1. Praise:

   Shabbat's Torah portion continues God's instructions for erecting the wilderness Tabernacle as well as for Aaron and his sons' part in the priesthood. God again affirms that His overall goal is to be able to live with His people: I will dwell among the children of Israel, and be their God; and they shall know that I am YHWH their God who brought them forth from the land of Egypt, so that I may dwell among them. I am YHWH their God. (Ex. 29:45-46)

   • Lord Yeshua, we rejoice in the knowledge that it was for this same reason that You were born, died and rose again so that by Your Spirit, You and the Father could dwell in us (John 14:18, 23).

   • We bless You Lord for sending the Holy Spirit who has made us Your holy house (1 Cor. 6:19).

   • We declare that greater are You in us, than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4). Hallelujah!

   • Thank You King Yeshua, for fulfilling the type of the High Priest (Heb. 2:17) and for completing the purposes of the Levitical sacrificial system – to carry away our sins (Isa. 53:4-5; 1 Pet. 2:24).

   • We praise You Abba for reconciling us to Yourself through the blood of Your Son (Col. 1:17-20).

   • We praise You Lord for Your intercession which enables our salvation to be perfected (Heb. 7:25).

   • We do not take it for granted that You, God the Creator, humble Yourself to hear and to answer our prayers, for which we are very grateful (Prov. 86:7; Prov. 15:8b; 1 John 5:14-15).

2. Government & society:

   PM Bibi Netanyahu has recently been acting much more like a Son of Zion than in the past. Regardless of what we think of him personally, or what his real motives are, he is the man whom God has as Israel's leader today, and so we hold up his arms in prayer. The only reason to pray against his success is if we really do not believe that our God reigns.

   • God, we thank You for those Sons of Zion in Israel's government who have rejected US President Biden's and others' plans to recognize a Palestinian State after the war (Psa. 118:8-9; Zech. 9:13)!

   • We praise You that the Knesset, Israel's parliament, then voted 99-11 to support that government decision to reject any unilateral recognition of a Palestinian State by the nations (Psa. 133:1).

   • Guard over this unity in Israel's coalition and war cabinet (Amos 3:3).

   • For Your name's sake, use Netanyahu until You determine his time is over (Eccl. 3:1-2; Dan. 5:21).

   • Make him like those in Daniel who stood for You regardless of the personal costs (Dan. 3:16-18).

   • Hedge in Benny Gantz from going behind Bibi's back and turn him into a Son of Zion (Psa. 119:59).

   • Abba, comfort Your nation, especially those whose loved ones have been murdered or sexually abused by Hamas, or are still hostages, or whose fate is not known (Isa. 12:1; 61:1-3; 2 Cor. 1:3-4).

   • We bless You that Netanyahu and most other Israeli leaders totally reject Hamas' absurd demands on a hostage exchange-for-ceasefire offer and ask You to make them unwavering on this (Prov. 21:1).

   • Use those demands to shift the thinking of the hostages' families and Israel's media and to turn their anger and frustration towards Hamas and not at Bibi and the government (Psa. 76:10; Jam. 1:19-20).

   • Lord, cast out of Israeli society every spirit of lawlessness and rebellion (Psa. 66:7).

   • Use the municipal elections throughout Israel next week to bring Isaiah 1:25-27 that much closer.

   • Send forth Your shalom on released soldiers and their families as they reunite (Num. 6:24-27).

   • God of Israel, bless Israel's economy to grow amazingly during this time (Deut. 8:18; 28:3-6).

   • Aid Israel to quickly take in tens of thousands of foreign workers from friendly nations and replace the Palestinians, most of whom are raised to hate the Jews and the Jewish nation (Isa. 60:10).

3. Foreign relations:

   This is the arena where end-time prophetic events will play out. So it does not surprise us that most nations want to divide God's land to create a Palestinian state despite polls that consistently reveal how a vast majority of Palestinians support Hamas and its atrocities. Today the pressure on Israel is political, yet as Israel, God willing, continues to say no, Zechariah 12:2-9 and 14:2 could come to pass militarily a lot sooner than many of us were expecting.

   • God, guide us so that we do not pray against what You are doing to fulfill Your Word (Amos 3:7).

   • Lord, reveal to Your Body their spiritual obligation to stand in the gap for their nation (Ezek. 22:30) over its negative, or even just lukewarm, relations with Israel today (Isa. 60:12; Zech. 12:9).

   • Raise up prophetic voices in the US to warn political and church leaders that Biden's push to create a "Palestine" pushes America deeper into Your valley of judgment (Num. 23:19-24; Joel 3:1-2).

   • Lord, have Your Body warn their nations how You will not be mocked, but what they are trying to do with Israel is even now coming back on their lands as the deep divisions in most Western nations at this time can be linked with their push to divide Your land (Gen. 12:3a; Psa. 9:16; Gal. 6:7).

   • Watch over Psalm 33:10-11 today, and destroy every anti-biblical plan of the nations against Israel.

   • Bless Hungary for standing with Israel against the rest of the EU by not agreeing to demand from Israel an immediate ceasefire in its war against Hamas (Num. 24:9b).

   • Remove this anti-God "two-state" non-solution from Israelis' thinking, as well as from the minds of born-again believers (Isa. 55:7-9; Ezek. 36:37-38).

   • Reinforce Israel's resistant to this hellish plan that in reality will reward the Palestinians for raping, burning and massacring Jews and taking hostages (Psa. 11:5-6; Prov. 24:20; Eccl. 8:13).

   • Lord, in the spiritual realm put up a big "No trespassing" sign on Your land (Jer. 10:25; 51:24)

   • Speak truth through Israel's diplomats irrespective of the world's reaction (Prov. 29:1; Gal. 4:16).

   • Anoint them to know with which nations to develop new, or deeper, relationships – and with which nations there needs to be a greater caution on Israel's part (Judg. 3:1; Isa. 55:5).

   • As Israel sees that it has very few dependable "friends" in the world, allow this truth to turn many Israelis to cry out to, and trust in, You alone (Num. 23:9b; Psa. 50:15; 80:3, 7, 19).

4. Israel's "War of Independence" continues today. Other than brief periods of less active warfare, modern Israel has not had a time of true shalom since it reentered its land. "Operation Swords of Iron" against Hamas in Gaza is being won by Israel overwhelmingly. Is this why the world wants to end this phase of the war now, as one more obvious Israeli victory is just one more proof that the Bible is true and that Israel's God – is God?

   • Lord of hosts, lead Israel to be victorious and restore its deterrence before its enemies (Isa. 51:9-10)!

   • May Israel's leaders not accept any "ceasefire" which allows Hamas to survive (Luke 1:70-74).

   • Let the war end when You say so – and not when Biden or anyone else says so (Eccl. 3:1, 8).

   • Move Israel to become more self-reliant in supplying the IDF's material needs and so cut off threats and/or manipulations from other nations – including its "friends" (Num. 23:23; 2 Chr. 26:14-15).

   • Defend IDF soldiers physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually, and provide them with all that they need to gain a victory that brings You great glory (1 Sam. 17:46-47; Psa. 24:15; Rev. 15:4).

   • Anoint the IDF to fight as Sons of Zion and not in line with humanistic standards (Zech. 9:13-15).

   • We bless You that the IDF's tunnel warfare tactics have grown more effective and deadly against the enemy, and ask for all remaining tunnels to be found and demolished (Job 12:22; Jer. 23:24).

   • Direct Israel's plans to invade Rafah, Hamas' final stronghold on the Gaza-Egypt border, including the timing of it (Prov. 21:30-31).

   • As that border is a major gateway for Hamas to smuggle weaponry, Lord bring down every spiritual force that rules over that area and let it be completely conquered by the IDF (Isa. 28:5-6).

   • God, after the war, solidify Israel's total oversight of Gaza's Egyptian border, as well as help it to maintain, as much as possible, decent relations with Egypt (Isa. 19:23-25).

   • As Israel permits Gazan civilians to leave the Rafah area, give IDF soldiers discernment to spot and capture all terrorists trying to escape by blending in with those civilians (Job 11:20; Psa. 56:7).

   • Lord God, sovereignly release all remaining living hostages (Isa. 49:24-26; Jer. 32:17, 27), or lead the IDF to find them – or their corpses (Num. 21:1-3).

   • Refine Netanyahu's just released strategy for the "day-after" the war so that it eventually lines up with Your will for Israel's repossession of Gaza as part of its inheritance (Josh. 15:1, 47; Judg. 1:18).

5. Internal security:

   Even with the war in Gaza, Israel battles against attempted terror attacks throughout the rest of its land daily. While some succeed, like yesterday's attack between Jerusalem and Ma'aleh Adumim, yet its security forces stop most attacks and pre-empt many others (Psa. 121:4).

   • Use the war in Gaza and against the terrorists in Judea and Samaria to prove to Israelis that dividing Your land does not bring peace – but rather death and devastation (Lev. 25:23; Joel 3:1-2).

   • Use these attacks to unify all Israel to reject plans to recognize "Palestine" in their biblical heartland, which is exactly where You are planting them with all of Your heart and soul (Jer. 32:41-44).

   • Encourage Israel to make a bold move and in response to the world's push for a "Palestine" to be created, as well as in response to an increase of internal terrorism, let it extend its sovereignty over all of the land – from the river to the sea (Judg. 2:1-5; Psa. 10:16)!

   • Continue growing the Israeli communities in all of Judea and Samaria (Isa. 54:2-3; Amos 9:14-15).

   • Reveal all terrorist plans or tunnels which have not been uncovered in that region (Psa. 139:12).

   • Shield the private security forces that are often used to guard Israel's communities and checkpoints, keeping them alert and willing to defend Israelis despite the personal cost (Psa. 115:9; John 15:13).

   • Give Israel wisdom touching the thousands of terrorists now in their prisons (Psa. 5:4; 10:15).

   • Lord, save many Palestinians and turn them into Philo-Semites (Matt. 5:44; Rom. 11:11).

6. External security:

   Iran's goal is first "Death to Israel," and then "Death to America!" These slogans mean Iran's Shi'ite regime aims to conquer the world. Iran's war against Israel today is via its Middle East proxies – Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza, Hizbullah in Lebanon, Houthis in Yemen, terrorist groups and its own nefarious activities in Syria.

   • Prepare Israeli society and the IDF to fight a multi-front war if needed (2 Chr. 14:14; Psa. 23:5).

   • Let Israel perceive that no nation, not even an America under Trump, will stop the Iranian nuclear threat against it and then guide them how to deal with this by looking to You (Psa. 20:7-9; 44:1-6).

   • Watch over Isaiah 8:9-10 in relation to Israel's current international security situation.

   • Fight alongside the IDF to supernaturally magnify every attack against Hizbullah (Psa. 18:13-14).

   • Expose and destroy Hizbullah's extensive tunnel system in Lebanon and further afield (Amos 9:2-3).

   • Lord, we Your priests are interceding for Israel, therefore please fulfill Joel 2:17-20 and destroy Hizbullah, that northern army threatening Your nation today.

   • God, arise and shake Iran – physically, politically and economically (Job 38:12-15; Psa.68:1, 30b)

   • If Israel needs to attack Iran directly, guide it so that the results are miraculous (Lev. 26:7-8).

   • We rejoice over the growth of Your Body in Elam [ancient Iran] (Jer. 49:38a; Matt. 16:18b).

   • Now Lord God, fulfill Jeremiah 49:38b suddenly by removing Iran's king and its princes.

   • Also strip off from the Iranian regime all of its demonic spiritual protection (Num. 14:9b).

   • Set-free the Iranians and Iranian minority groups who suffer under that wicked regime (Isa. 14:5).

   • Lead Iranian believers to constantly pray for their nation (1 Tim. 2:1-4), and for Israel (Psa. 122:6).

7. Aliyah:

   The return of the Jews to God's/their land is the most important biblical sign of the end-times today. The regathering of God's scattered people (Jer. 31:10) happens before all Israel is saved and before the return of King Yeshua. So why is the Western Church for the most part deaf, dumb and blind to this? There is no good excuse, other than being unaware of what the Tanach says about the end-times – and that excuse is actually inexcusable (2 Tim. 3:16-17)!

   • Lord Yeshua, open the eyes of the whole Body to understand the biblical connection between the return of the Jews to their land and Your return to Jerusalem (Psa. 119:18; Zech. 14:1-4; Matt. 23:39).

   • By Your Spirit, prepare Israel to receive and settle millions of Jews whom You are chasing out of the captivity and drawing back home (Jer. 16:16; 31:3; Zech. 4:6-7).

   • Let more Western Jews see that their comfortable cages in exile are being torn apart (Jer. 16:16).

   • Use the massive anti-Israel demonstrations to shake up even the most secure cages (Jer. 51:6-10).

   • Send forth angels to pull Your people out of modern-day Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19:15-16).

   • Remove the erroneous thinking from Jews that this eruption of Jew-hatred is only temporary and show them that living among the nations was never meant to be permanent (Deut. 30:3-5; Isa. 54:7-8).

   • Challenge Jewish parents with the choice of seeing their children in college persecuted for being Jews, or seeing them in the IDF defending Jews and the nation of Israel (Deut. 33:29; Josh. 10:24-25).

   • May the increased interest in aliyah among Jews lead to increased aliyah (Psa. 106:47).

   • Release Jews who live in nations which forbid them to leave – like Iran (Ex. 9:1; Psa. 105:13-15).

   • Use more Jewish children to ask their parents why they are not living in Israel (Psa. 8:2).

   • May Jews who make aliyah become firmly rooted in Your land (Isa. 37:31; Jer. 30:18-19).

   • Show more pastors of their God-prophesied responsibility to teach on, and help with, the return of the Jews to their land – whether by prayer, financial help, physically carrying them, or sharing with Jews that their God sees them as in captivity and not at home (Isa. 49:22; 60:3-11; Rom. 15:26-27).

8. Salvation:

   God's drawing His people to Himself has increased since October 7th. While this has not yet resulted, as far as we know, in people accepting Yeshua as King and High Priest– it will. Our part is to be persistent in prayer, asking God to save a large remnant of His people (Jer. 31:7b).

   • As Jews read Shabbat's Torah portion, show them their biblical need of a high priest – a mediator who stands between You and them (Ex. 28:12, 29; Job 9:2-33; 1 Tim. 2:5).

   • Turn many who are seeking You today back to Your Word and away from the generally humanistic paths of rabbinic Judaism (Psa. 36:9; Isa. 55:6-11).

   • Pour out Your Spirit, accompanied by dreams and visions, on the Jews – regardless of whether they are in Israel or still in the captivity (Joel 2:28-32).

   • Lord Yeshua, reveal Your Father to a huge remnant of Holocaust survivors; survivors of the Hamas massacre; all living hostages and ex-hostages and their families; IDF soldiers and families; families of soldiers who died in battle; soldiers and civilians permanently handicapped; medical personnel; ultra-Orthodox rabbis, their families and congregations; Jewish teachers in all levels of education; Israeli politicians; Israel's international diplomats; Israelis still not able to return to their homes in the Gaza periphery and the north; pre-October 7th peace activists; Jews and Israelis in exile who are suddenly seriously concerned for their safety; Jews who have rejected Rabbinic Judaism but have not rejected You; unsaved loved ones of Messianic Jews (Matt. 11:27; Luke 10:22; John 14:6).

   • Use Jewish and gentile believers to provoke Jews to jealousy (Rom. 11:11, 14).

9. The Body of Messiah:

   Each of us has been brought into His kingdom for this time in history (Est. 4:14b). For us to be fruitful today, it is vital to have a sense of what He is doing to wrap up this age, and that only comes from knowing His Word. Knowing only the New Testament is not enough today – and in fact has never been enough. We must trust in the only Bible that Yeshua and the early believers had, loved, read and trusted in – the Old Testament, the Tanach.

   • Lord, help us to see in Your Word which prophecies are being fulfilled now (Psa. 119:18; Isa. 32:3).

   • Give every son and daughter of Zion greater influence in Your Body and decrease the influence of, or even remove, all sons and daughters of Greece (Zech. 9:13; 2 Pet. 2:1-2; Jude 1:3-4).

   • Anoint Christian Zionists to sway their church fellowships in a biblical direction (1 Cor. 2:4, 13).

   • Lord, cast out from Your Body every anti-Semitic and anti-Zionistic spirit (Prov. 17:5; Luke 11:35).

   • Also remove and totally destroy that doctrine of demons – replacement theology (1 Tim. 4:1-2).

10. Water:

    The Lord has poured out on His land the latter rains in an abundant manner. In fact, Israel might see the Sea of Galilee full to overflowing before the rainy season is over.

    • Lord God, we praise You for the latter rains which have fallen on Israel this year (Job 5:9-10).

    • May Israelis see this as a further witness to Your merciful nature (Isa. 41:17-20; Matt. 5:45b).

    • Please continue to let the weather be a blessing to Israel and a curse to its enemies (Job 12:15).

11. IFI:

    Thank you for praying for us to be encouraged and to press on regardless of what we see and hear in the media, knowing that eventually God's Word will be fulfilled (Isa. 55:11).

Shabbat shalom and blessings from Jerusalem

Chuck Cohen, for the IFI team

Psa. 128:5