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For Such a Time as This

April 1, 2012

Recently we celebrated Purim in Israel. The story of Esther was remembered in many ways throughout the land of Israel. It is the story of the deliverance of a Jewish population in the diaspora at a time when the community was threatened with annihilation. In synagogues, as the Megilat Esther (Scroll of Esther) was read, evil Haman was booed . The reading can be quite noisy as every time Haman’s name is read the listeners boo, hiss, and make noise with noisemakers called rashanim. At one challenging moment in the narrative Mordechai challenges Esther to action, even though it may be dangerous for her personally, by saying, “Perhaps you have come into the kingdom for such a time as this.”

Prime Minister Netanyahu, in a speech to AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) referred to the fact that the story of Esther is read at Purim, saying, “We will read how some 2,500 years ago, a Persian anti-Semite tried to annihilate the Jewish people. And we will read how that plot was foiled by one courageous woman—Esther. In every generation, there are those who wish to destroy the Jewish people. In this generation, we are blessed to live in an age when there is a Jewish state capable of defending the Jewish people. And we are doubly blessed to have so many friends like you, Jews and non-Jews alike, who love the State of Israel and support its right to defend itself.”

Israel Threatened Again

Tragically we are living in a time when the Jewish people are again threatened by a madman in Iran (ancient Persia). The Prophet Ezekiel foretold of a day when a confederation would come against Israel. Gog of the land of Magog (usually thought to be Russia and her cohorts) and Persia (Iran) and other nations will come to destroy the nation of Israel. Today we see that Russia is supporting Iran and Syria. www.kremlin.ru Putin has just been elected as President of Russia once more. He is spending hundreds of billions of dollars on a major re-armament campaign, has nuclear subs in the Mediterranean, and is supporting the Syrian government which is oppressing its own people. Leaders in Iran have recently called other nations to join with them in their plans to destroy the Zionist State. Many Islamic states are joined together in their hatred of Israel.

Rescuing the Remaining Jews in the Former Soviet Union

Through our Project Rescue we have helped over 40,000 Jewish people come home to Israel. Most of them were suffering from deprivation, poverty, and the pain of anti-Semitism. Now they are home in Israel. We continue to work with about 20,000 more Jewish people who want to go to Israel but have difficulties to overcome before their departure date.

The Project Rescue team in the FSU (Former Soviet Union) ministers daily to their needs. We are helping some to locate historical archived paperwork that proves their Jewish identity so that Israel will recognize them and welcome them as new citizens of the state of Israel. Others deal with a variety of personal and family issues which delay or complicate their departure. We continue to feel an urgency to get them to Israel before times like these become times of absolute despair and persecution.

The Prophet Jeremiah spoke of these days when he said, “’Therefore, behold the days are coming,’ says the LORD, ‘that it shall no more be said, “the LORD lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of Egypt,” but, “the LORD lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north and from all the lands where He had driven them.” For I will bring them back into their land which I gave to their fathers. ‘Behold, I will send for many fishermen,’ says the LORD, ‘and they shall fish them; and afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain and every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks’” (Jeremiah 16:14-16).

Our workers call themselves “fishers,” as they encourage the Jewish people to go home. We provide the finances necessary to make their aliyah (immigration to Israel) possible. Our team members encourage and pray for them as they solve one problem after another. The time of the hunters approaches. How much time do we have to partner with God to bring His people home? I don’t know, but I don’t want to stand before the Lord and not have done all we could to rescue His precious Jewish people.

Israel Recognizes the Importance of Christian Support

In many encounters with Israeli leadership I have been thanked for the support of Christians. There is a growing recognition that we are the best friends Israel has in the world today. I am full of awe as I realize the pivotal role God has given us. Think of this: We have been chosen by God to be alive in this time in history when God is fulfilling His prophetic Word to the nation and people of Israel in the sight of the entire world. He could have chosen any time in history for us to sojourn on this planet, but in His infinite wisdom God chose us for “such a time as this.”

My prayer is “Lord, what role do you have for me in this crucial prophetic time?” Join with me and the team of Bridges for Peace as we partner with God in these awe inspiring days. Your financial contributions and prayer support make it possible for us to rescue Jewish people and help them come home to Israel. We are empowered by your support to welcome new immigrants to their new home with blankets, kitchen gifts, and Bibles, and to support them and other needy Israelis through our food, home repair, feed a child and other programs.

We were born “for such a time as this,” and have a God-given privilege to join in His plans and purposes for Israel and the world. Join the team! Please pray about how much you can send to help bring Jewish people home to Israel. Contact your local Bridges for Peace office to find out how you can support Israel in your country. Together God has a purpose and a plan for each of us in “such a time as this.”

Blessings from Israel,

Rebecca J. Brimmer
International President and CEO