1. The Torah portion read this week in the synagogues around the world is "Balaam", the story of a false prophet who, despite his opposition to God, was unable to curse the children of Israel. And the words of Balaam's blessings continue to be used weekly in the prayers of the Jewish people today.

    And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, If the men come to call you, rise and go with them; but only the word which I speak to you-that you shall do.

    Numbers 22:20

    Then the Angel of the Lord said to Balaam, Go with the men, but only the word that I speak to you, that you shall speak.

    Numbers 22:35

    And Balaam said to Balak, Look, I have come to you! Now, have I any power at all to say anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I must speak.

    Numbers 22:38

    How shall I curse whom God has not cursed? And how shall I denounce whom the Lord has not denounced? For from the top of the rocks I see him, And from the hills I behold him; There! A people dwelling alone, Not reckoning itself among the nations.

    Numbers 23:8-9

    • Lord, thank You that You are serious about all the words You speak.

    • Sanctify us by Your truth. Your word is truth. (John 17:17)

    • You are faithful to fulfil every word You have spoken.

    • Your word does not return to You void. (Isaiah 55:11)

    • For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

      Hebrews 4:12

    • The Lord builds up Jerusalem; He gathers together the outcasts of Israel.

      Psalm 147:2

    • Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

      Psalm 119:105

  2. The Sinai

    is becoming increasingly like a "Wild West" on Israel's border. There have been increasing attacks by ISIS-related groups against the Egyptian army with high casualties. Hamas appears to be actively supporting these Islamic jihadist groups. Egypt is talking to Israel, seeking agreement to deploy more troops in the region. This is a long border for Israel and difficult to secure. What should Israel do?

    • Lord, grant wisdom to our Prime Minister, Defense Minister and IDF Chief of Staff and maintain agreement between them.

    • Give alertness to all in the IDF. Wake up those who are on guard.

    • Give wisdom regarding the deployment of troops in this area.

    • Please use Egyptian President Sisi for Your purposes and use Egypt to defend Israel from these militant Islamic forces on our border. Give Israel wisdom over whether to agree to more Egyptian troops being deployed in the Sinai.

    • Protect Sisi from rebellions within Egypt.

    • Use this situation to work Your deliverance in Egypt. for they will cry to the Lord because of the oppressors… (Isaiah 19:20) and, The Lord will strike Egypt, He will strike and heal it; they will return to the Lord (Isaiah 19:22)

    • Give Israel wisdom regarding how much intelligence information to share with Egypt.

    • Give our enemies the fear of the Lord and of His nation Israel.

    • Use Your angelic armies to defend our borders.

    • Israel, Be strong and of good courage… (Joshua 10:25)

    • Your eyes shall see, and you shall say, The Lord is magnified beyond the border of Israel.

      Malachi 1:5

  3. The North

    The threat of ISIS is real on the Northern border of Israel also and Israel needs to be wary of the dangers in the Sinai diverting attention from the North. This is in addition to the continued threat from Hezbollah. Pray:

    • For alertness among the leadership and all those involved in the security of Israel.

    • Anoint all those involved in gathering intelligence on behalf of Israel.

    • Have Your hand over the battle plans of the IDF.

    • Give wisdom to know how to handle any ISIS cells which may be operating inside Israel, especially in Judea and Samaria regions.

    • Prevent these terror organizations getting their hands on even more powerful weaponry than they have at the moment.

    • Protect Israel from any kidnappings.

    • If it is Your will for Israel to be used to bring down ISIS, make us ready to deal a death blow to this evil organization.

    • Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion; for I will make your horn iron, and I will make your hooves bronze; you shall beat in pieces many peoples.

      Micah 4:13

    • Lord, be a wall of fire along the Northern border of Israel. (Zechariah 2:5)

    • In the words of Balaam, Look, a people rises like a lioness, and lifts itself up like a lion; it shall not lie down until it devours the prey (Numbers 23:24)

  4. Iran

    For all that ISIS is evil, engaged in horrific acts of terror and constitutes a threat, the true threat to Israel's existence remains Iran. The deadline for the conclusion of the P5+1 talks passed this week without an agreement and has been extended for a few more days. US President Obama is under pressure to stop talking, but we can't expect him to stop trying to reach a deal. Meanwhile the probable terms of any deal get worse and worse. What should Israel do?

    • Thank You, Lord that the deadline passed in the talks with no deal.

    • Please cause a split among the negotiating nations so that no deal will be reached. May the French, the British, the Russians, the Chinese, the Germans, even the US Congress bring these talks to an end without a deal.

    • Lord, give Israel and Prime Minister Netanyahu, in particular, Your game plan vis-à-vis Iran and give us the game-changing weapons we will need, whether defensive or offensive.

    • Keep the Knesset united regarding Iran. (Opposition leaders have pledged their support for the government on this issue)

    • Give Netanyahu the words to motivate and prepare his team and the opposition leaders whose support he requires, notably Isaac Herzog and Yair Lapid.

    • I will set My throne in Elam, and will destroy from there the king and the princes,' says the Lord. (Jeremiah 49:38) Lord, destroy the wicked leadership of Iran who would bring a curse upon themselves and their nation by their cursing of Israel.

    • Thank You for the growth of the church in Iran. Use our brothers and sisters to pray for their nation and to accomplish Your plans.

    • Continue to shake Iran both physically (eg with earthquakes and major droughts) and spiritually, so that Your throne may be established there.

  5. Israel's Internal Security

    During the month of Ramadan so far there has been an escalation in violence with a number of terror attacks taking place. Friday is the day for gathering up to 100,000 people on the Temple Mount for Moslem prayers. Pray:

    • Give all Israel alertness regarding the dangers of terrorism around Jerusalem and the Temple Mount during Friday prayers.

    • Give wisdom to the soldiers and police guarding the city. Protect them from more attacks. Give them confidence in Your protection.

    • Protect the tourists around the Old City and Temple Mount.

    • Give the government wisdom regarding any restrictions to place on who should be allowed to come to the Temple Mount.

    • Let the terrorist murderers be caught.

    • Lord, hold back the anger, hatred, anti-Semitism which drives the violence. We need You to act, it's too much for us!

    • Let all those who hate Zion be put to shame and turned back.

      Psalm 129:5

    • You are my King, O God; command victories for Jacob.

      Psalm 44:4

    • Reveal Yourself, o Lord, to multitudes of Muslims during Ramadan, even to those coming to worship Allah on the Temple Mount.

  6. Israel's Government

    Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu; Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon; Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon, Interior Minister Silvan Shalom; Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked; Education Minister Naftali Bennett among all the others. Pray:

    • May they know the wisdom of God in all the critical decisions they face from day to day.

    • Inspire them with revelation that Israel's security really lies with the God of Israel.

    • Give them a spirit of servanthood. Break their personal egos and desires to raise themselves up.

    • Protect them physically against all attempts to kill or injure them and also protect their family lives.

    • I will restore your judges as at the first, And your counselors as at the beginning. (Isaiah 1:26) Give wisdom in reforming the justice system in Israel.

    • Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.

      John 7:24

    • Make the leaders of Israel righteous according to the warning of Isaiah: Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (Isaiah 5:20)

    • Give us leaders who are willing to see Israel as Balaam declared: For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him; There! A people dwelling alone, not reckoning itself among the nations. (Numbers 23:9)

  7. Intercession

    He saw that there was no man, and was astonished that there was no intercessor (Isaiah 59:16). God is seeking to call His people to prayer, discerning His priorities and purposes in the world, notably understanding the place of Israel in those purposes.

    • Let Your Church, o Lord cry out to You for a spirit of discernment, for an understanding of what You are doing in the earth.

    • Reveal the centrality of Israel in Your purposes to Your Church throughout the world.

    • Raise up intercessors for Israel, in Israel and from Israel! Place a burden for intercession upon many hearts of Israelis.

    • Make them like, The sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do. (1 Chronicles 12:32)

    • Call older believers to disciple the younger in prayer.

    • Use the many youth conferences and events during the coming weeks to bring Israelis into an understanding about prayer. Root out anything which is a distraction in these gatherings and pour out a real hunger for prayer during this summer.

  8. Aliyah

    Numbers of Jews making Aliyah are up from France and from Ukraine. The new Minister of Interior, Silvan Shalom has declared that he plans to liberalize the Interior Ministry in order to make the process of making Aliyah easier and less bureaucratic.

    • Thank You Lord for the increased numbers making Aliyah from France and Ukraine.

    • Bring more Jews home from the other nations too!

    • Speak to the Jews of America on July 4th. Cause them to question where do they really belong!

    • Cause the yordim (Israelis living abroad - especially in the USA) to feel uncomfortable and recognize their need to return home.

    • Thank You Lord for the declaration of Silvan Shalom. Please hold him to his words to make Aliyah easier.

    • Stir up Chief Rabbis around the world to give the lead to their communities and make Aliyah.

    • For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land.

      Ezekiel 36:24

  9. Fire season

    in recent days there have been outbreaks of forest fires in several locations around Israel. These are caused either by carelessness or deliberately. Either way they are a hindrance to the fulfilment of God's word which says that Israel will be like the garden of Eden.

    • So they will say, This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the wasted, desolate, and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.

      Ezekiel 36:35

    • Thank You for the fruitfulness of this land, especially what You have made it since Your people began to return home.

    • Please in these days watch over Your land and keep us also alert against evil and foolishness to watch over Your land with You.

  10. UK Memorial for Lance Lambert

    This will be on 18th July at Coton Hall in Tamworth as part of the PFI Conference. For further information and directions, please contact PFI at: pfi@prayer4i.org. Lance's family send their greetings and thank you all for your prayers.

The Lord who made heaven and earth bless you from Zion!

Psalm 134:3

Shabbat Shalom from the IFI team