1. Praise:

   Shabbat's Torah portion again declares that our God is the God of all the earth. This is said several times just in case Pharaoh had any doubts about it. Yet, regardless of how often God's rule over heaven and earth is mentioned in the Word, some believers still think that Satan is the god of this world. He is not; he is the god of this age, but our God reigns (Psa. 93:1; 96:10; Isa. 52:7b; Rev. 19:6).

   • Thank You for declaring this truth in the Torah portion in Exodus 8:10b, 8:22, 9:14, 9:16, as well as in 9:29b where Moses tells Pharaoh, I will spread abroad 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.

   • Messiah Yeshua, You called God, the Lord of heaven and earth, and we say amen (Matt. 11:25)!

   • Yet today You, Lord Yeshua, are also the Lord of all (Matt. 28:18; Acts 10:36).

   • We praise You Lord, as You are the true and living God, and our eternal King (Jer. 10:10).

   • We bless You Messiah for also being the ultimate righteous Judge (Gen. 18:25; Psa. 96:10, 13).

   • We rejoice that You have called us to serve You – the King of the nations (Jer. 10:7).

   • Thank You Abba for seating us in heavenly places in Messiah Yeshua (Psa. 110:1; Eph. 2:6).

   • We are extremely grateful for Your amazing grace in choosing us – which means that our salvation and completion rests totally on Your sovereign will (John 13:18; 15:16; Eph. 1:4).

2. Government & society:

   God continues to have us to intercede for the Sons of Zion to be raised up throughout Israeli society, and for the Sons of Greece to be changed or replaced.

   • We again ask You to promote Sons of Zion and demote Sons of Greece in Israel's government, its military and all through its society (Dan. 2:21; Zech. 9:13).

   • We also ask for any Israeli Sons of Issachar to gain much more influence today (1 Chr. 12:32a).

   • Continue to anoint Israel's superb UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan to speak truth regardless of whether those in the UN receive it or – as is most likely – reject it (Psa. 40:10; 54:5; Gal. 4:16).

   • Arise and defend Israel against the ridiculous charge of "genocide" which the International Court of Justice in The Hague was hearing this past week (Psa. 35:1-3; Isa. 54:17).

   • Lord God, use PM Bibi Netanyahu for Your purposes until You say "enough" (Isa. 48:10-11).

   • Remove every vestige of that spirit of a son of Greece from him and his advisors (Psa. 19:12; 119:9).

   • Hedge in Israel's war cabinet to accomplish that which is Your will alone (Prov. 19:21; 21:1).

   • Shield them from all the anti-war noise from the governments and people of many Western and Arab nations which would only lead to Hamas' survival and thus its victory (Deut. 33:29; Psa. 35:1-2).

   • Strengthen Israel's leaders to be both stubborn and stiff-necked when it comes to doing Your will, especially in a united rejection of the creation of a "Palestine" on Your land (Jer. 1:18; Ezek. 3:8).

   • Father, please comfort and draw to Yourself all Israelis whose loved ones are dead, or will die, who are still hostages, or whose fate is still unknown (Psa. 9:9; 86:15; 91:2; 130:7).

   • In any future hostage exchanges for ceasefires, Lord God oversee the arrangements so that what the enemy means for evil You turn into a blessing for Your beloved nation (Deut. 23:5; 33:3; Rom. 8:28).

   • For Your glory's sake – sustain and bless Israel's economy (Gen. 26:12-14; 41:52; Ex. 1:7).

   • Thank You for the advances in weapons system made by Israel's military industries, as well as for all of their efforts to supply more of Israel's crucial war supplies (Ex. 31:3-4a; Prov. 8:12).

   • Bring Israel's offensive and defensive laser weapons systems online as soon as possible (Gen. 1:3).

   • Lord, again we ask You to watch over and fulfill Isaiah 1:25-27 as soon as possible.

3. "Operation Swords of Iron," Israel's war against Hamas, is a huge strain on Israeli society. Daily we face announcements and photos of more IDF soldiers who died. Israel was clearly winning, but now its war cabinet, under outside – i.e., USA – pressure, ordered the IDF to change its tactics to save more "innocent" Gazan lives, which means more Hamas terrorists will also survive.

   • Lord, guard Israel from the foolish "suggestions" of the American administration as to how it should war against Hamas and how Gaza is supposed to look afterward (Psa. 74:22; Prov. 9:6; 14:3, 7).

   • God of Israel, support Israel's rejection of having the Palestinian Authority [PA] as Gaza's next ruler as You know they are as evil and full of Jew-hatred as Hamas (Job 5:12; Psa. 33:10-11).

   • Show Israel's leaders that there is only one "day-after" scenario that pleases You – and that is for Israel to repossess Gaza, which is Judah's inheritance (Josh. 15:1, 47; Judg. 1:18; Obad. 1:17-20).

   • If changing tactics was not of You, forgive Israel for fearing man more than God (Prov. 29:25).

   • Yet whether it was Your will or not, impart Your current strategy to the IDF to make this new phase super effective in hastening the total destruction of Hamas (Isa. 27:1; 34:5-6; 59:18).

   • Show Israel's politicians and the IDF what a real "victory" should look like, and then accompany them as they fight to achieve just that (Josh 10:10, 42; Psa. 92:4; 108:13).

   • Totally strip from Hamas whatever demonic protection it has (Psa. 120:1-7; Matt. 12:28).

   • Help Israel to cut off all of Hamas' heads – that is, its leaders (1 Sam. 17:45-46; Jer. 23:19).

   • Overwhelm Hamas with massive confusion, paranoia and panic (Psa. 40:14; Jer. 17:18).

   • Let all of Hamas' allies – like Iran and Hizbullah – turn their backs on them (Psa. 41:9; 88:18).

   • Guard Israel's soldiers physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually, and supply their every need, enabling them to fight as Your prophesied exceedingly great army (Psa. 3:3-8; 18:2; Ezek. 37:10).

   • Especially guard them from all friendly fire or other kinds of accidents (Psa. 91:4; Zech. 9:14-16).

   • Let each death of an Israeli soldier solidify Israel's determination to press on to victory (Psa. 44:4-6).

   • Reinforce Your angelic hosts in this battle against Your enemies (2 Kin. 6:16; Psa. 59:5; Heb. 1:14).

   • God of mercy, set all remaining hostages free (Isa. 42:6-7; 49:24-25), either miraculously or through directing the IDF to find them – or their bodies (Num. 21:1-3; Jer. 46:27).

   • Let Israel's intelligence community's failure to predict the Hamas attack so humble them that many start asking You for help to correctly discern all future data (Deut. 29:29; Jam. 1:5).

   • Despite the negative attitude of the global community, Lord open the gates of Gaza to let all Gazans who want to leave have an opportunity to immigrate to other nations (Acts 16:26).

4. Internal security:

   Israeli security forces are battling the terrorists in Judea and Samaria. Still, terror attacks occur daily, yet thank God, most are unsuccessful. Also, there are warnings that this area of Israel's biblical inheritance could explode with another intifada – uprising.

   • Lord, use the Torah reading to convince Your people that all of the land – from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea – is the land which You have sworn to give to them (Ex. 6:2-4, 8).

   • Let the October 7th massacre, the resulting war, and the terror attacks, prove to Israelis that dividing Your land results only in death and destruction (Ex. 34:12; Judg. 2:1-5; Joel 3:1-2).

   • As in the Torah portion with Pharaoh, continue to harden the hearts of all Palestinian leaders so that they refuse to accept a Jewish State in any area of the land whatsoever (Ex. 7:3, 13).

   • Use all of the above to make the extension of sovereignty over Your land to be seen as an urgent need for Israel to accomplish today (Job 38:13; Psa. 10:16; Mal. 1:1-5)!

   • Lord of hosts, enable Israel to neutralize all terrorists and terrorist groups which are currently on Your land or any that might arise in the near future (Deut. 7:1-2; Josh. 10:40; Zech. 9:13-15).

   • Sow massive confusion and discord in and between every Palestinian terrorist group (Psa. 59:11-13).

   • Arrange the placement of the IDF troops and their equipment in Israel (Psa. 144:1; Prov. 21:30-31).

   • Expose every terror tunnel which might be in Judea and Samaria (Psa. 139:12; Jer. 11:18).

   • Make it easier for Israeli civilians to own personal weapons, especially those who have been trained by the IDF or retired from Israeli security forces (Gen. 14:14; Neh. 4:17).

   • Thank You for exposing the lies about increased settler violence (Psa. 51:6; 60:4; 140:6-8).

5. External security:

   Iran is warring against Israel via its proxies in the Middle East. Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza, Hizbullah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen and Iran's activities in Syria, are all aimed at destroying Israel. Yet Jeremiah 31:35-37 says that all their plans are futile.

   • Lord God, guide us as we prayer as there are likely prophetic scenarios unfolding today and we only want to pray for Your will to be done on earth (Gen. 18:17; Amos 3:7; Luke 11:2; John 15:15).

   • If there will be an expanded multi-front war in the near future, please assist the IDF and all the rest of Israel to be prepared and unified and determined to win (Isa. 11:13-14; Jer. 51:20-24; Ezek. 25:14).

   • Lord, at this time fulfill Ezekiel 28:25-26 which is part of Shabbat's prophetic reading.

   • Use the accuracy and intelligence Israel possessed to kill a Hamas leader in Beirut, as well as taking out several high ranking Hizbullah leaders in Lebanon to cause an unshakeable fear and paranoia of You in the hearts and minds of every Hamas and Hizbullah leader (Prov. 15:3; Isa. 29:15).

   • Let Israel's killing of these leaders create a power struggle among the remaining leaders which leads to great chaos and division and the internal meltdown of Hamas and Hizbullah (Amos 3:3).

   • Release Your power to magnify every attack by the IDF against Hizbullah today (Psa. 60:12; 68:35).

   • Uncover any tunnels Hizbullah has dug of which Israel is ignorant (Psa. 139:12; Luke 8:17).

   • Draw Hizbullah into Your trap and destroy them for both Israel and Lebanon's sake (Isa. 41:15-16).

   • Impart Your wisdom to Israel to know how to guard all of its other borders, including with Jordan, with Syria and along the Mediterranean Sea coast (Jer. 23:23-24; Mal. 1:5).

   • Increase the efficiency and deadliness of Israel's attacks against all Iranian attempts to use Syria as a place to ferry weapons to Hizbullah (Judg. 4:7; Isa. 43:15-19).

   • With reports of Iran's increasing its stockpile of weapons grade uranium, we ask You to arise and deal with this very dangerous threat to Israel sovereignly (Psa. 68:1, 30b; Isa. 34:8; Jer. 25:31; 46:10).

   • If not, show Israel if and when to pre-empt Iran's nefarious schemes (1 Chr. 14-17).

   • Lord Yeshua, we bless and praise You for building Your throne in Elam [ancient Iran] through the Iranian Body's numerical and spiritually growth (Jer. 49:38a; Matt. 16:18b).

   • Now please complete the remainder of Jeremiah 49:38 and destroy Iran's current leaders.

   • Guide Iran believers to pray for their nation (1 Tim. 2:1-4), and for Israel (Num. 24:9b; Psa. 122:6).

6. Aliyah:

   God's regathering of His people is for His holy name's sake (Ezek. 36:20-24). As this is the first thing Messiah Yeshua told us to pray about (Matt. 6:9), the restoration of the Jews to His land leading to their salvation (Psa. 14:7), should be of high priority for all believers.

   • We bless You for You have given us great assurance that in interceding for aliyah, we are praying in line with Your will, as well as praying for Your glory's sake (Isa. 43:5-7; Jer. 32:41-44; Luke 11:2).

   • Even while fighting a war against Hamas, Lord aid Israel to prepare to receive the millions of Jews whom You are drawing, and or chasing, home today (Deut. 30:3-5; Isa. 11:11-2; 54:2-3; Mic. 4:6).

   • Help Israel's Minister of Aliyah and Integration, Ofir Sofer, who is actively working on this.

   • Show very wealthy Jews that they should return home and transfer their wealth to Israel now, as well as how they can financially help other Jews to make aliyah (1 Chr. 29:9; Ezra 1:3-4; Isa. 60:9).

   • God, help Western Jews see that their relaxed lives in exile will not be restored and teach them the lessons of 1900 plus years of Jewish history among the gentiles (Isa. 27:12; Jer. 50:4-9; 51:6-10).

   • You see Jews living outside of Your land as in captivity, so let them see that they are also hostages today – yet they can free themselves by coming home (Jer. 30:3, 10, 18; 33:7, 11, 23-26).

   • Silence all discouraging voices from Jews in exile or in Israel concerning aliyah (Num. 32:7-9).

   • Set free all Jews who are living in countries that refuse to let them leave (Ex. 9:1; Neh. 9:10).

   • In 2024, speak to many more believers to aid in Your people's return, through prayer, financially, physically or by simply talking with them about aliyah (Isa. 49:22; 60:3-11; Rom. 15:26-27).

7. Salvation:

   Israel's salvation hastens Messiah's return as He said there will be in Jerusalem Jews saying to Him, Blessed is He who comes in the name of YHWH (Matt. 23:39).

   • Lord, turn this into a year when more Jews study Your Word way more than they study the words of the rabbis, like the Talmud or the Kabbalah (Isa. 55:11; Jer. 15:16).

   • Remove the partial blindness which is on the Jews so that gentiles might be saved (Rom. 11:25).

   • Abba Father, by Your amazing grace, save a remnant of the survivors of the Hamas massacres; any hostages still alive; ex- hostages who are damaged mentally and emotionally; hostage families and friends whether the hostages are home or their situation still remains unknown; IDF soldiers in every section of Israel's army, and their families; Israeli soldiers and civilians who are severely wounded; all medical personnel; Jews in the educational system in Israel and globally; Israeli politicians, especially those in the war cabinet; many of their aides; Israelis made homeless from the Gaza periphery and the north; Israeli diplomats in the nations; Jews in exile who are suddenly quite anxious over their safety; Holocaust survivors; unsaved loved ones of Messianic Jews (Psa. 36:7-9).

   • Speak to all Jewish believers who are still in the closet, including the Haredi [ultra-Orthodox], that this is the day of salvation and they need to take an open stance for You (1 Chr. 16:23; Psa. 96:2).

   • Lord Yeshua, use Your disciples in the IDF and in Israeli society to shine Your light wherever they go and to whomever they speak (Matt. 5:14-16; Phil. 2:15).

8. Body of Messiah:

   We need to interpret prophecy like Yeshua did, which is to expect a literal fulfillment. Yet we also must avoid being dogmatic in our interpretations as no one can know all the details or the timing before any prophetic word is fulfilled.

   • God, grant us that same spirit which the Bereans possessed to search Your Word (Acts 17:10-12).

   • Lord, let Your Spirit lead us as we look at Your Word to try and understand the swiftly occurring events in the world today (Psa. 36:9; 43:3a; 119:105; Eph. 1:17).

   • King Messiah, promote more children of Zion in Your Body and remove all children of Greece, especially those elders who teach Your Word (Zech. 9:13; Acts 20:28-32).

   • Lord Yeshua, cleanse Your Body from all anti-Semitic and anti-Zionistic spirits (Isa. 5:20-23).

   • Open the minds and hearts of many more believers to see the essential need to pray for their nation's current relations with Israel (Num. 24:9b; Ezek. 22:30-31).

   • Warn them, as You said concerning Egypt in the prophetic portion, that You are greatly displeased with Israel's "allies" who prove to be undependable when Israel needs them (Ezek. 29:6-7).

9. Water:

   Israel is now in its winter season, the time of the latter rains, so please pray with us for the heavier rains and even snow in all the right places (Zech. 10:1).

   • Thank You for the heavier rains Israel is receiving now (Psa. 68:9; 104:13).

   • Lord God, overrule the weather for Your glory and Israel's benefit (Job 5:9-10; Psa. 135:7).

   • Let whatever inconveniences accompany the cold, wet weather turn into a blessing for Israel and a real pain for its enemies (Rom. 8:28).

   • Merciful Father, provide for all of Israel's water needs (Matt. 5:45b).

10. IFI:

    Thank you for praying with us for Israel, as well as for IFI to continue to stand on that spot on Jerusalem's wall which our God has ordained for us (Isa. 62:6-7).

Shabbat shalom and blessings from Zion

Chuck Cohen, for the IFI team

Psa. 128:5