"I have seen this people, and indeed it is a stiff-necked people! Now therefore, let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them. And I will make of you a great nation." Then Moses pleaded with the LORD his God, and said: "LORD, why does Your wrath burn hot against Your people whom You have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand?"
Exodus 32:10, 11

Later, Moses stepped into the breach again and said:

"Oh, these people have committed a great sin, and have made for themselves a god of gold! Yet now, if You will forgive their sin—but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written."
Exodus 32: 31, 32

It's true that Moses actually says: "If you can't forgive your people, then I don't want to live" He succeeds, Israel is punished, but the people are spared. God softens a bit. Moses' call is rewarded!

Why wouldn't this be able to happen today? I tell you, God is looking for people that are willing to stand in the breach. Ezekiel 22:30 :

So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads."

The consequences were severe! God destroyed the land Israel because there was nobody there that wanted to step into the breach. Today we are in a tense situation again. We can see how the tensions around Israel are frightening again. Achmadinejad, the shady Iranian leader, makes clear that he rather sees Israel being wiped off the map. The free world reacts in a resigned and weary way.

But what about the churches and congregations? Do they step into the breach of their Jewish brother because they are filled with indignation? Do they send messengers to Israel with messages of consolation, support and friendship? Do they overwhelm the heavens as watchmen and do they pull the God of Israel by the sleeve and call out loud "Lord, you can't do this!... Over my dead body!..." This sounds a bit rude perhaps, but this is what Moses did. And God rewards this sincere attitude. The apostle Paul knows where he is talking about: "For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh" (Romans 9:3) It could be that this "over my dead body" mentality is indispensable for the final days of the church.

An army of spiritual people that back their suppressed Jewish brother. When Yeshua (Jesus' real name) hung on the cross, "all His acquaintances, and the women who followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things" (Luke 23:49) Hopefully we, the Gentiles, won’t keep watching from a distance how our Jewish brother Israel is doing, or will we? Watchmen that will not remain silent…

Watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem.