1. This week's prophetic portion ends with the following verse:

    If you will return, O Israel, says the LORD, return unto Me: and if you will put away your abominations out of My sight, then you shall not be removed. And you shall swear, The LORD lives, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations/gentiles shall bless themselves in Him, and in Him shall they glory.

    Jeremiah 4:1-2

    • We bless You Lord, for using Israel to reveal Yourself to the nations.

    • Thank You for answering all prayers that are in line with Your will (1 John 5:14-15).

    • And we thank You for not answering any prayers that are out of Your will!

    • We depend on You who are both the Creator and Sustainer of this universe.

    • In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear not, to Zion, Let not your hands be slack. The LORD your God in the midst of you is mighty. He will save, He will rejoice over you with joy. He will rest in His love, He will joy over you with singing.

      Zephaniah 3:16-17

  2. Internally, Israel is facing several home-grown "uprisings". One concerns the medical profession, while the other is over expensive and limited housing options for many Israelis - especially the younger generation. While both these areas need work, the media and the left-wing opposition in the government are trying to use them to bring this government down. Now is not the time for Israel to be electing a new government. Of course, most of the anger is directed at Prime Minister 'Bibi' Netanyahu - who actually has been at the forefront in confronting and trying to solve these issues for years now. He needs our prayer support.

    • Abba, we pray grace and peace to Bibi, in the name of Yeshua.

    • Abba, reveal Your Son to him as his Messiah and Redeemer (Matthew 16:16-17).

    • Use this time of intense pressure, to turn him to Yourself (Psalm 80:3,7,19).

    • Let Your hand be upon the man of your right hand, upon the son of man whom You made strong for Yourself.

      Psalms 80:17

    • Impart to Netanyahu the wisdom of Solomon to know how to get out of this trap that the enemy is setting for him and for all Israel.

    • Give him discernment to know exactly what issues need his attention and what issues can be delegated to others.

    • The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD. As the rivers of water, He turns it in the direction of His choosing.

      Proverbs 21:1

  3. Obviously, Netanyahu needs to have wise counselors with whom he can confide and get feedback, encouragement and correction in thinking if need be.

    • Lord, we ask for superior wisdom for Bibi's closest advisors (Proverbs 24:6).

    • Raise up for Israel's prime minster, children of Issachar, those that have understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do… (1 Chronicles 12:32)

    • Aid him to do that which is right in Your sight - regardless of the negativity that attempts to drown him at almost every turn.

    • May he, like King David, encourage himself in You.

      David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved… but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

      1 Samuel 30:6

  4. In this week's Torah portion, the children of Israel are commanded to both possess and settle the land. If they were to just possess/inherit, without settling, then those who worship other gods could settle God's land instead. This applies today. To accomplish this, Israel needs to see a new massive wave of aliyah - the return of Jews from exile to Israel.

    • …dispossess the inhabitants of the land, and dwell therein: for I have given you the land to possess it… But if you will not drive out the inhabitants of the land… then it shall come to pass, that those which you let remain shall be pricks in your eyes, thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land where you dwell.

      Numbers 33:53,55

    • Abba, thank You for the increase in aliyah this summer.

    • We bless You that the Jewish Agency, Nefesh b'Nefesh, other Jewish and even Christian groups are all working together to bring Your people home (Isaiah 49:22).

    • Continue to bring the Jews back from France and Britain, especially young adults.

    • According to Your promise to settle us in all parts of this land when You bring us back, release building permits to increase the number of houses and enlarge the settlements in Judea, Samaria and around Jerusalem.

    • I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with My whole heart and with My whole soul. For thus says the LORD; Just as I have brought all this great evil upon this people, so will I bring upon them all the good I have promised them. And fields shall be bought in this land… in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, and in the cities of the mountains, and in the cities of the valley, and in the cities of the south: for I will cause their captivity to return, says the LORD.

      Jeremiah 32:41-44; see also 33:12-14

    • Encourage all the Jews who have bought homes in Israel - yet still live in exile - that now is the time to be completely planted here.

    • We bless You that the return of Your people to Your land is for Your holy name's sake! (Isaiah 43:5-7; Jeremiah 33:7-9; Ezekiel 36:23-24)

  5. The current Arab uprising in the Middle East is turning ugly. In Egypt, there have been riots against the "new" government; in Jordan there are demonstrations against the king; in Syria, thousands have been killed. Yet in all these and in other Moslem nations, multitudes of Moslems are coming to know Yeshua!

    • Lord, use this current chaos to further Your purposes. May Your Kingdom to come and Your will to be done in the Middle East as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10 paraphrased)

    • During the Islamic holy month of Ramadan - starting in the beginning of August - loosen the hold the spirit of Islam has on multitudes of Moslems, especially those who fast at this time - not for tradition's sake - but for genuine spiritual reasons.

    • Reveal Yeshua to many Tunisians, Libyans, Egyptians, Jordanians, Syrians, Lebanese, Palestinians and Israeli Arabs at this time.

    • Lord, give our brothers and sisters in Messiah in all these nations, wisdom to know when and how to share the good news, and when to be quiet.

    • We pray for laborers to be sent into the harvest fields of the Middle East (Luke 10:2).

  6. Israel's northern security situation to is very dangerous. As noted above, Syria is in an upheaval. Iran is trying to support Syrian leader Assad's rule and Hizbullah in Lebanon - who is in league with both Iran and Syria - is very worried. As we did not have clarity about a specific prayer direction - we interceded using God's will for Israel as the plumb line.

    • Continue to shake Syria so that the end result furthers Your Kingdom purposes.

    • When the dust clears, may all of these enemies of Israel be weakened and in disarray.

    • Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion.

      Psalms 129:5

    • Destroy the link between Iran, Syria and Hizbullah. Since they have agreed to curse/destroy Israel, may it come back on their own heads.

      The nations are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.

      Psalms 9:15

  7. Israel is entering into a dangerous time period. Tisha b'Av starts the evening of August 8th and Ramadan begins in early August. Israel needs the Lord to protect and defend her, especially at this time.

    • Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, You who lead Joseph like a flock; You who dwell between the cherubims, shine forth… stir up Your strength, and come and save us.

      Psalms 80:1-2

    • He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep/guard him, as a shepherd does his flock.

      Jeremiah 31:10b

    • Abba, protect this nation from all of the demonic plans of the enemy for this time.

    • Reveal to Israel's security forces all of those plans and the best way to cut them off.

    • We ask for Your wisdom to know exactly how to pray (Romans 8:26; James 1:5).

    • Speak clearly to the Jews reading through Lamentations on the night of Tisha b'Av.

    • Quicken these verses to Your people:

      It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness.

      Lamentations 3:22-23

  8. Finally, we prayed into the situation Israel will be facing in September at the UN's annual meeting, in New York, when the Palestinian Authority will be asking the world to recognize them as a state on the pre-1967 borders. They are attempting to do this without negotiations with Israel so that they will not have to compromise their positions or even declare an end to the conflict.

    • Thank You Lord for Israel's new UN Ambassador, Ron Prosor.

    • Bless You for the strong speech he gave at the UN concerning just this issue.

    • Protect and use him to speak truth to this very anti-God, anti-Zion organization.

    • Continue to strengthen and use Israel's Foreign Ministry. [Watch their 6 minute video presentation of the real story about the "West Bank". It is very clear and well done.]

    • Abba, raise up prophetic voices to warn the nations of the dangers they face if they continue to try to divide Your land (Isaiah 60:9; Joel 3:1-2; Zechariah 12:9).

Again, we are so blessed to know that we are not in this battle together.

May the Lord encourage us all with His faithfulness to watch over His word.

Shabbat shalom
The IFI Team

And your eyes shall see, and you shall say,
The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel.

Malachi 1:5