1. Praise: The relationship that God openly declares that He has with Israel in this Shabbat's prophetic portion is also a picture of His relationship with us in Messiah Yeshua.

    • For your Maker is your husband; YHWH of hosts is His name; and your Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; He shall be called the God of the whole earth.Isaiah 54:5

    • We rejoice that You alone are the God of the whole earth and that You reign over all (Psa. 103:19).

    • What a joy to read that even before the cross, You claimed to be Israel's Redeemer (Psa. 19:14).

    • Thank You, God, for making a covenant-commitment to Israel and to Your Church (Isa. 55:3).

    • What You have said is what You will do, and so we can and do trust in Your Word (Num. 23:19).

    • It is of YHWH's covenant-faithfulness that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new [or "renewed'] every morning: great is Your faithfulness.Lam. 3:22-23

    • We are so grateful that Your love towards us rests on who You are and not on us (1 John 4:19).

    • We praise You for being a very present help today, in this time of trouble (Psa. 46:1).

    • Thank You for using this global shaking to turn many people to Your Son (Hag. 2:6-7).

  2. Government: This Shabbat's Torah portion tells the story of the Tower of Babel. At times the current government reminds us of what that must have been like as languages were confused; people did not understand each other, so they probably did not even listen to one another, and ended up all going their separate ways. Yet governments are not supposed to be like that!

    • Abba, please remove the confusion of languages, the distain for each other and the growing gaps between Israel's politicians and miraculously make them united (Jer. 32:17, 27).

    • Thank You for the 70 Knesset [parliament] members who just signed an agreement to disagree more agreeably and to work on having more respect one to another (Lev. 19:17-18).

    • By Your grace, help them to really listen to each other (Prov. 15:28; 18:15).

    • Show Israel's politicians that the reason strife abounds is because of their pride (Prov. 13:10; 28:25).

    • May at least some of Israel's leaders ask You for wisdom to lead this great nation (2 Chr. 1:10).

    • Raise up leaders who care for the entire nation and not just for their own group (Jer. 3:14-15).

    • Continue to clean out all those who are not worthy to be among Israel's leaders (Isa. 1:25-26).

    • Lord, use the budget that still must be passed by late December to show us whether You want this government to continue or whether You are leading this nation into new elections (Prov. 20:24).

    • Anoint PM Bibi Netanyahu until it is Your time to remove him from office (Eccl. 3:1, 17).

    • Discourage all anti-Bibi demonstrators who see him staying in office despite their rage (Rom. 13:2).

    • Heal the anger and resentment between Netanyahu and Naftali Bennett, and him and Benny Gantz.

    • Abba, please raise up in the Knesset Israeli-Arab politicians who are more concerned about the Israeli Arabs than they are about the Palestinians (Zech. 11:8). [Israeli Arabs are not Palestinians.]

    • Lord Yeshua, we know that ultimately the government is on Your shoulders, so we ask You to show us a little of what that might look like today in Israel (Isa. 9:6-7).

    • For Your name's sake, watch over this word today: He has remembered His mercy and His truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. (Psa. 98:3)

  3. Covid-19: Israel's second lockdown has had great success. Now Israel is trying to slowly move forward with its exit strategy leading back to a new "normal" life. The corona committee, meeting this week, decided – we think wisely – to hold off on any further openings until next week.

    • Abba, thank You for this cautious decision in the face of an unknown danger (Luke 8:15; Jam. 5:7).

    • Guide Israel's leaders to know what can be opened and what must be restricted (Isa. 42:16).

    • Provide real statistics so that those responsible will make decisions based on truth (Psa. 25:5; 43:3).

    • We thank You for local leaders who take responsibility and bring help to many of their people.

    • Block all of Israel's special interest groups from pushing only their own agendas and not thinking of what is best for the nation as a whole (Num. 32:16-19).

    • Help Israelis be compliant with the basic guidelines that have been set for this time (1 Pet. 2:13-15).

    • Show the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) leaders how to be wise and caring with their people (Jer. 23:4).

    • Lower the flames of strife between the Haredi and the police (Prov. 15:1, 18).

    • In fact, lower the flames of strife between the Haredi and many other Israelis (Eccl. 7:9).

    • Give divine guidance concerning the whole educational structure's restart (Psa. 23:3b).

    • Comfort all those hurting over finances, or emotional and mental states (2 Cor. 1:3-4).

    • Lead the Messianic Body to know how to navigate in these new waters (Psa. 25:9; 31:3; Jer. 31:9).

    • Reveal to us what You are doing so that we can pray for Your will to be done on earth (Amos 3:7).

    • Help us to be a holy example, especially as we see Your return drawing near (2 Pet. 3:8-12).

    • Give gifts of words of wisdom or knowledge to all believers who have any sort of access to any of Israel's leaders, and open up doors for them to speak (1 Cor. 12:8).

  4. Peace: This week, a normalization treaty was signed between Israel and Bahrain. While we rejoice over these diplomatic moves between Israel, Bahrain and the UAE, yet there are nations that we question whether Israel should have relations with. We prayed that this "peace train" which seems to be gathering speed, will only make stops that bring God the glory and bypass all other stations.

    • Thank You for the warmth of the relations that the Emirati and Bahraini peoples are expressing towards Israelis (1 Kin. 5:7-12).

    • Send dreams and visions of Yeshua to all those Arabs, especially in these two nations, who truly desire a genuine relationship with Israel, and save multitudes (Eph. 2:11-14).

    • Use these warm relations to provoke to jealousy many Jordanians and Egyptians – most of whom are very cold toward Israel (Ruth 1:16-17; Isa. 55:5; 60:3; Zech. 8:23).

    • As the UAE and Bahrain treaties are being worked out concerning details, please guard over what is approved, what is added or what is taken away (Psa. 33:10-11).

    • Block all outside pressure from other nations, especially America, who might unknowingly press Israel into any dangerous and unwise international relationships (Num. 23:23).

    • If normalization of relations with Sudan is not of You – prevent them from happening (Lam. 3:37).

    • Make Israel wise in all its security commitments with any Arab nation (Josh. 9:3-15).

    • Lord, please forbid the building of any altar to the idol of peace in Your land (Deut. 7:5; 12:3).

    • Let us see altars to the Prince of Peace built in every area of Israel (Gen. 33:20; Isa. 9:6).

  5. Security – internal: The Palestinian Authority [PA] in Judea and Samaria, and Hamas in Gaza, are furious with these diplomatic treaties. They have accused these Arabs of stabbing the Palestinians in the back, have cursed them and joined hands with Turkey and Iran against Arab nations who have given millions of dollars to the Palestinian cause in the past. Thankfully, many Arabs in the Middle East are waking up to how evil the current PA leaders are.

    • Have mercy on Israel's enemies, the generations of Palestinians taught to hate Jews (Matt. 5:44).

    • Work among them in miraculous ways through the Palestinian Church (Mark 16:17-18),

    • Lord, arise and prevent the creation of a "Palestine" on Your land (Lev. 25:23; Psa. 10:16).

    • Continue to confound those who hate Zion (Psa. 35:26).

    • Provide the IDF and all the other Israeli security forces with all of the intelligence information that they need to protect innocent Israelis and Arabs throughout the land (Job 12:22).

    • Send Your wisdom to the IDF high command to place the right personnel and equipment in the right places – and at the right times (Prov. 21:31).

    • Thank You for helping the IDF discover and destroy another terror tunnel under the Gaza fence this past week (Luke 12:2).

    • If there are others that the IDF is unaware of – please uncover them quickly (Job 12:22).

    • Let Hamas pay a step price for this attempt to kill and kidnap Jews (Eccl. 8:11).

    • Expose where Hamas' "extra" money comes from and dry up that source totally (Jer. 51:35-36).

    • Protect Israel's armed forces from catching and spreading coronavirus (Psa. 91:3-7).

    • We ask You to guard Israel, and give it great wisdom, for the time after many of the current, very old, PA leaders die (Psa. 121:4; Jer. 31:10).

  6. Security – external: The world has now removed the sanctions on Iran's ability to buy and sell weapons. Interestingly, Israel, America and many Arab nations were all united against this.

    • From this week's prophetic portion: No weapon formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of YHWH's servants, and their righteousness is of Me, says YHWH. (Isaiah 54:17; see from verse 14 on.)

    • As Iran has been hit hard by Covid-19 – with massive deaths – Lord, use this mismanagement to stir the people up against their leaders (Jer. 49:35-37; note: ancient Elam is where modern Iran sits today.)

    • Seize the scepter of authority out of the Iranian leadership's blood-stained grip (Jer. 49:38b).

    • Bring massive confusion between Iran's scientists and its military leaders (Psa. 35:4; 70:2).

    • Set the Iranian people free and reestablish the warm relations Israel had with Iran before the rise of the Ayatollah's Islamic regime in the late 1970s (Psa. 12:5).

    • Anoint the Iranian Church to move in power, signs and wonders (Acts 14:3).

    • Quicken them to have the answer to all who ask them why they have peace and hope (1 Pet. 3:15).

    • Lord, move Russian President Putin's heart to become extremely cautious and ill-at-ease when he deals with Iran and Turkey (Psa. 55:21; Prov. 21:1).

  7. US elections: This will impact the world – regardless of the result. Are we seeing the end of this superpower? There is no guarantee that whether Trump or Biden wins, the United States will remain united! And since the American Church is still divided over whether modern Israel is a fulfillment of prophecy, or a political mistake, is the US reaping what the last 30 years of presidents have desired – a dividing of God's land – which is leading to an America being divided? (Joel 3:1-2; Gal. 6:7)

    • Lord, have mercy and give America the leader it needs and not the one it deserves (Dan. 4:17b. 25b).

    • Speak to American believers about their responsibility to vote as well as to pray (1 Tim. 2:1-4).

    • Lead them to vote for the policies which are closer to godly guidelines and not just to vote against personalities (Psa. 107:33-34; Prov. 14:34).

    • Reveal to the American Church the biblical reality that its nation's relations with Israel is a top priority in heaven for how You will deal with that nation (Isa. 34:8).

    • Expose all the major scandals that the American main stream media is covering up (Mark 4:22),

    • Prepare America – especially the believers – for the day after the final votes are tallied and everyone knows who their next president will be (Psa. 118:8-9).

    • Prepare Israel for that day as well (Isa. 60:1-2).

    • Regardless of who wins, move on Israel's leaders to look to You and not to America (Jer. 17:5-8).

    • Yet we would remind You of all the good US President Trump has done for Israel. Therefore, let him find much favor with You and with the American people at this time (Num. 24:9).

  8. Aliyah: As God increases the pressure on Jews living in exile, we want to be praying that what He is doing becomes super effective and masses of His scattered people will come home.

    • For a small moment have I forsaken you; but with great mercies I will gather you. In a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment; but with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you, says YHWH your Redeemer.Isa. 54:7-8

    • Use the elections to further shake American Jews out of their false comfort zones (Job 7:13-15).

    • Wake up European Jews to see the blatant Islamic terror attacks and the continued rise of anti-Semitic attacks in their nations and on their streets (Deut. 28:64-66).

    • A teacher was just decapitated in Paris because he showed his class a drawing of Mohammed. Lord, what are the French Jews waiting for (Jer. 50:4-5)?

    • Turn Jews living in exile to You for answers – and not to their governments (Psa. 121:1-8).

    • Turn Jews living in exile away from drinking the polluted waters of Babylon, and give them a deep desire to return to their biblical homeland (Psa. 137:1-6).

    • Remove the fear of coming home and replace it with excitement and a love for Zion (Psa. 9:11, 14).

    • Replace all fears of moving to Israel with a deep love and a healthy fear of You instead (Deut. 13:4).

    • Lord, may Western Jews come to preserve their life – and not necessarily their lifestyle.

    • Thank You for watching over Isaiah 43:5-6 and setting Your people free to return to Israel from all four corners of the earth – and doing it all for Your glory (Isa. 43:7, 221).

    • It is exciting to hear that today many of the younger generation are returning to prepare the way for their elders. Watch over their plans and make them very fruitful (Isa. 27:6; 37:31).

    • Aid the government, as one of its top priorities, to provide everything that is needed to help Jews come home and be settled (Jer. 23:3-4).

  9. Salvation: The following verses are from the end of this Shabbat's prophetic portion:

    • Incline your ear, and come to Me: hear, and your soul shall live, and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know, and nations that do not know you shall run to you because of YHWH your God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for He has glorified you.Isaiah 55:3-5

    • Speak through this Word to Your people this very weekend (Isa. 55:11).

Shabbat shalom and blessings from Zion

For the IFI team