Day 5: Pray for fishermen

“As Adonai lives, who brought the people of Isra’el out of the land to the north and out of all the countries where he drove them”; for I will bring them back to their own land, which I gave to their ancestors. “‘Look,’ says Adonai, ‘I will send for many fishermen, and they will fish for them. Afterwards, I will send for many hunters; and they will hunt them from every mountain and hill and out of caves in the rocks.’” – Jeremiah 16:15–16 CJB

In this verse from the Complete Jewish Bible, Adonai is Hebrew for “Lord.”

Here are three main ways that Jews will return to Israel from the nations:

1. God will plant the desire in their hearts to live there
2. Gentiles, as well as Jewish believers, will encourage them to get their citizenship in Israel. These are called fishermen.
3. Persecution in the nations, anti-Semitism, will drive them to move to Israel, like we see in Russia, Ukraine and other countries. Verse 16 makes it clear that if they do not respond to the fisherman, God says, “I will send for many hunters.” This is how zealous God is for His children to come home.

Today we will look at the second two ways.

Debbie Kellogg with CyrusFoundation.org shares:

When God is ready to bring His people back to Israel from a specific area of the world, He begins to raise up people, which the Bible speaks of as “fishermen,” to go to the Jewish community with His call for them to return home. We, along with many others, sense the time for this to happen in North America in an increasing way has come. Although there has been approximately 80,000 Jews who have made Aliyah to Israel from America in past years, over 5,600,000 still remain. Canada has 360,000 remaining. We must add to this number many who do not know they have Jewish blood but are beginning to find this out. When the Jewish people start to leave America, this will surely be the largest exodus back to Israel than from any other area.

Now is the time to be a fisherman and help the Jews make Aliyah while they still can easily. A time is coming when they will be hunted down and killed or tortured. Hunters in Jeremiah 16:16 are like Hitler and others who have persecuted the Jews and hunted them down to kill them. We need to be aware that the hunters are coming again for those Jews who haven’t yet returned to Israel.

In the 1990s, Bart and Debbie Kellogg helped to bring persecuted Jews out of Ukraine and the former Soviet Union on ships. They rented a camp or a hotel where the people stayed until the ships left. Christian teams would go with them on the ships to help loading and unloading luggage, carrying babies, pets, etc. The Jews ate in the cafeteria with linen tablecloths, being treated like royalty. They came from impoverished areas and had never experienced anything like this before. Then they had a huge celebration on the last night on the ship.

Meditate on and study Jeremiah 16:14–16.

• When God is ready to bring His people back to Israel from a certain area of the world, He begins to raise up people, the Bible speaks of them as fishermen, to go to the Jewish community with His call for them to return home. Anti-Semitism is waking Jews up like the Holocaust did. God wants them to return to Israel. This is an opportunity for fishermen.
• Notice that God says He will bring the people back in two ways. What do you think is the difference between a fisherman and a hunter in this context?
• What might a fisherman look like? What do you think they would do?
• If Jews don’t return to Israel with the fishermen, what does this say will happen?
• What might it be like for the Jews when the hunters come for them? Imagine what it would be like for you if hunters were after you. How would you feel?
• What would it be like to have someone help you to flee from them?
• What is God saying to you through these verses?

Benjamin Berger, a Messianic pastor in Jerusalem shares:

I see an enormous rise in anti-Semitism. It’s a warning that Jews must take seriously because it will only worsen. Jews have a long history of persecution. God wants to use it to get His people back to their land. Jews are returning from many nations; however, North Americans are deeply rooted. Right now, it is easier for Jews to stay in the United States and Canada than return to Israel. Transition is not easy; many don’t want to be uprooted. As anti-Semitism strengthens, more will realize they need to be serious about this.

Jesus told His disciples that they would be fishers of men (Matthew 4:19). Ask God how He wants you involved in this.

What did God reveal to you today through your study?

A prayer to pray

Adonai, thank You for Your great love for Your people, the Jews. Thank You that You are bringing them back from everywhere they have been scattered. Show me how You want me to be involved in partnering with You as a fisherman. Would You give me Your heart to help bring Your people back from the lands where You scattered them? Help me to love them with Your love and see them as You see them. I know the deep cry of Your heart is for the restoration of Your people to Yourself and to the land of Israel.

Prayer points for today

• Ask God to give you a greater love for His people.
• Ask Him how He wants you to be involved in bringing His people to Israel. It could be praying, giving, serving with a ministry like Return Ministries or something else.
• Pray God will help His people want to make Aliyah while they can, before hunters begin to hunt them (through anti-Semitism).

Actions to take

• Research one or more ministries who are helping Jews to return to Israel. Ask God if He wants you involved in any of them. You can find a list in the Appendix.
• You can learn more about fishermen and hunters on our website.