1. Praise:

   Shabbat's Torah portion introduces us to the book of Exodus. We read of God's total sovereignty in overseeing baby Moses' transfer from his Hebrew parents to being raised by Pharaoh's daughter in the court of the most powerful nation in the Levant at that time (Ex. 2:5-10)!

   • Abba, Your overriding control of history, despite man having free will, is the foundation of our faith and our trust in You, regardless of what is happening in the world (Ex. 8:22; Deut. 4:39; Matt. 11:25).

   • We bless You for not only knowing the end from the beginning, but arranging circumstances so that Your will is accomplished on earth as it is in heaven (Num. 23:19; Psa. 145:13; Isa. 42:9; 46:9-10).

   • Lord, thank You for grafting us into Israel's "good olive tree" as You state repeatedly in the Torah portion that You will be known as YHWH, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Ex. 3:6, 13-16; 4:5).

   • Abba, we are so grateful that You are interested in the small details of our lives (Luke 12:6-7).

   • Your timing is perfect so grace us to wait patiently upon You (Isa, 30:18; Luke 21:19; Rom. 8:25).

2. "Operation Swords of Iron:"

   Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire/hostage deal. As of this time, we do not know all the details, yet what we do know looks like a win for Hamas. Israel will give up around 1,000 terrorists for only 33 of the 98 hostages remaining in Gaza, which will be doled out by Hamas over several weeks. Also, no one is sure how many will be alive or corpses. The IDF will be pulled back from most areas in Gaza and Hamas will survive to massacre more Jews in the near future. The most disturbing factor is that this deal would not have happened if Donald Trump, who will be sworn in as the next US President on Monday, had not joined the-still-President Biden to pressure PM Bibi Netanyahu and Israel to submit to this.

   • Sovereign Lord, we confess and believe that You cause all things to work together for good (Rom. 8:28), so while we are upset and disappointed at this submission by Bibi, we ask You to show us how to pray and that ultimately You will glorify Yourself in this dangerous situation (Psa. 115:1-3).

   • If nothing else, let Israel see the danger of trusting in a man – in this case Trump – as opposed to completely relying on You (Psa. 62:8; Jer. 17:5-8).

   • Abba, we read in the Torah portion of You hardening Pharaoh's heart, and ask You to harden hearts of Hamas' leaders towards this deal which endangers Israel (Ex. 4:21).

   • Lord God, this does not break the snare Hamas has over Israeli society as it still holds most of the remaining hostages, but we pray for You to arise and set them free (Psa. 124:6-7; Zech. 9:11-12).

   • Or Abba, guide Israel to find the hostages over the weekend (Psa. 95:4a; Jer. 50:31-34).

   • For those hostage families whose loved ones are not released, turn them to cry out to You and not to focus their anger at Netanyahu (Psa. 80:19; 86:7).

   • We thank You that Finance Minister Smotrich has insisted that Hamas' rule over Gaza be destroyed, and ask You to use him to press Bibi to recall what he has said is the goal of this war (Obad. 1:5-6).

   • Lord God, increase Your protective shield over IDF soldiers who will remain in Gaza (Psa. 3:3-7).

3. Government & society:

   The hostage deal could lead to new elections. Whether it does or not, we still need to intercede for Israel's leaders – that God will use them for His glory, whether they are willing to be used by Him or not (Prov. 16:9; 21:1).

   • Lord God of Jerusalem, rebuke Satan's attempts to deceive Israel's current leaders (Zech. 3:2).

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

   • Lord, God, protect him as he is most likely at his physical, mental and emotion low point with all he has had to face since Oct. 7th – including a major war, major surgery and a court trial (Psa. 3:3-8).

   • Messiah, surround him with godly advisors and give him grace to hear them (Prov. 11:14; 24:6).

   • Please anoint Defense Minister Israel Katz, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar and Justice Minister Yair Levin to do that for which You have raised them up to do at this time in Your nation (Jer. 27:5).

   • Lord God, be the One who determines if and when new elections should take place (Prov. 16:33).

   • God of Israel, as so many in Israel are still traumatized by the Oct. 7th massacre and the explosion of global anti-Semitism, encourage them to cry out to You like their ancestors did in the Torah portion, and to trust that You will hear and move on their behalf (Ex. 2:23-25).

   • Lord of mercy, heal all hostages who are returned, all families of hostages whose bodies are returned and the families of killed or wounded IDF soldiers (Psa. 30:2; 67:1-2; 103:3; 107:20; 147:3).

4. Foreign relations:

   This Monday, Donald Trump will be inaugurated as the next president of America. His impact internationally is already being felt, both in Israel and globally. We are praying for Israel to see him as a man – possibly an ally – but to trust in, and obey, God and His Word.

   • King of kings, may Your foreign policy be established on earth as it is in heaven, and let Israel have a central role in seeing that come to pass (Deut. 28:9-10, 13; Psa. 9:19-20; 33:10-11; Luke 11:2).

   • Lord Yeshua, quicken that time when Israel will be the head of the nations (Deut. 26:19; 28:13).

   • Abba, we were thankful for Trump being America's next president, but now we wonder whether he will be good for Your nation or Your land, and so we ask You to show us how to pray (Amos 3:7).

   • God, let Trump's trusted advisors warn him against dividing Your land (Lev. 25:23; Joel. 3:1-2), or treating Israel as if it were just like any other nation (Deut. 7:6-8).

   • Encourage Israel's leaders to be like the midwives in the Torah portion, who feared God more than man, so that they can say "no" to anything Trump and his administration wants Israel to do – or not to do – that would be against Your will (Ex. 1:17; Num. 23:23; Psa. 146:3-5).

   • Sovereign Lord, thank You for the sons and daughters of Zion and of Issachar whom You are raising up throughout Israel's diplomatic corps (1 Chr. 12:32; Job 22:21-22; Isa. 48:17).

   • You tell Moses in the Torah portion that You created man's mouth and teach those You send what to say, so please speak to, and through, Israeli politicians and diplomats as they speak (Ex. 4:11-2).

   • Lord God, anoint Israel's new US Ambassador, Dr. Yechiel Leiter, to be Your mouthpiece to the new administration in America (Jer. 1:8-9).

   • Continue imparting godly boldness into Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon (Psa. 81:10; 119:13).

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

   • God, if it is time for Israel to wipe the dirt off its feet and leave this demonized global NGO, please take away all fear from going outside the camp of this world (Matt. 7:6; 10:14; John 14:27).

5. Internal security:

   We are praying for Israel to spread its sovereignty over all of its land west of the Jordan River in 2025. In this way, not only would Israel be obeying God and possessing its possessions (Obad. 1:17b), but it would also provide more security for all of its citizens.

   • Lord God of Abraham, either by Your Word or through circumstances, show Israel's leaders of the urgency to extend Israel's sovereignty over more of Your land today (Deut. 8:17-18; Psa. 44:3).

   • Lord, remove from the minds of both Jews and believers the unbiblical term "the West Bank" and replace it with the biblical terms – Judea and Samaria (Jer. 31:4-5; Zech. 12:5-7).

   • 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 headlines (Jer. 32:41-44; 33:12-14).

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

   • Thank You Lord for fulfilling Your promise from Isaiah 27:6 in the prophetic portion in our day.

   • God Almighty, prevent Israel from accepting partial sovereignty over parts of Your land in exchange for allowing the creation of a Palestinian state on any of Your land (Lev. 25:23; Isa. 8:9-10).

   • As You state in the prophetic portion, God send a spirit of justice upon Your nation and be the IDF's strength as they cast Israel's enemy out of Your land (Isa. 28:5-6).

   • Apply Psalm 60:6-12 to Judea and Samaria and to all of Israel's security forces battling there.

   • Lord Yeshua, expel all demonic protection from Palestinian terrorists (Num. 14:9; Josh 2:24).

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

   • Lord, with the increase of terror attacks, cause Israel to restore all of its security checkpoints which were removed to make life "easier" and "less shameful" for the Palestinians (Psa. 121:8; Prov. 3:29).

   • God, expose and stop all Israeli-Arabs who are planning terrorism against Israeli Jews (Psa. 34:16).

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

6. External security – Middle East [ME]:

   Iran's plans to annihilate Israel have been shattered as its proxies, Hizbullah and Hamas have been defanged from being existential threats. Also, its main ally Syria, is undergoing colossal changes which do not bode well for its links with the Iranian Shi'ite regime. The Houthis in Yemen are still a serious threat, but they are not directly on the borders of Israel. On top of this, Iran's massive financial investments to build up its allies to fight Israel have gone up in smoke. This is a partial answer to prayers based on Micah 4:11-13. Now will Iran rush to obtain nuclear weapons to regain some honor and influence and to provide them with protection?

   • Lord of hosts, continue to fulfill Micah 4:11-13; strengthen Israel as Your weapon, and allow the results to bring You glory and honor – both in Israel and throughout the world (Isa. 41:15-16).

   • God, arrange the ME situation so that Israel becomes the head of those nations (Deut. 26:19; 28:13).

   • Lord, You created the destroyer who protects Your people from those who come against them, and we ask You to continue releasing it against any of Iran's nefarious plans (Isa. 54:15-17; Hag. 2:22)).

   • Abba Father, with Iran's economy in horrific shape, have mercy and encourage its people to rise up and overthrow their fanatical satanically-inspired leaders (Prov. 11:26; Jer. 49:38b).

   • Show Israel its need to destroy Iran's nuclear weapons program regardless of whether they decide to push forward with it now or not – and empower them to do it (Psa. 99:1; Ezek. 37:10; Nah. 1:7-8).

   • Lord God, please provide Israel with precise actionable intelligence of its enemies schemes today, including Iran, Hizbullah, the Houthis and Turkey (Job 12:22; Psa. 59:10; Prov. 15:3).

   • Please God, reveal if the report is true – and for America's sake may it not be true – that the Trump administration has already warned Israel to adhere to the 60 day ceasefire deal with Lebanon – even though neither Lebanon nor Hizbullah have fulfilled their part of this deal (Num. 23:8-10, 19-24).

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

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

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

   • Give Israel wisdom concerning the new radical Islamic Sunni leadership in Syria (Psa. 23:3b; 32:8).

   • Lord God, increase Israel's skill in gathering accurate intelligence and in interpreting all collected data precisely (2 Kin. 6:12; Isa. 29:15).

   • Reveal all anti-Israel plans of Turkey's anti-Christ-like leader Erdogan (Prov. 5:21; Jer. 32:19).

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

   • Let Erdogan's curses against Israel come back to bite him (Num. 24:9b; Gal. 6:7).

   • Sovereign Lord, reveal to multitudes of Muslims how helpless Allah is in protecting them from You and Israel, and let their shame cause them to seek You (Est. 8:17; Psa. 83:16-18).

   • Lord Yeshua, protect Your Body in the ME, guide them in prayer and show them how important it is for them to bless – and not curse – Israel (Gen. 27:29; John 10:16, 27).

7. Aliyah:

   Biblically, Jews living in the nations are in "captivity." Today about 8 million Jews live in Israel while a majority remains in a self-imposed exile. As aliyah is for the sanctification of God's holy name (Ezek. 36:21-24), we continue to pray for all Jews in "captivity" to come home.

   • Abba, we rejoice to see You fulfilling Isaiah 27:12-13 in the prophetic portion and ask for You to continue to blow Your trumpet and gather Your outcasts from all of the globe.

   • Abba Father, let the surge of interest in aliyah become an actual surge of aliyah (Jer. 50:4-8).

   • As much as possible, draw Your people home through Your grace and mercy (Isa. 54:7; Jer. 31:3).

   • Yet Lord, use the rise of anti-Israel/anti-Semitic acts throughout the West to chase many of Your people back who have been so comfortable in exile they have not even considered aliyah (Jer. 16:16).

   • Show Your people this pattern in history, that when Jews live in gentile nations, there comes a time when those nations could not, or worse, would not, protect them (Deut. 28:37, 64-67; Psa. 137:3-4).

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

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

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

   • Lord God, use the California wildfires disaster to show Jews how suddenly everything can be lost and to decide to make aliyah while they can bring their finances with them (Isa. 60:9; Jer. 51:6-10).

   • We ask You to bless the government's program of incentives to draw new immigrants to settle in areas of Israel that are outside of the large cities to be extremely successful (Jer. 33:12-14).

   • Lord God, tear down Israel's bureaucratic man-made blockages to the aliyah process (Isa. 62:10).

   • Lord God, reveal to believers how aliyah is an answer to the Body's 2,000 year old prayer for Your name to be sanctified through Your will being done on earth (Ezek. 28:25-26; Luke 11:2).

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

8. Salvation:

   Save us, YHWH our God, and gather us from the nations 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!

   • Abba, in 2025 draw multitudes of Jews into the kingdom of Your dear Son (John 6:44; Col. 1:13).

   • Lord, speak to many believers to intercede for all Israel to be saved at this time, and to focus on praying this for Your glory's sake (Isa. 45:25; 46:13; Ezek. 36:23-32; Luke 2:32; Rom. 10:1).

   • Lord God of Israel, fulfill Hosea 14:4 and heal Your people's backsliding as You love them freely through Your amazing grace (Jer. 31:2-3; Zech. 12:10; Eph. 2:8-10).

   • Almighty God, create a "holy dissatisfaction" in many Jews causing them to read and study all of the Tanach, and not just the Torah (Jer. 15:16; 2 Tim. 3:15).

   • Give opportunities for Christian "lovers of Israel" to provoke Your people to jealousy (Rom. 11:11).

   • Abba Father, redeem Holocaust survivors and their families; survivors of terrorism; hostages still alive and their loved ones; IDF soldiers and their families; loved ones of soldiers killed or wounded; widows, widowers, orphans; rabbis in Israel and exile; Israeli diplomats, lawyers; Jewish university students in Israel and exile; professors, teachers, medical personnel; Israeli media personalities, tour guides and archeologists; Israelis living in exile; Jewish hippies, LGBTQ+ and new agers; Jews in Iran, Turkey, Ethiopia, India, and China; Spanish and Portuguese speaking Jews; unsaved loved ones of Messianic Jews.

9. Body of Messiah:

   To co-labor with God today, we must perceive what He is doing. For us, this obviously focuses on Israel's restoration and its place in His end time plans (Jer. 32:41). Yet for this to be obvious to many other believers, they need to be very familiar with all of His Word.

   • Abba Father, show believers that it is not possible to see You fulfill those end time prophecies You are fulfilling today if they remain ignorant of what Your Word says about these days (Luke 24:25:27).

   • Lord Yeshua, confront believers who reject the Tanach as still Your Word today (Luke 24:25-27).

   • Lord, please convict all of Your Body that since You do not change (Mal. 3:6), what You said to Pharaoh in the Torah portion about Israel being Your son, Your firstborn (Ex. 4:22-23), is still true.

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

   • Break the curse of generational anti-Semitism wherever it abides in Your Body (Num. 14:18b).

   • Lord, raise up more sons and daughters of Zion as elders in the Body (Zech. 9:13; Acts 20:27).

   • Teach Your Body the necessity of interceding for their nation's governments – including those that are anti-biblical, anti-Christ and anti-Israel (2 Tim. 2:1-4).

10. Water:

    Israel is not in a water crisis, thanks to desalinization. Yet there is a lack of rain which affects its wilderness and farmlands negatively. Please ask God to send rain to refresh the land and fill the Sea of Galilee, and to show Israelis that this is a result of His mercy (Isa. 41:17-20; Matt. 5:45b).

11. IFI:

    It is very difficult to watch what is happening in Israel today. Yet we know God reigns and so we pray based on His faithfulness to perform His Word. Please pray for us to not give up the battle, especially when the enemy taunts us that God is not hearing our prayers.

Thank you and Shabbat shalom from Jerusalem

Chuck Cohen, for the IFI team

Jer. 32:17, 27