1. Praise:

   In Shabbat's Torah portion, Moses asks God to show him His glory. God's response is to declare His name – which in Hebraic thinking means His essential nature. [Moses:], Please show me Your glory. [God:] I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of YHWH before you, and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. (Ex. 33:18-19; cp. 34:6)

   • Lord God, we bless You for being both gracious and merciful to Israel and to us (Rom. 9:15).

   • Thank You for the revealed truth that unless Your grace is released upon a person, no one can please You because all have sinned and fallen short of Your glory (Zech. 4:6-7; Rom. 3:23).

   • As in the Torah portion, we also praise You for Your grace always being with us (Ex. 33:13-14).

   • We rejoice in You who are faithful to do all that You promise (Num. 23:19; Psa. 89:8; Isa. 55:11).

   • Thank You for having warned us about these ungodly and violent days that we are in (2 Tim. 3:1-5).

   • We affirm that You are still in control – even though the world is so out of control (Psa. 103:19).

   • With faith in You, the Rock of Israel, we declare to Zion, Your God reigns! (Isa. 52:7b)

2. Government & society:

   The resistance from both inside and outside of Israel against Israel's leaders, especially PM Bibi Netanyahu, never lets up. In some ways this is good as it causes many Israelis to seek God for help, but it is also exhausting on the leaders who need to make life and death decisions on a daily basis. They need believers to hold up their arms in prayer.

   • Abba Father, manifest Your jealous care and concern over Your nation today (Zech. 1:14; 8:2).

   • With Israel seemingly trapped in a Red Sea scenario with much of the world trying to destroy it, Lord please, as You did in the past, fulfill Exodus 14:13 today as well.

   • We again confess that we do not trust in Israel's government, but we trust in You who has ordained that government for this time, and ask You to use it for Your glory (Psa. 115:1-3; Matt. 26:18).

   • Please increase the influence of every Israeli son and daughter of Zion in Your nation (Zech. 9:13).

   • Block the sons of Greece currently in the war cabinet from pushing ungodly decisions (Psa. 119:21).

   • Use the current coalition members to keep Israel on Your path at this very tense time (Prov. 21:1).

   • Protect Netanyahu from the spiritual forces which use the frustration and rage of some of the hostage families, as well as the unjust anti-Bibi, anti-democratic rallies to distract and destroy him (Psa. 43:1).

   • Instead of shouting "Bring them home" – as if Israel is not doing all it could to accomplish that – let the hostages' families and friends turn their anger on Hamas and shout "Let them go!" (Ex. 10:3).

   • As Hamas has rejected every Israeli hostage deal offer and now says they will only give up 20 of the 130+ hostages, Lord give Israel's leaders the courage to walk away from the negotiations completely, and instead turn all their efforts towards destroying Hamas (Psa. 144:7-11).

   • Release divine comfort to all Israelis whose loved ones have been murdered or sexually abused, or are still held hostage or whose fate is as yet unknown (Isa. 61:1-3; Matt. 5:4).

3. Foreign relations:

   US President Biden's Administration has become at best a "broken reed" for Israel (Isa. 36:6). While it says it is totally supportive of Israel's need to defend itself, yet it then threatens Israel if it does anything to defend itself that results in the killing of its enemies. Regrettably, most Western nations are following America's lead.

   • If this is how You are beginning to fulfill Zechariah 12:2-3, please guide us as we intercede.

   • We praise You for how quickly Numbers 23:9b is becoming a reality today, and ask You to lead us as we pray about it. [See Exodus 33:16 in Shabbat's Torah portion for another affirmation of Israel being called as a nation set apart from the rest of the nations.]

   • We do bless and thank You for every American politician and citizen who stands unashamedly for Israel's right to defend itself, yet we also ask You to turn Israelis away from trusting in America and instead let them fix their eyes on You alone (Psa. 62:8-9; 118:8-9; 123:1-4).

   • Lord Yeshua, wake up believers to their need to pray about their nation's relations with Israel at this time – whether good, bad, or lukewarm (Deut. 32:43; 1 Tim. 2:1-2a; Rev. 19:2).

   • Impart to all Israelis a biblically-correct outlook, and remove from them all anti-Christ, politically-correct thinking (Ex. 19:3-6; Ezek. 20:32). [In Greek "anti" means "instead of " as well as "against"]

   • Show Israelis that their Western "allies" are often more dangerous than its foes, as they pressure it to make unbiblical moves that Israel then needs to at least consider (Job 19:19; Psa. 55:13-14).

   • Shield Israel's government and society from the unjust pressure the nations place on it to not kill its enemies – in other words, to commit suicide (Deut. 33:29; Psa.. 89:18)!

   • Stop America from sanctioning any more Israelis, including any IDF units (Psa. 33:10-11).

   • Strengthen Israel's absolute rejection of the creation of a "Palestine" in Your land (Lev. 25:23).

   • Continue to anoint Israel's UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan as he rebukes the world's obsession with creating a "Palestine" on Your land (Mic. 3:8a; 4:2b).

   • Messiah Yeshua, exert Your authority over the UN and its outreaches who constantly curse Israel with lies and false accusations – and at least silence them (Num. 24:9b; Isa. 54:17; Matt. 28:18).

   • Let Israel see Qatar as it truly is – a nation that supports terrorism and hates the Jews (Matt. 7:15).

4. Israel's "War of Independence" is being fought in Gaza, in the Middle East [ME] and also globally. Israel is the only nation that needs to explain its right to exist and its right to defend itself. "Operation Swords of Iron," its battle against Hamas in Gaza, is expected to "restart" in full force when the IDF invades Rafah, Hamas's final stronghold on Gaza's border with Egypt.

   • Use our prayers as trumpets before You as Israel wars against its enemy in its land (Num. 10:9).

   • Confirm to the world that what You prophesied in the prophetic portion, You have brought to pass by creating in post-Holocaust Israel an exceedingly great army (Ezek. 37:10)

   • Despite the resistance of many nations, including America, and various NGOs like the UN, Lord help Israel to fulfill the vow it made after Oct. 7th of totally destroying Hamas (Ex. 17:16).

   • Precious Lion of Judah (Rev. 5:5), lead the IDF into battle as a Man of War (Ex. 15:3; Isa. 42:13).

   • Prepare all the IDF soldiers for the fight against Hamas in Rafah (Psa. 23:5; 61:7; Prov. 21:31).

   • Shield them physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually (Psa. 91:3-13; 144:10).

   • Lord God of hosts, as You did with Joshua before Jericho, provide explicit commands concerning the timing and tactics of the IDF's invasion of Rafah (Josh. 5:13-6:5; Prov. 21:30-31; Amos 1:6-7).

   • Let Israel shock Hamas and invade Rafah when Hamas is least expecting it (Psa. 6:10).

   • Help Israel to "neutralize" all of Hamas' leaders, both inside and outside of Gaza (1 Sam. 17:51).

   • Abba Father, if any of the hostages are alive and in Rafah set them free (Psa. 146:7; Zech. 9:11), or guide the IDF to find and release them from their captivity (Num. 21:1-3).

   • Lord God Almighty, direct Your nation (Prov. 16:9; 19:21) to repossess Gaza after the war since it is part of the inheritance of Judah (Josh. 15:1, 47; Judg. 1:18).

5. Internal security:

   Since Oct. 7th Israel has experienced an increase in terror attacks. We bless God that most are thwarted or pre-empted by Israel's security forces or its armed civilians. Yet since Islamic terrorists claim that they love death more than life, their efforts to murder Jews continues.

   • Cause all terrorist plots against Israelis to implode (Num. 24:9b; Gal. 6:7).

   • Forbid any successful kidnappings or drive-by shootings against Your people (Psa. 17:8-9).

   • Send forth an alertness from on high to permeate all Israeli security personnel, and all armed and unarmed Israeli civilians both now and after the Passover season (Neh. 4:16-18).

   • Let this constant terrorism prove conclusively to Israelis that dividing Your land does not bring peace, but just the opposite (Joel 3:1-2).

   • Use Exodus 34:12 in Shabbat's Torah reading to convince Israelis that any form of a "two-state solution" is in direct opposition to Your revealed will for Your nation (Psa. 105:5-11).

   • We praise You for hardening the hearts of all Palestinian leaders to reject having a Jewish nation, or any individual Jew, from living in their future Palestinian State (Josh. 11:19-20).

   • Inflame the hatred that is already present between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas (Psa. 35:4-8; 55:9) and let it burn up these deadly enemies of Israel (Josh. 7:22; Zech. 14:13).

   • Thank You for Finance Minister Smotrich's efforts to enlarge Israel's borders at this time, as well as legalizing dozens of Jewish communities in Israel's biblical heartland (Ex. 34:23-24; Deut. 33:27-29).

   • If Defense Minister Gallant is resisting this, please remove him and replace him with a Son of Zion!

6. External security:

   Iran fired over 300 drones and missiles at Israel early last week and Israel retaliated last Friday morning. Israel's response indicated that it could, without sending its air force, strike Iran's most sensitive spots, including its nuclear facilities. So far, it seems both nations will not take this any further, which might be a huge mistake for Israel, as because of Iran's massive attack, Israel has a legal right based on international law to destroy Iran's nuclear program.

   • Use Israel's retaliation to open the floodgates of massive waves of fear and paranoia to totally drench all Iranians who are involved with any plans to destroy the Jewish nation (Psa. 42:7b; 88:7).

   • Let Israel learn from history that no one will destroy Iran's nuclear program just for the Jews' sake, and then show it how to completely erase this existential threat (2 Sam. 1:27; Jer. 50:25).

   • Of course, we prefer if You would arise and sovereignly destroy Iran's nuclear facilities (Psa. 68:1).

   • In Your timing, bring Micah 4:11-13 to pass against Iran, its proxies, and all other enemies of Israel.

   • Anoint the IDF's Iran Command to have godly insight specifically at this time (Job 12:12-13).

   • Reveal any Iranian or Hizbullah plots against Israel to its intelligence services (Prov. 15:3).

   • As it appears that a war between Israel and Hizbullah will happen soon, please lead the IDF and Israel's society to be as ready as possible (1 Sam. 7:12; 1 Cor. 14:8).

   • Maintain unity between Israel's war cabinet and the IDF leadership pertaining to both the strategy and tactics against Hizbullah in Lebanon (Gen. 45:24; Isa. 11:13-14).

   • Lord, we praise You for the growth of Your Body in Elam [ancient Iran] (Jer. 49:38a; Matt. 16:18b).

   • Please also watch over and fulfill Jeremiah 49:38b – very suddenly and very soon.

   • Encourage and guard over every Iranian who takes a stand against their government (Psa. 27:5).

7. Aliyah:

   God's people being regathered to His land (Jer. 31:10) is the most obvious biblical sign that we live in the end-times. This is one of the main reasons why the devil wars against Israel's restoration as it points to his quick demise at the return of the Lord Yeshua.

   • Abba Father, may Your name be sanctified through Your will being established on earth – as it is already established in heaven (Ezek. 36: 23-24; Matt. 6:9-10).

   • We bless You for the aliyah which is declared to be for Your glory and praise (Isa. 43:5-7, 21).

   • Lord, show Your Body the biblical connection between the aliyah, Israel's salvation and Your return (Psa. 14:7; 53:6; 119:18; Zech. 14:1-4; Matt. 23:39).

   • Teach many more believers about their duty to help Your people return home – by prayer, finances, physical deeds, and sharing with their Jewish friends and colleagues that the "captivity" is over and it is time to return to their God-ordained home (Psa. 106:47; Isa. 49:22; Rom. 15:26-27).

   • Support Israel to be able to receive and absorb multitudes of new immigrants (Ezek. 36:8-12).

   • God, ordain more shepherds like Moses to lead the Jews out of "Egypt" (Ex. 15:13; Isa. 63:11-13).

   • Use the very dangerous and demonic anti-Semitic demonstrations taking place throughout the West and in American universities to drive Your people out of the captivity (Jer. 16:16; Ezek. 39:27-28).

   • Rid many Jews, especially in the West, of the "hope" that things will return to "normal" because neither history nor Your Word support that false hope (Deut. 30:3-5; Jer. 3:14).

   • May today's increased interest in aliyah, result in an increase of actual aliyah (Jer. 50:4-8; 51:9-10).

   • Remove all hindrances preventing aliyah from the hearts of Your people, or in Israel's government bureaucracy, or in nations where Jews want to come home but cannot leave (Isa. 57:14; 62:10).

   • God of Israel, change Israel's rabbinical rules of "who is a Jew?" so that everyone whom You see as Jewish can return and obtain full Israeli citizenship (Isa. 62:10; Mark 7:9, 13).

   • Enable all Jews who return to grow strong roots in the land (2 Kin. 19:30; Psa. 80:8-9).

8. Salvation:

   God orders the "watchmen" (Jer. 31:6a) [notzrim; Modern Hebrew = "Christian"] to pray, YHWH, save Your people, the remnant of Israel (Jer. 31:7b). This very specific word to His born-again Body needs to be a part of every believing meeting and the burden to share Yeshua with the Jews should also be encouraged (Rom. 1:16; 11:11).

   • You promised to answer all prayers in line with Your will (1 John 5:14-15), and Jews being saved is Your will (Rom. 11:26), so we praise You in faith for every Jew whom You redeemed over Passover.

   • Enable each one to find their place in the Body of Messiah and to be discipled (Eph. 4:11-16).

   • Lord, please take off that partial blindness You placed on Your people so that a larger remnant of Jews will receive Yeshua as Messiah (Rom. 11:25-26).

   • Reveal Your Son to Jews living in Judea and Samaria; Holocaust survivors; Oct. 7th and other terror attack survivors; all hostages and ex-hostages, and their loved ones; IDF soldiers wherever they are stationed, and their families; loved ones of soldiers who died or are extremely injured; widows and orphans; all rabbis; all anti-missionaries; Israelis who are still living out of their homes from both the south and the north; Jewish politicians, diplomats, teachers and professors; university students, in particular those Jews who are scared to go to class in American universities; yeshiva students; medical personnel; Jews and Israelis in exile; unsaved loved ones of Messianic Jews (Ex. 34:9; Psa. 28:9).

   • Draw Your people back to the Tanach, and then give them a holy dissatisfaction over their personal relationship with You compared with what Jews had in the past (1 Kin. 19:18; Heb. 11:8-12).

   • Shield the Israeli Body of Messiah from every false doctrine (Eph. 4:11-15).

9. The Body of Messiah:

   As we see the world resisting Israel's full restoration and the explosion of anti-Semitism, we should strive to know what are God's priorities today.

   • Lord, bring Ezekiel 37:11b-14, in Shabbat's prophetic portion, to the attention of many believers and let them get excited to realize that they are seeing this prophecy being fulfilled today.

   • Turn us to search Your Word for clues concerning the growth of worldwide Jew-hatred (Psa. 2:1-3).

   • Show the Body that the outrageous anti-Israel demonstrations are also an attack upon the cultivated olive tree into which we are grafted and which supports our faith (Rom. 11:17-18).

   • Lord, restore to the Body the whole counsel of God (Psa. 12:6; 18:30; 119:140).

   • Messiah Yeshua, impart to us Holy Spirit revelation so that we are able to perceive what prophecies You are in the process of fulfilling today (Dan. 12:4a; Rev. 22:10).

   • Raise up more sons and daughters of Zion in the Body – believers who love and fear You and love Your Word – and use them to influence many other believers (Psa. 1:1-3; John 1:15, 29).

   • Expel every God-cursed anti-Semitic and anti-Zionistic spirit (Lev. 11:44-45; 20:7; 1 Pet. 1:16).

10. Water:

    The Sea of Galilee [Kinneret] is almost totally full. It stands as of this time at 0.55 meters, [1.8 feet] below its upper line. We want it filled to overflowing as Israelis often see a full lake – the Sea of Galilee is actually a lake – as a sign of God's blessing. Also, Yeshua tells us that because His Father is merciful, He pours out His rain on the just and unjust (Isa. 41:17-20; Matt. 5:45b).

11. IFI:

    The battle to stand in our place on Jerusalem's walls seems to grow more difficult with each headline. Thankfully, God never asks us for an emotional response, but just to be obedient by faith – and that is how we can please Him (Heb. 11:6).Thank you for praying for us to continue to stand and to trust that our intercessions are making a positive impact in God's kingdom.

Shabbat shalom and blessings from Zion

Chuck Cohen, for the IFI team

Isa. 66:10-14