1. Praise: Israel and the true Church are under attack – including being cursed by the world's system and satanic agents. This verse from Shabbat's Torah portion can bring us comfort and faith.

    • Nevertheless YHWH your God would not listen to Balaam; but YHWH your God turned the curse into a blessing, because YHWH your God loved you.Deut. 23:5

    • Thank You for being a God of love throughout the Bible (Deut. 7:7-8; John 3:16).

    • We bless You for being our shield – even protecting us when we are not even aware that we are under attack – as Israel was when Balaam could not curse it (Psa. 5:12).

    • We praise You as we look at Your land today, and see Your promised blessings (Ezek. 36:8-15)

    • What a joy to know You are a loving Father who disciplines His children as needed (Heb. 12:5-8).

    • Thank You for extending this family relationship to gentiles in Messiah Yeshua (Rom. 12:5).

    • Walking by faith, we are blessed when we look back and see Your guiding Hand (Psa. 23:3b).

  2. Government: The Knesset [Israel's parliament] passed a law giving the coalition another 120 days to agree on a budget. Yet this "unity" government is in such disarray that with almost no trust between the parties, a new election might be better in the long run. Truly, only God knows!

    • Lord, we prayed for over a year and this is the government that You have allowed (Dan. 4:17b).

    • Whatever it is that You are wanting to do, please do it quickly (Isa. 48:3).

    • As we continue in prayer, help us hear Your voice more than all other voices (John 10:1-5, 27).

    • We thank You that Bibi Netanyahu is still the prime minister – even with all his issues (Rom. 3:23).

    • Yet his heart, as the hearts of everyone, is deceitful and wicked (Jer. 17:9-10). You knew that before he ever became prime minister, so please turn his heart in the direction of Your will (Prov. 21:1).

    • Allow Netanyahu to separate his personal legal troubles from the troubles facing Israel.

    • Deafen all voices not from You and surround Netanyahu with godly counselors (Prov. 11:14).

    • Abba, turn the minds of all Israeli politicians to do what is best for Your nation and not what might seem best for their own political careers (2 Sam. 23:2-4; Psa. 44:3).

    • Hedge in Blue & White's Gabi Ashkenazi, Israel's Foreign Minister, and prevent him from stoking the flames of discontent (Prov. 6:14, 19b).

  3. Society & Covid-19: School, the high holydays and the economy are some of the major issues that Prof. Gamzu, the "corona-czar", and the government's corona task force will need to make decisions about and soon. This whole situation has created chaos – in Israel and worldwide.

    • Lord, we need You to Goshen Israel once again (Ex. 9:26).

    • Protect Israel so that the "Egyptians" of today, the world, might know that You are God (Ex. 8:22).

    • Anoint Prof. Gamzu to guide Israel through this storm by following Your star – even if he does not understand that it is You who are guiding him (Prov. 20:24; Isa. 30:21; 45:15).

    • Remove all political stones of stumbling that are tripping him up (Isa. 62:10).

    • Show Health Minister Yuli Edelstein what is lacking in Israel's health care system as a whole, and enable him to develop a plan to fill that lack (Prov. 16:1, 9).

    • Let the government establish and communicate clear and sensible guidelines (1 Cor. 14:8).

    • Grant wisdom on guidelines for how You want this nation to observe Your fall feasts (Lev. 23:2).

    • Impress Israelis on the need to heed those guidelines (1 Sam. 8:19; Jer. 35:14).

    • Sustain all medical personnel and provide them all that is needed to heal the sick (Acts 28:8-9).

    • Lord, rain down "medical manna" to supply Your people in this Covid-19 wilderness (Deut. 8:16).

    • Abba, shake the ultra-orthodox community, especially the rabbis, with the seriousness of Covid-19.

    • Bring forth God-inspired plans for the opening of schools (Psa. 34:11).

    • Pour out an abundance of grace on all teachers to work through this chaotic time (Dan. 11:33).

    • Pour out an abundance of grace on all parents during this very unsettled season (Deut. 6:7).

    • Pour out an abundance of grace on all children, especially those doing remote learning (Isa. 54:13).

  4. Society & salvation: A gang-rape of a 16 year old girl in Eilat has shocked the nation. Yet there is some good as a result of this as people are talking and writing about boundaries and what is proper versus improper behavior. Israeli society is also experiencing ongoing demonstrations against Bibi and the issue of police brutality is also coming to the fore. All this is happening in the month of Elul – the month of repentance before the month that contains the Fall Feasts on the Jewish calendar.

    • From Shabbat's prophetic portion: For your Maker is your husband; YHWH of hosts is His name; and your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; the God of the whole earth shall He be called. (Isa. 54:5)

    • Lord, as this is the month of repentance, use this horrific rape to impact Israelis of all types to search their own heart and to repent from their anti-biblical ways (Ezek. 33:19).

    • Let the prayers of forgiveness that are recited this month touch hearts deeply (Psa. 130:4).

    • Turn us again, O God; cause Your face to shine, and we shall be savedPsa. 80:3; plus vv. 7, 19

    • You said all things work together for good to those who are called and who love You (Rom. 8:28). As Israel is definitely called, use this gross sin to draw Israelis closer to You and reveal to many of them their Messiah, Yeshua, so that many more can truly love You (John 6:44; 1 John 4:19).

    • Save the teens or men involved in this gang-rape and save the victim as well (Rom. 11:26).

    • Let Israeli believers shine brightly at this time (Matt. 5:14-16).

    • Lord, watch over these demonstrations so that they do not wander into illegal behavior and rioting as they protest against what they think is Netanyahu's illegal behavior (Rom. 12:21).

    • By Your grace, restrain all security forces as they face these angry and often unruly groups.

    • By Your power and authority, hinder any spirits of anarchy and lawlessness from being loosed in Israeli society (Matt. 28:18).

  5. Security – terrorism: This week, for the first time in a year, there was a terror attack in which an Israeli was murdered. There are attempted attacks pretty much all the time, but most are stopped by God's supernatural protection and the Israel's security forces excellence in duty.

    • Thank You for watching over this nation – all the time (Psa. 121:4).

    • We do bless You for all the attacks that are thwarted either before – or as – they occur (Jer. 31:10).

    • In the coming heatwave, keep the security forces cool but make it hot for the terrorists (Job 6:18).

    • Bring all terrorists plots to light and then bring them to nothing (Psa. 64:2).

    • Comfort the wife and four children whose father, a rabbi, was killed (Psa. 23:4; 119:50).

  6. Security – Gaza: Hamas, Gaza's terrorist rulers, use blackmail and bullying to get Israel to give in to their demands. They demand that Israel let them import without restrictions so that they can get all they need to destroy the Jewish State. They also pressure Qatar to give them millions of dollars each month – most of which never reaches the poor in Gaza. These are very evil leaders and the Gazans suffer because of them – yet it seems that the world always finds ways to blame Israel.

    • Show Israel how to deal with Hamas' bullying tactics (Eccl. 8:11).

    • Anoint Benny Gantz in his role as Defense Minister (Judg. 6:12).

    • Lord, arise and stop the incendiary balloons that Hamas sends over the security fence (Psa. 68:30).

    • Thank You for the "Light Blade" laser system which is very effective against these types of attacks (Gen. 1:4). Help Israel to quickly obtain all the lasers systems that are needed (Psa. 112:4).

    • Lord, You control the wind. Please blow back all these fire balloons into Gaza itself (Mark 4:41).

    • Shield all Israelis living in the vicinity of the Gaza security fence (Psa. 91:5).

    • Show the government how to be a terror to Gaza's terrorists (Rom. 13:1-4).

    • Protect all IDF soldiers stationed there – especially with a major heatwave hitting Israel next week.

    • As Israel works with Qatar, prevent it from being trapped between Hamas and Qatar, two anti-Israel Islamic entities, especially if they are plotting together against Israel (Mic. 4:11-13).

    • Keep the millions of dollars from Qatar out of Hamas' already rich hands and direct it to help Gaza's poor citizens (Prov. 13:7; 14:20; 18:23; 28:6).

    • Raise up a leader to lead the Gazans in revolt against Hamas and Islamic Palestinian Jihad.

    • Continue to protect all Israeli spies and collaborators in Gaza (Josh. 2:14; 6:22).

    • Protect and mature and use the true church there (Matt. 16:18; 1 Tim. 3:15).

    • Thank You for the Israeli Navy which wonderfully protects all of Israel's seacoasts (Psa. 107:23-24).

    • Lord, we know that the ultimate solution is for Israel to repossess Gaza – which is part of Judah's inheritance (Josh. 15:1, 47). Raise up courageous Israeli leaders who will speak this out and plan for the day in which it will be done.

  7. Security – Hizbullah: Shots were fired at IDF soldiers along the Lebanese border this week. Israel struck back by attacking several Hizbullah outposts along that border.

    • Thank You that Israel is holding Lebanon responsible as Hizbullah is in that government (Psa. 90:8).

    • Continue to allow Israel's response against any attacks by Hizbullah to be disproportionate (Isa. 3:11).

    • May the fear of Israel's God fall on Hizbullah and all the Lebanese people (Psa. 9:20).

    • Protect all of Israel's spies and collaborators in Lebanon (Psa. 17:8).

    • Provide them with accurate actionable intelligence for Israel to be able to protect itself – or if need be to pre-empt any enemy plots (Job 12:22; Psa. 139:11-12).

    • Help the IDF's target list of Hizbullah missile and weapons caches be up-to-date (Job 26:6; 34:22).

    • Lord of hosts, expose and destroy all weapons and ammunition supplies like the one that exploded in Beirut's port the other week (Psa. 5:10; 40:14: 144:6).

    • Guard all Israel's jets and drones as they go out and return (Deut. 28:6).

    • Grant them complete mission success (Deut. 28:7).

    • Anoint all Israel's drone operators with wisdom and an ability to hit the target yet keep the collateral damage to a bare minimum (Psa. 144:1).

  8. Israel – UAE peace treaty: The conflicting reports about what is truly involved in this treaty are enough to drive one crazy. Often, headlines are based on that media outlet's pro or anti-US President Trump/Israeli PM Netanyahu stance. Yet again this week we thanked God for what seems to be in line with His will, and asked Him to limit or eliminate all else.

    • Concerning Israel's suspension of extending Israeli law to areas of Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valley, please watch over Your word to Israel in this Shabbat's prophetic portion: For you shall break forth on the right hand and the left; and your seed shall inherit the nations, and make desolate cities be inhabited. Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of your habitations. Spare not, lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes; (Isa. 54:2-3)

    • Lord, it grieves us deeply to hear Jared Kushner, an Orthodox Jew, repeatedly say things that are not in Israel's interests or in line with Your will. Please change him or remove him (Prov. 16:18).

    • Confound all of his anti-biblical advice to Trump just like You did with Ahithophel's advice to Absalom (2 Sam. 15:31).

    • Thank You for our brother in Messiah, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who in Jerusalem this week, said America would keep its commitment to maintain Israel's Qualitative Military Edge in the Middle East (Psa. 65:1; Eccl. 5:4-5). Make this a promise that is kept regardless of who is president.

    • Stop America from selling F-35s to the UAE – except if it is 101% Your will (Prov. 19:21).

    • We rejoice in the personal contacts already being made between Israel and Emiratis (Gen. 26:26-33).

    • Thank You for how good the Palestinians have become in shooting themselves in the foot.

    • May their totally rejection of any move towards peace by any Arab nation with Israel turn all Arab nations – and their peoples – away from the Palestinian cause (Gen. 16:12).

    • Open the eyes of the Arab nations to see how much of any enemy entity the Palestinian Authority has become as the PA ally themselves with Hamas, Turkey, Syria and Iran (Psa. 83:1-5).

    • It is sad Lord, but we have more faith that Arabs will turn against the PA than Europeans. Wake up many in the EU – both nations and Christians – to see how evil the PA has become (Prov. 8:13)!

  9. Aliyah & anti-Semitism: God is using anti-Semitism, the Covid-19 and the unrest in Western societies to cause an increase in requests from Jews about immigrating to Israel.

    • Use the rise of the radical left and its deadly demonstrations as another hunter to get You people's attention that it is no longer safe or beneficial to remain in exile (Jer. 16:16).

    • Continue to shake loose the Jews from their gilded cages in exile (Hag. 2:6-7; Heb. 12:26-27).

    • Speak to the Jewish survivors of hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, fires, riots and all else that shreds their lifestyle in exile to not rebuild there – but to set their sights on building in Zion (Jer. 51:9-10).

    • Keep the momentum going that was recently sparked in many Jews to return to Israel (Isa. 43:5-7).

    • Provide all the transportation that is needed at this time (Isa. 60:8-9).

    • Wake up the Western Church to the biblical truth of the centrality of Israel's restoration and its people's return to Zion as part of the prequel for Messiah Yeshua's return (Matt. 23:39; Zech. 14:4).

    • Wake up the Church to see that there are many more verses about Israel's restoration than there are about getting the gospel to the ends of the earth.

    • Show them that to be prophetic they should be involved in both endeavors (Isa. 49:22; Acts 1:8).

Shabbat shalom and blessings from Zion

For the IFI team