1. Praise: Shabbat's Torah portion begins the story of Joseph who was loved by his father more than all his other brothers.

   His story continues through Genesis and is a foreshadow of Yeshua's relations with most of Israel's leaders during His life on earth and of His current rule over the hearts of billions of gentiles. Joseph's story ends with the prophetic scenario of His revealing Himself to His brothers in the flesh, which is most likely very soon to come.

   • God of Israel, we bless You that we know the end of the story and agree with Joseph that You used his brothers' rejection so that "all Israel" of that time could be saved (Gen. 50:20).

   • And like You did with Joseph, we rejoice in the reality that multitudes of gentiles, even those living at the ends of the earth, have been blessed because of You, Lord Yeshua (Gen. 39:3, 5).

   • Abba, thank You for warning us of the dangers of being jealous with hateful intent (Gen. 37:2-3).

   • God, we rejoice in You, our Unshakeable Shaker, who is definitely shaking the world (Hag. 2:7).

   • Lord Yeshua, we trust in Your overall sovereignty over the earth today (Matt. 28:18; Acts 10:36b).

   • God, we rejoice that a time is coming when Your glory will be manifest throughout all of the earth (Isa. 6:3; Hab. 2:14).

2. 1. External security – the Middle East [ME]: The fall of Syria's ex-President Assad's regime to Turkish backed radical Muslims is still the major headlines in Israel.

      What will come out of this sudden change only God knows, but while we are excited by certain aspects of it, other aspects cause us great concern and increase our burden to pray for Israel's protection and salvation.

      • Lord of hosts, reinforce Your angelic armies guarding Your nation today (Psa. 35:4-6; 78:49).

      • We praise You God for this partial answer to our prayers that You would confound those who hate Zion (Psa. 40:14-15; 71:24; 109:29; 129:5; 1 John 5:14-15). More, Lord!

      • Lord, we bless You that a major result of Assad's downfall is that the "ring of fire" Iran was building around Israel for the Jewish nation's destruction has been basically shattered (Psa. 91:3; 124:6-8).

      • We thank You for Israel not believing Syria's new Sunni Muslim radical leaders but is deliberately destroying all things that could potentially be used against it that Assad's army had (Psa. 5:8; 25:2).

      • God of wisdom, download to Israel precise actionable intelligence of all of its enemies' plans at this time – including Iran, Hizbullah, the Houthis and Turkey (Job 28:11b; Psa. 56:1-2, 9; 92:11).

      • Abba, since You know the future (Isa. 42:9), reveal to Israel if it needs to help support the Kingdom of Jordan whom both Iran and the new rulers of Syria want to bring down (Prov. 27:10b).

      • Lord, reveal to Israel if as a result of the Iranian regime's deep shame over their proxies and ally's destruction, they are planning to hasten the development of a nuclear weapon (Jer. 11:18; 49:10).

      • Regardless, God, supernaturally destroy Iran's nuclear facilities (Psa. 68:1; Isa. 21:9; Jer. 51:8).

      • Lord, if You desire to use Israel as Your weapon of war instead, direct the timing and tactics and let Iran's nuclear weapons program be totally eradicated (Prov. 21:31; Jer. 46:10; 51:20-25).

      • As per Your prophetic Word, destroy Iran's political, military and religious leadership (Jer. 49:38b).

      • God, expose the anti-Israel plots of Turkey's anti-Christ-like leader Erdogan (Prov. 15:3; Dan. 2:22).

      • Lord of all, hedge Erdogan in completely and neutralize his wicked schemes (Psa. 9:19; 89:22-23).

      • Abba Father, show Israel if it should actively help the Kurds whom Erdogan seeks to destroy.

      • God, use Erdogan for Your glory like You did with Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar (Rom. 9:17).

      • Messiah Yeshua, release multitudes of Muslims from the power of darkness today (Col. 1:13).

      • Lord, bless Your Body throughout the ME; protect them; aid them to grow both numerically and spiritually; and use them to greatly impact their nations for You (Jer. 49:38a; Matt. 5:13-16; 16:18b).

   2. External security – Hizbullah: Israel is keeping to its agreed 60 day ceasefire with Lebanon.

      Yet Hizbullah has not agreed to this, so Israel is still striking them as they attempt to move back into southern Lebanon. Being offensive is the best way to ensure security in the ME.

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

      • God, as we pray as priests before You (1 Pet. 2:9), fulfill Joel 2:17-21 and strip Hizbullah's of all of its spiritual protection, as well as completely removing them from Israel's northern border (Mal. 1:5).

      • 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).

      • Show Hizbullah that they are reaping what they have sown by cursing Israel (Num. 24:9b; Gal. 6:7).

      • Lord God, thank You for answering our prayers, as Assad's regime's fall has destroyed all the roads in Syria which Iran used to resupply Hizbullah with weapons (Judg. 5:20-22; Isa. 59:7).

      • Stir up the Lebanese people to finally expel Hizbullah from their nation (Prov. 28:15; 29:2).

      • Abba, help Israel to rebuild the north stronger and with a larger population (Psa. 69:35; Eccl. 3:3).

3. Government & society: Praying for Israel's political leaders is a high priority in God's sight (1 Tim. 2:1-4).

   As a godly government makes a way for more people to get saved, so we continue to stand on Jerusalem's walls and intercede for His nation's leaders to act righteously (Prov. 29:2).

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

   • God of Israel, we also pray for the removal of every son or daughter of Greece who view life through anti-biblical humanistic filters, from all influential positions in Israel (Job 34:24; Psa. 109:8).

   • Lord, since You have raised up PM Bibi Netanyahu as Israel's leader today (Dan. 4:32), please equip him to finish that for which You have ordained him (Psa. 68:27; 75:5-7; 80:17; Phil. 1:6).

   • Judge of all the earth, as the court proceedings against him can distract him from leading Israel's war efforts and from concentrating on the chaos in Israel's neighborhood, we ask that this which has been intended for evil be turned to good – for Your holy name's sake (Gen. 50:20; Prov. 19:5).

   • Lord God, let this trial convince Israelis of Israel's need for massive judicial reform (Isa. 1:25-27).

   • Abba Father, surround Bibi with godly advisors to whom he will listen (Prov. 11:14; 24:6).

   • Almighty God, over Chanukah let Your light and truth increase in Israel's leaders (Psa. 36:9; 43:3).

   • Messiah Yeshua, comfort upon Your nation (Isa. 61:1-3), and heal all ex-hostages who are now back home of their intense mental and emotional trauma and their survivor's guilt (Psa. 30:2-3; 147:3).

   • Creator, command Your land to abundantly supply Israel's needs today (Psa. 135:15; Ezek. 36:8-12).

4. Foreign relations: God's end-time program is centered today on Israel as the building up of Jerusalem is the sign of His Son's return in glory (Psa. 102:16; Zech. 14:1-4).

   It is therefore of utmost importance that we pray for Israel's foreign relations to be led by sons and daughters of Zion.

   • Lord God, it is often hard to see You fulfilling Your foreign policy (Psa. 33:10-11; Isa. 55:8-9), so as You do it, show us (Amos 3:7) and we will give You all of the glory (Psa. 115:1-3; Luke 11:2).

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

   • We are thankful that Donald Trump will be America's next president, but we ask You that no Israeli, regardless of their position, would trust in him – but instead would look to You (Psa. 80:19; 146:3-5).

   • Lord God, wean Israel off from trusting in the US at all (Psa. 118:8-9).

   • Strengthen Israel's leadership to say "no" to all outside pressures that are not in line with Your will for Israel, and enable them to discern the "good" from the "evil" (Neh. 2:20; Prov. 3:7; Isa. 5:20-23).

   • 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).

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

   • King Yeshua, make Gideon Sa'ar, Israel's foreign minister, a Psalm 15:2 type of man.

   • Lord God, help Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon, and America's new UN Ambassador Elise Stefanik, to develop excellent working relations and to encourage one another (Isa, 52:8).

   • Lord Yeshua, watch over Numbers 24:9b concerning the UN and its outreaches (Isa. 8:9-10; 54:17).

   • Messiah Yeshua, anoint every believer who prays over their nation's relations with Israel, and let their prayers move You to be merciful to their nations (Ezek. 22:30-31: cp. Isa. 60:12).

5. "Operation Swords of Iron:" Israel must maintain total security control over Gaza to prevent Hamas' resurgence there.

   Of course, at some point, hopefully sooner than later, Israel will possess all of Gaza once again (Zeph. 2:5-7; plus other verses).

   • Lord God, once again we ask that if Israel's reluctance to repossess Gaza is the main hindrance to it gaining a complete victory, please speak clearly about this to its leaders and people (Judg. 2:1-4).

   • God, as per Obadiah 1:3-4 and Obadiah 1:8 let Hamas' pride deceive and destroy them.

   • Lord God of Israel, let what they did to Israelis on Oct. 7th come before You and send Your fire to destroy any remnant of Hamas' rule still left in Gaza (Amos 1:6-7).

   • Lord of all, equip all IDF soldiers to fight like the prophesied sons of Zion (Zech. 9:13-15; 10:3a-7).

   • God of hosts, maintain Your wings of protection over each one of them (Psa. 17:8; 91:4; 141:9-10).

   • God of Abraham, in any hostage deal, do not allow Israel to settle for anything less than a release of all remaining hostages – both living and dead (Gen. 14:14-16; 1 Sam. 30:18-20).

   • Lord of the whole earth, open Muslims' hearts both in the ME, and the rest of the world, to see how ineffective Allah is in protecting his servants from Israel and Israel's God, and use that to shame them and cause them to seek Your face (Est. 8:17; Psa. 83:16-18).

6. Internal security: It is past time for Israel to heed God and possess its possessions through the extension of its sovereignty over all of its land (Obad. 1:17-20).

   This is not annexation, as a nation does not annex that which it already owns! This would be Israel obeying God and resisting the world, and is the only way Israel can live more securely until Messiah returns.

   • We praise You Lord that connected with Trump's victory, and his appointment of Mike Huckabee as the next US Ambassador to Israel, more Israelis now support Israel's extension of its sovereignty over more of its biblical inheritance (Isa. 49:18-21; 54:2-3). Lord, let attitude increase exponentially!

   • Almighty God, do not allow Israel to accept any partial sovereignty over parts of Your land in trade for allowing the establishment of a Palestinian State on any of Your land (Lev. 25:23; Isa. 8:9-110).

   • Thank You Lord for the government approving Netanyahu's plan to double both the population and the places to live on the Golan Heights (Jer. 32:41-44).

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

   • God, let the IDF use the world's focus on Lebanon, Gaza, and Syria to intensify its activities in Judea and Samaria and extinguish the ability and will of terrorists there to fight (Ex. 15:14-16; Deut. 30:7).

   • 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).

   • God, place armed civilians to be in the right place at the right time to stop any terrorist (Josh. 4:12).

7. Aliyah: It is incredible to be part of the generation that is witnessing the return of the Jews to the land that God has promised to them.

   This regathering is an open display of God fulfilling His prophetic Word as a witness to the nations (Jer. 1:12; 31:10). Yet it comes with great responsibility as He expects His Body to be actively involved with the aliyah.

   • Messiah Yeshua, we thank You for being alive today as the building up of Jerusalem is one of the sure signs that Your return is near (Psa. 102:16; 147:2).

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

   • Lord, send forth more hunters to chase home all who refuse to hear the fishers (Jer. 16:16).

   • Lord God, do this in part by giving them dreams – even nightmares – to awaken them that it is past time for them and their families to return home (Joel 2:28b; Amos 3:8; Zech. 10:8-10).

   • Release all Jews who are mentally and emotionally trapped in exile (Psa. 107:14-16; 137:4-6).

   • Lord, as Jews in the West think twice about openly displaying the menorah over Chanukah, show them that they are no longer free to express their identity as in the past – except in Israel (Psa. 56:5-6).

   • Also show them that while Israel is not 100% safe, it is safer than remaining in exile (Psa. 121:3-4).

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

   • Lord God, bring home Jews with practical, as well as medical and scientific, skills (Neh. 4:16-18).

   • Release the Jews in Turkey, Iran and in other dangerous nations to return home soon (Jer. 16:14-15).

   • Draw back home all Israelis living in the nations, including Messianic believers (Isa. 35:10; 51:11).

   • King Messiah, replace in Israel's Interior Ministry and its Jewish Agency all bureaucrats who are lukewarm towards aliyah and fill their positions with those who are zealous for Zion (Zech. 8:1-8).

   • Change the rabbinical definition of "who is a Jew?" to line up with Your definition (Psa. 119:116).

   • Thank You for the government's incentives for new immigrants to settle in the periphery of Your land and not only in the large cities in the nation's center (Jer. 33:12-14).

   • 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).

   • God of Israel, move upon wealthy Jews and Christians to give abundantly to finance both the aliyah and the successful integration of new immigrants into Israeli society (Ezra 1:4; Isa. 60:9).

8. Salvation: A recent survey has shown that Israelis have become more religious since Oct. 7th and that this trend seems to be increasing.

   While this likely means a closer observance of Rabbinic Judaism – and not necessarily a closer relationship with the Living God – still we see this as God's gentle drawing of His people to Himself, and eventually to His Son Yeshua, their Messiah.

   • God, we intercede in line with Israel's cry 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.

   • Use this season of light to shine Your light in the hearts of Your people (John 12:36).

   • Abba Father, please at this time, remove 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).

   • 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, bring Zechariah 12:10 to fulfillment and send forth Your spirit of grace and intercession upon You people who live in Your land today, and save multitudes (Zech. 12:10; Acts 19:20).

   • Messiah Yeshua, show born-again gentiles that Romans 1:16 and Romans 11:11 are still valid today.

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

   • [Let God show you the specific group or groups of Jews He wants you to intercede for this week.]

9. Body of Messiah: For believers to co-labor with God today, they need to be aware of what He is doing prophetically, including Israel's central place in His end time agenda (Jer. 32:41).

   Yet that requires a familiarity with all of His Word, from Genesis through the book of Revelation.

   • Lord, make Christmas kosher again in Your Body – so that both Christians and Jews realize that the One who was born to Miriam was, and is, the promised Messiah of Israel (Luke 1:30-33; 2:11, 21).

   • King Messiah, let that which Simeon declared provoke believers to search out why he finished with "and the glory of Your people Israel" (Luke 2:29-32).

   • Lord God, gift Your flock with godly shepherds who will feed them with Your Word (Eph. 4:11-14).

   • King of Israel, remove in this life any shame or humiliation towards bowing the knee to a Jewish Messiah before they actually are faced with having to do that for all eternity (Rev. 5:5, 8-10, 12-13).

   • Messiah Yeshua, 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).

   • Abba Father, show the Body that Israel's modern restoration and its salvation is central to prepare for Your Son's glorious return (Zech. 12:2-10; Matt. 23:37-39; 24:30).

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

10. Water: We praise God as winter weather has begun to appear in Israel.

    And while Israel is not in a water crisis, yet we pray for more rain as His land needs to have His blessings poured out upon it (Deut. 11:11-12; Job 5:8-10; 12:15; Matt. 5:45b).

11. IFI: With prophetic events becoming more painful and closer together, like the birth pains of a woman in travail, we want to be able to hear Him clearer so as to know what to intercede about and then how to do that.

    Please pray for us to have grace to be able to accomplish that.

Shabbat shalom, merry Christmas and chag Chanukah sameach
Chuck Cohen, for the IFI team
Isa. 9:6-7