This evening at sundown the biblical feast of Passover begins. It is one of – if not the – oldest religious holyday still celebrated today (Exodus 12:14). The remembrance of what God did to set the children of Israel free from slavery and bondage so that they could serve Him is a joyous family time for multitudes of Jews in Israel and outside. And it is awesome to recall that the original Passover was the lamb!
Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year…You shall keep it until the 14th day of [Nissan], and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it [before sunset]. And they shall take of the blood and strike on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses where they shall eat it…And you shall eat it with your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand, and in haste. It is YHWH's passover.
Exodus 12:5-7, 11Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel and said, '…take a lamb for yourselves according to your families, and kill the passover'.
Exodus 12:21And it will be, when your sons shall say to you, What is this…? then you shall say, It is the sacrifice of YHWH's passover, who passed over the houses of the sons of Israel in Egypt, when He struck the Egyptians and delivered our houses. And the people bowed and worshiped.
Exodus 12:26-27Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
John 1:29We praise You Yeshua for being the ultimate fulfillment of the Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7b).
Abba, You provided the Lamb for us even before the world was created (Revelation 13:8).
I will sing unto YHWH, for He has triumphed gloriously…
Exodus 15:1
Yesterday, Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu met with Russian President Putin to discuss a number of issues – including Iran, Syria and Hizbullah. While we are grateful for the open and respectful relationship between these two leaders and their militaries, still this needs to be covered in prayer as Russia's reentry into the Middle East can be very dangerous.`
Lord, we thank You for giving Netanyahu and Putin a good relationship at this time (Proverbs 21:1).
It is amazing to see that Russia's leader is more trusted by Israelis than any leader in the West. What, if anything, are You saying to us (1 Samuel 3:9)?
Also, speak clearly to Your Body in Russia to know how to pray into this (John 10:27).
Abba, we are aware of a pervasive anti-Semitic spirit that runs throughout Russian society. Do not allow that to spring up in its current leaders and ambush Israel.
Lord Yeshua, deliver our Russian sisters and brothers from this spirit – and give them a love for Zion.
Impart wisdom to Netanyahu and his security team to know how to deal with the Russian "bear".
Thank You for giving Israel continued freedom to act in Syria according to its own security needs, and apparently in coordination with Russia.
Last Sunday, as the Israeli cabinet held its weekly meeting on the Golan Heights, Netanyahu said openly that the Golan is part of Israel – and will never be given up. While the world blasted him for this, God was pleased. The Golan – ancient Bashan – was given by God to Israel under Moses' leadership and was settled by the half-tribe of Manasseh (Numbers 32:33). So it is part of the Promised Land and we say "amen" to Bibi's declaration.
Thank You for giving Netanyahu the courage to openly state this (Psalm 80:17).
We are so grateful that You restored the Golan to Israel in 1967.
Although there is no Syria today to whom Israel could even consider giving it back to – we ask for You to prepare Israel's leaders for whatever the future may hold concerning the Golan.
Hinder any schemes to divide Your land (Leviticus 25:23; Joel 3:1-2).
Continue to bless the residents in the Golan, and bless the ground with abundant fruitfulness.
Lord, settle more of Your people there.
Abba, You have a divine appointment with Your people on the Golan. Do not allow anything to thwart it.
I will bring Israel again to his home, and he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan [Golan], and his soul shall be satisfied upon mount Ephraim and Gilead. In those days…says YHWH, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for – and none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I leave as a remnant.
(Jeremiah 50:19-20)
The IDF tries to release as many soldiers as possible to spend the holydays with family, yet many will need to stand guard over this nation during this time. This is one of the hardest tasks for our young men and women, yet it is absolutely essential.
Lord, thank You for the IDF, this
an exceedingly great army
which You have made (Ezekiel 37:10).Please do not allow the feelings of being apart from the family during this time cause these soldiers to lower their alertness level.
May the IDF Passover meals being held on the bases to be a real blessing and comfort to them.
Make it an opportunity for Messianic soldiers to share their life in Messiah Yeshua (Matthew 5:13-16).
Lord of heaven's armies, please aid the IDF to defend this nation today (Psalm 121:4; Jeremiah 31:10).
You are my King, God: command victories for Jacob. Through You we will push down our enemies: through Your name we will tread them under that rise up against us. For we will not trust in our bow, neither shall our sword save us. But You have saved us from our enemies, and put to shame them that hated us. In God we boast all the day long, and praise Your name forever. Selah.
Psalms 44:4-8
The French are planning to hold an international peace conference with all possible participants – except for Israel and the Palestinians. Yes, you read that right. The world is so fed up with Israel not being willing to roll over and die, that they are going to impose their "solution" to this problem, creating a Palestine on God's land that He has given to His people, for His glory. This spells disaster – for the world!
For, behold, in those days…when I shall bring again the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and bring them down into the valley of Yehoshaphat [YHWH is Judge], and will plead with them there for My people and for My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and divided My land.
Joel 3:1-2Lord, have mercy. Overturn the satanic lie that the "two-state solution" is the only solution there is.
We agree with Your divine decree concerning the land of Israel: This is Your land (Ezekiel 36:5, 20), that You have given to Your people (Genesis 15:18; Ezekiel 36:8, 28), for Your holy name's sake (Ezekiel 36:22-23; Malachi 1:5).
Abba, hedge in this current arrogant – yet so blind – French government (Psalm 12:3).
Lord Yeshua, You see how many in the West are willing to sacrifice Israel on the altar of Islam. Open their eyes to reality: the West is Islam's ultimate target and Israel stands in the gap against Islam.
Prohibit Israel from ever again giving up parts of Your land voluntarily (Leviticus 25:23).
Lord, aid Israel's leaders to know when to speak and when to be silent.
Stand still and see the salvation of YHWH…YHWH shall fight for you, and you shall be silent.
(Exodus 14:13a-14).
Passover is a wonderful time to prayer for aliyah – the immigration of Jews in exile to Israel. At the Passover Seder meal, Jews will read about the first aliyah, when God brought us out of Egypt and after a delay – into the land of promise. And at the end of all the readings, Jews will proclaim, "Next year in Jerusalem." Those of us, who already live here, tend to say, "This year – and the next – in Jerusalem!"
God, we thank You for the increase in Western aliyah – yet there are still millions of Jews who need to come home (Isaiah 43:5-7).
Pour out a holy "homesickness" upon many Jews during this Passover/Unleavened Bread season.
Abba, we specifically ask for more Jews to return from Europe – especially France, Belgium, the UK and Germany – and from North America.
Thank You for all the Jews in other places who are just waiting for Israel to carry them back home: in Ethiopian, Uganda, India, Ukraine, etc.
Make Israelis living outside Israel homesick – for family, decent hummus, and honking car horns!
Lord, watch over Your Word and perform it today:
Therefore, behold, the days come, says YHWH, that it shall no more be said, YHWH lives who brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt, but YHWH lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands where He had scattered them, and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers. Behold, I will send for many fishers, says YHWH and they shall fish them; and after I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.
(Jeremiah 16:14-16)
A recent survey said better than 90% of all Jewish Israelis attend a Passover Seder. This is one of the best times for a true revelation of the centrality of the Lamb and His identity. Please pray will much faith for many Jews to come to salvation during this season.
Lord, as it is written that all Israel will be saved (Romans 11:26), and since You said that whatever we prayed in live with Your will, we can be confident that You will hear (1 John 5:14-15), that is, listen with an intent to do it, we boldly ask You for multitudes of Your people to see Yeshua as the Lamb of God tonight and during the rest of this week of Unleavened Bread [Matzah].
Sing with gladness for Jacob, shout among the chief of the nations, publish, praise, and say, O YHWH, save Your people, the remnant of Israel.
Jeremiah 31:7Give all Messianic Jews opportunity to share the hope that is within us (1 Peter 3:15; Psalm 51:15).
May the children ask some very pointed questions (Matthew 21:16).
Lord Yeshua, please reveal Yourself to the unsaved loved ones of Messianic Jews (Acts 16:31).
Save Israelis outside of Israel – and then bring them home with a great new message of redemption.
We have recently asked the Lord to show us if all the plans of the nations against Israel is part of His plan to truly make Israel a nation that is not counted among other nations (Numbers 23:9). And this does seem to be happening – especially with the Western nations – very quickly.
Lord, if "this is that", then teach us how to pray about it.
Help Israel look to You and You alone and not to the nations.
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills. Where shall my help come from? My help comes from YHWH, which made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved. He that keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He that keeps/guards Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
(Psalms 121:1-4)We thank You for all the help Israel has received from many nations – but is it not time to wean Your people away from all man-made ties and to strengthen their ties with You? (Psalm 20:7-9; 147:19-20).
Prevent PM Netanyahu from putting his trust in any man (Proverbs 29:25).
Deliver Israel's leaders from the addiction of receiving favor from man (Psalm 56:11; 118:8; 146:3).
Open their eyes to see that the US, the EU and the UN are no longer reliable "friends", and help them to deal with this new reality (Ezekiel 29:6-7).
Bless the non-Western nations who are now open about their relationships with Israel – India, China, Singapore, and many African nations – but do not let Israel put its trust in any of them (2 Samuel 22:31).
We specifically prayed for God to hedge in US President Obama and his administration for his final eight plus months in office. He said he would widen the gap between Israel and America, and he has succeeded. Please ask God to overrule all Obama's devious plans against Netanyahu and Israel.
We ended by praying into the Iranian threat. Please see previous prayer alerts for helpful prayer points in this dangerous situation.
Shabbat shalom and hag Pesach sameach, Blessings from the IFI team