1. Praise:

   Shabbat's Torah portion in the book of Exodus declares several times that God judged Egypt to show Pharaoh and his people that YHWH God of Israel is God over the whole earth. This truth is foundational to our faith so that regardless of what happens in this world, we can say and pray with confidence that our God reigns (Psa. 93:1; 96:10; 97:1; 99:1)!

   • We praise You Lord that when You severed Goshen to protect Your people from Your judgments on Egypt, it was in order that the Egyptians might see how You reign in the earth (Ex. 8:22; 9:14, 29).

   • Bless You for often putting a division between Israel, and us, and the rest of the world (Ex. 8:23).

   • God, it is a relief to know that even with the worst leaders, You have not only raised them up, but You also use them so that Your name might be declared throughout the earth (Ex. 9:16; Rom. 9:17).

   • We confess that You, our God, are exalted above all of the nations (Psa. 113:4; Isa. 40:15-17).

   • We also trust that the earth belongs to You – as You created it (Psa. 89:11).

   • Thank You for being faithful to Your promises and committed to accomplishing them (Num. 23:19).

   • We bless You for Your answers to our prayers, although we often need to be reminded that Your thoughts are not our thoughts and Your ways are not our ways (Isa. 55:8-9).

2. "Operation Swords of Iron:"

   The ceasefire/hostage deal between Israel and Hamas began last Sunday. Redeeming 33 of the 98 hostages is a great thing, yet what about the rest of them? Also how many are still alive? And why is the IDF returning blood bought strategic territory for no real reward? Most Israelis are both happy and upset with this deal, yet it seems that most of the world forgot who started this war or is so imbued with the spirit of Jew-hatred that justice just does not matter anymore.

   • Abba, we again confess and trust that You cause all things to work together for good (Rom. 8:28), so we ask You to guide us in prayer and to glorify Yourself in this treacherous situation (Psa. 115:1-3).

   • Lord, turn what seems like a victory for Hamas into a shameful defeat, and what seems like a no-win for Israel into a victory that brings You great glory and honor (Ex. 17:14; Psa. 44:4; Isa. 41:10-16).

   • With a major change of personnel in the IDF command, please promote many more sons of Zion to positions of authority and responsibly and remove all sons of Greece (2 Sam. 10:7 Zech. 9:13).

   • Set a table with Your instructions before the new IDF commanders and anoint them (Psa. 23:5).

   • Lord God, we ask You to release Israeli society from the noose that Hamas maintains over it by miraculously rescuing all of the remaining hostages or their bodies (Psa. 124:6-7; Isa. 49:24-26).

   • Abba, for those hostage families whose loved ones are still in captivity, let them cry out to You for mercy and not scream at Bibi out of their understandable frustration and anger (Psa. 80:19; 86:7).

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

   • Lord, have mercy on each family who will only receive back the corpses of their loved ones, as well as each family of killed or severely wounded IDF soldiers (Psa. 30:2; 67:1-2; 103:3; 107:20; 147:3).

   • Lord God, when this ceasefire is over, release the IDF to destroy Hamas's rule and to kill or capture all terrorists in Gaza, the region You gave to the tribe of Judah (Judg. 1:18; Psa. 10:16).

3. Government & society:

   This deal with Hamas might lead to new elections, especially when the anti-Bibi, make-any-kind-of-deal-for-the-hostages families and demonstrators see many of their loved ones returned as corpses. Israel's leaders and society are in great need of our prayers.

   • Messiah Yeshua, thank You for teaching us to trust in You and not in Israel's leaders, but as they lead Israel by Your will today, guide us to intercede effectively for them (Psa. 10:17; Prov. 15:29).

   • Abba Father, promote more sons and daughters of Zion throughout Israel (Psa. 1:1-6; Zech. 9:13).

   • Lord God, as long as Netanyahu leads Israel, give him Your wisdom and understanding so that he can impact Your nation in a focused biblical manner (Prov. 21:1; Dan. 2:21b; Zech. 4:6-7).

   • Continue to protect him as he is probably at his physical, mental and emotional low point with all he has had to deal with since Oct. 7th – such as a major war, major surgery and a court trial (Psa. 3:3-8).

   • God of Israel, turn Bibi to You to encourage himself – and not to any person (1 Sam. 30:6), and by that turning make His last days in office more fruitful than his first days (Psa. 126:5; Eccl. 7:8).

   • Almighty, may You alone decide if and when new elections should take place (Prov. 16:33).

   • Lord God of Israel, as You say to Moses in the Torah portion, once again hear Your people's groans, remember Your covenant and set Your people free in order to save them (Ex. 6:5-7).

   • Let the families whose loved ones were slaughtered by the same terrorists who have been released from Israeli prison as a part of this deal, cry out to You for justice (Job 8:3; Psa. 82:3b; Prov. 21:3).

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

   • Lord God, use Israel's construction industry as a tool for Your purposes (Psa. 51:18; 69:35; 147:2).

   • Lord of hosts; continue encouraging the IDF to look to Israel's local military industries to supply its needs and to look less to its "broken-reed allies" among the nations (Isa. 30:1; 36:6; 41:10-1t6).

4. Foreign relations:

   Donald Trump is now the president of America. Yet as we are called to pray for Israel, our focus is on how God's nation relates to him, as well as to the rest of the world.

   • Our Father, may Your foreign policy be established on earth as it is in heaven (Luke 11:2).

   • Lord God, use the principle of Ezekiel 29:6-9 in Shabbat's prophetic portion to shake up believers in the nations, especially in the West, to perceive that You judge untrustworthy allies of Israel.

   • Lord God, dissuade any Israeli from seeing Trump as a type of a "savior" (Psa. 146:3; Jer. 17:5).

   • God, again we ask that Trump's inner circle of advisors will warn him against dividing Your land (Lev. 25:23; Joel. 3:1-2), or of dealing with Israel as if it were just another nation (Deut. 7:6-8).

   • Abba Father, use this time to wean Israel away from trusting in the US at all (Psa. 118:8-9).

   • God Almighty, have the final say in Israel's relationship with Russia and China (Psa. 33:10-11).

   • Sovereign Lord, we praise You for the many 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).

   • Now God, please surround each one with Christian Zionists who will support and encourage them in the truth of Your Word (Psa. 40:10; 43:3a; 86:1; 98:3; John 17:17).

   • May Israel's leaders and representatives use Your Word to rebuke all ungodly pressure (Jer. 23:29).

   • Use Dr. Yechiel Leiter, Israel's new US Ambassador, as Your mouthpiece (Prov. 16:1; Jer. 10:23).

   • Abba Father, create a relationship between Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar and America's new Secretary of State Marco Rubio that helps advance Your kingdom purposes (Mark 6:7).

   • 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).

   • King of Israel, stretch out Your scepter of authority over the UN and its outreaches who curse Israel by their lies and satanic accusations, and silence them (Jer. 10:25; 30:20; Zech. 2:13; Matt. 28:18).

5. Internal security:

   One positive thing that has resulted from the deal with Hamas is that the government and military are in agreement to intensify the war against the terrorists in Judea and Samaria. As this is a very direct answer to prayer, we are encouraged to also continue asking for Israel to spread its sovereignty in 2025 over all of its land west of the Jordan River.

   • Lord God, use Exodus 6:8 in Shabbat's Torah portion to show Your people how serious You are in giving them all of the land – as You state that You swore to do this to their forefathers.

   • Abba Father, multiply the number of Israelis who are demanding that Israel extends its sovereignty over more of their land west of the Jordan River (Gen. 13:15; 1:18; Psa. 105:4-11).

   • Lord Yeshua, move on to Your Body to regularly pray for this to happen (1 John 5:14-15).

   • Lord, please erase from the speech of 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).

   • Lord God, use Mike Huckabee, America's new Israeli Ambassador, to proclaim what the Bible says about Your commands for Israel to possess its possessions (Obad. 1:17-20).

   • Creator God, expunge the UN General Assembly's recent resolution that Judea and Samaria should be Judenrein (free of Jews) during 2025 (Job 12:16-25; Psa. 125:3; Lam. 3:37).

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

   • Abba Father, along with the above, release an unshakeable fear and deep dread of the IDF upon all of its enemies in the land that You have given to Israel (Deut. 11:24-25; Josh. 2:9-11; 2 Chr. 20:29).

   • We bless You that even as terror attempts increase, most fail, and there have been no successful kidnappings of Israelis anywhere in the land since Oct. 7th (Psa. 50:15; 121:4; Jer. 31:10).

   • Almighty God, trap all terrorists in the traps they have set for the Jews (Est. 7:10; Psa. 7:14-16).

   • Lord God, enable all actions against the Palestinian terrorists to be super successful (Obad. 1:15).

   • God of hosts, use the IDF's just launched "Operation Iron Wall" to totally rout out all Palestinian terrorists from Jenin and its surrounding areas – and let its success spur the IDF on to do this in all the rest of the Palestinian areas in Judea and Samaria (Num. 35:33; Zech. 9:13-16; 10:3b-7).

   • Lord God, block the more than 1,000 terrorists who will be released from Israeli jails in the Hamas deal from committing any further acts of terror (Prov. 11:5b; 13:6b).

   • Bless Israel's attempts to guard its roads, checkpoints and public transportation better (Psa. 121:8).

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

   • Expose and destroy all links between Palestinian terrorist groups and Iran (Prov. 15:3; Isa. 29:15).

6. External security – Middle East [ME]:

   Israel's ME enemies see this deal with Hamas as a win for them and the next step towards Israel's annihilation. No matter how often they actually lose these wars, if Israel loses once, they win! Hamas' current survival is being declared a victory for Iran and its proxies – and even its frenemies, like Turkey.

   • Lord, as we see Hamas, Iran, Hizbullah and Syria in worse shape when it comes to destroying Israel than before Oct. 7th, we thank You for answering our prayers and fulfilling Micah 4:11-13!

   • Please God, continue to mold Israel even more into Your weapon, and use the outcome to bring You glory and honor – both in Israel and throughout the world (Isa. 41:15-16; Jer. 51:20-14).

   • Lord God, continue to confound all who hate and want to annihilate Zion (Psa. 35:4, 26; 129:5).

   • Abba Father, fulfill Ezekiel 28:24 in the prophetic portion and use it to advance Israel's salvation.

   • As in days past, let Israel's foes war against and destroy each other (1 Sam. 14:15-16, 20; Hag. 2:22).

   • Specifically, set Sunni Turkey and Syria against Shi'ite Iran – politically and militarily (Psa. 55:9).

   • Lord God, fulfill Jeremiah 49:38b and remove Iran's political, military and religious leadership.

   • Convince Israel of the necessity to destroy Iran's nuclear weapons program regardless of whether Iran pushes forward with it or not – and show them how to do it (Psa. 99:1; Ezek. 37:10; Nah. 1:7-8).

   • Lord, watch over Nahum 1:5a against all of Iran's underground nuclear facilities.

   • Let the many curses Iran's leaders have declared against Israel boomerang upon them (Gal. 6:7).

   • God, as priests (1 Pet. 2:9) we pray for You to fulfill Joel 2:17-21 and cast Hizbullah far away from Israel's northern border (Mal. 1:5), and also strip it of its demonic protection.

   • Do not let Israel redeploy out of Southern Lebanon this coming Sunday as the Lebanese Army nor Hizbullah have fulfilled their part of the ceasefire agreement (Psa. 28:3; 120:7).

   • As the Lebanese see Hizbullah weakened, God of all nations, cause them to rise up and release their nation from the control of this Shi'ite Islamic terrorist organization (Psa. 29:5-6; Prov. 28:15).

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

   • Abba, let Erdogan's curses against Israel and Bibi be returned on his head (Num. 24:9b; Gal. 6:7).

   • Lord Yeshua, warn Your Body in Lebanon, Syria and the rest of the ME that if they curse Israel, they will indeed face Your anger (Num. 24:9b; Psa. 6:1; Mark 3:5a; Rev. 2:14a).

7. Aliyah:

   God's regathering of the scattered Jews is for His glory (Isa. 43:5-7; Jer. 31:10; Ezek. 36:22-24). And although this is clearly His will, He wants His Body to work with Him by asking Him to do this (Ezek. 36:37; Amos 3:7).

   • We bless You Abba Father, that the aliyah is an open witness to the world of Your faithfulness to fulfill Your promises, in spite of the world's opposition (Isa. 43:12; Heb. 10:23b).

   • Lord, hasten the day when Ezekiel 28:25-26 in the prophetic portion comes to pass – when we see the aliyah combined with the destruction of Israel's enemies, along with all Israel being saved.

   • Merciful Father, draw Your people home through Your grace and mercy (Isa. 54:7; Jer. 31:3).

   • Yet Lord, if they are deaf or blind to Your merciful drawing, then use the fiery increase of Western anti-Semitism to catch their attention and turn their eyes to Zion (Jer. 16:16; 51:9-10).

   • Release any Jew who is mentally and emotionally trapped in the captivity (Psa. 107:14-16; 137:4-6).

   • Do this, Lord God, even if You need to give them dreams – or nightmares – to show them that now is the time for them and their families to return to Israel (Joel 2:28b; Amos 3:8; Zech. 10:8-10).

   • God, tear apart the dangerous "comfort zones" trapping Your people in the West (Job 7:13-14).

   • Lord God of Israel, show Jews who are fearful of returning to Israel in the midst of a war that today life in the nations is also war-like for them and the reality of gentile security forces laying their lives down to protect them is much less than Israel's security forces who do this daily (Psa. 38:12).

   • Shut all doors to other nations where Jews might go, and open wide the doors in Israel (Isa. 22:22).

   • 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).

   • In fact, Abba, draw home such a huge flood of immigrants all at once, that it washes away all these barriers which make aliyah more difficult than it needs to be (Psa. 66:6; 98:8).

   • 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:

   Surveys reveal an increased interest in religion in Israelis since Oct. 7th and that this trend is 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.

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

   • Draw many more Jews by Your love to Yourself through Your Son, Yeshua (Jer. 31:3; John 6:45).

   • Turn many Jews to call out to You at this time of increased global hatred against them (Psa. 86:5).

   • Lord God, please fulfill Zechariah 12:10 and release Your spirit of grace on You people who are in Your land today, causing multitudes to recognize Your Son (Zech. 12:10; Acts 19:20).

   • 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).

   • [Ask God which specific group or groups of Jews He desires for you to pray about at this time.]

9. Body of Messiah:

   Messiah Yeshua will sit on King David's throne and judge the world from Jerusalem as Israel's King. This is why Satan is so furious over Israel's restoration today. Why do so many in the Body not see this, or perceive what the spiritual battle over Israel is all about?

   • Lord Yeshua, move on Your Body to renounce all proud and racist attitudes towards Jews – saved and unsaved - and instead to bless them (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).

   • Messiah Yeshua, remove the curse of generational anti-Semitism in Your Body (Num. 14:18b).

   • Lord Yeshua, promote anointed elders who will teach and preach from all of Your Word, and will unashamedly proclaim Your eternal love for Israel (Acts 20:27; Eph.4:11-14).

   • Lord, show gentile believers that their eternal destiny is tied up with Israel and not with their birth nations (Eph. 2:11-22), and cause them to act like ambassadors of Your Kingdom (2 Cor. 5:20).

   • Show them also that their birth nation's destiny is tied in with how it relates to Israel (Num. 24:9b; Jer. 2:3; 10:25; 30:20; 51:24; Zech. 2:8-9).

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

10. Water:

    While Israel does not have a water shortage because of its desalinization programs, it is in the midst of a lack of rain. This negatively impacts its wilderness and farmlands. Please pray for God to release the rain to refresh the land and fill the Sea of Galilee and to show Israelis that this is a because of His mercy towards them (Isa. 41:17-20; Matt. 5:45b).

11. IFI:

    Thank you for continuing to pray for us as crucial events surrounding Israel and God's coming kingdom seem to be happening at an ever increased rate. May our Shepherd have mercy on us all and guide us in paths of righteousness for His name's sake (Psa. 23:3b).

Shabbat shalom from Jerusalem

Chuck Cohen, for the IFI team

Psa. 121:5-8