1. Praise: This Shabbat's prophetic portion ends with a word for this season of global concern over the coronavirus. Those of us who trust Him are grateful for His amazing grace that has drawn us and showed us that there is nothing in and of ourselves over which we can boast.

    • Thus says YHWH, Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor let the mighty man boast in his might; let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him that boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, for I am YHWH that makes covenant-love, justice, and righteousness, in the earth; for in these things I delight, says YHWH.Jer. 9:23-24

    • Lord, we boast/glory in You because You are the only wise God (1 Tim. 1:17).

    • Thank You that nothing – not even this coronavirus – takes You by surprise (Rev. 22:13).

    • We are humbled as how frail our life on earth is – yet are thrilled at the prospect of spending eternity in Your presence (Eccl. 1:2; Isa. 57:15).

    • Thank You Lord for encouraging us to trust in You with all our hearts, and not to depend on our own understanding (Prov. 3:5).

    • Who shall separate us from the love of Messiah? Shall tribulation, or distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, or peril, or the sword? …No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, angels, principalities, powers, things present, or things to come, height, depth, or any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Messiah Yeshua our Lord.Rom. 8:35, 37-39

  2. New Government: Has been a breakthrough with a unity government in the works? As of this the answer is yes and no, as the reports on the negotiations and the people who might get ministry positions are worrying. It can be frustrating to understand that an intercessors job is really never done, but that God does not let us rest on successful answers to prayer for any length of time. May He give us grace to run this intercessory race and be faithful prayer warriors up to His return (Luke 18:1, 8).

    • Lord, thank You for telling us at January's prayer conference to "Stay the course" (Heb. 12:1).

    • We do thank You for the suddenness with which the government's situation changed (Isa. 48:3).

    • Watch over our prayers for a government in line with Your prophetic will at this time (1 Tim. 2:1-4).

    • Bring down the pride of flesh and be exalted in the formation of this new government (Prov. 29:23). 

    • Continue to remove the dross and give us a government in right standing with You (Isa. 1:25-26).

    • Thank You that the Arab Joint List is not leading the opposition (Psa. 6:10).

    • Thank You that Avigdor Liberman is not in the government (Neh. 5:13).

    • Praise You that it seems that Bibi Netanyahu will be prime minister until Sept. 2021 (Dan. 2:21).

    • As he and Blue & White's Benny Gantz negotiate a "unity" government, hold back Netanyahu from compromising on any issue that is vital for Israel today (Psa. 15:4b).

    • Do not allow Bibi to turn on his right-wing allies who have stood with him the last three elections.

    • We hold up his arms to You and ask You to not allow him to be weary in doing well (Gal. 6:9).

    • Block all of Gantz's plans to turn the new government toward a leftist, humanistic bend (Prov. 16:9).

    • Forbid that the next government says "no" to US President Trump's peace plan which gives Israel sovereignty to 30% more of Judea and Samaria (Deut. 7:22).

    • Lord, make this issue of annexation of Your land a red-line for Bibi and his allies (Lev. 25:23).

    • Allow the handing out of ministry portfolios to be done in righteousness (Prov. 14:33).

    • Give Israel a finance minister who can steer the economy through the current global storm.

    • Give Israel a defense minister who will work in unity with IDF Chief Kochavi and have wisdom from above on how this nation needs to be defended at this time (Psa. 20:7; Prov. 21:31).

    • Give Israel a foreign minister who will continue the successful policies of Bibi (Mic. 4:2b).

    • Provide a justice minister who will have the courage to stand against the High Court's attempts to run this nation by their say-so as opposed to by the say-so of the Israeli elected officials (John 7:24).

    • If Yuli Edelstein is not to be restored to the position of Knesset Speaker, give Israel someone as righteous and honorable as he was.

  3. Israel's war against the coronavirus: The percentage of Israelis infected compared to the number who die is below the average for the rest of the world. For that we bless and thank God. One problem group is the ultra-Orthodox – the Haredi – most of who do not read the news and who obey and trust their rabbis more than governmental authorities. While most of these rabbis believe in all sorts of strange Kabbalistic mysticism, still they are part of that "all Israel" who will be saved.

    • And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, and who are the called according to His purpose. (Rom. 8:28) Lord, as Israel is most definitely "called", use this plague for their good and for Your glory.

    • [According to the Deep Knowledge Website, Israel ranks #1 in Corona health safety!] We thank You Lord for guiding Bibi and Israel's medical professionals at this time (Psa. 23:3-4).

    • Provide medical experts who have no political agendas to advise the government (Job 32:8).

    • Protect and provide for all the medical personnel who are in direct contact with patients (Job 5:19).

    • God, speak to the rabbis so that they instruct their communities to heed the government's warnings and keep its guidelines which are meant to keep them safe (Rom. 13:1-4).

    • Give the government wisdom on how to communicate and cooperate with the Haredi today.

    • As many Haredi live in small houses with large families, have mercy on them (Prov. 14:31).

    • Yeshua, You have over the centuries revealed Yourself to many in this very insular community. Do it again today with an increasing frequency and urgency (Psa. 80:3, 7, 19).

    • Lord, the Arab community is in a similar situation, yet there is a remnant among both these groups. Therefore, we ask that You would save them at this time for Your holy name's sake (Isa. 37:31-32).

    • Please send comfort to all family members and friends of those who have died (Isa. 61:2b-3).

    • Protect Israel's leaders from being sidelined out by this affliction.

  4. Economy: Which is more important – the health or the economy of a nation? This is a trick question because without health, people cannot work, yet without finances the health of a nation cannot be maintained. This is the conundrum most nations are dealing with now.

    • Lord, only You can set the right priorities of this nation. We specifically ask that You do that. For YHWH is our judge, YHWH is our lawgiver, YHWH is our king; He will save us. (Isa. 33:22)

    • We recall how You often said You would do better for this nation at the end than at its beginning. This would be a great time for that to come to pass in the area of finances (Jer. 32:42; Ezek. 36:11).

    • Enable the finance ministry to have experts with godly wisdom who are not lovers of money.

    • Provide Your ideas to bring the right balance between the health and the economy (Prov. 16:1, 9).

    • Give wisdom to companies who have been hit very heard by the national shut-down – to know how to recovery when the time is right – the tour companies, hotels, etc.

    • Lord, hear our prayers as incense rising before Your throne (Num. 16:46-47).

  5. Security: The IDF continues to inform Israelis that while the current virus war has impacted Israel's enemies, our army has not dropped its guard. Hallelujah! Being encouraged, we continue to pray for Israelis to be protected from their enemies so that all Israel can be alive to be saved!

    • With the IDF being somewhat double minded – fighting Israel's human and viral enemies – we look to You who always watches over this nation to continue to do so (Psa. 121:4).

    • Uncover all outside threats that the IDF may be missing at this time (Job 12:22).

    • Provide total protection and divine wisdom for all of Israel's intelligence services and its spies and collaborators – including protection against the coronavirus (Psa. 61:3).

    • Protect Your people living in Judea and Samaria and the areas surrounding Jerusalem (Jer. 31:10).

    • Thank You that the battle against coronavirus forced Hamas to call off the restart of their 'March of Return" violent demonstrations along the Gaza security fence.

    • Lord, give Israel wisdom to know how to respond as there are indications that it this virus breaks out in a big way in Gaza, the UN and many nations will blame Israel (Psa. 124:1-8)!

    • Lord, as Iran has been hit very hard, in so many areas, we need You to uncover exactly what their demon-driven leaders are planning (Dan. 2:47).

    • Raise up in the IDF people who understand the apocalyptic Shi'ite theology that Iran's current leaders believe in.

    • Prepare the IDF to be ready for an all-out attack by Iran against Israel (Mic. 4:11-13).

    • Do not allow any important intelligence to be missed by the IDF analysts (2 kin. 6:17).

    • Protect Israel's entire cyberspace and enable its cyberwarfare to be raised up several notches for just a time like this .

    • Speak to our brothers and sisters in Messiah in all the surrounding nations to know how to pray, what to say and where to stay at just this time (Psa. 95:7; John 10:27).

  6. Passover is coming: Yet Jewish families throughout the world will not be able to gather with their loved ones as in previous years. Some will do this over the internet, but virtual hugs just don't do it for Jews – or for most other people! That makes this a wonderful time for the Messiah to come in and make Himself known at the breaking of bread, the matzah (Luke 24:30-31).

    • We bless You that there are more Jews who are saved this year than last year as we know You are a God that answers all prayers that are in line with Your will (1 John 5:14-15).

    • Yeshua, You are the anti-type of the lamb that was the Passover in Exodus 12. We pray for the truth of the lamb as central to the whole Passover story to be rediscovered today (Ex. 12:5-7, 11, 21, 27).

    • Touch Your people as this night will be different from all other nights because so many of them will be either alone or with just one or two others.

    • By Your Spirit, visit all those who will need to celebrate this feast alone (Judg. 6:11).

    • Abba, reveal Your Son to Holocaust survivors before they go to their eternal destiny (John 6:44).

    • Give Messianic Jews at the Seder an open door and boldness to share their faith (Mark 8:38).

    • With less people at the tables, let the children ask very pointed questions (Matt. 21:16).

    • When the door is opened for Elijah, Lord Yeshua be standing there (Rev. 3:20)!

  7. Aliyah: Many Jews had to cancel plans to be in Israel during this feast.

    • As Jews in exile look around at their fragile situation, may they say "Next year in Jerusalem" with a renewed conviction that that is really where they and their families need to be (Deut. 30:4-5).

    • Bring Psalms 137:4 to their minds: How shall we sing YHWH's song in a strange land?

    • Lord, before it is too late, let them flee Babylon (Zech. 2:6-7).

    • Use the rising anti-Semitism, especially as it once again Jews are being blamed for the plague – today it is coronavirus – show Jews in exile that nothing has changed in man's heart (Jer. 17:9).

    • Make the many Israelis who live outside of this nation very homesick at this season.

    • We thank You for the more than 900 Jews who did come home during March (Isa. 43:5-7).

  8. Water: This rainy season has been a blessing. The Sea of Galilee is less than 30 centimeters from being full, and most likely Israel's aquifers are full as well.

    • Lord, thank You for this blessing from heaven You have given Your land at this time (Deut. 28:12).

    • Allow those who are in charge of the Water Authority to have Your wisdom to know how to handle this blessing (Psa. 65:9-13; Prov. 1:5).

    • Historically the rainfall has been linked with the aliyah, so if this is a sign of a huge influx of Jews to return shortly, give Israel wisdom to have all the water resources it will need for that.

    • When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue fails for thirst, I YHWH will hear them; I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers in high places, fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water …That they may see, and know, consider, and understand, that the hand of YHWH has done this, and the Holy One of Israel has created it.Isa. 41:17-18, 20

  9. Body of Messiah in Israel and worldwide:

    • Lord Yeshua, we confess with great joy that You are in control since all power in heaven and earth has already been given to You (Dan. 7:13-14; cp. Matt. 28:18).

    • If You are speaking something specific to us at this time, open our ears to hear (1 Sam. 3:10).

    • Impart to Your Body the discernment to spot and reject any and all false prophetic voices that are speaking to it today (Matt. 24:4-5, 11, 23-24).

Shabbat shalom, hag Pesach sameach, and blessings from Zion,
The IFI team