1. Praise: While we lack righteous judges on earth, what Abraham says to God in this Shabbat's Torah portion should encourage all of us that the One who is in control – He is righteous.

    • Far be it from You… to kill the righteous with the wicked: so that the righteous should be as the wicked… Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is right [+just]?Gen. 18:25

    • Thank You that You are both a righteous judge and a merciful God (Psa. 116:5).

    • We praise You for Abraham being an example of an intercessor for us, by being both humble before You yet being very clear as to what he was asking of You (Gen. 18:23-33; 1 Cor. 10:11).

    • You are the Judge of the highest supreme court and You hold that position eternally (Psa. 103:19).

    • You are the same yesterday, today and forever, therefore You never change (Mal. 3:6; Heb. 13:8).

    • We trust in Your Word which also will not change as it is settled in heaven forever (Psa. 119:89).

    • We bless you for all Your promises are "Yes and amen" in Messiah to Your glory (2 Cor. 1:20).

  2. US Election results: As of this writing who will be the next US President is still unclear. Yet Trump's Republican Party did make gains in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

    • For promotion does not come from the east, the west, or from the south, but God is the judge: He puts down one, and sets up another.Psa. 75:6-7

    • Lord, have mercy on this nation which has so often blessed Your nation – Israel (Num. 24:9b).

    • As in Shabbat's Torah portion – spare the US for the more than ten righteous in it (Gen. 18:32).

    • If there have been any illegalities in the vote counting, expose it and make it right (Psa. 119:104).

    • Use the results of this election to cause the division in America to be healed (Prov. 18:18).

    • Hedge in all lawlessness and anarchists from destroying cities and lives (Psa. 12:8: Eccl. 8:11).

    • Protect all believers in America from extremes in reaction to the election results (Heb. 12:2).

    • Lord Yeshua, we thank You that You continue to build Your church – in America and worldwide – regardless of the election results (Matt. 16:18).

    • We bless and thank You for all of the biblical moves that the Trump Administration has taken in relation with Israel and ask that You would not allow any of them to be rescinded if Biden comes into office (Num. 30:2; Psa. 15:4; Nah. 1:5).

    • Guide Israel and PM Bibi Netanyahu to know how to relate to the next president (1 Chr. 12:32).

  3. Government: We are told to pray for the authorities whether we like them or not. Is it because so many Christians do not pray for their governments that most governments today are so far from a biblical standard? We believe so.

    • Lord, stir up more believers in all of today's countries to perceive their biblical responsibility to pray for their governments (1 Tim. 2:1-4).

    • Wake up the Israeli Body of Messiah to pray for the Israeli government consistently (1 Tim. 2:1-4).

    • Abba, while Israel's coalition is a mess, let it continue until You command it to end (Eccl. 3:1-3).

    • Strengthen those whom You have appointed and remove those who are not from You (Dan. 2:21).

    • Cleanse the Knesset of all who hate Zion – like many members of the Joint Arab List (Est. 8:2).

    • Any plan that Israel's government develops that is not from You – blow it away (Prov.19:21).

    • Give Israel a more godly government, as You remove the dross and restore its judges (Isa. 1:25-26).

    • Raise up the next generation of political leaders, yet let them honor their political elders (Prov. 1:7).

    • Foil all plots to assassinate any of Israel's leaders (Psa. 31:2; 89:18).

  4. Covid-19 & Israeli society: So far the 2nd exit plan is going well, although the pressure to get back to "normal" tends to want things to move faster. That has proven to be a recipe for disaster.

    • You brought order out of chaos at creation. Do that again in Israel against Covid-19 (Gen. 1:2-5).

    • We thank You for the success so far of Israel's current exit plan (Jer. 32:42).

    • Yet remind Israelis to continue to abide by the guidelines set by the government (Rom. 13:1-2).

    • Anoint Prof. Nachman Ash with wisdom and courage as he takes on the position of corona chief (Prov. 16:9).

    • Give him Your authority to speak and to be heard (Matt. 7:28-29).

    • Have mercy on the economy and the small businesses that have been hit very hard (Psa. 90:14-17).

    • Speak to Israel's "mountains" to be fruitful for the recovery of Israeli businesses (Ezek. 36:8-11).

    • Preserve this nation, in Your mercy, from anarchy and civil disobedience (1 Cor. 14:33).

    • Change all that You want to change in Israeli society as it comes out of this lockdown (Mal. 3:7).

    • Forbid that the gaps caused by corona in Israeli society between various groups grow (Prov. 10:12).

    • In fact, overrule and heal up these gaps up totally (Ezek. 37:17).

    • Use this plague to cause the hearts of Your people to turn to You (Psa. 80:3, 7, 19).

    • Lord, do not allow the vaccines which are being developed to add to the divisions in society.

    • Guard over the testing and efficiency of any vaccines that are offered to Israelis (2 Kin. 4:39-41).

    • Anoint believers to be led by You as to whether to take or not take the vaccines (Psa. 23:1-6).

    • Restrain believers from thinking that what they have heard from You for them personally is what all other believers must do – but guide each of us to follow Your specific path for us (John 21:20-22) .

  5. Security – internal: The Palestinians become more anger and frustrated with each Israel-Arab normalization treaty. The result of the US elections affects them as well, as they fervently hope Biden replaces Trump.

    • YHWH, plead my cause…fight against them that fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler; stand up for my help…Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt. Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of YHWH chase them. Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of YHWH persecute them. For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit which they have dug for my soul. Let…his net that he hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.Psa. 35:1-8

    • Prepare Israel's security forces for negative Palestinian responses to the US elections (1 Chr. 12:17).

    • Make Israel's security forces sharp and alert and able to discern a terrorist from an innocent Arab.

    • Increase overall security alertness and intelligence gathering at this time (Psa. 121:4).

    • Continue to refine Israel's plan for the day after PA President Abbas is removed (Psa. 10:16).

    • Lord, we look to You to be the one who handpicks Abbas' successor (Dan. 4:25b).

    • Cut off all Iranian and Turkish influence on – and finances to – Palestinian terrorists (Isa. 14:29-32).

    • Lord, You hear the threats coming out of Gaza once again. Show Israel on how to deal with this blackmail once and for all (Judg. 1:18; Amos 1:6-7; Zeph. 2:4a; Zech. 9:5b).

    • Blow all terror balloons and rockets back on those who send them (Psa. 35:6-8; Gal. 6:7).

    • Guard over all of the right decisions that the Trump administration has taken concerning Israel and its biblical lands that You have orchestrated (Ezek. 36:5-12).

    • If this is the time for Israel to extend its sovereignty to all the Jewish outposts and settlements in Judea and Samaria, give Your nation's leaders the courage to do just that (Josh. 1:6).

  6. Security – external: Israel has become "the strong horse" in the Middle East in the battle against radical Islam as portrayed by Iran, Turkey, and the Muslim Brotherhood. It is also "the strong horse" in hi-tech, military and agricultural advances, medicine and much more. As Arabs tend to support the strong horse, more and more are openly partnering with Israel. Also, some European nations are linking with Israel – like Cyprus, Greece, Italy, and several Eastern European nations. We can add to this list several African and Central America nations, as well as India and Vietnam.

    • Thank You for all of this being possibly the next step to Israel becoming the head of the nations – to be fully realized after Your glorious return (Deut. 28:13; Isa. 2:2-5; Zech. 8:20-23; 14:10).

    • He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit. (Isa. 27:6) Amen!

    • Teach Israel to act as the head and not just obey what an ally nation tells it to do (Isa. 30:1-2; 31:1).

    • Even today, we thank You for how often Israel has been a light to the nations (Isa. 60:1-3).

    • As Israel increases in strength and influence, keep Your people humble (2 Chr. 7:14; Jam. 4:10).

    • Reveal to the Israeli Body what we are supposed to do and say and pray in line with Your will so as to co-labor with You to help Israel to become the nation You have called it to be at this time.

    • From Shabbat's Torah portion: By myself I have sworn, says YHWH, that because you [Abraham] have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only, that in blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply you seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is on the sea shore; and your seed shall possess the gate of his enemies. And in your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed [cp. Gal. 3:8], because you have obeyed My voice. (Gen. 22:16-18)

    • Show Israel who really wants to walk in peace with it and who are deceivers (Psa. 35:20; 120:7).

    • Increase Israel's security alertness and its intelligence gathering ability (Ezek. 37:10).

    • Provide the IDF with all the finances it needs to be the nation which You call Your battle axe and weapons of war (Jer. 51:19-24).

    • With each major IDF exercise, reveal its strengths and its weaknesses (Judg. 7:4).

    • Continue to anoint IDF Chief of Staff Kochavi a to lead Your army (Jer. 50:9).

    • We confess that You are Israel's "Mighty Man," defending this nation for Your glory (Isa. 42:13).

    • We declare that You are Israel's Qualitative Military Edge and we bless You for that (Isa. 44:4-8).

  7. Aliyah: This week there were three terror attacks in France and one in Austria. All were done in the name of Islam. And all of them should wake up the European Jews – yet…

    • Lord, as the hunters increase, whether through the love of Your land or a fear of remaining in exile, bring Your people home, for the glory of Your name (Jer. 16:16; Ezek. 36:22-23).

    • Empower all of Israel's representatives in the nations to boldly speak about aliyah (Mic. 4:2b).

    • As we Israel's believers speak in the nations – use us speak to and provoke Messianic Jews to come home (Isa. 51:11; Acts 26:25b).

    • For Jews who are ready to return today, open the way, via planes or by ships (Isa. 60:8-9).

    • Move upon those who are hearing the call to come home with an urgency to do it now (Jer. 50:4-8).

    • Lord, show them that they are saving their life – and not their lifestyle (Num. 11:4-10).

    • Move Jews to Israel from exile and remove the exile from their hearts (Psa. 126:1-6; Isa. 60:4-5).

    • Shake the way-too-comfortable gold cages in the West, and let Jews there see that they both live in captivity and are acting like the frog in water that is being slowly but surely boiled (Psa. 137:1-6)!

    • Bring whole families and even communities back to Israel at the same time (Jer. 31:8).

    • Bess You for those in the younger generation who are making aliyah in order to bring their elders after them (Jer. 31:9).

    • Provide the needed funds for all agencies, both Jewish and Christian, that assist in aliyah (Hag. 2:8).

    • Root all Jews who return to this land, never to be plucked up again (Isa. 27:6; Amos 9:15).

    • If there are evangelical churches who still have no clue of what You are doing to wrap up this age through the restoration of Israel and the return of Your scatter people (Jer. 31:10) , send messengers to wake them up, even by confronting them as needed (Gal. 4:16).

    • Show more believing congregations in the nations that Israel's restoration is for You glory and then lead them to press in with intercessions and financial and physical aid (Isa. 43:5-7, 21).

    • Open the eyes of many more Christians to see that the only time You said You would do something with all of Your heart and all of Your soul in all of the Bible was Jeremiah 32:41: Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land in truth with My whole heart and with My whole soul.

    • Let them consider that as You are planting Israel back in its land with all of You heart and soul – then shouldn't they want to be involved in this heart-project of Yours (1 Cor. 3:9a).

    • Let them also see that if You are planting Israel back in its land with all of You heart and soul – woe to any believer who would dare to resist this (Acts 5:39; 2 Cor. 10:5)!

  8. Rain: God has been opening the heavens over Israel in recent days and we bless Him for it.

    • Lord, thank You for the rain that has fallen (Psa. 136:1, 22-26).

    • Thank You for hearing our prayers to see the Sea of Galilee start rising again and to read in today's newspapers that is has risen two inches over the past day (1 John 5:14-15)!

    • We look to You – and continue to ask You – to bring more (Zech. 10:1).

Shabbat shalom and blessings from Zion

For the IFI team