1. Praise:

   In Shabbat's Torah portion, Abraham again describes God as sovereign in heaven and on the earth. He says this to his unnamed servant whom he is sending to find a wife for Isaac among his family back east: I will make you swear by YHWH, the God of heaven, and the God of earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites… (Gen. 24:3)

   • King Yeshua, with all of the shaking that our world is undergoing today, it is very encouraging to know that You are still the Sovereign over it all (Psa. 103:19; Matt. 28:18).

   • Lord, we say "amen" to David's declaration that the earth and all that is in it, including all the people that are on it, is Your possession because You are its Creator (Psa. 24:1).

   • We thank You for exhorting us to trust totally in You even when we do not understand what You are doing – because Your ways and thoughts are much higher than ours (Prov. 3:5; Isa. 55:8-9).

   • We praise You Messiah Yeshua for warning us that the days just before Your return would be both very dangerous and appear to be very normal as well (Matt. 24:37-39; Luke 21:26).

   • We bless You Lord God for Your divine grace and love as we know that You have chosen us (1 Pet. 2:9) because You love us (Deut. 7:6-9; 1 John 4:19; Rev. 1:5).

2. Government & society:

   God is bringing forth more sons and daughters of Zion in Israel. We see this in its politics, its military and even in its media. Yet with the election of Donald Trump as the next US president, the temptation to look to America to supply Israel's needs will be a much stronger temptation than it ever was under the Biden-Harris administration.

   • We praise You for the results of the American elections, but we ask You to prevent all Israelis in any positions of influence from trusting in Trump – instead of trusting in You (Psa. 118:9; Prov. 29:25).

   • Abba Father, as You have raised up PM Bibi Netanyahu as Israel's prime minister, we ask You to anoint him to finish the work for which You have prepared him (Psa. 75:5-7; Dan. 5:21; Phil. 1:6).

   • God, thank You for making him more of a son of Zion since that Oct. 7th pogrom (Psa. 68:27-28).

   • Lord, may Bibi's understanding of history make him a son-of-Issachar as well (1 Chr. 12:32).

   • As the rhetoric and rage against him increase, increase Your protection over him (Psa. 91:4, 11-12).

   • With the courts insisting on pursuing weak legal cases against Netanyahu, even during Israel's wars, we ask You to intervene and bring him out of this unrighteous trap (Psa. 124:6-8).

   • Almighty God, anoint Israel's current coalition for Your glory and unify them in everything that is Your will for Israel today (Psa. 115:1-3; 133:1).

   • Lord God, give a spirit of discernment and humility to all government decision makers (Eccl. 8:5-6).

   • Messiah Yeshua, come and comfort all Israelis that are grieving over their loved ones who have been murdered, severely wounded, or are still hostages (Isa. 63:7-9; Matt. 5:4).

   • Thank You Abba for sustaining Israel's economy while it fights a multi-front war (Psa. 132:13-15).

   • Turn Israel's construction industry into a tool for what You are doing (Psa. 51:18; 69:35; 147:2).

3. Foreign relations:

   Trump's election has already impacted the world. We are praying that Israel does not get sucked into this whirlpool of relief that many believers and other citizens of the West are experiencing over this. Yes, it is a relief to us as well, but woe to those who trust in man!

   • Lord God, please block US President Biden's administration from any negative moves against Israel from now until Jan. 20th, 2025, when Trump will become the next American leader (Isa, 8:9-10).

   • King of all, You have placed Trump in his new position (Jer. 27:5), so bring to him godly advisors who will caution him to not deal with Israel as if it were just any other nation (Psa. 135:4).

   • Anoint Dr. Yechiel Leiter in his role as Israel's next US Ambassador (Psa. 75:6-7; Prov. 16:1).

   • Messiah Yeshua, equip Gideon Sa'ar, Israel's foreign minister, for this position, and heal anything that might negatively interfere with his relationship with Netanyahu (Gen. 13:8; Psa. 133:1).

   • Protect Netanyahu and ex-Defense Minister Gallant from the arrest warrants for war-crimes in Gaza which were just issued by the International Criminal Court in the Hague (Psa. 35:19; 38:19).

   • Abba Father, anoint Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon with Your wisdom and boldness as he defends Your nation in that modern-day anti-God tower of Babel (Psa. 51:15; 81:10; 109:1-3).

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

   • Sovereign Lord, increase the sons and daughters of Zion and of Issachar in Israel's diplomatic corps throughout the world (1 Chr. 12:32; Job 22:21-22; Isa. 48:17).

   • King of Israel, may Your foreign policy be established on earth as it is in heaven, and use Israel to have a major role in helping that to come to pass (Deut. 28:9-10, 13; Psa. 33:10-11; Luke 11:2).

4. 1. External security – Iran:

      It seems that Trump's victory is the excuse Iran needed to retreat from their arrogant threats of retaliation against Israel. Yet God might still hook Iran's jaw and have them attack Israel, giving it a good excuse to destroy Iran's dangerous nuclear weapons program.

      • Lord God of hosts, wield Israel as Your weapon of war against all of Your enemies, in particular against Iran and its numerous proxies today (Isa. 42:13; Jer. 51:20-24; Joel 2:17-22; Zech. 11:1).

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

      • Use the Trump election to produce great fear into Iran's leaders' hearts, causing them to make huge geo-political mistakes which will ensnare them in Your trap (Prov. 29:25).

      • In line with Your Word, destroy Iran's political, military and religious leadership (Jer. 49:38b).

      • Make Israel's intensification of attacks against Iranian activity in Syria very effective (Isa. 41:15-16).

      • Also give wisdom to Israel on how to war against Iran's proxies in Iraq and Yemen (Prov. 21:30-31).

      • Lord, empower Israel's navy to defend Israel from its many Middle East enemies (1 Kin. 9:26).

      • Messiah, bless Your Body in Iran; protect them; help them to grow numerically and spiritually; and use them mightily to impact the rest of Iranian society (Jer. 49:38a; Matt. 5:13-16; 16:18b).

   2. External security – "Operation Northern Arrows:"

      There are reports of Israel wanting to agree to a ceasefire with Lebanon as a "gift" to the incoming Trump administration. Yet Israel is insisting that it maintains its freedom to attack Hizbullah even after this. That insistence is essential.

      • God, forbid Israel from agreeing to any deal unless it is Your time for this war to cease (Psa. 46:9).

      • If needs be, Lord, harden Hizbullah's leaders hearts to not agree to any ceasefire (Deut. 2:30).

      • Abba, do not allow the weariness of war, which both Israel's leaders and people are feeling, lead to a premature ceasefire which is not of You (Job 29:20b; Isa. 40:31).

      • Show them that if a renewed UN Security Council resolution 1701 depends on Hizbullah keeping its word, which as Muslim fundamentalists Allah does not permit them to do with his enemies, this will be a very dangerous agreement (Psa. 55:21; 120:7).

      • God, as we pray, fulfill Joel 2:17-21 and remove from Hizbullah all of its spiritual protection and also remove them far off from Israel's northern border (Mal. 1:5).

      • Lord, let the IDF increase its attacks against Hizbullah wherever they are hiding (Psa. 44:4-6).

      • Lord God, miraculously expand the effects of Israel's attacks against all of the supply routes from Syria to Lebanon through which Iran ships weapons to Hizbullah (Judg. 5:20; Isa. 59:7).

      • Shepherd of Israel, lead the IDF to discover and destroy all of Hizbullah's remaining weapons stores, missile launchers, and attack tunnels throughout Lebanon (Job 34:21-22; Amos 9:2-3; Luke 8:17).

      • Almighty One, hasten the completion of Israel's Iron Beam laser defense system to aid in the defense against both drones and UAVs (Ex. 14:20; Psa. 112:4).

      • Creator, use the winter weather to aid's Israel war efforts (Josh. 10:11; Job 38:22-23; Psa. 18:13).

      • God of mercy, cause many Hizbullah terrorists to feel shame as they see how Allah cannot protect them against the Jews and their God, and let that move them to seek Your face (Psa. 83:16-18).

      • Lord Yeshua, teach Arab believers of their need to bless Israel – in words and deeds (Gen. 12:3a).

5. "Operation Swords of Iron:"

   Only as Israel maintains complete security control over Gaza will there be a chance of attaining any degree of certainty against Hamas' retaking of Gaza. Eventually Israel will possess all of the Gaza Strip as per Zephaniah 2:5-7 and other verses.

   • Lord God, show more Israelis, including Netanyahu, of their biblical responsibility to repossess Gaza which is part of the tribe of Judah's inheritance (Josh. 15:1, 47; Judg. 1:18; Prov. 16:9).

   • As in the days of the Bible and in all of history since, let Israel insist on retaining territories in wars that it wins – both in Gaza and in South Lebanon (Deut. 4:1; 12:10).

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

   • God of hosts, we ask You to supernaturally protect the IDF soldiers still fighting in Gaza, both from Hamas and from all accidents, including friendly fire (Psa. 141:9-10).

   • Let the investigations of what went wrong leading up to Oct. 7th 2023, expose the unbiblical mindset of many of the IDF's current leadership, and either change them or replace them (Ezek. 34:10).

   • Lord God, destroy the lies of the UN which says that Gaza is facing a massive famine (Psa. 5:9-10).

   • Merciful Father, help Israel to rescue the hostages – both living and dead (Isa. 49:25; Jer. 50:31-34).

   • Thank You Lord for removing Qatar from the hostage negotiations (Psa. 28:3; Jer. 9:8).

6. Internal security:

   Only by extending sovereignty over all the land will Israelis live "securely" in it until King Messiah returns. While there is a change in thinking in many Israelis about this, we are praying for all Israel to see this as a command from God and to support this – despite the outrage it will inevitably spark among the nations.

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

   • God, aid Israel to extend sovereignty over more of its land – in Your way and timing (Psa. 44:3).

   • Abba, You are jealous over Your land (Ezek. 36:5-7), so arise and bring down all plans in the UN and among various nations to divide Your land in order to create a "Palestine" (Zech. 14:1-3).

   • Despite Israel's war-like atmosphere, God increase the populations, homes and businesses of Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, and everywhere else throughout Your land (Isa. 49:19-20; 51:3).

   • Lord, we bless You for the plans Israel has just approved to build power plants and a solar farm in Judea and Samaria and ask for more construction like this on Your land (Isa. 54:2-3).

   • Abba Father, speak to many Jews out of Genesis 24:7 in the Torah portion that You have actually sworn to give all of the land to Abraham's seed.

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

   • Lord, we are so grateful that even with an increase in terror attacks, most fail, and there have been no successful kidnappings in Judea and Samaria, in Gaza or in Lebanon (Psa. 50:15).

   • God of hosts, strip off all satanic protection from Palestinian terrorists (Num. 14:9; Josh 2:24).

   • Lord, set the terrorists in Judea and Samaria to fight against each other (Psa. 55:9; 129:5).

   • God of Israel, let them fall into the traps that they have set for the Jews (Est. 7:10; Psa. 35:8; 57:6).

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

7. Aliyah:

   It is God's will for every Jew to come home to His/their land. This is actually linked with all Israel being saved (Ezek. 39:28-29), yet a majority still live in "captivity" among the gentiles. Although anti-Semitism has exploded there since last Oct. 7th, most Jews choose to remain there. Only God knows what will shake them out of their false comfort zones, and we pray for Him to do that.

   • Lord, aliyah is for Your glory, so draw multitudes worldwide back home today (Isa. 43:5-7).

   • Abba Father, remove the huge stone of stumbling in aliyah – which is the rabbinic definition of who is a Jew – and let Israel line up with the biblical definition (Isa. 62:10; Mark 7:9, 13).

   • As much as possible, God of Israel, draw them home in Your great mercy (Isa. 54:7; Jer. 31:3).

   • Yet increase the hunters to chase home all those who refuse to hear the fishers (Jer. 16:16).

   • Precious Lord, thank You for hearing that several European rabbis are beginning to encourage their flocks to move to Israel (Jer. 50:4-6). May they lead them home!

   • Teach the Jews the lessons of history, that when they lived in gentile nations, at some point those nations could not, or would not, protect them and their families (Deut. 28:37, 64-67; Psa. 137:3-4).

   • God Almighty, continue to tear up the "comfort zones" of Western Jews, and direct their sights on moving to Israel while they can still bring most of their silver and gold with them (Isa. 60:9).

   • In line with that, cause Jewish parents to face the choice of seeing their children intimidated by anti-Semitism, or being in the IDF defending their biblical homeland (Isa. 41:10-16; Ezek. 37:10).

   • King of Israel, turn Israel's diplomatic outreach to Jews in the captivity to focus more on aliyah and less on helping them remain safe in the captivity (Deut. 28:65-67; Psa. 53:6; 107:1-9).

   • Remove all children of Greece who have authority over aliyah who are bureaucrats in the Interior Ministry and the Jewish Agency and replace them with sons and daughters of Zion (Isa. 62:10).

   • Lord God, prepare Israel to receive with joy a massive influx of Jews into Your nation (Jer. 31:8-9).

   • Thank You God for those modern-day "righteous gentiles," believers and others, who will hide and protect the Jews and help them to escape to Israel (Prov. 28:12; Isa. 49:22).

   • King Messiah, reveal to the Body their biblical duty to assist the Jews in making aliyah – by prayer, by finances and with good works (Isa. 49:22; 60:1-12; 61:5; Rom. 15:26-27).

8. Salvation:

   When Paul declares that all Israel will be saved (Rom. 11:26), the context tells us that "all Israel" is a remnant (Rom. 9:27; 11:5; cp. Jer. 31:7). We believe that our prayers help to increase that remnant – especially as God does not want any to perish (1 Tim. 2:1-4).

   • God, we intercede in line with Israel's pray in Psalm 106:47: Save us, YHWH our God, and gather us from the gentiles, to give thanks to Your holy name, and to triumph in Your praise.

   • Abba Father, please at this time, correct that partial blindness which is upon most Jews since the Lord Yeshua's day, and let them look upon their true King Messiah (Isa. 45:15; Rom. 11:25-26).

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

   • Grace Jews with a deep "holy dissatisfaction" as they compare their personal relationships with You compared to many of the Jews in the Tanach (Psa. 42:2-3).

   • Lord, let the Christian "lovers of Israel" provoke Your people to jealousy (Rom. 11:11).

   • Messiah, place an urgent burden on gentile believers to pray for Israel at this time (Rom. 10:1)

   • [Please ask God for any specific group or groups of Jews He wants you to pray for this week.]

9. Body of Messiah:

   As Jews need to return to the land, believers need to return to God's Word. At this time in history, Yeshua's disciples should be reading and studying all of the God-breathed scriptures (2 Tim. 3:16-17) which shed light on what He is doing at this hour (for ex. Jer. 32:41).

   • May a divine love of the truth of Your Word rest upon Your Body (John 17:17; 2 Thess. 2:10-12).

   • Along with that, Lord, reveal to them that the only Bible You had, read and trusted in during Your time on the earth was the Old Testament – the Tanach (Luke 24:44; John 5:46; 2 Tim. 3:15-17).

   • Messiah Yeshua, lovingly rebuke every believer who refuses to trust in the Tanach (Luke 24:25-27).

   • Lord Yeshua, give Your flock more good shepherds to feed them with Your Word (Acts 20:27-28).

   • Teach Your Body the importance of praying for their nation's governments – especially if they are anti-biblical, anti-Christ and anti-Israel governments (2 Tim. 2:1-4).

   • Messiah, expel replacement theory from the Body (Eph. 5:27; 1 Tim. 4:1), and banish all demonic spirits of Jew and Israel-hatred (Gen. 18:18; 22:18; John 4:22; Rom. 9:1-5).

   • Lord God, by Your Spirit teach believers the biblical links between aliyah, the salvation of Israel and Your return in glory to Zion (Psa. 53:6; 147:2; Jer. 31:1-10; Zech. 14:1-4; Matt. 23:39).

10. Water:

    Please join us as we ask the Lord to fill the Sea of Galilee to overflowing during this rainy season. Also, ask Him to use that to encourage and comfort many Israelis that He is guarding over His nation for good (Psa. 118:1; Isa. 41:17-20).

11. IFI:

    Thank you for praying for, and encouraging us in many ways, at this time.

Shabbat shalom and blessings from Jerusalem

Chuck Cohen, for the IFI team

Rev. 22:21