1. Praise:

    Shabbat's Torah portion contains this precious verse for both Israel and all who are members of Messiah's Body: YHWH is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation [yeshuah]: He is my God, and I will glorify Him; God of my fathers, and I will exalt Him. (Ex. 15:2).

    • Hallelujah, Lord God Almighty, You have become our salvation – our yeshuah today (Matt. 1:21)!

    • We bless You for becoming a man, so that You could be our High Priest (Phil. 2:5-7; Heb. 2:14-18).

    • Even more, precious Lord, we thank You for humbling Yourself to die on the cross (Phil. 2:8).

    • We praise You for being the Resurrection and the Life to all whom You call (John 11:25; 15:16a).

    • We confess that You now have the name that is above all names – to the glory of God (Phil. 2:9-11).

    • Lord, thank You for the example of the Red Sea that You do rescue Your people – but often it is at the very last moment (Psa. 124:6-8; 1 Cor. 10:11).

    • Regardless of the situation, ultimately You always triumph gloriously (Ex. 15:1, 18).

    • Lord Yeshua, we trust in You for You have already overcome the world (John 16:33).

  2. Government & society:

    Despite massive international pressure, most of Israel's leaders are still battling to achieve the destruction of Hamas. Thus praying for the sons of Zion, those who look to and trust in God and His Word, to take the lead and for any sons of Greece, those who look to and trust in man, to be moved out of the way is absolutely vital for Israel today.

    • Lord God, we again ask You to magnify the sons of Zion in Israel and to diminish the impact of all sons of Greece in the government, the military and in its society (Jer. 17:5-8; Zech. 9:13).

    • Encourage PM Bibi Netanyahu to continue standing for what he knows is best for Israel's security, and to not cave in to either internal or external forces (Psa. 43:1; Prov. 21:1).

    • Enable him to make decisions in line with Your will and not for political purposes (Psa. 119:23-24).

    • Keep the war cabinet unified (Psa. 133:1-3).

    • Whenever Israel's government strays from Your path, God draw them back to it (Psa. 17:5; 27:11).

    • As Israel is facing a tsunami of international condemnation, God we plead with You to be that wall of fire around Your people now (Zech. 2:4-5).

    • Quench the spirit of anarchy which is trying to raise its head inside Israel again (Prov. 6:16-19).

    • Abba, again we ask You to comfort and draw close to Your Son Israelis whose loved ones are dead, or will die, who are still hostages, or whose fate is still unknown (Psa. 86:17; 94:19; Isa. 12:1).

    • Especially minister comfort to all new widows and orphans during their intense grief (Psa. 68:5).

    • Overrule the thinking of Israel's leaders (Prov. 16:9) so that if there is a future hostage exchange, it will end up being bad for Hamas but will be a blessing for Israel (Deut. 23:5; Rom. 8:28).

    • Almighty God, miraculously sustain Israel's economy today (Deut. 8:18; Psa. 127:1; Prov. 10:22).

    • Inject Your shalom as IDF soldiers return from the war to their families (Psa. 4:8; 29:11).

  3. Foreign relations:

    Many nations are coming against Jerusalem diplomatically today. As Israel continues to resist committing national suicide by not agreeing with the creation of a Palestinian terror state on its God-given inheritance, nations will come against Israel militarily (Zech. 12:2-3; 14:2). There are already indications of this as last week the EU's foreign policy chief Borrell said that the international community might need to impose a solution on Israel to accept a Palestinian State.

    • Lord Yeshua, wake up believers to understand their spiritual responsibility to stand in the gap for their nation's relationship with Israel today – and to cry out for mercy (Jer. 27:18a; Ezek. 22:30-31).

    • Continue to speak truth through Israel's UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan, and all other Israeli diplomats about Israel's situation – regardless of whether others accept it or not (Psa. 40:10; 60:4; Gal. 4:16).

    • Use Foreign Minister Israel Katz's bluntness and directness for good (Prov. 13:17; 22:21).

    • Anoint Israeli representatives to expose the hypocrisy of so many in the world honoring dead Jews at Holocaust Days and memorials, but who condemn living Jews from defending themselves (Job 27:8)!

    • Stiffen Israel's leaders and its people to resist the creation of a "Palestine" on Your land, as besides it being unbiblical, it would reward the Palestinians for murdering Jews (Jer. 1:18; Ezek. 3:8).

    • Embolden Netanyahu to continue saying "no" to the US Administration about this (1 Sam. 24:15).

    • With pressure on Israel to agree to a Palestinian State growing, as You have done since 1948, harden Arab leaders' hearts to refuse to accept a Jewish nation (Ex. 14:4; Deut. 2:30; Josh. 11:20).

  4. "Operation Swords of Iron," Israel's war against Hamas, is in reality Israel still fighting its "War of Independence." Israel probably needs to fight this war for at least another year to really cleanse Gaza of Hamas. Yet pressure from the US and other nations for a permanent "ceasefire" to be agreed on today makes this unlikely. Yet as nothing is too hard for God, we press on in prayer.

    • Since this is most definitely a "just" war and You are a just God (Deut. 32:4; Isa. 45:21), arise and aid Israel in order to permanently scatter Your enemies (Ex. 15:3; Num. 10:35; Psa. 68:1; 83:1-4).

    • God, protect Israelis' minds from all unbiblical "suggestions" from a world that does not see this as essentially a war between good and evil (Psa. 2:1-3; 38:20; Prov. 17:13; Isa. 5:20-23).

    • Lord, judge all nations and international organizations who have not called on Hamas to surrender and release all the hostages but continually make unjust demands on Israel (Psa. 9:19-20; 80:8).

    • With the IDF's recent change of tactics, download Your strategy and tactics to them to make this next phase actually quicken Hamas' total demise (Isa. 14:29-32; 41:10-13).

    • Restore the bombing of areas by the Israeli Air Force before the soldiers go in (Isa. 31:5).

    • Defend IDF soldiers physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually, and provide for their needs to be able to fight as Your weapons of war (Psa. 18:1-19, 27-40; Jer. 51:20).

    • Continuously safeguard them from friendly fire and other types of accidents (Psa. 4:8; 91:4).

    • Use the recent tragic deaths of dozens of IDF soldiers make Israel even more determined to destroy Hamas and achieve a genuine victory (Psa. 46:1-2a, 7, 11).

    • May Hamas' defeat be as sudden as the Red Sea closing in on top of the Egyptians (Ex. 14:24-28).

    • Lord, supernaturally flood all of Hamas' terror tunnels in Gaza (Ex. 14:13-14; 15:12; Psa. 77:16-18).

    • As so many of the IDF warriors are so willing to fight for Your nation, arise and avenge them in line with what it says in Judges 5:2 and 9 in Shabbat's prophetic portion.

    • Reinforce Your angelic hosts who are also warring for Your nation (2 Kin. 6:15-17; 2 Chr. 32:7).

    • God, in mercy, set free all remaining living hostages miraculously (Isa. 49:24-26; Jer. 31:11).

    • Alternatively, show the IDF where to find them – or their bodies (Num. 21:1-3; Judg. 5:12b).

    • Because of their utter failure to warn of the Hamas attack, draw many in Israel's intelligence services to seek You for discernment – both for today and for tomorrow (Deut. 29:29; Job 42:2; Jer. 33:3).

  5. Internal security:

    Terrorist attacks inside Israel, especially in Judea and Samaria never stop. Yet Israel's security forces prevent most of them and for that we thank and praise God.

    • We bless You, Lord God Almighty, for guarding over Israel all of the time (Psa. 121:4).

    • Continue to convince more and more Israelis that dividing Your land for any reason is against Your will and ultimately ends up with more death and destruction (Judg. 2:1-5; Joel 3:1-2).

    • King of kings, enable Israel to nullify all terrorists and terror groups who are in Your land today, and to do the same with any that might be created tomorrow (Ex. 15:16; Num. 33:52-53; Zech. 9:8).

    • Send forth major misunderstandings and deep hatred between them all (Psa. 40:14; Zech. 14:13).

    • Oversee the location of Israeli troops and equipment in all of the land (Psa. 23:3a; Prov. 21:30-31).

    • Expose all possible terror tunnels in Judea and Samaria to the light of day (Jer. 11:18; 23:24).

    • Lord Yeshua, in mercy and by Your grace, reap a harvest of souls among the Palestinians before they are plucked up and destroyed (Jer. 12:14-17; Matt. 5:44).

  6. External security:

    Iran's war against Israel has intensified since the October 7th massacre. It goal is to wipe Israel off the map (Psa. 83:1-4). Today it uses its Middle East proxies – Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza, Hizbullah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen and various terrorist groups and its own activities in Syria – to try to achieve that. Combined with the strikes against the Houthis from an international coalition to stop their attacks against shipping in the Red Sea, and we could be looking at the beginnings of the next world war (Luke 21:28).

    • Lord, if Iran's recent attacks on both Iraqi and Pakistani soil is You drawing Iran's leaders to make major geo-political mistakes, then all we can say is "more Lord" (Psa. 70:2; 129:5; Prov. 16:18)!

    • Reignite the 1400 plus year hatred between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims and let those who hate Israel and the Jews end up fighting and nullifying one another (Ezek. 38:21; Zech. 14:13).

    • Use Israel's accuracy and intelligence in assassinating Hamas and Hizbullah leaders in and outside of Israel to cause great fear and paranoia to fall on every leader who is still alive (Psa. 40:14; Jer. 20:11).

    • Lord God, stir up major power struggles between the remaining leaders of Hamas and Hizbullah that creates huge amounts of confusion and division and leads to their undoing (Ex. 15:6-7, 14).

    • We thank You for another extremely precise Israeli strike against five Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp commanders who were eliminated in the midst of Damascus (Isa. 41:11-12; Ezek. 37:10).

    • For both Israel and Lebanon's sake – destroy Hizbullah totally (Psa. 5:6, 10; 9:5).

    • Increase the influence of all anti-Hizbullah leaders in Lebanon's society and political scene.

    • God, sovereignly swallow up Iran's uranium enrichment facilities (Ex. 15:12; Psa. 21:8-9).

    • If not, then show Israel if and when it should pre-empt this Iranian threat (1 Chr. 14:14-17).

    • Fulfill Jeremiah 49:35 and destroy Iran's and Hizbullah's ability to shoot missiles against Israel.

    • Lord Yeshua, thank You for building Your Body in Elam [ancient Iran] (Jer. 49:38a; Matt. 16:18b).

    • Please fulfill the remainder of Jeremiah 49:38 and suddenly destroy Iran's demonic leadership.

    • Guide Iran believers to pray for their nation (1 Tim. 2:1-4), and for Israel (Num. 24:9b; Psa. 122:6).

  7. Aliyah:

    What a privilege it is to see God bringing His people home (Isa. 43:5-7). We are also blessed to be witnesses to that which God said He would do with all of His heart and soul (Jer. 32:41). The question then is why are not more believers aware of how vital this regathering is to Abba's end-time plans in preparation for the return of His Son, Messiah Yeshua?

    • We thank and praise You for the tens of thousands of Jews who made aliyah in 2023 (Psa. 115:1-3).

    • Lord, help Israel to be able to absorb the millions of Jews whom You are drawing, or chasing, back at this time in history (Isa. 11:11-12; 54:2-3; Jer. 16:16; 31:3).

    • Wake up Western Jews to actually see the ruin of their comfy lifestyles in exile today and correct their mistaken expectations and hopes of it ever being restored (1 Chr. 16:35; Jer. 50:4-9).

    • Use the over-the-top pro-Palestinian demonstrations to scare the "exile" out of the Jews.

    • Magnify all encouraging voices promoting aliyah today (Num. 32:7-9).

    • Move on more rabbis to inspire their flocks to move home to Israel (Jer. 51:9-10).

    • Release Your people who are trapped in nations and unable to make aliyah (Neh. 9:10; Psa. 146:7).

    • Remove all roadblocks for Jews who want to return but somehow – whether in their current nation or in Israel – there are obstacles, like Jews in India and in Russia today (Isa. 62:10).

    • Open the eyes of Your Body to see that today's restoration of Israel is what You said You would do with all of Your heart and soul – and therefore they dare not resist it (Jer. 32:41-44).

  8. Salvation:

    Israel's salvation comes before Messiah's return as He said there needs to be in Jerusalem Jews saying to Him, Blessed is He who comes in the name of YHWH (Matt. 23:39). Plus if all Israel is saved after He physically returns, then that would mean that Gentiles are saved by faith but Jews will be saved by sight – and nowhere in the Scriptures is that even hinted at.

    • As per Your word, release Your spirit of grace and supplication upon Israel today (Zech. 12:10).

    • For Your name's sake, now that they are back in the land, sprinkle Jewish hearts with clean water (Ezek. 36:24-32) and write Your law upon their hearts (Jer. 31:31-34).

    • Abba Father, in grace, save a huge remnant of the still living Holocaust survivors; the survivors of Hamas' massacres, and all other survivors of previous terrorist attacks; any hostages still alive; every ex-hostages who will have mental and emotional struggles; hostage families and friends whether the hostages are released or their condition is unknown; soldiers throughout the IDF; soldiers' families; soldiers and civilians who are permanently wounded; medical personnel; Jewish politicians; all Israeli leaders in the war cabinet; Israel's international diplomats; Israelis who are living out of their homes from the Gaza periphery and the northern border with Lebanon; pre-October 7th Israeli peace activists; Jews in exile who are very concerned for their safety; Jews who have rejected Rabbinic Judaism but are still open to You; unsaved loved ones of Messianic Jews (Isa. 25:9; 44:22).

    • Use Your disciples throughout Israel's society to provoke many Jews to jealousy (Rom. 11:11, 14).

  9. Body of Messiah:

    It is imperative at this time for us to have discernment to see what God is doing to fulfill His Word. But believers who do not know and trust in the Old Testament [Tanach] are not able to do that as much of what He is doing is in fulfillment of Tanach prophecies.

    • Lord Yeshua, open up all believers minds and hearts to know that Your Word starts at Genesis and not at Matthew – and that the Tanach is still living and active today (Psa. 119:18, 98-100; Heb. 4:12). [Note that when Hebrews 4:12 was written, there was no New Testament!]

    • Confront them with their errors in spiritual judgment by not knowing the Tanach (Matt. 22:29).

    • Yeshua Lord, arrange it so that in Your Body the sons of Zion have greater influence, and the sons of Greece are exposed for being under that spirit of anti-God humanism (Zech. 9:13; Acts 20:28-32).

  10. Water:

    Israel is in the time of the latter rains and is receiving a good soaking (Zech. 10:1).

    • Lord, thank You for pouring out the latter rains on Israel at this time (Job 29:23; Hos. 6:3).

    • God, use the weather for Your glory and Israel's good (Psa. 68:9; Matt. 5:45b).

    • Let the winter weather be a blessing to Israel and a disaster to its adversaries (Job 38:22-23).

  11. IFI:

    We are learning that at times the only thing we can do is to not give up – but to press on asking God to do His will on earth. In fact, not giving up is a way to overcome! So we thank you for praying for us and with us for Israel in order that we can all together in one accord seek for God to be glorified as our ultimate goal (Psa. 115:1-3).

Shabbat shalom and blessings from Jerusalem

Chuck Cohen, for the IFI team

Ex. 15:11 [in Shabbat's Torah portion]