1. Shabbat's torah reading relates the episode of ten spies' negative report on Canaan, frightening most Israelis from entering the Promised Land because of the giants. The prophetic portion tells of the two spies with Rahab of Jericho, and what she said about how the Canaanites really viewed the situation – which was just the opposite to what the Israelis had thought.

    • [Rahab:] I know that YHWH has given you the land. Your terror has fallen on us, and all who live in the land faint because of you. For we heard how YHWH dried up the waters of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt [Note: That was 40 years ago to Rahab!], and what you did to the two Amorite kings on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed [That was much more recent.]. And when we heard these reports, we all became terrified and discouraged because of you. For YHWH your God, He is God in Heaven above and in earth beneath.

      Joshua 2:9-11

    • Lord, You reign both in heaven and on the earth (Psalm 96:10; Matthew 11:25).

    • Hallelujah! You are the same forever. Your essential nature does not change (Malachi 1:6).

    • The name [i.e., essential nature] of YHWH is a strong tower. The righteous run into it and are safe.

      Proverbs 18:10

    • We praise You for being merciful, gracious and compassionate (Exodus 34:6-7).

    • We trust on Your Word which is forever settled in heaven (Psalm 119:89).

    • Bless You for being a God that answers the prayers of His people (Psalm 18:3; John 15:16).

    • We praise You for this truth: You are of God, little children, and you have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)

  2. We asked God to give us wisdom on how to pray about all the giants Israel is faced with in the world today. We first named them.

    • The boycott, divestment and sanctions [BDS] movement; other economic moves against Israel

    • The UN; the EU; the current US administration

    • The left-leaning, liberal, lying main-stream media

    • Humanism; the New World Order and a new world all-inclusive religion

    • The Palestinians and the ever-dead, yet never-dying "peace" process

    • Islam; terrorism; Iran; Islamic State; Hamas; Hizbullah

    • Anti-Semitism; aliyah

    • Lord, help us see how to pray into these "giants" from our position in Messiah Yeshua (Ephesians 1:3).

  3. This is the last weekend of Ramadan, and while Israel has experienced some terrorism, it has been not nearly as bad as what the rest of the world has had to deal with.

    • Lord, comfort the family in Kiryat Arba whose 13 year old daughter was knifed to death in her bed yesterday by a 17 year old Palestinian.

    • Use this tragedy to alert Israel's security forces of the very real threats facing this nation this weekend.

    • We do thank You that most of the attempted attacks in Israel are unsuccessful. Do not fear, for I am with you. Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will make you strong; yes, I will help you; I will uphold you with the right hand of My righteousness. Behold, all who are furious with you shall be ashamed and confounded; they shall be as nothing. And those who fight with you shall perish. (Isaiah 41:10-11)

    • Abba, release a host of angels to protect this nation at this time – especially the Temple Mount.

    • Let them be humbled and put to shame who seek after my soul; let them be turned back and be brought to shame who plot evil to me. Let them be as chaff before the wind, and let the Angel of YHWH drive them away. Let their way be dark and slippery, and let the Angel of YHWH pursue them. For without cause have they spread a net for me in a pit; without cause they have dug for my soul.

      Psalms 35:4-7

    • Confound all those planning attacks against Israel – both now and in the future (Psalm 129:5).

    • Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered; also let those who hate Him flee before Him…Scatter the people who delight in war.

      Psalms 68:1, 30b

    • Aid the general public to be alert but not afraid (Psalm 91:5).

    • Lord God, protect Israel's roads and public transportation system.

    • Quench any spirit of revenge that may try to rest upon Your people, and at the same time, make the government one that does extract Your vengeance on the wicked (Romans 13:3-4).

  4. We prayed for Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Israeli Foreign Ministry to know how to deal with the various international "giants" that rage against God's nation. As of this time, Netanyahu is also Israel's Foreign Minister – although he has appointed several competent folks to aid him.

    • Lord Yeshua, as the government is ultimately upon Your shoulders (Isaiah 9:6-7; Matthew 28:18), we ask You to bring unity to all vital decisions that need to be made.

    • Give wisdom to discern between vital decisions and decisions that do not need to be dealt with now.

    • We bless You for the ability and courage You have given to Netanyahu to speak truth (Psalm 119:43).

    • Smooth the way for excellent working relations between him and the foreign ministry.

    • Make all of those who deal with foreign relations for Israel to be like the children of Issachar, who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do… (1 Chronicles 12:32b)

    • Help Israel's training of younger Israelis to defend this nation via social media be a huge success.

    • Abba, impart an anointing to Israel's leaders to resist with wisdom the EU's anti-Israel leanings.

    • Bring unity to the message that the various Israeli ambassadors declare to the nations.

    • Bless abundantly Danny Danon, at the UN; Ron Dermer, in the US; Mark Regev, in the UK, etc.

    • Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; guard my life from fear of the enemy. Hide me from the secret council of evil-doers, from rebellious workers of iniquity…They encourage themselves in an evil plan; they talk of laying snares secretly…But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly they shall be wounded… [and] confounded…everyone seeing them shall flee, and all shall fear, and declare the work of God; for they shall in wisdom think of His doing. The righteous shall be glad in YHWH, and shall trust in Him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.

      from Psalms 64:1-10

  5. With various nations represented by the intercessors with us today, we asked for God to do the following in certain current events:

    • Lord, wake up the churches in all nations to watch and pray and see how dangerous the times that we are living in have become. But the end of all things has drawn near. Therefore be of sound mind, and watch unto prayer. (1 Peter 4:7)

    • May more believers see the connection between their nations being judged and how their nations touch Your nation – Israel (Zechariah 1:14-15; 2:8; 12:9).

    • In the elections in Australia tomorrow, bring in a government that will maintain that nation's good relations with Israel (Genesis 12:3a).

    • Lord, do not allow UK believers to think this battle over Brexit is won – but while most of them rejoice in the outcome, encourage them to nurture that to full fruition in the near future (2 Kings 13:14-19).

    • Abba, may the UK church have ears to hear who Your choice is to replace Cameron – and then pray for that person to be raised up (Daniel 5:21b).

    • In the US presidential elections – Lord, have mercy and bring forth an administration that will stop trying to divide Your land (Leviticus 25:23; Joel 3:1-2).

  6. Aliyah – the immigration of Jews in exile to Israel – is always a prayer burden because God very specifically says it is ultimately for His glory.

    • Fear not; for I am with you. I will bring your seed from the east, and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Do not keep back; bring My sons from far and My daughters from the ends of the earth; everyone who is called by My name; for I have created him for My glory, I have formed him; yes, I have made him.

      Isaiah 43:5-7

    • I will sanctify My great name, which was profaned among the gentiles, which you have profaned in their midst. And the nations shall know I am YHWH, says the Lord YHWH, when I shall be sanctified in you [Israel] before their eyes. For I will take you from among the gentiles, gather you out of all nations, and will gather you into your own land.

      Ezekiel 36:23-24

    • Abba, there is some type of glue that holds many of Your people in exile. Pour out Your divine anti-glue solvent and released them from their way-too-comfortable captivity (Jeremiah 30:3; 10; 18; 33:7).

    • In line with Jeremiah 16:16, use the rise of the anti-Semitic hunters to drive Your people back to Zion.

    • Lord, make this a summer of massive aliyah – especially from Western nations (Zechariah 8:7).

    • Use the Brexit results to shake up many Jews in London and bring them home.

    • Release the remaining Turkish Jewish community to return to Zion.

    • Release the remaining Iranian Jewish community to return to Zion.

    • Remove from Your people a desire to be a nation like all the rest of the nations (Numbers 23:9b).

    • Abba, prepare Israel – both the government and the people – to receive with open arms all the Jews who want to return (Isaiah 62:10).

    • Lord Yeshua, prepare homes and jobs and schools and transportation and neighbors.

    • But you, O mountains of Israel, you shall put out your branches and yield your fruit to My people Israel; for they have drawn near to come.

      Ezekiel 36:8

    • God, use the US Presidential election season and ultimate result to shake up the Jews in America.

    • Lord, prevent French Jews from being deceived by any periods of safety. Turn their hearts to home.

    • How shall we sing YHWH's song in a foreign land? If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand forget. If I do not remember you, let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth; if I do not prefer Jerusalem above my chief joy.

      Psalms 137:4-6

  7. Israel's overall security situation appears to be better now than in the past. Iraq and Syria are no longer threats. Egypt and Jordan are acting like allies. Israel has a decent relationship with Russia and China and an excellent relationship with India. Yet Iran looms on the horizon and their proxy army, Hizbullah is a very clear and present danger. And America has become an unreliable ally.

    • Lord, aid Israel's military leaders to remain alert, sharp and prepared.

    • Abba, while we do not trust in Israel's army (Psalm 20:7; Proverbs 21:31), yet it is clear that You use Israel's army to defend this nation (Ezekiel 37:10). Therefore, supply it with all it needs to do exactly that.

    • Overrule all of Israel's military deals with other nations – especially this US-Israel Memorandum of Understanding that causes many of us great concerns (Proverbs 21:1).

    • If any deals with any nations are traps, do not allow Israel to sign them (Psalm 124:7-8).

    • Thank You for Netanyahu's good relationship has with Putin – but make him super-cautious as well.

    • Hedge in this just signed restoration of ties with Turkey – and make Israel super-cautious re: Erdogan.

    • Anoint Defense Minister Liberman for this position You have placed him in (Daniel 2:21).

    • Enable him to have an excellent working relationship with Israel's military leadership.

    • Give to all of Israel's responsible leaders wisdom re: the Iranian threat.

    • Expose and confound all of Hizbullah's plans against Israel.

    • If Israel needs to pre-empt, give its leaders courage and wisdom to do just that (Joshua 10:25).

    • Thank You for all the new game-changing weaponry and strategies that You have given to Israel.

    • Anoint Israel's cyber-warfare division to be several steps ahead of the enemy (Isaiah 45:3).

  8. We prayed for the local Israeli Body, which is experiencing growing pains.

    • Thank You for the growing, thriving Israeli Body of Messiah (Acts 3:47).

    • Raise up more intercessors from its midst (Amos 3:7).

    • Guard the gates of this land and prevent any believers from entering in whom You have not invited.

    • Enable us all to grow up into Messiah more and more each day. But that you, speaking the truth in love, may in all things grow up to Him who is the Head, even Messiah; (Ephesians 4:15)

    • Help all believers know what part of the Body You have called them to fulfill (Ephesians 4:16).

    • Impart greater discernment to know what is of You and what is not (1 Thessalonians 5:21; 1 John 4:1).

    • Remind us that we are called to be an organism – not an organization (Romans 12:4-5; Colossians 3:15).

    • Lift the spirit of heaviness from many Israeli believers – especially in leadership positions (Isaiah 61:3).

    • Show us how to fight against this prophesied war – or at least be prepared to endure it: I watched, and that horn made war with the saints and overcame them … And he shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High… (Daniel 7:21, 25a)

    • Renew a deep desire to see the return of Messiah Yeshua in our lifetime (1 John 3:2-3).

Shabbat shalom and blessings from Zion

The IFI team