1. Praise: The following verses from this Shabbat's prophetic portion confront our fears of man.

    • I, even I, am He who comforts you. Why should you be afraid of a man who shall die, or the son of man who shall be made as grass, and forget YHWH your Maker, who has stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth? You have feared constantly every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? And where is the fury of the oppressor?Isa. 51:12-13

    • It is good to be reminded that the love and concern of God casts out all fears (1 John 4:18).

    • Thank You for encouraging us to trust and rest in You in this battle (Ex. 14:13-14).

    • Praise You for giving us the grace and anointing to stand where You have placed us (Isa. 62:6-7).

    • We bless You for the comfort of the Holy Spirit – who is always with us (John 14:16-18).

    • You are our Rock, our stronghold, and our present help in times of trouble (Psa. 46:1).

    • Thank You Lord for constantly showing Yourself to be the ultimate Promise-Keeper (Jer. 1:12).

    • Hallelujah! And again hallelujah! You really do reign over all (Psa. 96:10; 97:1; 99:1; 103:19).

    • We trust in Your overriding authority over all heaven and earth (Matt. 28:18; Eph. 1:22).

    • Shabbat's prophetic portion includes Isaiah 52:7, a biblical truth to keep in mind as we pray for Israel at this time: How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of him that brings good news, that publishes peace… that publishes salvation; that says to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'

  2. The "Abraham Accord" – the Israel-UAE peace treaty – is the headline news in Israel at this time. As with all things related to Israel, there are many opinions on whether this is of God or good or not. Yet since God reigns, whether He has ordained this or allowed this, it was no surprise to Him. Seeking Him on how to pray into this, we were led to thank Him for all the good in this agreement and to ask Him to intervene concerning all those things that seem less than good.

    • Since Israel's restoration is for Your holy name's sake, use this accord for that (Ezek. 36:22-24).

    • Lord, thank You that this treaty destroyed the global lie from 1967, that Israel must trade land for peace and create a Palestinian State or there cannot be peace between Israel and other Arab nations.

    • We bless You for this seemingly genuine warm peace between Israel and UAE's citizens (Ex. 33:4).

    • Abba, as the UAE is willing to bless Israel, send revival to its shores in exchange (Num. 24:9).

    • May all future peace deals with Arab nations also be based on "peace-for-peace" (Rom. 12:18).

    • Protect Israel from all deceitful deals that will position it against Your current purposes (Prov. 16:9).

    • Lord, hinder America from selling F-35 fighter jets to the UAE. [UAE sought to buy F-35s before the deal with Israel. It is one of America's strongest allies in the Gulf. Reports on Netanyahu's current stance are not clear. While the US is committed to keep Israel's QME, qualitative military edge, over all other nations in this region, a sale like this could throw that edge into question.]

    • Regardless, we are so grateful to know that You are Israel's QME (Psa. 20:7-9; 44:4-6).

    • Since this accord has infuriated the Palestinians, the Iranians and Turkey's leaders, this plan must be way better than it first appears (Psa. 109:29)!

    • Protect the UAE from any attempted terror attacks from the above groups (Gen. 12:3a).

    • You have shown once again the hardness of the Palestinians' hearts. Thank You that more Arabs are openly saying the reason for a lack of peace is not the Jewish State – but the Palestinians (Psa. 120:7).

    • Lord, we are upset that the extension of Israeli sovereignty over Judea, Samaria & the Jordan Valley has been suspended – yet we thank You that the word "suspended" is used and not "finished".

    • Bless You that ultimately all the Promised Land will come under Israeli sovereignty as per Your Word (Psa. 105:8-11; Jer. 32:41-44; Ezek. 36:8-11; 2 Cor. 1:20).

    • Please make this "suspension" last only as long as You decree (Psa. 33:10).

    • Deal with the settler leaders who were against Trump's plan because of a potential Palestinian State, who are now furious with Bibi for suspending that which they were against to begin with (Jam. 1:8).

    • God of Israel, Jared Kushner seems to always halt the Trump administration from allowing Israel to possess its biblical possessions (Obad. 1:17). If this is indeed true, deal with him or remove him.

    • If fear of a Biden presidency reinstating US support for the Iran nuclear deal was a major factor in the UAE's decision – allow other Arab nations to quickly follow the UAE (Jer. 51:54).

  3. Government: We are still not sure if Israel will be heading towards new elections. A budget needs to be passed by August 25th and so far there has been no compromise on either side.

    • This verse from Shabbat's Torah portion reveals God's will for Israel's leaders: Judges and officers shall you make in all your gates which YHWH your God gives you throughout your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. (Deut. 16:18)

    • Lord, increase the righteous people in the government and decrease those who are not (Prov. 14:34).

    • Save many of the unrighteous. Make them righteous in Messiah Yeshua (2 Cor. 5:21).

    • Continue to clean out the dross from Israel's leadership (Isa. 1:25-26).

    • We proclaim that the government is on Your shoulders (Isa. 9:6-7). Because of this spiritual truth, we ask You to be the deciding factor as to whether Israel has a budget or new elections.

    • Protect Netanyahu during all the gossip and rumors that surround this UAE deal, and everything else he says or does – or does not say or does not do (Psa. 69:12)!

    • Thank You for his political courage and wisdom (Psa. 80:17).

    • Strengthen and encourage him until it is Your time for him to vacate the prime minister's office.

    • Surround him with trustworthy people and show him the need to delegate (Ex. 18:21-22).

    • Lord, replace the hatred that is so evident between some Israeli politicians with love (Prov. 10:12).

  4. Israeli society – Covid-19: This virus has turned the world upside down. Yet as believers, we know God reigns, so it is amazing to watch Him humbling the whole world by allowing/sending a microscopic creature to get humanity's attention.

    • We still believe that You have a purpose in all this. Please reveal Your purpose to us as specifically as possible so that we can pray for it to be accomplished (Amos 3:7).

    • Lord, we are fed-up with man's plans against this virus. But as wisdom and understanding reside with You, we ask You to download Your plans to Israel's corona-team (Job 12:9-25).

    • Guide Prof. Gamzu as he continues to try and steer Israel through this virus-crisis (Prov. 16:9).

    • Give Israel experts who can decipher the corona statistics expertly (Ezra 8:18).

    • Aid Israel to heed Your will concerning the start of school in September (Phil. 2:13).

    • Guide the authorities to know if Israel should be locked down over the high holydays (Ex. 12:22).

    • Abba, bless and strengthen all medical personnel in Israel and in the rest of world (Matt. 5:5, 7-9).

    • Protect every one of them from discouragement, negativity and heaviness (Isa. 61:3).

    • By Your Spirit, please fill the void in the hearts of those whose loved ones died and they were not able to be in physical contact with them (Psa. 23:4; Matt. 5:4).

    • Show the Body of Messiah that there will be no going back to what was "normal" and then prepare us to walk forward with You into the new "normal" – for Your glory's sake (Isa. 43:9-10; 46:9-10).

    • May all Israelis fulfill this verse during this virus-crisis: This is the generation of them that seek Him – that seek Your face, O [God of] Jacob. Selah. (Psa. 24:6)

  5. Security – Gaza: Hamas and other terrorists groups are attacking Israel with incendiary balloons and rockets. A Jerusalem Post editorial correctly labelled these flying fire bombs as "ecoterrorism"! So where are all the environmental groups, NGO's, and teenagers cursing the older generation for destroying "Mother Earth"? Why is it OK to burn lands and crops belonging to the Jews but not to anyone else?

    • From this Shabbat's Torah portion: For YHWH your God goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you. (Deut. 20:4)

    • Wake up the world to call this as it is – terrorism against humans and nature (Deut. 20:19-20).

    • A warning to those who commit ecoterrorism: …Your wrath has come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that You should reward Your servants the prophets, the saints, and them that fear Your name…and should destroy them which destroy the earth. (Rev. 11:18)

    • Lord, recall our prayers for the Gaza area and answer those that are still valid today (Psa. 18:6).

    • Thank You that there have been no deaths or serious injuries. Allow that to continue (Psa. 64:1).

    • Yet the emotional and mental trauma that these attacks reignite – especially in teens and children – is very distressing. O Lord, heal Your people (Psa. 6:2; Eccl. 3:3).

    • Use the enemy fires to start revival fires among Israelis as they cry out to You (Psa. 50:15).

    • Lead all believers who live in these areas very clearly as to what to say and do (Isa. 30:21).

    • Confront Israel's government with its primary responsibility of protecting its people (Rom. 13:1-4).

    • Confront Defense Minister Benny Gantz who bragged in all the election campaigns that he would know how to bring quiet to this area (Prov. 11:2; 29:23).

    • Lord, release a battalion of warrior angels to protect Israel along the Gaza security fence (Mal. 1:5).

    • Protect all the IDF soldiers stationed there from every spiritual, mental, emotional and physical attack (Psa. 121:3-4).

    • Use the Israeli Navy to defend this nation's seacoasts (1 Kin. 9:26; Psa. 48:7).

    • Give the intelligence services and the Southern Command insight on how to battle the terrorism that comes from Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad – both supported by Iran (Prov. 21:31).

    • Lord, as the UN Security Council wickedly ended the arms embargo against Iran, although the US, Israel and the Arab Gulf nations were united in wanting it to be extended, is it not time to end the UN? (Job 12:16-21; Isa. 40:15-17, 21-24; Dan. 4:35)

  6. Security: The day after Palestinian Authority President Abbas dies, there will be chaos and infighting among all the various Palestinian groups for preeminence. This includes Hamas who already has agents in Judea and Samaria. What should Israel's response be?

    • Lord, use this chaos for Your holy name's sake (Isa. 44:26).

    • May this become the final nail in the coffin of a Palestinian State (Mal. 1:4).

    • Protect all those Palestinians without hatred in their hearts against Israel or the Jews (Jer. 12:14-17).

    • Whatever plans the IDF has, please refine those that are of You, and toss out all others (Prov. 19:21).

  7. Security – Hizbullah & Lebanon: There was a report that the Lebanese government and Hizbullah have agreed to not reveal who was to blame for the Beirut Port explosion, but they will blame Israel instead. Meanwhile, a report in a German newspaper said that Iran shipped the tons of ammonia nitrate to Hizbullah years ago and it has been sitting in the port until it exploded.

    • Lord, intensify the destructive whirlwinds that are causing havoc in all areas of Lebanese society until Hizbullah is flung out totally and completely (Jer. 30:23-24).

    • Let some courageous Lebanese patriots reveal the true culprits behind this disaster (Job 12:22).

    • Protect those Lebanese who are protesting against the government and Hizbullah (Ex. 3:7).

    • As Lebanon needs new elections, create new parties who are committed to doing things differently, including not seeing Israel as an enemy state (Isa. 29:17).

    • Block all finances from any nation earmarked for Lebanon which will end up in Hizbullah's hands.

    • Dry up all finances from Iran to Hizbullah (2 Kin. 18:8; Isa. 14:30-31).

    • Expose and dry up all of Hizbullah's worldwide illegal drug trade (Rev. 18:13b).

    • Expose and destroy all of Hizbullah's rocket and ammunition depots (Psa. 29:5; Isa. 10:33-34).

    • Anoint Israelis who are directing its satellites to know exactly where to point them (Psa. 32:8-9).

    • Forbid any Hizbullah plans from escaping Israel's intelligence services (Isa. 48:6).

    • Send "divine caffeine" to keep all IDF soldiers on the northern border alert (Isa. 52:8; Jer. 51:2).

    • And when they are off duty, give them every bit of sleep that they need (Psa. 127:2b).

  8. Aliyah: While Jews are still coming home, no one is sure if the momentum caused by Covid-19, the street riots and the explosion of anti-Semitism will fade out or whether the Jews will still see the deadly dangers surrounding them in exile.

    • Thank You for all the Jews who have returned to Israel this year – even while knowing that they will need to be quarantined for a while (Zech. 8:7-8).

    • Lord, increase air flights – especially from the US where the demand to return has skyrocketed.

    • Abba, create new ways for the Jews to return (Isa. 60:8-9).

    • If ships are going to be used, arrange all connections today for tomorrow's sailings (Isa. 43:16).

    • Continue to use non-Jewish believers in Messiah to aid Your people to return (Isa. 49:22).

    • Lord, keep the doors in Israel wide open to receive all the Jews who want to return (Isa. 60:11).

    • Remove the rabbinic strongholds that hinder certain types of Jews from living in Israel (Isa. 62:10).

  9. Salvation: We prayed that this verse from Shabbat's Torah portion will become a topic of deep study and revelation among many Jewish families at this time.

    • I will raise up a Prophet for them from among their brethren… And I will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. And it shall come to pass, that whoever will not heed My words which He shall speak in My name, I will require it of him. (Deut. 18:18-19)

    • Lord Yeshua, You were called "that Prophet" often in the New Testament. Open up the eyes of Your people to see You as the One whom God told Moses about (Matt. 13:57; 21:11; Luke 7:16; 24:19; John 6:14; 7:40; Acts 3:22-23).

    • Do not allow these verses to return to You empty; use them for Your glory (Isa. 55:11).

    • Abba, is it not time to reveal Your Son to Your people in an even greater way (Rom. 11:26)?

Shabbat shalom and blessings from Zion

For the IFI team