1. Praise:

   In Shabbat's Torah portion Isaac prays for Rebekah to conceive and have a child. It took God about 20 years before He answered (Gen. 25:20, cp. 25:26). In today's microwave, instant coffee, generation, Isaac would have given up in months – if even that long! Yet Yeshua tells us to persist in prayer (Luke 18:1) and that we have need of patience (Luke 21:19).

   • Lord, thank You that Your timing is perfect and that You are teaching us to rest in that (Psa. 31:15).

   • We praise You for helping us to abide by the truth of Your timing as we pray for Israel (Psa. 69:13).

   • We bless You for training us to develop that much needed fruit of patience (Gal. 5:22; Jam. 1:3-4).

   • Thank You for the example of Elijah who persisted in prayer that we read of in James 5:16b-18.

   • What a encouragement to read that You are an ever-present help in our times of need (Psa. 46:1).

   • Hallelujah! Since You exist outside of time – nothing can ever take You by surprise (Isa. 46:10).

2. Government & society:

   Our prayers for Israel's leaders – especially political and military – are bearing fruit, as more of them seem to make decisions more like sons of Zion. While it is a challenge to pray basically the same thing weekly, seeing answers encourages us to persist in prayer about those requests which have not yet been fulfilled or have been fulfilled – but only partially.

   • Abba, we thank You for many more sons and daughters of Zion being raised up in Israel, and pray for even more at this critical time in history (1 Chr. 11:10; Obad. 1:21; Zech. 9:13; 12:8).

   • Abba Father, PM Bibi Netanyahu has great need of wisdom to be effective as Israel's leader, so we ask for You to give him that wisdom in abundance (Prov. 16:1; Dan. 2:21b).

   • Messiah Yeshua, bring to Bibi godly advisors, and open his ears to hear them (Prov. 11:14; 24:6).

   • Abba, shut the mouths which spew hatred and violence against Netanyahu (Dan. 6:22; Zech. 3:2).

   • God, as Israel's humanistic courts insist on trying weak legal cases against Bibi at this precarious time of war, we ask You to arise and break the chains of this unrighteous trap (Psa. 124:6-8; 149:8).

   • Almighty One, convince each political leader in Israel of their need to ask You for guidance and to feed their spirits by reading in the Tanach daily (Deut. 17:18-20; Psa. 1:2; Jer. 15:16).

   • Caution Israel's son of Zion right-wing leaders to be careful with their words (Prov. 10:19; 15:1).

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

   • As in the Torah portion, so today, allow Israel to reap a hundredfold benefit in its economy through that which it sows – despite the costs of the war efforts (Gen. 26:12).

3. Foreign relations:

   Last week, the International Criminal Court [ICC] in The Hague issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for "war crimes" which the IDF supposedly did while fighting Hamas in Gaza. A few nations said they would not honor this, but most said they would arrest them if they landed in their countries. While this could be another move by God to fulfill Numbers 23:9b and thrust Israel into being a nation set apart, woe to those nations who bow down to this anti-Semitic decision based on blatant lies (Num. 24:9b).

   • Our Father, may Your foreign policy to be established on earth as it is in heaven (Matt. 6:9-10).

   • In the Torah portion we again read of the blessings and curses that are linked with how people and nations touch Your people, so Lord, have Your Body warn their nations of this truth (Gen. 27:29).

   • Abba, protect Netanyahu and Gallant from these absurd ICC arrest warrants, yet also use them to determine which nations Bibi should visit and which he should avoid (Psa. 5:8; 32:8; Prov. 8:20).

   • Do not let Israel appeal the ICC decision and thus give the ICC authority over it which it does not have as Israel is not a member – but we ask You to defend Your people (Job 12:12-21; Psa. 35:1).

   • Lord God, protect Israel from any maneuverings by US President Biden's lame-duck administration which would harm the Jewish nation (Psa. 1:4-6; Isa. 8:9-10).

   • King of kings, You have raised up Trump at this time, (Jer. 27:5) so surround him advisors who will warn him to not deal with Israel as if it were just any other nation (Psa. 135:4).

   • Lord, prepare the Trump administration to work well with Israel's new US Ambassador, Dr. Yechiel Leiter, and to heed his advice – especially about not dividing Your land (Lev. 25:23; Prov. 22:28).

   • Abba Father, forbid Israelis from seeing Trump as any type of savior (Psa. 118:9; Prov. 29:25).

   • God, we lift up Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon, asking You to protect and use him mightily as he boldly declares truth in that anti-God, humanistic organization (Prov. 28:1b; Gal. 4:16).

   • Lord God, help Israel's representatives – professionals and laypeople – to declare Your Word when they speak, as what You have said will not return empty (Num. 23:19; Isa. 40:8; 55:11: Gal. 4:16).

4. 1. External security – "Operation Northern Arrows:"

      Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 60 day ceasefire. Hizbullah, which has not agreed to this, is supposed to move north of the Latani River while the Lebanese Army [LAF] and UN's "peacekeepers" [UNIFIL] move south as a buffer between Israel and Hizbullah. While this is not what we hoped for – nor do we think it will work – we did ask for God to trash this agreement if it was not of Him, so we need His leading as we pray about this.

      • Lord of hosts, God of Jacob (Psa. 46:7, 11), based on Psalm 46:9, we ask You to cause this war with Hizbullah to cease – and not any man-made ceasefire (Mic. 4:3).

      • In line with Romans 8:28, use this ceasefire for Your glory and Israel's good (Psa. 106:4-5; 115:1-3).

      • Abba, erase the weariness of war from Israel's leaders and its people, and energize them to maintain the letter of the law against any breach by Hizbullah on what is agreed on or if there is no permanent solution to return to the attack after the ceasefire is over (Gen. 49:22-24; Isa. 40:31; 41:10-16).

      • Thank You that so far Israel is responding strongly against Hizbullah's machinations (Eccl. 8:8).

      • Show Israel how to battle Hizbullah when it uses LAF and UNIFIL as human shields (Psa. 144:1).

      • As the Lebanese now see a weakened Hizbullah, Sovereign God, move them to rise up and set their nation free from Iran's clutches through this proxy (Job 18:5-18; Psa. 29:5-6).

      • God of hosts, continue to encourage Israel to destroy all routes leading into Lebanon which Iran uses to resupply Hizbullah (Judg. 5:20; Isa. 59:7).

      • 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).

   2. External security – Iran:

      Iranians are suffering greatly under their current demonic regime. Most of the regime's focus is aimed at first destroying Israel, then conquering the Middle East [ME], and finally ruling the world for Allah. The destruction of Iran's leaders (Jer. 49:38b) would be a mercy for the majority of Iranians and most other ME nations, including obviously Israel.

      • Lord God of hosts, continue using Israel as Your weapon of war against Your enemies, in particular against Iran and its many ME proxies today (Jer. 51:20-24; Zech. 9:13-16).

      • God of Israel's fathers, Isaiah 41:11-12a is very appropriate for the mindset of Israel's ME enemies, including Iran, so shame them mightily, confounding and making them as nothing before the IDF.

      • 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).

      • King of glory, empower the IDF's "Iran Command" to know precisely what Iran is planning, and whether Israel should wait to respond to an attack or to pre-empt Iran's plans (Job 12:22; Isa. 29:15).

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

      • 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 God, give Israel's navy great successes as it defends Israel throughout the ME (1 Kin. 9:26).

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

5. "Operation Swords of Iron:"

   Israel needs total security control over Gaza to prevent Hamas' resurgence there. At some point, Israel will possess all of Gaza (Zeph. 2:5-7; plus other verses).

   • Lord of the breakthroughs – give Israel a huge breakthrough to decisively end this war (Mic. 2:13).

   • If Israel's resistance to repossess Gaza is the stumbling block to its complete victory, Lord speak to its leaders and many of its people, even in their sleep, about this crucial issue (Judg. 2:1-4).

   • Prevent US President Biden and his administration from pushing Israel into a ceasefire and hostage agreement with Hamas just because they pressured Israel with Hizbullah (Num. 23:23; Matt. 6:10).

   • Lord God, with Israel's pre-war expectations in mind, we praise You for supernaturally protecting the IDF soldiers fighting in Gaza and thank You for watching over Deuteronomy 20:1.

   • Abba, continue to guard over the IDF against Hamas attacks and traps, all kidnapping attempts, and against friendly fire and any other types of accidents (Psa. 4:8; Zech. 9:16; 10:5-8).

   • Almighty, renew the strength, courage and motivation of the troops fighting there (Isa. 40:28-31).

   • God, give divinely inspired new tactics and strategies to the IDF to use against Hamas (Psa. 18:34).

   • Lord God, expose the lies of the UN who states that Gazans are facing a famine (Psa. 5:9-10).

   • Abba, lead Israel to find the hostages, whether living or dead (Psa. 95:4a; Isa. 49:25; Jer. 50:31-34).

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

6. Internal security:

   Only by obeying God and possessing all of its land by extending civil rule over it, will Israelis have any chance of living "securely" before Messiah Yeshua returns. There has been an increase of many Israelis' wanting to see this happen. Let's pray for all Israel to see this as a command by God and to support this, despite the outrage it will inevitably spark among the nations.

   • Lord God, speak to Your people through the Torah portion that You have sworn to Abraham to give all of this land to his seed – forever (Gen. 26:2-4; 28:3-4).

   • God, we ask You to arrange circumstances that make it necessary for Israel to extend its sovereignty over much more of Your land (Deut. 8:17-18; Psa. 44:3).

   • Abba, as You are jealous over Your land (Ezek. 36:5-7), arise and destroy any plans from the UN or among the nations to divide Your land and create a "Palestine" (Psa. 33:10-11; Zech. 14:1-3).

   • Messiah Yeshua, use Trump's new Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, to declare Your Word, especially about the land, as he speaks to both Israelis and Americans (Isa. 55:11; Jer. 1:12).

   • Thank You Lord for all that Finance Minister Smotrich is doing to push forward this extension of sovereignty, including his caution and understanding of Israel's precarious situation for the next few months until Trump and his administration take over (Eccl. 3:1).

   • Lord God, even as Israel is in the midst of a multi-front war, expand the populations and businesses of Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, and everywhere else on Your land (Isa. 49:19-20; 51:3).

   • Shepherd of Israel, guard over Your regathered people (Gen. 49:24; Jer. 31:10).

   • Improve Israel's ability to guard over its roads, checkpoints and public transportation (Psa. 121:8).

   • Abba Father, we bless You that even as an terror attempts increase, most fail, and there have been no successful kidnappings of Israelis anywhere in the land since Oct. 7th (Psa. 50:15).

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

   • Lord, save many Palestinians and use them to provoke Jews to jealousy (Matt. 5:44; Rom. 11:11).

7. Aliyah:

   Jews in "captivity" – which is how the Bible describes Jews living among the gentiles – are being regathered to a restored Jewish State (Jer. 30:8-10). This is an open witness of God's faithfulness to His promises (Isa. 43:12; Heb. 10:23b). Also, as this is a sign of the return of the Lord (Psa. 102:16), Satan is furious over this and is trying to destroy Israel (Rev. 12:12-13).

   • God, draw millions of Jews back home in Your mercy and for Your glory (Isa. 43:5-7; 54:7).

   • Abba, bring whole families and even communities back home together (Ex. 12:37-38; Jer. 31:3-5).

   • Lord Yeshua, we ask You to remove the biggest stumbling stone to aliyah for many Jews, the rabbis definition of who is a Jew, and let Israel define a Jew by what You say (Isa. 62:10; Mark 7:9, 13).

   • Faithful God, let Jews in Europe heed those European rabbis who are encouraging their flocks to move to Israel – and let those rabbis lead them home (Jer. 50:4-6).

   • Lord, use the explosion of anti-Semitism in the West chase Your people home (Jer. 16:16).

   • Abba Father, deal with Jewish pride which says, "They will not chase us out!" by showing them that You are doing both the chasing, and the drawing (Prov. 16:18; Jer. 31:3-5, 8-10; Zech. 8:1-8).

   • God Almighty, stop Jewish leaders from fighting for the right to live in "peace and safety" among the gentiles and turn their efforts towards making aliyah instead (Jer. 51:9-10).

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

   • Cleanse from Israel's Interior Ministry and the Jewish Agency all children of Greece with authority over aliyah and replace them with sons and daughters of Zion (Isa. 62:10).

   • God of Israel, press Israel, even in its wartime situation, to arrange houses, jobs, schools and Hebrew classes to facilitate the successful integration of every new immigrant (Ezek. 28:25-26; 36:8-12).

   • Reveal to every Christian Zionist who is deaf, dumb and blind to the significance of aliyah in Your prophetic plans in history how central this really is today (Psa. 106:47; 126:1-2; Jer. 3:14-18).

   • Abba Father, release funds from wealthy Jews and Christians to support both the aliyah and the successful integration of new immigrants into Israeli society (Ezra 1:4; Isa. 60:9).

8. Salvation:

   YHWH, save Your people, the remnant of Israel (Jer. 31:7b). In the context God is speaking to the watchmen [notzrim], today's Hebrew word for "Christians" (Jer. 31:6a), to pray this. God's will is for all Israel to be saved, so we pray for this with great confidence (1 John 5:14-15).

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

   • King Messiah, just like Joseph with his brothers (Gen. 45:1-4), reveal Yourself to many Jews who will then witness to their families that You are alive and rule in many gentile hearts (Gen. 45:24-28).

   • Lord, speak to secret Jewish believers as to when they need to openly confess You (Matt. 10:32).

   • Anoint Messianic Jewish IDF soldiers to provoke others soldiers to jealousy (Rom. 11:14).

   • Lord Yeshua, redeem many of Israel's modern day sons and daughters of Zion, showing them that You, their King Messiah, have already come and are returning very soon (Zech. 9:9; 14:1-4).

   • Lord Yeshua, let Jews who made aliyah with help from gentile believers be provoked to jealousy by Christians' love and concern and use that to draw them to You to be saved (Rom. 11:11).

   • By grace and 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:

   Messiah Yeshua will rule the world as king from Jerusalem. The devil knows this and wants to destroy Israel to at least delay, if not erase, the Second Coming. Yet do most believers truly see that this is what the spiritual battle over Israel is about today?

   • Lord Yeshua, speak to believers that they will not be able to see You fulfill Your Word today if they do not know what Your Word says about these last days (Luke 24:25:27).

   • Inject Your Body with a deep love for the truth of Your Word (John 17:17; 2 Thess. 2:10-12).

   • In conjunction with that, teach believers that the word "scripture" in the New Testament refers in context only to the Old Testament – the Tanach (Matt. 22:29; Luke 4:21; 1 Cor. 15:3-4; Gal. 3:8).

   • Lord Yeshua, warn believers to reject all proud or racist attitudes towards unsaved Jews and instead to bless them as Your Spirit directs (Prov. 8:13; Isa. 37:23; Rom. 11:17-18, 22).

   • God, expose replacement theology as a demonic, anti-Christ, and Jew-hating teaching (1 Tim. 4:1).

   • Please promote many more godly shepherds to feed Your flock with Your Word (Acts 20:27-28).

   • Let the practice of real corporate prayer permeate the worldwide Body (Matt. 18:20; Heb. 4:16).

10. Water:

    We praise God that Israel received some wet weather earlier this week. Please ask Him to continue to open the heavens over all of His land and to use that as a sign of love to all of His people – especially at this time (Jer. 14:22; Matt. 5:45b).

11. IFI:

    Those of us who actively run IFI are in our 70s. At times, our physical abilities limit what we can do. Yet by His grace and through your prayers, He is still enabling us to do all that He calls us for. Thank you for faithfully standing with us.

Shabbat shalom and blessings from Jerusalem

Chuck Cohen, for the IFI team

Rom. 11:33-36