“For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour:” (Isaiah 43:3, KJV))
While in Israel last summer, my husband and I wanted to meet with an Orthodox Jewish man who had believed in Jesus when I had prayed with him over the phone. He was a manager at a hotel. During our visit there his time, we stayed at the same hotel. I called the front desk to ask about getting connected to him. The call was transferred to the man, and we had a short talk. He invited us to the business floor where he was the manager. Here only government officials or those invited are allowed to enter. The Jewish man was very polite as we greeted and introduced ourselves, meeting in person for the first time.
As we talked, I noticed his accent sounded very different than that of the man with whom I had spoken on the phone before. My husband and I kept listening closely to him, as he welcomed us. As we continued to listen to him, I knew we were talking to the wrong man. We were so caught up with what he was sharing with us, though, that we could not tell him. But he must have seen it in our faces.
“You must be looking for the other man.” The other man had the same first name as the man to whom we were talking. He continued, “You are looking for the one who heard your friend speak and then you talked with him.”
We took a breath. “Yes, we are.”
He kindly said, “Let me send him an email right now to let him know you wish to see him.”
Meanwhile, we began to get to know this man. He was very oppressed and intense. He had a lot on his mind about his life in Israel. He was an Orthodox Jew from Australia. As we listened, our interest in him grew.
The other man could not be located at the time, so this man asked us to take a seat and offered us the most delicious spread of food, while he worked.
After we left, he stayed on my heart. I began to pray for him. The next day, we went to visit him in the business room. The three of us sat down, and he shared his heart with us.
I wanted to tell him about Jesus, but I was not sure how to go about it. So, I just girded my loins with God’s truth and courage.
“I know that what I want to share with you will not be easy to accept, but I know that it is the only answer to the intensity that you are living with. God has a Son. His name is Jesus, and He loves you. He is the only one who can help you. Would you be interested in knowing Him?”
He thought for a moment. We drew nearer to each other, as he became more serious about the question. “This would be very hard for me. My father was an Orthodox. This is my background.”
I looked into his eyes. They were intense, but very sweet. “I understand. But you will have to make the decision to assure your salvation in Him for heaven. There is no other way. You must take courage and believe. Would you like for me to help you by praying with you?” It seemed as if no one else existed around us. I waited a moment. “He’s your only answer. He will help you. You can trust Him to work out the situation. He will not let you down.”
His eyes grew a little sad, and the intensity grew. “Yes, I would.”
“Let’s pray.” I began to lead him to salvation in the Son of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. His eyes were focused on mine, as he repeated every word very carefully. He confessed Jesus as his Saviour and gave Him his life for His glory. Immediately afterward, the oppression and intensity left him, and his eyes were filled with light and peace!
He thanked me over and over again as we hugged.
“Do you have a Bible?” I asked him.
“No.” He answered as if it were something he had not ever thought of.
“I will get one for you.” We said our good-nights.
I just happened to have a brand new Bible I had taken with me to begin studying out of it. I was so thankful that the Lord had put it in my heart to take that Bible instead of the big one I have used for years.
A day later, we went to see him again. I gave him the Bible. He held it as a treasure and was very thankful to have it in his hands. He was so full of light!
A young friend had joined us. He was talking with my husband. He looked at the man and said, “Look at him. He is so joyful, and he is full of light!”
The man I had led to Christ shared with me, “My father is a believer in Jesus. He goes to a synagogue in which the Jews are believers. I have called him to tell him about my decision and experience. I can’t wait to go and be with him and sit with him with this Bible. Now we will share this life together!”
We were elated! My husband, he, and I hugged and hugged. We could hardly let go of each other!
“Abba, Father, only by Your Holy Spirit was my phone call directed to the wrong man! But You, Lord, had this Jewish man ready to believe in Your Son as his Saviour. We had the wrong man, but you had the right soul. You know him by name. You took away his worries and doubts. Only You, Jesus, wanted to meet him where he was in his intensity and oppression to give him Your peace. He is Yours! I don’t even know what to say, but, Jesus, how Your love pursues the Jew!”