1. Praise:

   The Torah portion continues the story of God setting His people free from Egyptian bondage. A number of this Shabbat's verses declare that our God reigns in the earth, not Satan and not man. In these very chaotic and dangerous days, this is really good news.

   • I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which My people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there in order that you may know that I am YHWH in the midst of the earth.Ex. 8:22

   • Moses said to Pharaoh, '…I will lift up my hands to YHWH, and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail, so that you may know that the earth is YHWH's'. (Ex. 9:29; 15:18)

   • Hallelujah! Lord Yeshua, You do reign over the earth today (Matt. 28:18; Acts 10:36).

   • We rejoice that Your reign includes the small details as well as the large (Est. 6:1; Matt. 10:29-31).

   • We praise You for being in complete control as Your kingdom rules over all (Psa. 103:19).

   • Thank You Lord Yeshua for sharing with us this incredible truth that You have already overcome the world so that we can boldly follow You regardless of the tribulation we will face (John 16:33).

   • In today's very confusing world, we thank You that as we consistently pray from Your word, You gradually give us insight as to Your specific will in most situations (Psa. 119:18; 1 John 5:14-15).

   • We rejoice that You Lord, are a God of peace and rest, and not a God of confusion (1 Cor. 14:33).

   • We bless You for being able to rest in You because while we are often blindsided by today's events, You who know the end from the beginning are never taken by surprise (Isa. 42:9; 46:9-10).

2. Government:

   The opposition parties that lost the election, along with most of Israel's media, despise PM Bibi Netanyahu and the parties in his right-wing coalition. They are inciting against Israel's new leaders through twisted, untruthful reports and headlines, warning that what the coalition wants to legislate, especially about judicial reform, could lead to a civil war, which of course, their incitement makes more likely. Also, the Supreme Court this week ruled that Aryeh Deri, head of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, cannot be a minister because of past financial criminal activities. This has deepened the current division in the nation over the unelected court's overreach against the elected leaders. So our prayer burden has increased since the elections although our intercession was basically answered for a coalition that will lead Israel more in line with His will.

   • We plead with You to teach us to pray into these very convoluted issues (Luke 11:1).

   • Lord, let at least some of the current government ministers and many of Israel's judges see that You are Israel's King (Isa. 33:22) whom they are supposed to serve (Psa. 2:10-11).

   • God, You hate what the opposition is trying to do (Prov. 6:16-19), so we ask You to frustrate their efforts to stir up strife (Dan. 6:22).

   • Use this most likely last term in office for Bibi to bring glory to Your holy name (Psa. 115:1-3).

   • Turn his heart towards Your will in both what he should do and what he should not do (Prov. 21:1).

   • Again we ask for godly counselors to surround all of Israel's current ministers (Prov. 11:14; 15:22).

   • Make Your priorities the priorities of Israel's current government (Matt. 6:10).

   • We have asked You to clear out the dross (Isa. 1:25) and if the Supreme Court's decision with Deri is part of Your answer, we thank You.

   • Show Bibi what to do with Deri and how to prevent the coalition from falling (Psa. 51:6; 111:10).

   • We continue to ask You to restore righteous judges and advisors as per Isaiah 1:26, and pray that Justice Minister Yariv Levin's proposal to reform Israel's judiciary system will contribute to that.

   • May all changes in any of Israel's laws be in line with Your Word, and not with anti-God liberalism or rabbinic traditions when those traditions stray from the Scriptures (Psa. 119:97-104; Mark 7:13).

   • Enable Finance Minister Bezaleel Smotrich to work closely with Netanyahu and to surprise many Israelis with how well they together war against Israel's very high cost of living (Deut. 15:11; 24:14).

   • Download to the whole government Your prophetic declaration that Israel is supposed to be a nation set apart – and then give them grace to start acting like it (Ex. 33:15-16; Num. 23:9b).

   • Give Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer unity and wisdom to stand against the increased anti-biblical international pressure against Israel (Neh. 2:20).

   • Let them use Your Word boldly when defending Israel internationally (Psa. 119: 41-43; Mic. 4:2b).

   • Lord, as these three try to shield Israel, shield them from manipulation and deception (Psa. 91:4b).

3. IDF:

   The new Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi took his post this week. He is an "observant" Jew, the first to hold this position, and he also lives in a "settlement" east of Jerusalem. His responsibilities are enormous as he must make sure the IDF can defend Israel from external and internal enemies.

   • Lord, as the IDF is a fulfillment of Your prophetic promise in Ezekiel 37:10, we ask You to ensure that it remains an exceedingly great army, and we give You all the glory for it (Isa. 41:10-16).

   • Surround Halevi with godly counselors and give him ears to hear them (Prov. 20:18; 24:6).

   • Speak to him as he reads Your Word and give him a heart to obey (Psa. 119:18, 98, 130).

   • Give Halevi and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant a godly working relationship (Psa. 133:1).

   • Guide all negotiations between Israeli politicians and security personnel, and let Your will be that which prevails in every decision they make (2 Chr. 14:11).

   • Let Halevi continue in everything that the former Chief of Staff Kochavi did that was of You, yet help him modify anything that is not of You for the IDF from this time onwards (Prov. 16:9; 21:31).

   • Reduce the accidents that have taken soldiers' lives and guard them as they guard Israel (Psa. 140:7).

   • We give You the glory for Israel's breakthroughs in innovative weaponry (Prov. 8:12).

   • May these weapons be brought quickly to the point of active use (Psa. 144:1; Jer. 51:20).

   • Direct Israel's when it comes to with whom they are to share any new technology (Isa. 39:1-7).

4. Internal security:

   Again in the Torah and prophetic portions we hear God emphasizing that He has sworn to give all of the land of Canaan to Israel's forefathers, and that He will provide security in it for His people (Ezek. 28:25-26). The new coalition needs to move ahead and possess more of that land (Obad. 1:17), as only in this way will there be a chance of security since the Islamic-Arab mindset is to fear the strong and to lord it over all those who are weak and appeasers.

   • I will bring you in unto the land, about which I swore to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for a heritage: I am YHWH. (Ex. 6:8) Amen and thank You God!

   • Whether it is all at once (Obad. 1:17), or little by little (Deut. 7:20-22), lead the coalition to extend Israel's sovereignty over more of the land west of the Jordan River.

   • Guide Israel to extend its sovereignty over Judea and Samaria in Your way and timing (Psa. 31:15).

   • Thank You for the 1,000 Israeli youth – along with many others – who are petitioning the coalition to extend its sovereignty over the Jordan Valley now (Deut. 2:29b; 11:31).

   • Encourage the coalition to support the expansion of all Israeli communities in these areas, enabling more people to live there by increasing infrastructure and housing (Isa. 65:21; Jer. 31:3-5).

   • We pray that Area C – located in Judea and Samaria, and which according to the Oslo Accords, is still under Israeli control – would be guarded over by Israeli law more effectively (Jer. 33:12-14).

   • Let Israel publicly shame the EU for illegally financing the Palestinians to build towns and houses in Area C behind Israel's back – and somehow use this to fulfill Isaiah 60:10.

   • Deafen them to the criticism and condemnations from the UN and their "friends" (Psa. 38:11-13).

   • Protect Israelis from every enemy encroachment and terrorist attack (Psa. 3:1-8).

   • Continue to give the IDF supernatural success in their war on terrorism and terrorists (Psa. 44:4-6).

   • Lord, tear apart the terrorists' infrastructure and cause great division among them (Psa. 17:13; 55:9).

5. External security:

   Iran's internal situation continues to give its evil leaders major headaches. This is a sign that God is hearing our prayers concerning their anti-Israel plots and it should encourage us to press on until this threat is removed and the Iranians are set free to be allies with God's nation.

   • From the Torah portion: I have raised you [Pharaoh] up for this, in order to show My power in you, and that My name may be declared throughout all the earth. (Ex. 9:16; cp. Rom. 9:14-18) Lord, may this be the same spiritual principle that You use in relation to Iran's wicked leaders today.

   • Destroy the ayatollahs as You have said and receive all of the glory (Isa. 40:21-24; Jer. 49:38a).

   • Send a perverse spirit into the minds of all of Israel's enemies among Iran's leaders (Isa. 19:14).

   • Let them see Israeli activity everywhere, using that paranoia to totally confuse them (Psa. 129:5).

   • Dry up all of the finances of Iran's leaders and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp that keeps them in power (1 Tim. 6:9; Jam. 5:1-6).

   • Continue to build up the Iranian believers, using them as a blessing in their nation (Jer. 49:38b).

   • Let Halevi and the IDF Iran Command leaders come quickly into one accord concerning how to deal with Iran – both offensively and defensively.

   • We praise and thank You for the success You have given Israel in stopping Iran from establishing itself in Syria, and ask that these attacks would not stop until Iran flees (Psa. 68:35).

   • Prepare Israel to make a devastating pre-emptive strike against Hizbullah in Lebanon if and when needed and directed by You (Psa. 144:1; Prov. 21:31).

   • Let it be so overwhelmingly successfully that the fear of Israel and of You, the God of Israel, causes all of Israel's neighborhood enemies to tremble and fear and ask Israel for peace (2 Chr. 17:10).

   • Show Israel that it must depend on You, and not on any other nation (Psa. 146:3-5; Isa. 31:1).

   • Let the warning in the prophetic portion against Israel's allies who are not trustworthy be heard in the capitals of the Western nations today – especially America (Ezek. 29:6-7).

6. Aliyah:

   Despite an increase in anti-Semitic attacks, most Jews in the West – where most of the Jews in exile reside – remain there. A war drove out many Jews from Russia and Ukraine, so what will it take for Western Jews to wake up? We are praying that they respond to God's merciful drawing (Jer. 31:3) before He needs to chase them home (Jer. 16:16).

   • Lord, the aliyah brings You glory, so we ask for it to greatly increase this year (Isa. 43:5-7).

   • Show Jews in the West that Israel is the safest place for them in these days, especially those who go outside with baseball caps covering their kippot [Jewish skull caps] (Jer. 31:10).

   • Tear apart their false comfort zones and then send angels to drag them out of exile (Gen. 19:16).

   • Give Jewish leaders in exile courage to lead their flocks to safety in Israel (Josh. 1:9).

   • Release all Jews who want to return but are being hindered – whether by governments, finances, family or community members or deceptive theology (Ex. 9:1).

   • Open the gates in Israel to all Jews who want to return but who might be hindered by skin color or religious preferences or lack of "sufficient" finances (Isa. 62:10).

   • Lord, increase the number of new immigrants that You bring to Israel in 2023 way above the almost 75,000 who came in 2022 (Ezek. 39:27-29).

   • Guide Ofir Sofer, Israel's new minister of aliyah and absorption, filling him with a passion to serve and succeed in this capacity (Josh 1:8), and let him consult with Pnina Tamano-Shata who did such a great job in this ministry in the last government.

   • Streamline Israel's bureaucracy that too often makes the process of aliyah and absorption much more of a pain than it ought to be (2 Kin. 7:17; Isa. 62:10).

   • Impart to new olim [immigrants] divine persistence in dealing with their new life (Luke 18:2-5).

   • Encourage Netanyahu's government to settle new olim everywhere in Your land (Jer. 32:43-44).

   • Reveal to many more gentile believers that You want them to help carry and pay for, as well as pray for, the Jews in their nations to make aliyah (Isa.49:22; 60:4-10; 62:6-7).

   • Show the Church that the clearest example today of God answering the prayer of may Your name be sanctified (Matt. 6:9b) is the restoration of the land to the Jews and the Jews to the land, which will sooner or later (Sooner, Lord!), lead to the salvation of all Israel (Psa. 106:47; Ezek. 36:1-36).

7. Salvation:

   The most effective evangelists and revivalists in history usually had intercessors behind the scenes storming heaven for souls. After all, no one comes to Yeshua unless the Father draws them so why not talk to the One who has the power to save – and then when talking to those who need saving, most of the heavy work is already done (John 6:37, 39, 44-45, 65)!

   • Lord, many of Your people are back in the land and we remind You that as You said they would be saved after they returned, please pour out Your Spirit today (Jer. 32:37-40; Ezek. 36:24-29).

   • Reveal Messiah Yeshua to Your people in visions and dreams (Joel 2:28).

   • Yeshua Lord, remove all false images that the Jews have of You when You walked in Israel in the flesh – as well as all false expectations of Messiah that they have received (Gen. 45:1-5; Isa. 53:1).

   • Let more Jews see the beauty of their precious Lord and King Messiah (Psa. 90:17).

   • Lord, turn Your people to You; cause Your face to shine and save them (Psa. 80:3, 7, 18-19).

   • Exalt Your Word – and not man's – in Your people's hearts and minds (Isa. 55:11; Heb. 4:12).

   • Reveal Yourself by removing the veil over Jewish eyes when they read Moses (2 Cor. 3:14-16).

   • Let signs and wonders be evident as believers present Yeshua to the Jews (1 Cor. 1:22).

   • Anoint Israeli believers to be salt and light throughout Israeli society (Matt. 5:13).

   • Let every Jew who has ever been provoked to jealousy by a gentile believer be drawn today to that which they sensed in the heart of those precious provokers (Rom. 11:11; 1 Cor. 3:6-7).

8. Water:

   We continue to ask God to open the heavens over His land.

   • Thank You that Israel is not facing a water crisis this year (Psa. 135:7; 147:7-8).

   • Yet we do ask You, based on Your mercy (Matt. 5:45), to pour out the latter rains (Zech. 10:1)

9. IFI:

   As you can tell from reading this alert, the need is great and often the situation changes quite suddenly. We treasure you prayers for us to be able to handle frustrations and doubts and fears and confusion and to hear our Shepherd's voice leading us in His paths so that our prayers ultimately bring Him glory. Thank you for that as well as all the other ways in which you support us.

Shabbat shalom and blessings from Israel

For the IFI team

Psa. 121:5-8