1. Praise:

   This coming Wednesday at sunset Jewish families sit down at the Seder, the Passover meal, remembering how God set them free from Egyptian bondage around 3400 years ago. This was the start of the 12 tribes going from slavery in Egypt to Mount Sinai where according to Jewish tradition, on Shavuot [Pentecost] Moses came down with God's commandments which united the tribes into the nation of Israel. The lesson we learn is that there is no freedom without law, as that leads to anarchy; yet law without freedom leads to stagnation and death.

   • Lord, thank You for creating Israel so that through them the world might know You (Isa. 54:5).

   • We know You can do all things – especially that which You declared You would do in and through Israel (Job 42:2; Jer. 32:27), and we rejoice to see You so faithfully fulfilling many of Your end-days prophetic promises today (Isa. 55:11; Jer. 1:12).

   • We bless You Yeshua, our Passover Lamb, who has set us free from slavery to sin (1 Cor. 5:7).

   • We praise You Lord for Your blood shed for us and which protects us, redeems us and cleanses us before God our Father (Eph. 2:13; Heb. 9:14; 1 Pet. 1:18-19; 1 John 1:7; Rev. 1:5).

   • Thank You that part of the salvation process includes You implanting Your law in our hearts (Jer. 31:33) so that by Your Spirit we can walk in obedience to You (Ezek. 36:37; Rom. 8:4).

   • Regardless of our situation You are our immovable Rock in whom we find safety (Psa. 18:2).

   • I will sing unto YHWH, for He has triumphed gloriously: the horse and rider He has cast into the sea. YHWH is my strength and song, and He is become my salvation [yeshu'ah]: He is my God…and I will exalt him. YHWH is a man of war: YHWH is His name.Ex. 15:1-3

2. Salvation:

   The original Passover in Egypt focused on the lamb (Ex. 12:5, 11, 21, 27). Its blood protected the Jews and all others who sheltered with them from God's righteous judgments on the gods of Egypt. Yet the lamb is no longer a central figure in the retelling of the Passover story.

   • Abba, restore the lamb and its blood as a central talking point among Jewish families (Rev. 12:11).

   • Lord Yeshua, appear miraculously to many Jewish families during the Seder meal (Luke 24:36-43).

   • King Messiah, draw multitudes of unsaved Jews to shelter under Your shed blood in order to be saved and to be protected from God's righteous judgment on their sin nature (Ex. 12:12-13, 23).

   • Make Jews very curious to read what Exodus 12 reports about that original Passover in Egypt.

   • Use the Matzah, the unleavened bread, which is stripped and pierced and looks bruised, to draw Your people's attention to what is prophesied about Messiah (Psa. 22:16; Isa. 53:4-5; Zech. 12:10).

   • Remove the famine of hearing Your Word and draw Jews away from men's words (Amos 8:11).

   • We bless and praise You for each Jew who was saved since last year's Passover (Psa. 14:7; 53:6).

   • Lord, based on Jeremiah 31:7, we ask You to save many ultra-Orthodox, Conservative and Reform Jews – including those who do not believe that there really is a God; Jews who keep the Passover only because of tradition; Holocaust survivors and families; Israelis who live in Judea and Samaria; both pro- and anti-judicial reform protestors; Israeli politicians from the coalition and opposition; judges and lawyers; Israelis throughout the IDF and in other security services; sex traffickers; prostitutes; abortion doctors; women who recently have had an abortion; criminals; terrorist survivors and families of terrorist victims; and unsaved loved ones of Messianic Jews.

   • From the prophetic portion: For I am YHWH, I change not; therefore you sons of Jacob are not consumed. (Mal. 3:6) We thank You for this verse and ask that many "sons of Jacob" would be turned into sons of Israel during this Passover season.

3. Aliyah:

   The journey from Egypt to the Promised Land was the first aliyah of the Jews as a nation. God has promised that when He restores the Jews to His land in the last days He will again make out of this very opinionated and individualistic people one nation (Isa. 11:11-14). And as we watch what is happening in Israel today – that will obviously take a huge miracle.

   • God, we bless You for the huge miracle You have already done with todays' aliyah (Jer. 32:37).

   • Lord, continue to regather Your people to their land from their worldwide exile (Isa. 43:5-7).

   • In Your zeal, shake up the comfort zones of Jews in the West and bring them to Zion (Zech. 8:1-8).

   • As banks fail, and more authority is given to global NGOs and other international groups, show Jews in exile that now may be the last moment when they can still return with their wealth (Isa. 60:9).

   • Do not allow the increase of anti-Semitism throughout the West to be hidden or ignored by Your people still living there among the gentile nations (Jer. 16:16).

   • Lord, when Jews, including Messianic, say "Next year in Jerusalem" at the end of the Seder, speak to their hearts and challenge them to do that which they have just declared (Matt. 5:37).

   • Cause Jewish children to ask them why they say this and do not do it (Matt. 11:25; 21:16).

   • Send a wave of homesickness on the many Israelis who are living outside of Israel (Jer. 51:6-10).

   • Muffle the negative media noise from penetrating the ears of Jews whom You are calling home and instead let them hear only Your voice (Isa. 30:21).

   • Cut Israel's excessive red tape, and make it easier for Jews to attain their citizenship (Isa. 62:10).

   • Also smooth out the way for professionals to have their accreditations recognized (Isa. 57:14).

   • Thank You for the report that Israel is building more absorption centers (Jer. 32:41).

   • Build them with revolving doors, so that new immigrants [olim] will be able to move out quickly to being full-fledged members of Israeli society (Hos. 11:10-11; Amos 9:15).

   • As You bring Your people home, plant them in – and marry them to – the land with such a love relationship that it will survive even the inevitable desert experiences (Isa. 62:4-5; Hosea 2:16-20).

   • Supply all the needs of both Jewish and Christian organizations that help the aliyah (Ex. 16:18).

   • With so many areas of need, show them where their specific focus needs to be (John 21:21-22).

4. Government & society:

   At the beginning of the week, PM Bibi Netanyahu halted any further progress in the judicial reform. The extreme reaction from the political opposition and Israelis who were against this created anarchy – including blocked highways, massive strikes, the closing of the airport, and more. Also, the danger of civil war was hovering in the background. While Bibi did give in to intimidation and threats, yet before we judge him harshly, he did not have many options. Also what would we – even as believers – have done in his shoes? Eliyahu Ben Haim used to remind us that it is easy to sit and judge when we do not have to bear the responsibilities of our decisions.

   • Lord, we recall how Jeremiah was confused when You told him to buy a field as before this You had told him many times that Judah will go into exile. So we also start to pray like he did: Lord YHWH! Behold, You have made the heaven and the earth by Your great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for You: (Jer. 32:17) Therefore God, arise and take control!

   • Guide us as we pray into this very confusing and disturbing situation (Psa. 23:3b; 1 Cor. 14:33).

   • The enemy knows that his time is short and desires to destroy Israel (Rev. 12:7-17), but we declare that You are still Lord of all and ask You to do all that You have purposed (Psa. 103:19; Acts 10:36).

   • You promised to guard over Israel when You brought it back from exile, so we plead with You to intervene and protect Your nation from itself today (Jer. 31:10).

   • Grant Netanyahu wisdom from You (Job 12:13) and block all misleading counsel (Job 12:17).

   • Use this chaotic situation to cause Bibi and his coalition to cry out to You over Passover (Psa. 5:2).

   • Protect those government ministers who desire to do Your will from any attacks (Psa. 144:2).

   • Expose the real motives of Israel's opposition parties which many think is not to stop the judicial reform but to reverse the results of the last election (Jer. 17:9-10; Heb. 4:12).

   • We thank You that both Netanyahu and National Security Minister Ben-Gvir rebuked US President Biden's deliberate attempts to influence Israel's internal affairs, especially in relation to the judicial reforms (Lev. 19:17; Psa. 119:21; Prov. 28:23; Eccl. 7:5; Isa. 54:17).

   • Watch over the negotiations between the coalition and opposition concerning the judicial reform and ensure that the final outcome furthers Your will as revealed in Isaiah 1:25-26.

   • Let the coalition use this pause in the reforms to do a better job of explaining exactly what they want to do and why it needs to be done to the Israeli public (1 Cor. 14:19; 2 Cor. 3:12; Gal. 4:16).

   • Thank You for the coalition passing a two year budget, and we pray that You would give Bibi and Finance Minister Smotrich wisdom to bring down the very high cost of living (Psa. 90:12).

   • Bring clarity concerning Defense Minister Gallant's situation – and if he is to be fired, raise up a better man to take his place quickly (Jer. 5:1).

   • Use all this confusion and division to work together for Israel's good and Your glory (Rom. 8:28).

5. Internal security:

   We are in the midst of Ramadan, Islam's holy month. Israel needs all the prayers of protection that we can lift up to God for His people. This is also a great time to pray for many Muslims to be turned from being Messiah's enemies to becoming part of His family.

   • We bless You for the reports of salvation among millions of Middle Eastern Muslims (Psa. 18:44).

   • Give ex-Muslim believers words to pierce the hearts of Muslims with Your truth (Psa. 81:10b).

   • Send a tsunami wave of salvation to overrun the Palestinians (Psa. 66:3; Acts 2:47).

   • Use Palestinian believers as a shining light during Ramadan – and protect them (Matt. 5:16).

   • Lord, we ask You to fulfill Your word to guard Your people when You regather them (Jer. 31:10), and that You also fulfill all the good that You promised them as well (Jer. 32:42; 33:14).

   • Please continue to reveal to Israel the plans of the various terrorist groups that are springing up like noxious weeds in Judea and especially in Samaria (Matt. 10:26).

   • Guard all who gather intelligence for Israel, and protect them from deception (2 Kin. 6:12).

   • Continue to accompany the IDF as they fight against the terrorists nightly (2 Sam. 5:24).

   • Discourage many terrorists by the IDF's supernatural success against them and let many, especially during Ramadan, see that Israel's God is superior to their god (Ex. 18:11; 1 Chr. 16:25; Psa. 95:3).

   • Bring about distrust, division and paranoia between the various terrorist groups (Psa. 35:26; 55:9).

   • Help maintain Israel's security forces' high alert status as Ramadan, Passover and Resurrection Day coincide this year (Psa. 140:7; 144:1).

   • Release a host of angelic protection over Your land at this time as well (Psa. 34:7; 68:17).

   • Let Your fear inundate every branch of the IDF, so that Malachi 4:2-3 from this Shabbat's prophetic portion, can be applied to it – and then through the IDF You will be glorified (Isa. 41:15-16).

6. External security:

   Israel's external enemies are rejoicing over the division in Israel, hoping that the Jewish people will end up destroying themselves. Yet God who has brought this people back from its second exile has vastly different plans.

   • Watch over Micah 4:11-13 at this time – for Your holy name's sake (Psa. 115:1-3).

   • Apply Your "woe" found in Micah 2:1 to Iran's leadership and all of its proxies (Mic. 2:3).

   • Send mass confusion into the minds of Iran's nuclear scientists and cause major errors (Psa. 129:5).

   • Reveal every bit of intelligence Israel needs to know so that the government can effective do that which is its primary responsibility – to protect its people (Rom. 13:1-4).

   • If, as seems likely, Israel needs to pre-empt an Iranian nuclear bomb, be the One who directs both the attack as well as the timing – and make it supernaturally effective (Prov. 21:31; Jer. 51:19-24).

   • When Israel's Muslim foes are put to shame – let them then seek Your name (Psa. 83:16).

   • As Russia and China move in to fill the vacuum left by a reduced US presence in the Middle East, give Israel Your wisdom in its relationships with these two nations (Job 28:20-23; 38:36; Psa. 51:6).

   • Aid Israel to make quick progress in developing laser weaponry and cyber-technology, offensive and defensive EMP equipment and in the wise and cautious use of artificial intelligence (Deut. 28:13).

   • Prevent Israel from being too quick to share its cutting-edge technology (Isa. 39:3-8).

   • Keep Israel from placing false trust in unreliable allies (Isa. 36:6; Ezek. 29:6-7).

   • We trust You to guard Israel as a nation at least until the new heavens and new earth (Jer. 31:35-37).

7. The Body of Messiah:

   The Torah portion includes the sanctification of Aaron and his sons into the priest's office in order to minister to the Lord (Lev. 8:1-36).

   • Lord, as Your Body is a royal priesthood ministering to You (1 Pet. 2:9), please sanctify – that is, separate – us unto Yourself in an even more definitive manner in these days (2 Cor. 6:17).

   • Impress upon the Body that all they do should have Your glory as the goal (1 Cor. 10:31; Col. 3:17).

   • Yeshua Lord, focus the Body on You, the Father's beloved Son (Matt. 17:5; 2 Pet. 1:17; Heb. 12:2).

   • Let Your fear, Lord God, permeate the Body of Messiah, so that Malachi 3:16-18 from the prophetic portion will be applied to it – and through the Body You will be glorified.

   • Prepare the Israeli Body to receive the huge harvest that is about to come (Luke 19:17; 2 Tim. 2:15).

   • For those who do not believe in the historical Yeshua, open their eyes to see that He is still Jewish, the King of the Jews and the Lion of Judah (Mark 15:26; Rev. 5:5; 22:16b).

   • Use this season to save many of those who are "Christian" in name only (Luke 6:46: John 3:7).

8. Water:

   God has been very gracious to Israel this rainy season and we are very grateful to you for praying alongside of us for all of Israel's water needs. Please continue as He leads you.

9. IFI:

   Thank you for standing with us during this very chaotic and confusing time here in Israel. Please continue to pray for us to have biblical discernment to know His will and the ability to hear His voice as we pray and lead in prayer.

Shabbat shalom v'hag Pesach sameach [Passover joy] to from Zion

Chuck Cohen, for the IFI team

1 Pet. 1:17-20