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1. Praise:

   Shabbat's Torah portion contains God's Aaronic blessing: YHWH bless you, and guard over you; YHWH make His face shine on you, and be gracious unto you; YHWH lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. (Num. 6:24-26)

   • We thank You Abba for Your blessings to us in Messiah Yeshua (Acts 3:26; Gal. 3:14; Eph. 1:3).

   • We praise You and do not forget Your faithfulness in giving us so many benefits (Psa. 103:1-2).

   • Hallelujah! You forgive our iniquities, our trespasses and our sins (Psa. 103:3a; 130:8; Isa. 43:25).

   • Thank You for surrounding us with Your covenant-love and tender mercies (Psa. 103:4b: Isa 55:3).

   • We bless You who are able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, and give You the glory for encouraging us with this word (Eph. 3:20-21).

   • Lord Yeshua, what a joy to know that as our Shepherd, You speak to us (John 10:3-4, 16, 27).

   • Abba, we are very grateful for Your gift of the Holy Spirit given to us in Messiah (Luke 11:13).

   • Sovereign Lord, we trust in Your total overall control – even when we struggle to see it (Lam. 3:37).

2. Government & society:

   Hamas' Oct. 7th attack set in motion a process that is swiftly fulfilling Numbers 23:9b, Behold, [Israel] shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations." The rage against Israel's war on Hamas is so extreme that we sense God is permitting it in order to fulfill that prophetic word by Balaam. So as God watches over His word to do it (Jer. 1:12), we need to hear His voice in order to intercede for Israel and His kingdom purposes correctly.

   • Lord, aid us to pray according to Your Word and Your will for Israel today (Psa. 10:17; Rom. 8:26).

   • Being set apart from the world and being separated unto You is one definition of being "holy," and so we bless You for turning Israel into that holy nation which You called it to be (Ex. 19:5; Isa. 41:8).

   • Lord, we again praise You for reminding us to trust in You and not in Israel's government, while still recognizing that You set up its government for this time (Est. 4:14b; Psa. 75:6-7; 103:19; Dan. 2:21).

   • Turn the minds of Israel's leaders to seek You for wisdom to lead Israel (Psa. 80:3, 19; Prov. 1:1-7).

   • Shield them from yielding to any internal or external anti-God pressure (Num. 23:23; Deut. 33:29).

   • God, strengthen and encourage the sons and daughters of Zion throughout Israel's society, especially in its political and military arenas (Jer. 27:5; Dan. 4:25b; Zech. 9:13).

   • Thank You that Benny Gantz, a son of Greece, quit the unity government (Psa. 109:8).

   • Fill his place only with a son or daughter of Zion (Isa. 37:22; 45:13; Mic. 4:13).

   • Messiah of Israel, anoint PM Bibi Netanyahu to heed Your will alone (Prov. 19:21; 21:1).

   • Surround him with sons of Zion and Issachar as his advisors (Ex. 18:19a; 1 Chr. 12:32).

   • We thank You for hearing our prayers and hardening Hamas' leaders' hearts to reject any hostage deal that hinders Israel's ability to gain a total victory over them (Josh. 11:19-20; Rom. 9:17-23).

   • Lord God, let the unity, courage and faith in Israel's righteous cause which fills the IDF soldiers in Gaza, penetrate and influence the rest of Israel's society (Psa. 133:1; Matt. 13:33).

   • Release Your perfect shalom on Israelis whose loved ones have been murdered or sexually abused, who are still held hostage, or whose fate is still unknown (Isa. 61:1-3; Matt. 5:4).

   • Heal mentally and emotionally all ex-hostages who are now physically free (Psa. 107:20; 147:3).

   • Lord, arise and fight against the media, both inside and outside of Israel, that lies and twists the truth about Your nation and its righteous actions (Job 12:20; Psa. 35:1; Jer. 9:3; John 8:44).

3. Foreign relations:

   Although many Americans stand with Israel, US President Biden and his administration have become Israel's most dangerous "friends." Biden presented a ceasefire plan a few weeks ago, saying it was Israel's plan, yet it was not. It lets Hamas gain the victory against Israel as Hamas would survive and control Gaza once again. Now the world is pressuring both Israel and Hamas to accept it – yet God is hearing our prayers and hardening Hamas' hearts to reject it!

   • Lord, move upon believers to accept their biblical duty to pray for their nation's relations with Israel, as only by intercession can their nations receive mercy (Ezek. 22:30-31: cp. Isa. 60:12; Zech. .12:9).

   • Anoint Israel's leaders' with wisdom and courage in responding to Biden's betrayal (Isa. 8:9-10).

   • Use Biden and company to turn Israel away from looking to man to look to You alone (Psa.118:8-9).

   • Since democratic nations often change their foreign policies after each election, show Israel to not put its trust in "allies" – but in You whose nature is unchangeable (Psa. 149:2; Zeph. 3:15; Mal. 3:6).

   • Lord, guard over Your nation against the satanic arrows being fired at it by so many nations and international NGOs – especially from the UN and its agencies (Psa. 121:4; Isa. 54:15-17; 59:14-18).

   • Since the UN Security Council approved Biden's plan to rescue Hamas and betray Israel, which is at least a partial fulfillment of Zechariah 12:2-3, empower Israel to respond as per Zechariah 12:6.

   • Lord God of hosts, we recall and confess Psalm 33:10-11 over Israel today.

   • Use Israeli UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan mightily until his four year term is over this summer and then anoint Danny Danon as he again becomes Israel's UN Ambassador (Psa. 23:5; 105:15).

   • Messiah Yeshua, exert Your authority over the UN and its outreaches who constantly curse Israel with lies and false accusations – and silence them (Num. 24:9b; Psa. 31:17; Isa. 54:17; Zech. 2:13).

   • In fact, cause Israel to rethink its relations with, and its need for, the UN (Psa. 118:10-12; 119:161a).

4. "Operation Swords of Iron:

   We thank God for Israel pressing on in its war against Hamas despite the nations and global NGO's condemning it for defending itself. If someone read only the media or listened only to politicians, they could think Israel is purposefully killing innocent civilians in Gaza, as most of these biased reports and anti-Zionist criticisms begin from October 8th 2023.

   • We rejoice and give You the glory for the sensational IDF rescue of four hostages in a Gaza refugee camp that took place in broad daylight last Shabbat (Psa. 50:15; 103:6).

   • Let Israel remind those who condemn it because Gazan civilians were killed, that Hamas is hiding Israel's civilian hostages among Gazans, using Gazans as human shields (Psa. 10:7-8; 94:21).

   • Allow the voices of hostage families who see Hamas' defeat as more urgent for Israel than setting their loved ones free receive much more attention – especially in Israel's media (Psa. 31:24).

   • God, we glorify You that Israel is winning the war despite the stumbling stones which the world has placed before it and the massive distortion of truth in the media (1 Chr. 29:11; Zech. 9:13-17).

   • Use the UNSC resolution approving Biden's ceasefire plan that was just passed to spur Israel on to increase the intensity of its attacks and gain a victory quickly and suddenly (Josh. 11:7-8; Eccl. 8:11).

   • Help Israel to "neutralize" all of Hamas' leaders, both inside and outside of Gaza (1 Sam. 17:51).

   • King of Zion, remove from the leadership of the IDF all sons of Greece and replace them with sons of Zion to guide Israel's wars in a much more biblical way (Jer. 10:21; Zech. 10:3-7).

   • King Messiah, shield Israel's soldiers, guarding over them at all times (Isa. 33:22; Zeph. 3:15).

   • Direct the IDF to fight in all areas of Gaza and to give Hamas no rest or safety (Judg. 4:21).

   • Lord, turn Rafah, Hamas' final stronghold on the Egyptian-Gaza border – into its final resting place (2 Sam. 22:38-41; Psa. 21:8-9).

   • Collapse every terror tunnel connecting Rafah and Egypt (Ex. 15:11-12; Num. 26:10; Psa. 21:10).

   • God of Israel, as Egypt's betrayal of Israel is revealed, deal with Egypt in line with Isaiah 19:1-5.

   • Lord God Almighty, direct Israel (Prov. 16:9) to repossess Gaza after the war since it is part of the inheritance of Judah (Josh. 15:1, 47; Judg. 1:18).

5. Internal security:

   Terrorism against Jews in Israel has seen an upsurge since Oct. 7th. Thank God most of them have been totally unsuccessful (Psa. 136:1).

   • Let the increased terrorism prove to Israelis the existential danger of dividing their land (Joel 3:1-2).

   • Lord God, enlarge the populations of all Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria (Isa. 54:2-3).

   • Lord, continue to thwart all kidnapping attempts and greatly diminish the impact of terrorist car-rammings and drive-by shooting attacks (Psa. 5:4-6; 37:17; 121:8).

   • Show Israel how to better guard its roads and checkpoints against these attacks (Deut. 28:6-7).

   • Uncover and destroy all of Iran's active support for terrorist groups in Israel (Psa. 125:3-5; Hag. 1:6).

   • Guide Israel on how to deal with the thousands of terrorists recently imprisoned (Psa. 5:4; 10:15).

   • As per Your will, let Israel apply the death penalty to terrorist murderers (Gen. 9:5-6; Num. 35:21).

   • Increase the angelic hosts guarding over Your nation at this time (2 Kin. 6:16-17; 2 Chr. 32:7-8).

   • Reveal to Israel's intelligence services their need to ask You about what is vital and what is not as they decipher the gigabytes of gathered intelligence data (Deut. 29:29; Jer. 33:3).

   • Ignite the hatred and distrust that exists between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, causing them to fight against one another and to severely weaken them both (Psa. 35:1-8; 55:9; 129:5).

   • Lord, in Your great mercy save many Palestinians and set them free from the demonic hatred against Israel and the Jews on which they have been raised (Matt. 5:44; Luke 1:71; 1 John 3:15).

6. External security:

   Israel's biggest immediate external threat is Hizbullah in Lebanon. Iran is the puppet-master behind it and other terrorists groups attacking both Israel and Western interests in the Middle East. Yet Westerners blindly think they can "deal" with Iran's Shi'ite leaders since today's Western mindset rejects God, and thus cannot conceive that there are still people who are willing to live and die for "religious" purposes. Meanwhile, please keep in mind that most Iranians do want to live in peace with Israel and the rest of the world.

   • In Your timing, bring Micah 4:11-13 to pass against Iran, its proxies, and all Israel's other enemies.

   • Lord God Almighty, however You do it, break the bow of Elam [ancient Iran] today (Jer. 49:35).

   • Sovereign Lord, sovereignly destroy all of Iran's nuclear facilities (Isa. 52:7b; Jer. 46:10).

   • If You want Israel to do this instead, then lead it very clearly about the timing and tactics in order that the Iran's nuclear program's obliteration will be complete (Prov. 21:31; Jer. 51:20-25).

   • Shield Your Body in Iran, and let them grow numerically and spiritually (Jer. 49:38a; Matt. 16:18b).

   • Watch over the rest of Jeremiah 49:38, and destroy Iran's current king and princes suddenly.

   • Anoint the Iranian Body's prayers for their nation (1 Tim. 2:1-4), and for Israel (Psa. 122:6).

   • Confuse Iran and Hizbullah into making major geo-political errors (Job 5:12; Isa. 44:25).

   • Reveal all Iranian or Hizbullah plots against Israel to Israel's intelligence services (Prov. 15:3).

   • Magnify Lebanon's internal strife between many of its people and Hizbullah (Psa. 129:5).

   • Be the One who determines when and how Israel is to attack Hizbullah and Lebanon (Eccl. 3:1, 8b).

   • During any war between Israel and Hizbullah, empower all IDF attacks to be so overwhelming that the nation of Lebanon shakes in fear of Israel and of You, Israel's God (Psa. 29:5; Isa. 2:11-13).

   • Since South Lebanon up to the Latani River is part of the inheritance that You gave to the tribes of Asher and Naftali, please show Israel when and how to reclaim it (Deut. 11: 24; Josh. 13:2-7).

7. Aliyah:

   The Jews returning to an independent Jewish State (Jer. 30:8-10), is a major sign that God is wrapping up this age. He reveals in His Word that His return will happen when He builds up Jerusalem (Psa. 102:16), gathers the Jewish outcasts into it (Psa. 147:2), and when the world forces a final, short-lived division of His holy city (Zech. 14:1-4)!

   • Abba Father, use the aliyah to sanctify Your name by Your will being established on earth as it is already established in heaven (Ezek. 36: 23-24; Matt. 6:9-10).

   • Lord, speak to believers about their biblical responsibility to bring the Jews back to Israel in prayer, through finances and good works, and by telling their Jewish acquaintances that the exile is finished and they need to make aliyah as soon as possible (Isa. 49:22; 60:1-12; 61:5; Rom. 15:26-27).

   • Show believers that aliyah is not just a "Jewish" matter, but actually a "Kingdom of God" matter that is being fulfilled before their eyes today (Deut. 30:1-6; Isa. 43:3-5, 21; Zech. 8:1-8).

   • Modify Israel's thinking about its links with Jews in exile – that instead of supporting and guarding over them, they encourage them to come home (Psa. 107:2-3; 137:4-6; Isa. 27:12-13).

   • While it may be counterintuitive for Jews to return to Israel during a war, let them see that it is more dangerous for them to remain in the nations today (Jer. 16:16; Zeph. 3:19-20).

   • Allow the increased interest in aliyah result in an actual increase of aliyah (Jer. 50:4-8; 51:9-10).

   • Confront Jewish parents with the option of having their children intimidated by anti-Semitic spirits, or seeing them in the IDF battling in defense of their ancestral homeland (Deut. 3:22; 20:1-4).

   • Lord, suppress all Jewish pride that says, "They will not chase us out of here!" and show them that You are the One doing the chasing and the drawing (Prov. 16:18; Jer. 31:3-5, 8-10).

   • Remove all hindrances from making aliyah in Your people's minds, in Israel's bureaucracy, or in any nations where Jews are forbidden to leave at this time – especially Iran (Isa. 27:12-13; 62:10).

   • Draw Israelis living in the nations back home, especially Messianic believers (Isa. 51:11; Jer. 31:3).

   • Plant in Israel a recognition that the time to prepare housing, jobs, schools and Hebrew learning classes in order to receive many new immigrants is now (Isa. 54:2-3; Ezek. 36:8-12).

8. Salvation:

   Brothers, my heart's desire and request to God for Israel is that they might be saved. (Rom. 10:1) While God's will is that all Israel will be saved, yet He waits for us to ask Him to do just that (Ezek. 36:37; Luke 18:1; John 15:16).

   • Lord God, lead more believers to persistently pray for Israel's salvation (Luke 18:1; Jam. 5:16b).

   • Abba, as so many of Your people are now in the land, please release them from that partial blindness You put over them (Ezek. 36:23-32; Rom. 11:25-26), and gift them with Your Spirit (Acts 2:1-4).

   • Abba, reveal Messiah Yeshua as Israel's King Redeemer to Holocaust and terror attack survivors; all living hostages plus hostages freed this last week and their loved ones; IDF soldiers and their families; loved ones of soldiers who have died or are severely injured; widows and orphans, especially new ones in Israel since Oct. 7th; rabbis in every Jewish denomination and people in their congregations; yeshiva students; Jewish politicians, diplomats, teachers, professors, university students, including Jews who have been confronted with vicious anti-Israel demonstrations; medical personnel; Jews and Israelis in exile; Jews in the LGBTQ+ community; Iranian Jews; Jews recently provoked to jealousy by gentile believers; unsaved Jews married to believers, whether a Jew or a gentile; unsaved loved ones of Messianic Jews (Psa. 19:14; 25:22; 44:26; 49:15; 71:23; 74:2; 136:24; Luke 1:68).

   • Use Israel's increased isolation to turn Israelis to Yourself (Ex. 33:16; Deut. 33:28-29).

   • Lord Yeshua, show secret Jewish believers when to openly confess You (Matt. 10:32).

9. The Body of Messiah:

   If the issue of Israel is not central to our end-time thinking, then our prophetic outlook contains a huge black hole. For example, why is there a global obsession with Israel today? If the Bible is our filter to discern what is happening on the earth then we can see that verses like Jeremiah 32:41-44, Zechariah 12:2-9 and 14:1-4 are becoming more relevant by the day. But if we reject the Tanach, the Old Testament, as still being God's Word, we reject the only Bible Yeshua and the early believers read, trusted in, quoted from and loved.

   • King Messiah, show us exactly what prophecies are being fulfilled today (Dan. 12:4a; Rev. 22:10).

   • God, remove the man-made veil over the Body and reveal to them that the word "scripture" in the New Testament, historically refers only to the Tanach (Luke 24:25-27, 32, 44-45; 1 Cor. 15:3-4).

   • Lord, show many more believers the scriptural links between aliyah, Israel's salvation and Your imminent return (Psa. 53:6; 147:2; Jer. 31:1-10; Zech. 14:1-4; Matt. 23:39; Rom. 11:25-27).

   • Also show them that many Western nations are already being judged today because they continually attempt to divide Your land and thus scatter Your people (Joel 3:1-2; Rom. 1:24-32)

   • Cleanse Your Body from every anti-Semitic and anti-Zionistic spirit and also from the anti-biblical teachings of replacement and fulfillment theology (Jer. 29:8; Matt. 24:4; Tim. 4:3-4; Heb. 13:9).

   • Cure Your Body of it biblical anorexia and its prophetic illiteracy (Psa. 119:130; Isa. 8:20).

10. IFI:

    It seems like there is something major concerning Israel that needs to be prayed about almost daily. We need to hear our Shepherd's voice to know what He wants us to specifically focus on, so we covet your prayers for us to be able to do that. Thank you for your other support as well.

Shabbat shalom and blessings from Zion

Chuck Cohen, for the IFI team

1 Cor. 1:9