1. Praise: This Shabbat's prophetic portion is Isaiah 66. This past week Israel observed Holocaust & Martyrs Day and this next week is Memorial Day for the IDF's fallen soldiers and Israel's terror victims, immediately followed by Independence Day. Some verses in Isaiah 66 speak into this.

    • As one whom his mother comforts, so will I comfort you…in Jerusalem.Isa. 66:13

    • Thank You God that many Holocaust survivors saw the rebirth of this nation and have received some comfort by living here (Isa. 40:1-2).

    • We also bless You for the Holocaust survivors who have come to faith in Messiah (Rom. 11:26).

    • Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth…bring forth in one day? Shall a nation be born at once? As soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.Isa. 66:8

    • We praise You. You watched over Your Word and used the UN to "birth" Israel in one day in 1947.

    • What a miracle that Israel rose as a nation again at its weakest point in history (Isa. 33:23).

    • You truly have – and still do – use the weak to confound the wise (1 Cor. 1:27).

    • Whether it was the Holocaust or today's war against Covid-19, ultimately, You are in control. How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of him that brings good tidings; that publishes peace… that publishes salvation; that says unto Zion, 'Your God reigns'! (Isa. 52:7)

    • We are blessed by the revelation of Your faithfulness – even in the face of our doubts (2 Tim. 2:13).

    [Please note: While IFI tries to be as accurate as possible in introducing the prayer topics, here in Israel things can change so rapidly that by the time you read the alert, some prayers might have already been answered or are no longer valid. Only God knows and we try to listen to His voice to communicate to you the most biblically correct way to pray for Israel today.]

  2. Government: This week an emergency unity government was finally signed between PM Bibi Netanyahu's Likud and Benny Gantz's Blue & White parties. We have prayed that if a unity government was not His will, it would not happen, and there are still various legal hurdles in the way of this becoming a reality. Yet as of now, while no one, including IFI, is totally happy with the results, we press on to pray for a government based on what we see is God's will for Israel today. And with all those hurdles to be dealt with, it might be another two to three weeks before this deal can be finalized. Also, there are several cases before the Supreme Court to stop Bibi from continuing as prime minister because he is under indictment – although so far, no wrong-doing on his part has been proved.

    • If it were not for the truth that the government is already on Your shoulders, the situation would be very nerve-wracking. Yet, hallelujah, it is on Your shoulders and You do reign (Isa. 9:6-7; 52:7).

    • In all of this, we trust in Your sovereignty and dare not lean on our own understanding (Prov. 3:5).

    • Lord, if this arrangement is Your will, remove all the legal issues and allow any new laws that need to be passed to be passed quickly (Prov. 8:20).

    • These last 17 months have exposed rottenness in the whole process of elections in Israel. We ask You to move on it and refine it as soon as possible (Mal. 3:3).

    • Continue to purge out the dross from Israel's Parliament/Knesset (Isa. 1:25).

    • Lord, give the new government the courage and vision to annex more of Israel's homeland in Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valley – in spite of worldwide and Palestinian opposition (Josh. 18:3).

    • Use the new government to halt the unrighteous overreach of the Israeli High Court which is ruling in areas that they have no legal or moral right to deal with (Isa. 1:26).

    • We lift up both Bibi and Benny, asking You to visit and strengthen and save them (Psa. 80:17).

    • Surround them both with wise counsel and godly counselors (Prov. 11:14; 15:22).

    • Guard them mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually (Psa. 91:11).

    • Cleanse these men from all their ways that are not pleasing to You (Prov. 16:7).

    • Enable them to work together for the benefit of this nation (2 Chr. 35:3b; Ezek. 48:19).

    • As the first six months of the government is devoted to dealing with the coronavirus and economic crises, use this time to work out a godly unity among these leaders and their parties (Ezek. 37:22).

    • Guide the handing out of ministry portfolios to those You have chosen (Psa. 75:6-7; Luke 1:52).

    • Continue to lead us very specifically as we pray for this new government (Amos 3:7).

  3. Coronavirus & Israel: As with the rest of the world, Israel is in that grey area of wanting to restart its economy yet is not sure how quickly or how many of its restrictions should be lifted.

    • Again, we bless and thank You for the miraculous protection You have provided for Israel during this virus crisis (Ex. 8:22; 9:26).

    • As Israel removes restrictions, we plead for Your mercy to guard over this nation (Lam. 3:22-23).

    • Lord, guide the government to know exactly when and how to release the restrictions (Psa. 31:15a).

    • Give wisdom on regulations to be imposed this coming week on Memorial and Independence days.

    • Also, impart grace to communicate clear instructions to Israel's Muslim community concerning restrictions during Ramadan which starts today [April 24th] (1 Cor. 14:8).

    • Help the health and economic ministers to work together and to listen to each other (Prov. 18:13).

    • Show Israelis how to be responsible whether there are governmental restrictions or not (Lev. 19:18).

    • Lord, impart Your wisdom to Israeli doctors and researchers on how to defeat this virus (Prov. 8:14).

    • Guide believers by You Spirit to be a light to this nation at this time (Phil. 2:14-15).

  4. Economic recovery: Pulling Israel's economy out of the hole that the war against coronavirus dug for it will be hard – but not impossible. What is needed is a miraculous doing away of so much Israeli red-tape and of all the political games that will invariably accompany this.

    • Thank You that Israel entered this battle with a very strong economy (Deut. 28:12).

    • Give courage to the new government to make the hard fiscal decisions that will bring Israel out of this rough economic situation in a way that brings You the glory (Psa. 115:1-3).

    • Enable the new government to pass a righteous budget quickly (2 Chr. 29:36).

    • Since the process to release Israelis from lockdown must be gradual, let the government very clearly communicate with the people the reasons for its decisions, so as to impart hope (Job 14:7).

    • Move upon whoever the new Finance Minister will be to reject all political games and to do what is needed for the people (Neh. 13:10-11).

    • Make this time of slowly reopening businesses very successful (Ex. 23:29-30).

    • Raise up politicians and other influential people to defend the Israeli public against all Israeli bank and big business greed (Prov. 14:31).

    • Anoint the head of the Bank of Israel to be part of the solution and not part of the problem.

    • Show wealthy Israelis that now is the time to have mercy and compassion on the poor (Jam. 5:1-6).

    • Decrease the ranks of the unemployed quickly (Deut. 28:8, 11)

    • Abba, move on those Israelis who were reluctant, or too proud, to do certain jobs, to now do them so that less of Israel's economy will depend on Palestinian workers (Deut. 24:19; Isa. 65:22).

    • Lord, You have seen how merciful and generous Israel has been to many nations if there is a disaster and in developing life-saving inventions, etc. Let this nation now reap what is has sown (Gal. 6:7).

    • Cast your bread upon the face of the waters, for you shall find it after many days.Eccl. 11:1

    • Help the Israeli airlines to know how to restart and how to keep their passengers healthy (Isa. 60:8).

    • Also, as soon as possible, resurrect Israel's tourism industry (Ezek. 36:33-36).

    • At this time, speak to Your Body about its priorities when it comes to finances (Matt. 6:19-22).

  5. Israel & China: Israel's has a decent relationship with China. While for many in the West today China is the enemy, Israel has ties with it just like it has ties with Russia – that other enemy. Many in the West are upset by these ties, but considering how most EU nations deal with Israel… Still, this can be a dangerous relationship and therefore we should pray about it.

    • Lord, protect Israel from all of the Chinese government's manipulations (Num. 23:23).

    • Assign experts to review Israel's relations with China to see if there are any dangers (Psa. 118:8-9).

    • If there are security breaches, show Israel how to quickly plug them up (Neh. 4:7).

    • Forbid Chinese money from entrapping Israel's government or its businessmen (1 Tim. 6:10).

    • Strengthen the relationship between the Chinese people and Israelis (Isa. 60:1-3).

    • Protect and anoint the Chinese Church to know how to pray and evangelize (Mark 6:7).

    • Drive out all anti-Jewish/anti-Zionist spirits from our Chinese brothers and sisters (Num. 24:9b).

  6. Security – internal: Both Hamas in Gaza and the Palestinian Authority in Judea and Samaria have openly accused Israel of spreading the coronavirus on purpose among their people. Yet they are asking for Israel to send them aid to fight Covid-19, or else!

    • All current Palestinian leaders have repeatedly cursed Israel. Lord, arise (Gen. 12:3a)!

    • You said to bless those who curse us (Matt. 5:44). We bless these evil leaders with a revelation of how all of their demonic plans have failed (Psa. 33:10-11).

    • Also, Lord, send Your fear into their hearts. And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries, when they had heard that YHWH fought against the enemies of Israel. (2 Chr. 20:29)

    • Abba, be merciful on the common Palestinians by scattering Your enemies, their leaders (Psa. 68:1).

    • Forbid any prisoner exchange between Hamas and Israel not in line with Your will (Psa. 33:10-11).

    • Protect and anoint all genuine believers in Yeshua among the Palestinians (Matt. 16:18).

    • Cleanse the Palestinian Church from any anti-Semitic and anti-Zionistic spirits (Rom. 11:18).

    • As we enter the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, save many Palestinian Muslims (Rom. 1:16).

  7. Security – external: Israel is continuing to attack Iranian attempts to supply Hizbullah with upgraded rockets and missiles via Syrian territory. It is also conducting other missions that are not widely known to hinder its enemies' plans to destroy this nation. A dangerous development is this past week's successful launch of a military satellite by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp, which is another step to Iran having the capability to launch a nuclear warhead on an ICBM.

    • Thank You that now, with Israel's new government, not every IDF attack or mission will be seen through the filter of political expedience.

    • As Gantz is the new defense minister, use his time as the IDF Chief of Staff – both his good and bad decisions – to make him an excellent defense minister at this time (Psa. 75:6-7).

    • Draw Bibi, Benny and Aviv Kochavi, the current IDF Chief of Staff, into a God-created unity when it comes to defending this nation (Eccl. 4:9-12).

    • May this new trio come up with clear rules of engagement for the soldiers in the field (Matt. 5:37).

    • Lord of heaven's armies, please direct the IDF in its split roles of defending Israel from its enemies, as well as assisting to organize Israel's internal fight against the coronavirus (Psa. 9:6-9).

    • Continue to watch over Israel's intelligence services (Psa. 121:1-8; Dan. 2:22).

    • Do not allow them to miss anything important in the information overload that they must deal with.

    • Concerning Iran, we again ask You to confound Israel's enemies (Psa. 129:5).

    • Let the arrogant pride of its current leadership cause these leaders to fall (Prov. 16:18; 17:19).

    • Give Israel wisdom and courage to know if it needs to pre-empt Iran's nuclear arsenal (2 Chr. 32:7).

    • Protect Israel's Air Force as it protects Your land and people (Isa. 31:5).

    • Use Israel's Navy to protect the coasts and its oil rigs in the Mediterranean (Psa. 107:23-31).

    • Guide the placement of every one of Israel's submarines, and keep them hidden (Psa. 143:9).

  8. Aliyah, anti-Semitism & coronavirus: There are rumors and also articles being written that once this phase of the coronavirus is over, and international travel is restored, Israel needs to prepare for a huge aliyah – with many Jews returning from exile. Is it possible that this virus is one of those hunters which God has released to chase His people back home (Jer. 16:16)?

    • Thank You Lord for linking Your glory to the ingathering of Your scattered nation (Isa. 43:5-7).

    • As this return is specifically for Your holy name's sake and not because the Jews have repented or live holy lives, we implore You to increase this return at this season (Ezek. 36:22-24).

    • Prepare the Jews in the West to transplant their lives and not their lifestyle (Jer. 50:4-5).

    • Use the changes occurring now in world because of the pandemic to destroy the Jewish people's false sense of comfort and security in exile (Zech. 10:8-12).

    • Use the changes that will come to convince the Jews that Israel is better than exile (Jer. 31:10).

    • Remove from all Jews in exile the anti-biblical concept of trying to heal Babylon (Jer. 51:9-10).

    • As the spirit of anti-Semitism uses the virus to heap blame on the Jews and on the nation of Israel – wake up the Jews in captivity to realize that there is nothing new under the sun (Eccl. 1:9).

    • Make the new government as zealous as You are to gather in the outcasts of Israel (Zech. 8:1-8).

Shabbat shalom and blessings from Zion,

The IFI team

(Zeph. 3:14-20)