecting Israel in a supernatural way was the God of Israel. Zev then told Egal it's not a coincidence they met today, and that meeting is from God. Yes, God wants him to return to Him, but not through religion, not through the Oral Torah (Rabbinic Tradition), but through His written Word. Real teshuvah, real repentance, means turning back to God and can only be given to us by Faith (Trust) through His wonderful Love and Grace of God. Zev then opened the Bible and read with Egal Zechariah 2:8 -      

"For thus said the Lord of hosts, "After glory He has sent me against the nations which plunder you, for he who touches you, touches the apple of his eye."        

God will always protect Israel. Woe to those who try to harm them. Zev told Egal that God is calling His people back to Him because He loves them so much. We are all very thankful for the IDF but without the power of God, we would not be standing here today. Egal was fascinated and said: "I agree." 

Egal was so hungry for truth and wanted to hear more. "What do you mean, God is calling us?" asked Egal. "God has sent his son the Messiah to pay the full price, He died for our sins, rose on the third day, and by His blood in faith we all have full redemption of sins. This is exactly why you stayed in town for another 24 hours. God is talking to you. If you are seeking, you will find," Zev replied. Egal was speechless. The Holy Spirit was working on him. Egal asked: "Who is this Messiah and where does it say he took all our sins." Zev then opened the Bible to Isaiah 53: 1-12 -

1 Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. 4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living;  for the transgression of my people he was punished. 9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. 11 After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.   

After we read this together, Egal said that sounds like the Christian one. Zev said that is a Jewish Bible just like the one you received in the IDF. What we just read is about Yeshua the Jewish Messiah who died for you, for me, and for all who believe in Him. This is the most Jewish message you will ever get. Egal said: "I need to grasp all this. It is shocking." Zev told Egal: "No pressure, all in God's timing, but please be seeking for full revelation and you will find it. When you do find it, you will be born again and have eternal life."   

Egal only comes home once every 3 weeks. Please pray for their meeting again and for Egal's salvation. 

                                                            

   Many seeds planted

Zev continued to share the Good News of Yeshua the Messiah with many this day in Be'er Sheva.  Please pray for all the seeds that were planted. May every seed be to the Glory of our Lord and Savior Yeshua. Amen!!!