1. Praise: Shabbat's Torah portion shows God turning Balaam's attempted curses over Israel into blessings. Many wonderful things come out of Balaam's mouth as directed by God's Spirit, but one of the most encouraging – both to us and to Israel – is Numbers 23:19:

    • God is not a man, that He should lie, nor the son of man, that He should change His mind. Has He said, and shall He not do it, or has He spoken, and shall He not make it good?

    • Lord, You are our Rock, unmoving and dependable in a world of constant change (Psa. 61:2; 62:2)

    • We praise You for establishing Your Word upon Your name (i.e., essential character) which means that Your Word is faithful, righteous, just and everything else that You are (Psa. 138:2b; John 1:14).

    • You are true and Your Word is true and the truth (Psa. 119:160; 2 John 1:3).

    • What comfort and peace to know that Your Word reveals to us the ultimate truth of all creation, and it is based on Your Word that we can live and glorify You (Ex. 34:6b; John 4:24; Jam. 1:18).

    • Thank You for sending the Spirit of truth to abide in us and guide us in Your truth (John 16:13).

    • We praise You, Lord Yeshua. You are precious cornerstone, and by trusting on and abiding in You we are built into a temple in which Your Spirit resides (Psa. 118:22; Isa. 28:16; 1 Cor. 3:11).

    • We thank You that You, our shelter and refuge, are with us now and forever (Psa. 46:1).

    • You are our strong tower into which we run to find peace and protection (Prov. 18:10).

    • What joy it is to know that You are not limited by time, but dwell in eternity (Psa. 90:1-2; Jer. 1:5).

    • My soul melts from heaviness. Strengthen me according to Your word. Thank You for recognizing our weaknesses and struggles and hearing Your Word speak into them (Psa. 119:28; 2 Cor. 12:9-10).

    • Abba, Your Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Psa. 119:105, 130).

  2. Israel's new government: While there have been positive moves by the new Lapid-Bennett coalition, there have also been some negative ones as well.

    • Lord, we are not sure how this Lapid-Bennett government is an answer to our persistent prayers – or whether it even is an answer – yet we trust in You and give You thanks (Prov. 3:5; 1 Thess. 5:18).

    • Abba, watch over our persistent intercession throughout the recent years and make this government one by which You will be glorified (Psa. 115:1-3; 1 Thess. 5:17).

    • Lord, have mercy on Foreign Minister Yair Lapid who approved the flying of the Gay Pride Flag at the Foreign Ministry buildings in June – Gay Pride Month – and save him (Luke 23:34).

    • May all Israel's politicians read what it states in Shabbat's Torah portion, that Israel is called to be a nation that dwells alone and not to be counted as one of the other nations (Num. 23:9b).

    • Raise up leaders with the zeal of Phinehas, who will stand against all blasphemies (Num. 25:11-13)

    • God, we remind You of Your promise in this Shabbat's Torah portion of protection on Israel from manipulation and witchcraft (Num. 23:23). Let this be a reality in Israel today.

    • Protect and cleanse Israel's politicians of the insidious spirit of humanism (Gen. 11:3-4; Jer. 17:5-6).

    • Hedge in the government from going beyond what You have destined but enable them to accomplish everything for which You have raised them up (Prov. 8:15-16).

    • Let the new government deal with things that were not a priority with the last government, yet which need to be accomplished (Prov. 16:1; 21:1).  

    • May the opposition, which is led by Bibi Netanyahu, not automatically oppose all motions presented by this government out of vindictiveness, but let them agree to all that in Your will (Psa. 1:1).

    • Remove all bitterness from Bibi and all other opposition politicians (Eph. 4:31; Heb. 12:15).

    • When the government deals with America, enable them to clearly present Israel's position, and bring down the unbiblical lie that Israel needs America to survive (Isa. 30:1-3; 31:1; Jer. 31:35-37).

    • Anoint all the new ministers, and guide and use them to clear out corruption (Isa. 1:25; Prov. 21:21).

    • Help Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman to deal righteously in his financial decisions (Prov. 16:11).

    • Make him treat the ultra-orthodox fairly, without malice or hatred (Prov. 20:10).

    • Aid Defense Minister Benny Gantz to maintain strict redlines against Israel's enemies (Psa. 80:17).

    • Bless Housing Minster Ze'ev Elkin with wisdom on how provide affordable housing (Mic. 4:4).

    • Let them all read the last verse of Shabbat's prophetic portion and take it to heart: He has showed you O man what is good, and what YHWH requires of you – to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with Your God. (Mic. 6:8)

  3. Security: We prayed for the IDF in general – and some of its generals by name.

    • Lord, several times in the Torah and prophetic portions You declare that Israel/Judah will be like a lion against its foes. Guide us in intercession so that these declarations become even more of a reality than they already are today (Num. 23:24; 24:8-9; Mic. 5:8-9).

    • Anoint the IDF to be like a lion protecting its pride [family] (Gen. 49:9; Prov. 28:1b; Amos 3:8).

    • Help the military planners to see what is needed for today and in the near future (Isa. 42:9).

    • Lord, You often multiplied a little to a lot, so please multiply the finances the IDF is given to meet all of its needs so that though the IDF You can protect Your nation (Isa. 41:10-16; John 6:9-13).

    • Create a bond between Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Defense Minister Benny Gantz and the IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi that enables them to know the times and what Israel needs to do (1 Chr. 12:32; Eccl. 4:12; Amos 3:3).

    • Abba, let Your blessing, anointing, and Your name, be upon these IDF commanders: head of the Northern command – Major General Amir Baram; head of the Central command – Major General Tamir Yadai; head of the Southern command – General Eliezer Toledano; head of the Iran command – Major General Tamir Heiman; head of the Israeli Air Force – Major General Amikam Norkin; and head of the Israeli Navy – Vice Admiral Eli Sharvit (Num. 6:23-27; 2 Sam. 23:8a).

    • Enable all of these "mighty men" work together in unity to provide a shield over Israel (Psa. 133:1).

    • Create a close relationship between Finance Minister Liberman and Kochavi (Mark 10:27).

    • We give You the glory for the latest laser technology that the IDF has developed against all types of airborne attacks (Psa. 20:7-9). [Praise God! The IDF will be able to defend Israel with pure light!]

    • Yet they say it will take about three years to become functional. Lord, shorten that time (Gen. 1:3).

  4. Security – internal: This includes Judea, Samaria and Gaza – which is Judah's inheritance. Hamas has won the hearts and minds of many Palestinians as the leader in their battle against Israel. This was the case even before the last war and the real reason why Palestinian Authority President Abbas cancelled their May elections.

    • Thank You that PM Bennett and DM Gantz have struck back hard against Gaza because of Hamas' launching of incendiary balloons into the south of Israel (Eccl. 8:11).

    • Lord God, since Hamas leaders constantly threaten and curse Israel, as per Your Word, please let their curses fall back on their own heads (Deut. 23:5; Psa. 109:28; Prov. 26:2; Gal. 6:7).

    • Expose every wicked scheme Hamas is planning against Israel (Job 5:13; Psa. 64:1-5).

    • Widen the division between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority in Judea and Samaria (Mark 3:25).

    • We know that only those who fear You will eventually remain in Your land, so we ask You to save as many Palestinians as possible – and as quickly as possible (Psa. 10:16; Jer. 12:14-17).

    • Thank You that the IDF has sent more soldiers into Judea and Samaria as the terror attacks in Israel's biblical heartland have increased. Protect them and use them to protect Israel (Psa. 121:4).

    • Lord, help Israel to cut off all further Palestinian intifadas [uprisings] before they start (Psa. 44:4-5)

    • Protect all who are involved in intelligence gathering, helping them to discern between what is true information and what is false (Josh. 9:14-15; 1 Kin. 3:11).

    • Protect Israel from ecoterrorism and let Israel treat arsonists as the terrorists they are (Rom. 13:1-4).

    • Replenish all the fields and trees that have been destroyed (Psa. 65:10; Ezek. 36:35-36).

    • Increase the already high alertness of all Israelis who live in Judea and Samaria and protect them.

    • We bless You for the building plans passed by the new government which will impact positively at least some of the settlements (Isa. 61:4; 65:21).

  5. Security – external: While a case might be made for the blessings and curses of Genesis 12:3a to apply only to Abraham and the Jews – but not to the nation of Israel – that is not the case with what we read in this Shabbat's Torah portion from God's Spirit through mouth of Balaam.

    • In response to King Balak's desire for Balaam to curse the tribes of Israel, Balaam states, How shall I curse, whom God has not cursed? Or how shall I defy, whom YHWH has not defied? (Num. 23:8)

    • In Numbers 24:9b, while overlooking all of the tribes, that is the entire nation of Israel, Balaam says, Blessed is he who blesses you, and cursed is he who curses you.

    • Lord, watch over these clear declarations of Your divine protection over Your nation (Psa. 121:4).

    • You see all of the nations and terrorist groups who curse Israel today. If you can turn some, do so – but if not work in such a way that all the earth knows You are the Lord God of Israel (Psa. 83:16-18).

    • God, hold the new government to their commitment to hold the line against Iran (Matt. 5:37).

    • Iran's leadership has cursed Israel since 1979. Turn their words back on themselves, and place Your blessings on all Iranians without Jew-hatred and on all of Israel as well (Gen. 50:20; Deut. 23:5).

    • Reveal to the IDF everything Iran is doing in Lebanon and Syria and then help Israel's army to be totally prepared to respond overwhelmingly (1 Chr. 14:8-17).

    • Let Israel continue to warn the US to remain out of the Iranian nuclear deal (Ezek. 33:8-9).

    • Continue to harden the hearts of the Iranian leaders towards this wicked agreement (Ex. 10:27).

    • Forbid the nations from playing dumb and ignoring the fact that the now soon-to-be-future Iranian President is Ebrahim Raisi, also known as "the Butcher of Tehran," of whom many human rights groups label as a war criminal (Prov. 11:21a).

    • Use all of the unclaimed "accident" (fires, electric failures, etc.) and all other means to bring Iran's nuclear program to an end (Num. 16:31-33).

    • Let all of these "accidents" make Iran's leaders super paranoid about Israel's ability and intelligence, and to finally ask themselves why Israel's God is great than their god (Ex. 18:11; 1 Chr. 16:25).

    • Cut off the money train both to Iran, and from Iran to its terrorist proxies (Prov. 11:28a; Jam. 5:1).

    • As You can multiply things, we ask that You diminish all the finances that Iran is using to terrorize many Arab nations, to destroy Israel, and to rule wickedly over its people (Ezek. 29:15).

    • Also diminish the finances of the nations which are supplying Iran with money – Russia, China, and many of the EU nations especially (Deut. 28:17).

    • Use the salvation of many Iranians to cause many other Iranians to question their god (Psa. 96:10).

    • Place a burden of intercession on many Iranian believers – for their nation and for its relationship with Israel (Isa. 62:5-6; Jer. 31:6-7; 1 Tim. 2:1-4).

  6. Aliyah: There has been a steady flow of new immigrants [olim] into Israel so far this year. Summer is normally a time for an increase as families can move and not interrupt their children's schooling. Plus, antisemitism is continuing to grow in most of the Western nations.

    • Thank You for all those whom You have brought home to Israel so far this year (Isa. 43:5-7).

    • Remove discouragement from any who have begun the process, and lead them home (Psa. 138:8).

    • Since You said none will remain in the nations, draw as many as possible home today (Ezek. 39:28).

    • With the huge surge in antisemitism in the US, UK and Europe, what are Your people waiting for? Please show them that the Exile is quickly coming to a very deadly end (Jer. 16:16; 51:8-10).

    • Bring home many Spanish and Portuguese speaking Jews, planting them in the Negev (Obad. 1:20).

    • Use the new government to fling open all the bureaucratic doors for the new olim (1 Cor. 16:9).

    • Lord, let the descendants of Holocaust survivors return and settle in Israel as per Ezekiel 37:11-14.

    • May Ayelet Shaked, the new Interior Minister, and Pnina Tamano-Shata, the Minister for Aliyah and Absorption be mothers in Israel who welcome home their children with open arms (Jer. 31:15-17).

    • Show the Absorption Ministry how to be fair in their distribution of finances (Prov. 22:2, 16).

    • Bless, encourage, and grant unity and finances to all agencies assisting with aliyah (Phil. 4:19).

    • Direct these organizations to the specific areas You have asked them to deal with and prevent them from becoming diluted and diverted from Your calling on their lives (Jam. 1:8).

    • Let Isaac Herzog, the former head of the Jewish Agency, maintain his burden for aliyah as he takes up his new position as Israel's President.

  7. The Body of Messiah: In these days of massive global upheavals, we need the Word of God to be our foundation in how we live as well as to be the filter through which we judge all that we see and hear. The Body of Messiah today needs to ask for an even a deeper hunger for God's Word.

    • Your words were found, and I did eat them, and Your Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart – for I am called by Your name, O YHWH God of hosts.Jer. 15:16

    • Give Your people an understanding of and a deeper hunger for Your Word (Psa. 119:130-131).

    • Raise up the standard of Your Word within the eldership of Your body (Psa. 119:133; 2 Tim. 2:15).

    • Lord, remove all the elders who "curse" Your nation Israel and Your people by teaching replacement theology, and so they are not teaching the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27-30).

    • Replace them with good shepherds who will hear Your voice and be able to lead their flocks in paths of righteousness from Your name's sake (Psa. 23:1-3).

    • Use the shaking that Your body has experienced via Covid-19, for Your holy purposes (Rom. 8:28).

    • Continue to raise up many to be involved with corporate intercession (Isa. 62:6-7; Acts 4:24).

We so appreciate your prayers for Israel and for this ministry

Blessings and shalom from Zion

For the IFI team