1. Praise:

   Shabbat's prophetic portion starts with Isaiah's vision of the Lord of hosts seated on His throne in heaven. John clarifies for us that who Isaiah saw was God the Son before He become a man (John 12:41), and this agrees with John's statements that no one has seen God directly, but only through His Son has the Father been revealed to us (John 1:18; 6:46; 14:9).

   • Lord Yeshua, we declare that You are the most holy YHWH of hosts, and we wait with hope and faith that very soon the whole earth will be filled with Your glory (Isa. 6:1-3; cp. 11:9; 40:5).

   • We praise You Lord Yeshua for being the exact expression of God incarnate (Col. 2:9; Heb. 1:3).

   • Thank You Father for revealing Your Son in this prophetic portion as the Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6).

   • What a joy to serve a God who is so faithful to fulfill His Word (Psa. 36:5; 89:2, 8; Isa. 54:11).

   • We bless You that once again in the Torah portion You say for all the earth is Mine (Ex. 19:5b).

   • We praise You Lord for that biblical fear of You which so often prevents us from sinning, just as Moses says in the Torah reading in Exodus 20:20b (Josh. 24:14; Neh. 5:15).

   • We rejoice that our trust in You grows when we read how nothing takes You by surprise (Isa. 42:9).

2. Government & society:

   Despite the distorted decision by the International Court of Justice that came very close to accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza, most of Israel's leaders are pressing on to achieve victory over Hamas. As Israel regularly faces this type of global pressure, our prayers for the sons of Zion – those who fear God and trust in His Word – to be in charge, and for the sons of Greece – those who fear man and disregard His Word – to be removed, is essential for Israel today.

   • Abba, elevate Israel's sons of Zion as per Zechariah 9:13, and use them to negate the influence of the sons of Greece in the government, in its military and in its society (Jer. 17:5-8).

   • Silence Israel's sons of Greece and their constant negative anti-biblical warnings (Psa. 46:10-11).

   • As a major part of this problem, please hedge in most of Israel's mainstream media (Zech. 2:13).

   • Uphold PM Bibi Netanyahu as Israel's leader until it is Your time for him to go home (Dan. 2:21).

   • Surround him with sons of Zion and sons of Issachar to influence him at this time (1 Chr. 12:32).

   • As he is often between a rock and hard place in making decisions, let him seek You as his Rock [which is how God is described in Israel's Declaration of Independence] (Deut. 32:3-4; 2 Sam. 23:3).

   • Protect Israel's coalition and war cabinet as they move ahead with what is best for Your nation so that they will not wither under intense internal and external forces (Psa. 31:18; 35:1; Prov. 23:11).

   • Abba, we ask You again to comfort all Israelis whose loved ones have died, or will die, who are still hostages, or whose fate is still unknown (Psa. 40:1; 71:20-21; 86:17).

   • In particular, bring Your healing comfort to the new widows and orphans in Israel (Psa. 146:9a).

   • Thwart any hostage exchange with Hamas that is not totally in line with Your will and Your timing, and rebuke the unjust demands of the US, the EU, the UN and Arab nations (Psa. 33:10-11).

   • Watch over and bless Israel's economy in the midst of this major conflict (Deut. 8:18; Prov. 10:22).

3. Foreign relations:

   Nations and major NGOs like the UN are coming against Jerusalem. So far it is in the realm of politics, but if Israel continues to say "No!" to a Palestinian Islamic terror state on its God-given land – which we are praying for it to do – then we expect in the not too distant future for the nations backed by these NGOs to come against it militarily (Zech. 12:2-3; 14:2).

   • King Messiah, reveal to Your Body that they have spiritual responsibility to pray for mercy for their nation's negative, or even only lukewarm, relationship with Israel today (Ezek. 22:30-31; Zech. 12:9).

   • God, continue to guide us in prayer since we do not want to intercede against You fulfilling Your prophetic word – even if it results in wars and rumors of wars (Gen. 18:17; Amos 3:7; John 15:15).

   • Let prophetic voices cry out in America, warning both the Church and the nation's leaders, that President Biden's push to create a Palestinian State after the war in Gaza will drive that nation deeper into God's Valley of judgment because it will divide His land and scatter His people (Joel 3:1-2).

   • Harden Israel's leaders and people against the creation of a "Palestine" on Your land, as it is totally unbiblical, and would actually reward the Palestinians for slaughtering Jews (Isa. 50:7; Jer. 15:20).

   • As pressure on Israel to allow a Palestinian State increasingly grows, also harden Palestinian leaders' hearts to refuse to accept a Jewish nation to continue to exist on "their" land (Neh. 9:10; Ezek. 20:9).

   • Lord, prepare Israel for the results of this year's US elections by looking more to You and less to America – or to any other nation (Psa. 118:8-9; Isa. 31:1).

   • Empower all Israeli diplomats to declare truth regardless of whether other nations will pay heed or reject what they say (Psa. 12:1-3; Isa. 54:17; 59:19; Ezek. 33:9; Gal. 4:16).

   • Expose to the world how the UN's agency for Palestinians refugees [UNRWA] is under the thumb of Hamas and is a channel which feeds the Palestinian hatred for Jews and Israel (Prov. 10:18; 26:26).

   • Protect Israel from Qatar which comes across as neutral yet totally supports Hamas (Num. 23:23).

   • God Almighty, confront the hypocrisy of most of the nations who love to honor dead Jews at various events, but then constantly condemn living Jews in Israel for defending themselves (Job 27:8-9)!

   • Show Israel it has no real allies among the nations and cause it to look to You alone (Num. 23:9b)

4. Israel is still fighting its "War of Independence." It has been defending itself as a nation since 1948. While there have been periods of less active warfare, there has not been a season of real peace for the modern state. The current phase against Hamas in Gaza, "Operation Swords of Iron," likely need to continue until at least the end of 2024, but pressure from the world to force Israel to agree to a permanent "ceasefire" puts Israel's victory and Hamas' defeat in jeopardy.

   • As this is a "just" war against Your enemies and as You are a just God (Deut. 32:4; Isa. 45:21), arise to help Israel "scatter" Hamas once and for all (Ex. 15:3, 14-18; Judg. 5:2; Psa. 68:1).

   • Protect Israelis' minds and hearts against unbiblical "suggestions" from Western nations who appear to no longer be able – or willing – to discern good from evil (Psa. 2:1-3; Prov. 17:15; 24:24).

   • Lord, judge those nations and NGOs which make ridiculous demands on Israel yet have not insisted that Hamas surrender and release all of the hostages (Psa. 9:19-20; 80:8).

   • Protect IDF soldiers physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually, while providing for all of their needs so that they can fight as Your exceedingly great army (Ezek. 37:10).

   • Let them war as the Sons of Zion and not in a politically-correct, humanistic fashion (Deut. 20:4).

   • Abba, be their shield against friendly fire or other types of accidents (Gen. 15:1; Psa. 3:3; 91:4).

   • Clear away the "fog of war" from IDF forces, but intensify it over Hamas' terrorists (Zeph. 1:15).

   • Lord, expose all of Hamas' remaining terror tunnels in Gaza and show the IDF the most effective way to destroy them (Psa. 44:1-5).

   • God, in mercy, miraculously set free all remaining living hostages (Isa. 49:24-26; Jer. 31:15-17).

   • If not, then please show the IDF where to find them or their bodies (Num. 21:1-3; Judg. 5:12b).

   • Move on the people in Israel's intelligence services to ask You for discernment in deciphering what is crucial and what is not in all of the data they are gathering (Deut. 29:29; Job 42:2; Psa. 50:15).

   • Put Your shalom on IDF soldiers and their families as they return from the war (Psa. 29:11; 55:18).

   • Support Israel in its refusal to let the Palestinian Authority [PA] rule over Gaza after the war, as they are as demonically-inspired and as full of Jew-hatred as Hamas (Psa. 33:10-11; Prov. 22:23).

   • Reveal to Israel's leaders that Your "day-after" scenario is for them to take back all of Gaza, which is a part of Judah's biblical inheritance (Josh. 15:1, 47; Judg. 1:18; Obad. 1:17-20).

   • Help Gazans who want to leave Gaza be able to do so – despite the world's resistance (Psa. 79:11).

5. Internal security:

   Terrorist attacks inside Israel, especially in Judea and Samaria never stop. Yet Israel's security forces prevent most of them, and are also proactively going after terrorists and terror cells. For both of these actions we thank and praise God.

   • God Almighty, thank You for never falling asleep on the job of guarding over Israel (Psa. 121:4).

   • Use both the war against Hamas and against terrorists in the rest of Israel to convince more Israelis that dividing Your land results in death and ruin – and not peace (Judg. 2:1-5; Joel 3:1-2).

   • Let the sons of Zion in Israel's political and military realms press Israel to extend its sovereignty over all the land west of the Jordan River (Psa. 10:16; 44:2-4; Jer. 32:41-44).

   • Continue to keep most of Israel's war against its internal enemies off of the world's radar (Psa. 17:8).

   • Enable Israel to nullify all terrorists and terror groups in Your land, and to pre-empt any terrorist attacks that are being planned for the near future (Deut. 2:2; 11:25; Josh. 2:9).

   • Thank You for the recent foiling of serious terrorist plots in Judea and Samaria (Psalm 57:6).

   • Insert hatred, distrust and paranoia in between all those who curse Israel (Num. 24:9b; Zech. 14:13).

   • Expose any hidden terror tunnels in Judea and Samaria (Obad. 1:16).

   • Lord, in mercy and by Your grace, save a remnant among the Palestinians (Matt. 5:44).

   • Build up Your Body among the Palestinians, in and outside of Israel (Matt. 16:18; Eph. 1:16-19).

6. External security:

   Iran's goal to wipe Israel off the map is what colors most of their thinking and planning today (Psa. 83:1-4). Iran uses its Middle East proxies – Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza, Hizbullah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, terrorist groups and its own activities in Syria – to threaten and often to attack the Jewish Nation.

   • As tensions increase between Pakistan and Iran, use the 1400+ years of hatred between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims to set those who hate Israel and the Jews against each other (2 Chr. 20:23; Hag. 2:22).

   • Lord God, ignite power struggles between the leaders of Hamas and Hizbullah in Lebanon and use it to birth confusion and division and the unraveling of their cooperation (Psa. 109:29; 129:5).

   • Prepare Israel's leaders, its army and people, to be ready to fight a multi-front war in the near future, yet let it occur only if it is Your will and only in Your time (Isa. 41:14-16: ; Ezek. 25:14).

   • Make every IDF attack against Hizbullah overwhelmingly effective (Psa. 59:17; 144:1).

   • Lord, as we pray for Israel remember Joel 2:17-20 and drive away Hizbullah, today's northern army.

   • Lord God, with over 500 earthquakes hitting Iran just last month, position some of the larger ones to drag Iran's uranium enrichment facilities deep into the earth (Ex. 15:12; 2 Sam. 22:8-15).

   • If not, then guide Israel on when and how it should attack to destroy this Iranian threat (Psa. 144:1).

   • Hallelujah! Thank You for Your growing Body in Elam [ancient Iran] (Jer. 49:38a; Matt. 16:18b).

   • Arise Lord, and fulfill the rest of Jeremiah 49:38 by destroying Iran's wicked leaders today.

   • Remove all of the Iranian regime's demonic spiritual protection (Num. 14:9b).

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

7. Aliyah:

   We are privileged to see God fulfilling His Word and regathering His scattered people (Jer. 31:10). This prophetic fulfillment has been happening for almost 140 years as most people place the First Aliyah in modern times to the mid-1850s. We seem to be close to the end of the regathering, especially with the explosive surge of anti-Semitism worldwide.

   • Father in heaven, sanctify Your name by regathering Your people back to Israel and let Your will be done on earth as it is already being done in heaven (Jer. 31:10; Ezek. 36: 23-24; Luke 11:2).

   • Please Lord, show Israel, even in the midst of the war, what it must do to successfully absorb the millions of Jews whom You will be bringing home shortly (Isa. 11:11-12; 54:2-3; Jer. 16:16; 31:3).

   • Set off alarm bells in the minds of Western Jews, including believers, as they see the destruction of their comfortable lifestyles and show them that any hopes of it being restored are very dangerous for them and their families (Isa. 48:20; Jer. 50:4-9).

   • Also show them that even if they see themselves as fully committed to the nations they reside in, many of the gentile citizens see them as a people set apart and want them gone (Ezek. 20:32).

   • Let the massive hate-filled pro-Palestinian demonstrations chase the Jews home (Jer. 16:16).

   • Increase the voices, both in the Jewish community and in the Church, that see what is happening and are encouraging Jews to make aliyah today (Num. 32:7-9).

   • Open the gates wide for Jews who live in nations that stop them from leaving – like Iran (Neh. 9:10).

   • Prepare "righteous gentiles", whether believers or not, who will protect, hide and help Jews to make aliyah in the face of any onslaught against Jews in their nations (Psa. 64:2; Prov. 28:28a).

   • Raise up more believers to aid Jews to return – by prayer, with finances, physically carrying them, or by sharing with them about aliyah (Isa. 49:22; 60:3-11; Rom. 15:26-27; Eph. 4:15).

8. Salvation:

   Israel's salvation happens before Messiah's return so that there will be a remnant in Jerusalem to welcome Him with, Blessed is He who comes in the name of YHWH (Matt. 23:39). After all, if all Israel is saved after His physical return, then that would mean Gentiles are saved by faith and Jews by sight – and that concept is totally unbiblical.

   • Lord God, for Your name's sake, pour out clean water on the hearts of Jews who now live in Your land, (Ezek. 36:24-32) and inscribe Your law on those hearts (Jer. 31:31-34).

   • Abba Father, by Your amazing grace, save a large remnant of Holocaust survivors; survivors of Hamas' massacres; survivors of previous terrorist attacks; any hostages still alive; any ex-hostages, especially those with mental and emotional struggles; hostage families and friends regardless of whether the hostages are released or their state is unknown; IDF soldiers and families; soldiers and civilians severely wounded; all medical personnel; Jewish politicians; those in Israel's war cabinet; Israeli international diplomats; Israelis living out of their homes from the Gaza periphery and in the north near Lebanon; pre-October 7th Israeli peace activists; Jews in exile who are very unsure of their safety; Jews who have rejected Rabbinic Judaism but not You; unsaved loved ones of Messianic Jews (Psa. 9:14; 20:5; 95:1; Isa. 33:22-23).

   • Let believers in Israeli society live in a way that provokes many Jews to jealousy (Rom. 11:11, 14).

9. Body of Messiah:

   At this time in history, it is vital for us to use God's Word as the filter for our worldview. Yet to do this we need to know and trust that the Old Testament [Tanach] is still His Word today, as most of the prophecies He is watching over to fulfill (Jer. 1:12: Isa. 55:11) relate to Israel and those are mostly found in the Tanach.

   • Lord Yeshua, reveal to Your Body that the connection between Exodus 19:9a in Shabbat's Torah portion and what You said to the Jewish leadership in John 5:46-47 is still true today.

   • We thank You that Your Word is active and living today and we pray for more believers to see that when the writer to the Hebrews wrote that (Heb. 4:12), there was only the Tanach!

   • Confront Your people in the Body with how easy it is to be mistaken about spiritual things, including theology, as well as about the power of God if they do not really know the Tanach (Matt. 22:29).

   • Lord, please guide us by Your Spirit so that when we read Your Word we have at least some idea of what You are doing to fulfill Your Word today (Psa. 36:9; 119:105, 130; Eph. 1:17).

   • Yeshua Lord, raise up the sons of Zion to take the lead in Your Body (Zech. 9:13; Acts 20:28-32).

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

10. Water:

    Israel is today in a season of cold and wet weather. And while for many of you it seems crazy to thank God for that, yet we do and we ask for more!

    • Lord, we bless You for sending the heavier rains upon Israel at this time (Psa. 104:13; 135:7).

    • We know this is because You are a merciful Father (Matt. 5:45b) and pray that many others in Israel would affirm this as well (Isa. 41:17-20).

    • Again, we ask for the weather to be a blessing to Israel and a disaster to its foes (Isa. 30:30).

11. IFI:

    While often the headlines discourage us, God's lines encourage us. Please pray for us to trust in Him and not be swayed by what man says. May He also encourage you greatly in His Word.

Thank you, Shabbat shalom and blessings from Jerusalem

Chuck Cohen, for the IFI team

Num. 6:24-26