1. Praise:

   In Shabbat's Torah portion, God asks Abraham a rhetorical question: Is anything too hard for YHWH? (Gen. 18:14a) While the context is God's statement that his very old wife Sarah will give birth to a son, this question is also a constant challenge to us.

   • We praise You Lord that since You are the Creator – nothing is too hard for You (Jer. 32:17, 27).

   • Thank You Abba for restating this truth throughout Your Word (Mark 10:27; 14:36; Luke 1:37).

   • We bless You for this reality which brings us great comfort and encouragement in these days when we see so much in the world that is against You, Your Word, and Your nation (Psa. 23:4).

   • We rejoice in the truth that nothing can ever take You by surprise (Isa. 46:10).

   • Thank You for creating Israel for Your glory and for Your praise (Isa. 43:7, 21).

   • Together with Abraham in the Torah portion, we proclaim You are the eternal God (Gen. 21:33).

2. Government & society:

   With PM Bibi Netanyahu's firing of Defense Minister Gallant and the election of Donald Trump as the next US President, Israel and America have shifted to a more realistic and biblical outlook. Whether this holds up as time goes on, only He knows. In this section we focus on Israel, while in the next we pray about the Israeli-US and other foreign relations issues.

   • Lord Yeshua, we thank You for teaching us to trust in You and not in Israel's leaders, yet as they are in that position by Your will, please lead us as we stand in the gap for them (Prov. 15:29; Dan. 2:21).

   • Abba Father, Netanyahu has great need of Your divine wisdom to be Israel's leader today, and based on Daniel 2:21b, we ask You to give him that in abundance (Prov. 16:1).

   • Lord God, use Bibi's knowledge of history to make him a son-of-Issachar-type leader (1 Chr. 12:32).

   • King Messiah, bring around him godly advisors, and help him to hear them (Prov. 11:14; 24:6).

   • Lord God, enable Bibi and Israel's new Defense Minister Israel Katz to work as one (1 Chr. 12:38).

   • King of Israel, anoint Gideon Sa'ar in his new role as Israel's foreign minister and may Netanyahu and Sa'ar work surprisingly well together (Gen. 13:8; Psa. 23:5).

   • God, if Israel's current government plans anything against Your will, overrule them (Prov. 16:9).

   • Abba, turn Israel's interventionist Supreme Court to be more in line with You (Isa. 1:25-27).

   • Messiah Yeshua, impart Your "perfect peace" to Israelis who are severely traumatized because of the dramatic events starting on Oct. 7th 2023 and continuing on until today (Isa. 61:1-3; Matt. 5:4).

3. Foreign relations:

   Trump's election impacts the entire world. Yet it is his relations with Israel that will determine if he will be a blessing or a curse to America. As intercessors for Israel, we are praying for God's nation as it relates to Trump, and other nations, and to stand strong in its biblical calling in the face of the Jew-hatred now running rampant throughout much of the earth.

   • Lord God, restrain President Biden's administration from any more negative schemes with Israel during the days leading up to Jan. 20th, 2025, when Trump will be inaugurated (Isa, 8:9-10).

   • King of kings, You have raised up Trump for this time (Jer. 27:5), so also raise up godly advisors who will clearly warn him against dealing with Israel as if it were just any other nation (Psa. 135:4).

   • Lord Almighty, forbid Israelis from viewing Trump as a type of savior (Psa. 118:9; Prov. 29:25).

   • In fact, turn Israelis away from trusting in America at all, to only trusting in You (Psa. 146:3-5).

   • Thank You Abba Father for hearing our prayers and moving upon Netanyahu to appoint Dr. Yechiel Leiter, a true son of Zion, as Israel's next US Ambassador (Psa. 75:6-7; Prov. 21:1).

   • Lord, prepare the Trump administration to work well with him and to heed his advice – especially about not dividing Your land for any reason whatsoever (Lev. 25:23; Prov. 22:28).

   • Anoint Ron Dermer, Bibi's closest confidant, as he interacts with world leaders (Prov. 13:17).

   • God, we lift up Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon, asking for Your protection and anointing as he boldly declares truth in that anti-God, humanistic organization (Prov. 28:1b; Gal. 4:16).

   • Lord, help Danon and the US' new UN Ambassador, Elise Stefanik, a Jewish-American, to quickly develop excellent working relations (Isa, 52:8).

4. 1. External security – Iran:

      Iran's vocal threats to harshly strike back at Israel have tapered off. Is this a result of Trump being elected as the new US President, or was his election just the excuse Iran needed to back off from their bombastic threats? Still, Iran might attack Israel, directly or through its proxies, yet if it does do that it will be the excuse Israel needs to take out Iran's nuclear weapons program. Meanwhile, we note that Trump has already said Israel should do that.

      • Lord of hosts, fulfill Micah 4:11-13; make Israel that weapon described there, using the results to bring You glory and honor – both in Israel and in the world (Isa. 41:15-16).

      • Confound all those who hate Zion (Psa. 129:5): terrorists, Iran's leaders, the Yemenite Houthis, Jew-haters in Syria and Iraq, and those in the West who despise Your nation (Psa. 70:2; Jer. 17:18).

      • As Iran's leaders watch Israel destroy Hamas and Hizbullah, send Your terror and the fear of the IDF upon them, causing them to panic and to make major geo-political mistakes (Ex. 15:3; 2 Chr. 20:29).

      • Let Iran's leaders reap the curses which they have sown against Israel (Gen. 12:3a; Gal. 6:7).

      • If it is time for Israel to put an end to Iran's nuclear weapons programs, then, Lord God, let Iran's hyped-up pride and deep shame drag them into Your trap (Prov. 16:18; Ezek. 38:4a, 10).

      • Increase Israel's ability to collect accurate intelligence and empower them to interpret all collected data accurately (2 Kin. 6:12; Isa. 29:15).

      • God, continue to use Israel's Air Force [IAF] to break Elam's [ancient Iran's] bow (Jer. 49:35).

      • We thank You that all IAF jets have returned home safely, and ask for that to continue (Psa. 121:4).

      • Lord, as per Your word, arise and destroy Iran's political, military and religious leaders (Jer. 49:38b).

      • Judge of all the earth, in line with Abraham's prayer for Sodom in the Torah portion, we ask you to spare all Iranians without hatred towards the Jews as You judge the rest of that nation (Gen. 18:25).

      • Lord Yeshua, shepherd Your Body in Iran and guide them in prayer (John 10:16, 27).

   2. External security – "Operation Northern Arrows:"

      We are hearing of reports that Israel wants to agree to a ceasefire as a "gift" to the incoming Trump administration, although with its security issues clearly protected. Yet we are praying for His will – and not mans' – to be done.

      • Abba Father, prevent Israel from agreeing to any ceasefire with Hizbullah until it is Your time to make this war to cease (Psa. 46:8-9).

      • God of Israel, in prayer we continue to hit the "arrows" on the ground, asking You to help the IDF to totally eliminate Hizbullah from ever again being a threat to Your nation (2 Kin. 13:17-19).

      • Thank You for the IDF pursuing this battle throughout Lebanon with excellent results (Psa. 44:4-6).

      • Lord God, as we intercede, watch over Joel 2:17-21 and strip Hizbullah of its spiritual protection as well as casting them far off from Israel's northern border (Mal. 1:5).

      • If Israel's destruction of many Hizbullah launchers, which are a modern "bow" to launch missiles, is a partial fulfillment of Your Word (Jer. 49:35), we thank You and ask for more Lord (Psa. 46:9)!

      • Almighty God, guide the IDF to find and destroy Hizbullah's weapons caches, its remaining missile launchers, and their massive tunnel system (Job 34:21-22; Amos 9:2-3; Luke 8:17).

      • Lord, supernaturally magnify all of Israel's attempts to destroy the routes from Syria to Lebanon through which Iran ships weapons to Hizbullah (Judg. 5:20; Isa. 59:7).

      • As the Lebanese see how Israel has weakened Hizbullah, Sovereign God, let them rise up and set their nation free from Iran's clutches through its Hizbullah proxy (Job 18:5-18; Psa. 29:5-6).

      • Lord Yeshua, warn Your Body in Lebanon, Syria and the rest of the Middle East that if they curse Israel, they will indeed face Your anger (Num. 24:9b; Psa. 6:1; Mark 3:5a).

5. "Operation Swords of Iron:"

   The only guarantee of security against Hamas' retaking Gaza is if Israel maintains total security control of this area. Eventually Israel will possess all of Gaza as that is prophesied to happen and it is still part of Judah's God-given inheritance (Zeph. 2:5-7). Until then, the fight against Hamas – and the world – over this small strip of land continues.

   • Lord God, for Your name's sake, help more Israelis understand their biblical duty to repossess Gaza as a part of the inheritance You gave to the tribe of Judah (Josh. 15:1, 47; Judg. 1:18; Prov. 16:9).

   • Abba, support Bibi's stance that the IDF must maintain full security responsibility in Gaza and along the Philadelphi Corridor on its Egyptian border for the foreseeable future (Prov. 15:25; Mal. 1:5).

   • Lord, protect Israel from any last-minute traps from the US Biden administration before they leave the White House, and give Israel wisdom to pre-empt that (Psa. 124:1-8).

   • Reveal the lies of the UN which states that Gaza is on the verge of a massive famine (Psa. 5:9-10).

   • Abba, help Israel gain a complete victory against Hamas and to reject any diplomatic solution that would allow any type of Palestinian government to rule there (Deut. 25:17-19; Psa. 44:4).

   • Lord of hosts, anoint IDF warriors to wage war like true sons of Zion (Zech. 9:13-15; 10:3a-7).

   • Considering Israel's pre-war expectations, God, we praise You for superbly protecting its soldiers in Gaza and ask for that to continue against all Hamas attacks and traps, against all kidnapping attempts, and against friendly fire and any other types of accidents (Psa. 4:8; Zech. 9:16; 10:5-8).

   • Merciful God, lead the IDF to find and free all remaining hostages, alive or dead (Isa. 49:24-26).

   • Thank You for removing Qatar from having any role in this war (Psa. 28:3; Jer. 9:8).

   • Lord, open the eyes of Muslims throughout the Middle East, and further afield, to the reality that Allah is doing a very poor job of protecting his servants from Israel and Israel's God, and let that both shame them and cause them to seek Your face (Est. 8:17; Psa. 83:16-18).

6. Internal security:

   Before Messiah's return, the only way for Jewish people living in their land to live "securely" is for Israel to extend its sovereignty over all of it. This will require a change of mind for many Israelis, yet we praise God that there is a growing segment of them who see this truth and are pushing for it to happen – including over Gaza.

   • Thank You Lord that tied in with Trump's victory, and his appointment as the next US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, there is a groundswell of support for Israel to extend its sovereignty over more of Judea and Samaria (Isa. 49:18-21; 54:2-3).

   • Lord God, forbid Israel from accepting partial sovereignty over some of its land in exchange for permitting the creation of a Palestinian State on any of Your land (Lev. 25:23).

   • Lord, let some of Trump's trusted advisors warn him against dividing Your land (Joel. 3:1-2).

   • Continue using Finance Minister Smotrich to extend Israeli civilian rule over all Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria, and hid much of what he does from the spotlight (Jer. 32:41-44; 33:12-14).

   • God, make void the UN General Assembly resolution just passed in which most nations approved that Judea and Samaria should be Judenrein (free of Jews) (Job 12:16-25; Psa. 125:3; Lam. 3:37).

   • Shepherd of Israel, fulfill Jeremiah 31:10 and stand guard over regathered Israel (Gen. 49:24).

   • Lord of hosts, send forth Your angelic armies to battle against the spiritual forces of Israel's enemies as Israel battles against them on earth (2 Kin. 6:16-17; 2 Chr. 32:7-8; 1 Chr. 15:46).

   • Reinforce the deployment of IDF and security forces on the Jordanian border with angelic hosts and expedite the formation and readiness of the new IDF Jordan Valley battalion (2 Kings 6: 16-17).

   • Lord God, expose all terrorist plans and tunnels in Judea and Samaria (Psa. 59:12; Obad. 1:6).

   • God of Israel, drag terrorists into their traps that they set for the Jews (Est. 7:10; Psa. 35:8; 57:6).

   • Uncover and uproot all links between Palestinian terrorist groups and Iran (Psa. 139:12; Luke 12:2).

7. Aliyah:

   The regathering of God's scattered people is being accomplished for His holy name's sake today (Isa. 43:5-7; Jer. 31:10; Ezek. 36:22-24). Yet as Messiah Yeshua taught us (Luke 11:2), while this is His will, He waits for His people to ask Him before He does it (Ezek. 36:37; Amos 3:7).

   • As aliyah is for Your glory, draw multitudes throughout the world back home today (Isa. 43:5-7).

   • God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, draw Your people home in great mercy (Isa. 54:7; Jer. 31:3).

   • Lord, let the pogrom against Israeli soccer/football fans in Amsterdam last week shake Jews in the EU, and elsewhere, that their time to come home is now (Gen. 50:20).

   • God, reveal to Your people the lessons of their history in exile – that gentile nations cannot, or at times even will not, protect the Jews who live among them (Deut. 28:37, 64-67; Psa. 137:3-4).

   • Abba, as Jews in the West are concerned about being seen as openly Jewish, let them realize that they no longer have freedom to express their identity as in the past – except in Israel (Psa. 56:5-6).

   • God of Israel, confront Jewish pride which boasts, "They will not chase us out!" and show them that You are doing the chasing, as well as the drawing (Prov. 16:18; Jer. 31:3-5, 8-10; Zech. 8:1-8).

   • Let reports of the increase of attacks against Jews in the West be distributed widely (Luke 12:3).

   • Messiah of Israel, make Israel's diplomatic outreach to Jews in exile to emphasize aliyah and to de-emphasize remaining safely in the captivity (Deut. 28:65-67; Psa. 53:6; 107:1-9).

   • Stir up Israel to start preparing for a massive influx of Jews into Your nation (Jer. 31:8-9).

   • Raise up "righteous gentiles," believers or not, who will hide Jews if need be and will aid them to escape to Israel in whatever way they can (Prov. 28:12; Isa. 49:22).

   • Lord Yeshua, reveal to Your Body that the aliyah is a major part of Your will being done on the earth today (Isa. 43:5-7; Jer. 32:41; Matt. 6:10).

8. Salvation:

   Save us, YHWH our God, and gather us from the gentiles, to give thanks to Your holy name, and to triumph in Your praise. (Psa. 106:47) This verse links Israel's salvation with aliyah – both of which bring God glory!

   • Messiah Yeshua, quicken believers to pray for all Israel to be saved – for Your holy name's sake (Isa. 45:25; 46:13; Ezek. 36:23-32; Luke 2:32; Rom. 10:1).

   • Lord God, cause Jews who read Genesis 19:24 in the Torah portion, where there are two Yahwehs in one verse – one on earth and the other in heaven – consider this truth (cp. Zech. 2:8-11)!

   • Abba Father, again ask You to remove the partial blindness which is on most Jews "eyes" since Yeshua's time, and reveal to them the true King Messiah today (Rom. 11:25-26).

   • King Messiah, please stop hiding from Your people (Isa. 45:15)!

   • Gracious God, pour out that prophesied spirit of grace and supplication upon You people who now live on Your land, saving multitudes of Israelis today (Zech. 12:10; Acts 19:20).

   • By grace and in Your mercy, Abba save many Holocaust survivors and their families; terror attack survivors; hostages still alive and their loved ones; IDF soldiers and their families; loved ones of soldiers killed or severely wounded; widows, widowers, and orphans; Jews who are furious with God; rabbis in Israel and exile; Jewish anti-missionaries; Israeli diplomats, lawyers, university students in Israel and in exile; professors, teachers, scholars; medical personnel; Israeli media personalities; Jewish movie stars; Israeli tour guides; archeologists; anti-Bibi and anti-government demonstrators; Israelis living in exile; hippies, new agers and LGBTQ+ Jews; Jews in Iran, Ethiopia, India, China; Spanish and Portuguese speaking Jews; and unsaved loved ones of Messianic Jews.

9. Body of Messiah:

   For believers to co-labor with God today, they must be aware of what He is doing prophetically, especially the central importance of Israel's restoration (Jer. 32:41)?

   • Lord, teach Your Body that the first time "prophet" or "prayer" is mentioned in the Word, they are linked together in Shabbat's Torah portion, so that any genuine prophets in the Body today must be people of intercession as well (Gen. 20:7; cp. Jer. 27:18).

   • Pour out a deep love of the truth and Your Word, upon Your Body (John 17:17; 2 Thess. 2:10-12).

   • Lord, strip off the man-made veil of replacement theology from the Body (Eph. 5:27; 1 Tim. 4:1), and expel all demonic spirits of Jew and Israel-hatred (Gen. 18:18; 22:18; John 4:22; Rom. 9:1-5).

   • Show gentile believers that the gospel for them was first promised to Father Abram in Genesis 12:3b, and repeated in this week's Torah portion in Genesis 22:16-18.

   • Show the Body in America that the prayer battle over Trump has actually just begun (Luke 18:1).

   • Lord Yeshua, arise and remove all false shepherds who are destroying Your flock (Acts 20:27-30).

   • Abba Father, reveal to the Body how Israel's modern day restoration and its salvation is essential in preparing for Your Son's return (Zech. 12:2-10; Matt. 23:37-39; 24:30).

10. Water:

    The Sea of Galilee is in decent shape as Israel enters its rainy season. Yet please ask God to fill it up, and to pour out His water from on high throughout the rest of His land. Also, ask Him to let Israelis see this as a sign of His mercy, which during the war will go towards encouraging them to trust in Him even more (Isa. 41:17-20).

11. IFI:

    Israel's current situation is so convoluted that knowing what to focus our intercession on is a major part of our spiritual battle. Please ask God to continue to show us that which is His burden for this ministry at this time (Amos 3:7). Thank you for all of your support.

Shabbat shalom and blessings from Jerusalem
Chuck Cohen, for the IFI team
1 Chr. 29:10-11