1. Praise: Many believe that on the seventh day of Passover/Matzah the children of Israel passed through the Red Sea, miraculously escaping from Pharaoh's army. We passed that day this past week and in thinking of how God saved His people, it puts great praise and confidence in our hearts.

    • Fear not, stand still, and see YHWH's salvation which He will show to you today, for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will not see them again. YHWH shall fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.Ex. 14:13-14

    • Lord, we bless You that even when it appears to be one minute past midnight, it is still never too late for You – as we have just seen in the celebration of Messiah's resurrection (Luke 24:5-6).

    • Our soul's escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. Our help is in the name of YHWH, who made heaven and earth.Psa. 124:7-8

    • As nothing surprises You, we rest in the outworking of Your will for Israel and for us (Psa. 103:19).

    • Lord God, we read that it was You who set Israel up as bait in Your trap for Pharaoh and his army – so that You might make Yourself known to the Egyptians (Ex. 14:4)! You really care for all.

    • Praise You for even loving Your enemies, which is what we were when Yeshua died (Rom. 5:10).

    • Regardless of what we see or hear or feel, we know that our God reigns (Psa. 93:1; 96:10; 99:1)

  2. Salvation: As we prayed in line with God's will for Jewish people to be saved during this past week-long feast of Passover and Unleavened Bread, it is only right to thank Him in faith for how He has and will continue to answer our prayers.

    • This is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He hears us [listens with an intent to answer – obviously, in His way and timing], and if we know that He hear us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions we desired of Him.1 John 5:14-15

    • We thank You for the many Jews who found the true Lamb of God during Passover (John 1:29).

    • Direct them to find their specific place in the Body – and to do it soon (1 Cor. 12:12).

    • Bring alongside each one a mature believer to show them how to live for Yeshua (Luke 14:26-27).

    • If they are the only ones in their family, give them wisdom to know how to share (Luke 21:15).

    • Show these new Messianic Jewish believers the importance of the complete Bible. But continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of…And that from a child you have known the Holy Scriptures [i.e., when Paul was writing, this meant the Old Testament!], which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Messiah Yeshua. (2 Tim. 3:14-15)

  3. Security: Even in the middle of the coronavirus war, the danger from Iran and Islamic terror groups that aim to wipe Israel off the map is still very real. Israel must focus on both battles, not allowing one to detract from the other. Since that is very difficult without God's help, this is where our intercessions play such a vital role.

    • Arise, God; scatter all the destructive forces warring against Your Word being fulfilled (Psa. 44:26).

    • Thank You for openly fulfilling before the world that which Ezekiel prophesied, that out of the Holocaust Israel's dry bones have become an exceeding great army. (Ezek. 37:10)

    • We praise You for the excellent job that Naphtali Bennett has done as transitional Defense Minister. - Reward him in the next government for his faithfulness to protect Your people (Psa. 75:6-7).

    • Lord, please continuously reveal the hidden plans of Israel's enemies (Job 34:22).

    • Do not allow vital intelligence to be lost in the huge amount of data that is collected (Dan. 2:47).

    • Prevent the IDF from being distracted by the virus and it misses what Israel's enemies are planning.

    • Keep the leaders of the IDF healthy and clear in their thinking in these two battles (Jer. 30:17).

    • Thank You for PM Bibi Netanyahu who has been so focused regarding security even in the midst of all the political and legal battles which he is also fighting (Psa. 55:22).

    • Use their own war against coronavirus to confound all of Israel's external foes (Psa. 129:5).

    • Anoint Israel's cyberwarfare units (Psa. 19:2-3; Prov. 23:12).

    • Anoint Israel's intelligence analysts (Num. 24:3-4; Prov. 11:9b).

    • Anoint all Israel's ears and eyes on the ground in Iran (2 Kin. 6:17).

    • Surround every responsible IDF leader with godly counsel for these wars (Prov. 20:18; 24:6).

    • Show the IDF how to deal with Israeli Muslims over Ramadan, which starts April 24th. While many Muslim nations are closing mosques for this month, if Israel were to do that – for the sake of the lives of Muslims – it will likely still be seen as an act of war against Islam. Have mercy and give Israel courage to do what needs to be done (Ex. 15:26).

    • Shut the mouth of the wicked Palestinian leaders who are accusing Israel of infecting their people with the coronavirus (Isa. 54:17).

    • Thank You that ultimately the security of this nation rests with You (Jer. 31:10).

  4. Government: The attempted unity government between PM Netanyahu and Likud, and Benny Gantz and Blue & White, has not come about yet, and it is possible for Israelis to head to a fourth national election. As of this Thursday, Israel's Parliament, the Knesset, had 21 days to recommend to President Rivlin a prime minister who will then have two weeks to form a government. If by then, there is still no government, the Knesset dissolves and new elections are scheduled.

    • Yeshua, You are Israel's king. We invite You to take the reins completely (Psa. 89:18; Isa. 43:15).

    • Be merciful to Israel and give it a government in line with Your righteousness (Deut. 4:6-8).

    • As You did in creation, brood over this chaos and create Your order (Gen. 1:2b-3; 1 Cor. 14:33).

    • Raise up political leaders who truly want to do what is best for Your nation and not just what is best for their own political careers or their political party (Jer. 23:3-4).

    • Make Netanyahu's forehead like flint when it comes to any further negotiations to prevent him from compromising with a non-biblical political coalition (Ezek. 3:8-9).

    • If a unity government is not Your will, continue to stop it (Prov. 11:21; 16:5)!

    • Forbid that any anti-biblical hidden plans coming from the left-wing go unrevealed (Psa. 64:2).

    • Prevent all anti-Israel spirits of Esau from being part of the next government (Mal. 1:3; Heb. 12:16).

    • Raise up leaders with the authority and the will to annex any further territory that it is able to at this time – including the Jordan Valley and 30% more of Judea and Samaria (Jer. 32:43-44; Obad. 1:17).

    • Raise up leaders who will challenge the judiciary's overreach in this land. [King Jehoshaphat] said to the judges, 'Take heed what you do: for you judge not for man, but for YHWH… (2 Chr. 19:6a)

    • Lord, give to Israel leaders like the sons of Issachar to be in control (1 Chr. 12:32).

  5. Coronavirus: While Israel has done better than most nations in this, the virus has still infected many, with over 100 deaths so far, and is now a huge challenge to Israel's economic future.

    • Abba, thank You for being so merciful to Your nation at this time (Lam. 3:22-23).

    • Thank You that Israel does not discriminate against older patients in giving care.

    • Lord, we lift up Deputy Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, the IDF's point man in this virus war, asking You to impart Your vision, wisdom, courage and clarify to him (1 Chr. 12:32-33; Zech. 12:6).

    • Surround him with wise counselors and judgment to know those who are not (Prov. 11:14; 15:22).

    • Encourage and protect all medical personnel who are on the frontlines of this war (Psa. 33:20).

    • Provide all they need – equipment and tests, health, stamina and wisdom (Pa. 132:15).

    • Use all believers in the medical profession to speak words of comfort and truth (Rom. 12:12).

    • Pour out the gifts of healing through them and give them courage to pray for patients (Acts 3:6-7).

    • Guard all security personnel who are guarding this nation, with its lockdowns and quarantines.

  6. Exit strategy: Many plans have been proposed on how to get Israel out of lockdown mode and towards restarting its economy while still keeping a lid on the coronavirus crisis. All these have been examined by the National Security Council and presented to Netanyahu this past week for him to make a decision. There are conflicting ideas – whether to put the plague as priority or the economy, the schools and life in general. Whatever happens, it will probably be instituted gradually. This whole issue needs prayer – as we are sure it does in your own nation as well.

    • We need a miracle, so we are appealing to You for whom nothing is impossible (Jer. 32:17, 27).

    • We continue to hold Netanyahu's arms up to You. Sustain and lead him for Your sake (Psa. 23:3).

    • Lord, provide Bibi with those who see the whole picture – yet we ask You to guide him (Psa. 32:8).

    • Shine Your light on that plan or parts of various plans that are from You (Psa. 18:28; 33:10-11).

    • Impart humility to the experts in all the various fields so that they can work together and actually hear each another (Prov. 29:23; 1 Pet. 5:5-6).

    • Give Israeli leaders wisdom to show the nation the light at the end of this virus tunnel (Prov. 29:18).

    • Abba, watch over the emotional and mental well-being of Your people at this time (Psa. 124:7-8).

    • Jews are not isolationists and desire physical and emotional contact. As that is how You made them, show them during this alone time how much they need You (Jer. 29:11-14; Heb. 13:5b-6).

    • Prepare the Israeli population to receive graciously all the plans that are from You (Ex. 19:8).

    • For Israel's protection, it needs a strong economy. Lead those responsible to know how to resurrect Israel's economy and to successfully navigate in today's changing global situation (Deut. 28:8-10).

    • In this global crisis, enable Israel to come up with an exit strategy that once again makes it a light to the nations (Isa. 60:3).

  7. Corona lockdown tension: With children at home and also most spouses, this is the longest stretch for most families to have to "put up with" one another – and that can birth mental, emotional and even physical tensions.

    • We thank You for the large number of families here in Israel (Gen. 1:28).

    • We also thank You for the many children that most families have (Gen. 9:7; Psa. 128:3).

    • Give great grace to parents as they deal with their children (Eph. 6:4; Col. 3:21).

    • Give great grace to children to willingly obey their parents (Deut. 30:2; Col. 3:20).

    • Lord, deal with abusive spouses in a very firm manner and hedge them in from doing any damage to their partners (Job 5:2; Prov. 15:18; Jam. 1:19-20).

    • May Your presence be very real with all single and elderly Israelis in isolation (Psa. 46:10-11).

    • Let believers and believing families be salt and light to all their neighbors (Matt. 5:13-16).

    • Do a miracle. Draw many families even closer together during this enforced lockdown.

    • Make the close bonds between the people and the soldiers even stronger as the IDF cares for the elderly, shut-ins and others who need their help, and bless these young men and women (Jam. 1:27).

  8. Aliyah & anti-Semitism: Jews are being blamed for developing and spreading this virus! As there is nothing new under the sun, Jews will continue to be the world's scapegoats – until Messiah's return. And if Israel develops a vaccine, Jews will be accused of doing this just to make money. Will those who think this be bold enough to refuse to take the cure! No way, as the leader of the global Boycott, Divestment & Sanctions anti-Israel, anti-Semitic movement has already told his followers that if Israel develops a vaccine, they can take it. This blatant hypocrisy is very upsetting especially as parts of the Western Church go along with it.

    • Lord Yeshua, show Your Church that if it really wants to boycott all "Israeli products," they must include the Bible and You, the King of the Jews (Rev. 3:20)!

    • And for Catholics, show them that boycotting anything Jewish includes Mary (Luke 1:26-33)!

    • God, Jews in exile just said "Next year in Jerusalem!" Thank You for those whom You touched at the Passover Seder and we ask that they would set their goal on making aliyah in 2020 (Zech. 8:7-8).

    • As anti-Semitism rapidly increases, increase the recognition that it has not and will never truly be safe to live in exile as a Jew (Jer. 51:8-10).

    • Make all yordi'im – Israelis who live in exile – both homesick and sick of being afraid to raise their children as Jews (Psa. 137:4-6).

    • Again, we ask that the next Israeli government will fling open wide the doors of Israel for every Jew who wants to return regardless of their beliefs, their skin-color or their financial situation (Isa. 62:10).

    • As signs indicate that Israel might be facing massive immigration, bless its economic recovery plans so that Your people can be rooted and grounded in Your land (Isa. 37:31; Ezek. 36:8-12).

    • Lord, may the next government annex all Jewish settlements in Judea & Samaria and release them to build many homes for the new immigrants (Jer. 31:3-5; 33:7-11).

    • The regathering is for Your glory, so we persist in asking You for this (Ezek. 36:21-24).

    • Fear not: for I am with you. I will bring your seed from the east, and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, 'Give up'; and to the south, 'Keep not back. Bring my sons from far and my daughters from the ends of the earth – even every one that is called by My name – for I have created him for My glory, I have formed him; yes, I have made him'.Isa. 43:5-7

Finally, next Monday evening starts Israel's Holocaust Memorial day. This could be a confusing time for the almost 200,000 survivors living in Israel as they grieve over their lost loved ones and tremble at their horrific memories of what they went through, yet they realize that miraculously they live in a Jewish State that has survived for over 70 years. Imagine if someone told them 75-80 years ago that Israel would be reborn as the homeland of the Jewish people in its God-given borders and would become a major influential nation in the world's scene in many areas, they would have thought that person was insane. Yet here we are – and historically speaking in an incredibly short time. Please pray for these precious survivors to now come to a revelation of their King and Messiah and be saved before they go to eternity.

Shabbat shalom and blessings from the city of the Great King,

The IFI team