1. Praise:

   Reading Numbers 11:1-2 in Shabbat's Torah portion affirms how intercession can turn God's anger into mercy: When the people complained, it displeased YHWH…His anger was kindled, and YHWH's fire…consumed those in the farthest parts of the camp. When the people cried unto Moses; Moses prayed unto YHWH, the fire was quenched. (Num. 11:1-2)

   • Thank You Abba for once again encouraging us that You take our prayers into consideration even when You want to righteously judge a people or nation (Psa. 106:23; Ezek. 22:30-31).

   • We bless You for inviting us to pray and promising us that You will answer (Psa. 50:15; Jer. 33:3).

   • We confess that there is no power in prayer, but in You who answers our prayers (Psa. 62:11; 66:3).

   • Yeshua Lord, praise You for choosing us specifically so that You would have a people of prayer asking for God's kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven (Luke 11:2; John 15:16).

   • God of Israel, thank You for consistently reminding us that You do watch over Your Word to bring it to pass (Jer. 1:12), as we read of how You rebuked Moses in the Torah portion (Num. 11:23).

   • Our Lord and our God, we rejoice in reading in the prophetic portion how You point out to us to trust in Your Spirit's work in and through us and not on what we can or cannot do (Zech. 4:6b-7).

2. External security – Middle East [ME]:

   "Operation Rising Lion" began early today as 200 Israeli jets, plus possible navy involvement, attacked numerous Iranian sites, military leaders, and nuclear scientists throughout Iran. All indications are that this is just the beginning of Israel's war against Iran's nuclear weapons development and its constant threats against the Jewish nation. Whatever else I write might be old news by the time you read this so intercession is the best way to join in with God's nation, as it defends itself, other ME nations and ultimately the rest of the world.

   • Lord, we cry out to You that which Moss did in Shabbat's Torah portion: Rise up, YHWH, and let Your enemies be scattered; and let them that hate You flee before You. (Num. 10:35b) Amen!

   • Lord God, You created the destroyer who protects Your people from its enemies, so release it over Iran's evil plans and its false god (Ex. 12:13, 23; Isa. 54:15-17; Hag. 2:22).

   • Abba, we have often prayed for You to fulfill Numbers 24:8-9a through the IDF and are amazed at the name which the IDF has chosen for this operation, "Rising Lion": [Israel] couched, he lays down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? (cp. Gen. 49:9; Num. 23:24)

   • Lion of Judah; use Israel to cut off the head of this Iranian Shi'ite serpent by continuing to target its various leaders, including the Ayatollah and his religious henchmen (1 Sam. 17:46; Jer. 49:38b)!

   • God, let the curses that Iran's leaders proclaim against Israel come back to haunt them (Gal. 6:7).

   • Lord Yeshua, use "Operation Rising Lion" to set many Iranians free to worship You (Jer. 49:38a).

   • Righteous Judge, judge every nation that maintains financial transactions with Iran – although they all know that Iran is the #1 supporter of terror upon the planet (Jer. 12:13; Hag. 1:6).

   • Almighty God of Israel, send forth a host of angels to work alongside Israel's Air Force to protect Your nation from Iran's counter attacks – whether drones, ballistic missiles, or attacks from its various proxies – especially the Houthis in Yemen (2 Kin. 6:16-17; Psa. 121:4; Isa. 31:5).

   • God of heaven's hosts, we give You all of the glory that all Israeli jets have returned safely from their assignments, and ask for this supernatural protection to continue (Psa. 115:1-3; 121:4; Isa. 31:5).

   • God, thank You for Israel's navy's very successful attack on the Houthi's port in Yemen (Psa. 78:53).

   • Lord of the depths, protect and conceal all of Israel's submarines and guide them to be in the right place at exactly the right time (Psa. 65:5-7; 135:4-6).

   • Abba Father, You make covenants – not deals like Trump – so fulfill Your various covenants with Israel, including Your unconditional covenant with the land (Gen. 15:17-18; Psa. 105:5-11).

   • Expose to Israel and America how Qatar is in reality their enemy (Job 12:17-25; Psa. 120:6-7).

   • Lord Yeshua, protect Your Body in the ME, especially in Iran at this time (Jer. 49:38a; John 16:33).

   • Good Shepherd, guide them as they pray and lead them to bless, and not curse, Israel and the Jews (Gen. 27:29; John 10:16, 27).

3. Government & society:

   Israel's attack on Iran was one of the reasons why we prayed against the Haredi/ultra-Orthodox threat to bring down the current government. We are most grateful that God hear and answered those prayers, as well as our constant looking to Him to lead us further.

   • Thank You Lord for answering prayer as the Haredi [ultra-Orthodox] parties threat to dissolve the government was defeated as a compromise solution was apparently reached (Psa. 133:1; Dan. 2:21).

   • Give PM Bibi Netanyahu and others Your wisdom (Eccl. 2:26) in dealing with this very divisive issue in Israeli society, as most of these capable young men refuse to serve in the IDF (Num. 1:2-3).

   • Lord God Almighty, as we read in the prophetic portion, arise and rebuke Satan who always tries to condemn Israel's current leaders through accusation and deception (Zech. 3:2).

   • Great God, as You have ordained PM Bibi Netanyahu to lead Israel (Dan. 4:32), pour into him Your Spirit to use him to achieve Your will – and nothing more (Ex. 31:3; Phil. 1:6).

   • God Almighty, be Netanyahu's "iron dome" against all the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual attacks from both people and demonic forces (Deut. 33:29; Psa. 3:3).

   • Bring around him wise and godly advisors, and true friends (Prov. 17:17; 18:24; 27:6).

   • Abba, as Israel has no constitution, let Your Word be its light and be the final say in all matters of life – public, private, governmental, military, etc. (Psa. 119:9, 116, 154; Isa. 8:20).

   • God, drive out all humanistic influences from Israel's Supreme Court (Deut. 16:18; 2 Chr. 19:8-10).

   • Lord of hosts, provide Israeli Defense Minister Katz great wisdom at this time (Eccl. 9:16a, 18).

   • Abba Father, use whatever differences that exist between Israel's political land military leaders to create answers to problems and not further divisions (Phil. 2:2-3).

   • King Yeshua, Hamas manipulates the hostage negotiations to inflict mental and emotional injury to Israelis; arise to intervene and stop it (Isa. 54:17a; Col. 3:25).

   • Lord, turn families who's loved ones are still hostages, to cry out to You for mercy (Psa. 50:15).

   • Thank You Abba, for the recent report that Israel's economy is doing exceedingly well even in the face of its multi-front war and the various internal battles (Psa. 132:13-15).

4. Operation "Gideon's Chariots,"

   the IDF's intensified military campaign against Hamas in Gaza appears to be very successful. While a number of soldiers have regrettably been killed during this operation, the amount of territory and kills that the IDF has accrued are impressive.

   • God, recall what Hamas did to the weakest of Your people, and many Israelis who were working toward peace with the Palestinians, and war against them (Psa. 74:22-23; Ezek. 25:15-17).

   • Continue, Lord, to harden Hamas to reject any deal that would be bad news for Israel (Ex. 4:21; 7:3).

   • Lord God, do not let this war cease until it is 100% Your timing for that to occur (Psa. 46:9).

   • Abba Father, reinforce Your divine shield over all the IDF soldiers fighting in Gaza (Psa. 3:3-7).

   • Download to the IDF Your strategy to totally destroy Hamas' underground tunnels (Num. 16:31).

   • God, we praise You that the humanitarian aid which Israel is letting in is causing division between many Gazans and Hamas, and has even allowed some Palestinian clans to rise up and fight Hamas (Judg. 7:22-23; Psa. 35:4; Prov. 16:4; Jer. 17:18).

   • Lord God, war against the mainstream media who tells blatant lies about how the IDF is aiming to kill Palestinian civilians who try to receive the humanitarian aid (Ex. 23:1; Psa. 27:12).

   • Almighty King, like in biblical days, rescue all the hostages, and remove them from being used by Hamas as human shields and as another threat to Israelis hearts (1 Sam. 30:18-19; Isa. 49:24-26).

   • Lord God, bless You for the tens of thousands of Palestinians who have left Gaza (Psa. 10:16).

   • Now Abba, open wide the gates for most of the others to escape as well (Jer. 12:17).

   • If this war's conclusion depends on Israel willing to repossess all of Gaza, then move mightily on Israelis and their leaders to commit to doing just that (Judg. 2:1-4; Prov. 16:9).

5. Foreign relations:

   The cursing and betrayal of Israel and hatred of Israel's God have birthed that prophesied "gross darkness" over most nations (Isa. 60:2). Therefore, this could also be that time when Israel displays God's glory openly before the world (Isa. 60:1).

   • Lord God, provide Israel's leaders a supernatural divine courage to reject all external pressure or demands that are not in Your will for Your nation today (Neh. 2:20; Prov. 3:7).

   • God of Israel, also give Israel's leaders godly wisdom when dealing with the many "sons of Greece" who lead most Western nations today (Ezra 7:25a; Job 12:13; Dan. 1:17).

   • Lord, direct Israel's foreign ministry, and its Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, as they forcibly respond to those Western nations, like the UK, who have sanctioned Israeli government members for their strong words which might hinder the creation of a Palestinian State on Your land (Num. 24:9b).

   • Use these anti-Israel moves to move Israel closer to fulfilling Numbers 23:9b (Rom. 8:28).

   • God, direct and anoint Bibi as he interacts with the US administration (Psa. 23:3b; Prov. 19:21).

   • Lord God, with Trump dismissing some of the more pro-Israel people from his administration, show Israel's leaders what this means concerning their relationship with America at this time (Ezek. 29:6-7).

   • Messiah Yeshua, forbid that American Christian Zionists would just dismiss these moves by Trump, especially if they are in fact dangerous to Israel and thus very dangerous to America itself (Isa. 36:6).

   • Abba, let these changes by the US President, plus his tactics in negotiating with Iran, push Israel further away from trusting in America and drawn closer to trusting in You (Psa. 118:8-9; Isa. 31:1).

   • God, continue to anoint and protect Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon (Psa. 81:10; 119:13).

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

   • Lord, show Western believers how to intercede for their nations' ties with Israel today (Ezek. 22:30).

6. Internal security:

   The only time God declares He will do something with all of His heart and soul is found in Jeremiah 32:41 – and it has to do with Him planting Israel back in its land. This is tied in with Israel's salvation (32:37-40)! So Israel possessing its God-given possessions (Obad. 1:17-20) is essential to His end-time plans and should be a priority on the Church's prayer list.

   • God, use Numbers 11:12b in the Torah portion to convince more of Your people of how serious You are about them possessing Your land which You have sworn to give them.

   • May verses like this and many others push Your nation to extend its sovereignty over all of the land "from the river to the sea" regardless of what other nations or NGOs say or do (Psa. 105:5-12).

   • Messiah Yeshua, move on Your Body to pray for this to be done soon, and suddenly (Jer. 32:41-44).

   • Lord Yeshua, let America's Israeli Ambassador Mike Huckabee, a zealous Christian-Zionist, share with Israel's leaders the many verses commanding it to possess Your land (Judg. 2:1-5; Psa. 126:1-3).

   • Enforce Israel's plans to block the Palestinian Authority from creating facts on Your land, even if some of what they have done needs to be torn down (Num. 21:3).

   • Yet, God of Israel, preserve the illegal buildings that the EU had built for the Palestinians in Area C to be used as homes for Jews as they return and resettle Your land (Deut. 6:10-11; Josh. 24:13).

   • As per Numbers 10:9 in the Torah reading, Lord God of hosts, use our prayers as silver trumpets in support of Israel's security forces as they war against the terrorists in their land (Psa. 44:4).

   • God, anoint Israel's forces in Judea and Samaria to fight like sons of Zion (Zech. 9:13-15; 10:3a-7).

   • Almighty, guide the IDF as it uncovers and stops arms smuggling attempts into Israel (Job 12:22).

   • Shepherd of Israel, protect all of the scattered Jews that You are regathering (Isa. 33:2; Jer. 31:10).

7. Aliyah:

   It is God's will for all Jews to come home to His/their land. This is also linked to Israel's salvation (Ezek. 39:28-29). Yet today, even when faced with an explosion of anti-Semitism since Oct. 7th 2023, a majority of His people still remains in "the captivity." Only God knows what will shake them out of their dangerous "comfort zones," and so we ask Him to do that as mercifully as possible.

   • We praise You Lord that the aliyah is a sign to the world of Your faithfulness and ability to fulfill Your promises, despite most nations being opposed to this (Isa. 43:12; Heb. 10:23b).

   • God of Israel, be glorified through the ingathering of Your people to Israel and then through their salvation in Messiah Yeshua (Zech. 8:4-8; 12:10).

   • Lord God, raise up more sons and daughters of Zion to lead Jewish communities in the captivity who will teach on the necessity to make aliyah and will lead their flocks home (Jer. 51:6-10).

   • Almighty God, use the warnings of elevated threats against the Jewish communities in America to show Your people residing there that their time in captivity is over (Isa. 43:5-7).

   • Lord God, break the snare that the comforts of "the captivity" have over Your people (Psa. 124:7-8).

   • Lord, set the Jews in Turkey, Iran and other anti-Israel nations free to return home (Jer. 16:14-15).

   • King Messiah, have Israel's diplomatic outreach to Jews in exile stress more on aliyah and less on helping them to remain safe and secure outside of Your land (Deut. 28:65-67; Psa. 53:6; 107:1-9).

   • Abba, thank You that Israel's Minister of Aliyah, Ofir Sofer, has removed some of the stones of stumbling in the path of Your people coming home (Isa. 62:10). Remove more, Lord!

   • Lord Yeshua, show Your Body how the aliyah is the central issue to Your will being done on the earth today in preparation for Your glorious return (Isa. 43:5-7; Jer. 32:41; Matt. 6:10).

   • Messiah Yeshua, teach Your Body of their biblical responsibility to help Jews make aliyah through prayer, finances and by good works (Isa. 49:22; 60:1-12; 61:5; Rom. 15:26-27).

8. Salvation:

   Jeremiah 32:37-44, Ezekiel 36:24-28, Zechariah 12:2-10, and many other verses, declare that all Israel is saved when they return to their land. So praying for more Israeli Jews to receive the revelation of Messiah Yeshua is in line with God's prophetic will for them today.

   • Lord, as Your people read Zechariah 2:11-12 in the prophetic portion, show them the connection between "many gentiles" becoming Your people and the issue of two "Lord of hosts" being talked about in these verses with Yeshua, whom many believers rightly declare to be God [YHWH] the Son.

   • Messiah Yeshua, cause many Jews to actually read the New Testament for themselves (Acts 19:20).

   • Lord, just like Joseph did with his brothers (Gen. 45:1-4), reveal Yourself to Your brothers, and have them then share with their families that You are alive and rule in many gentile hearts (Gen. 45:24-28).

   • Lord of the harvest, reap a mighty harvest from all the seeds planted and watered in Jewish lives by members in Your Body (1 Cor. 3:6-7).

   • Abba Father, in line with the prophetic portion, by Your Spirit and through grace (Zech. 4:6-7), save Holocaust survivors and their families; survivors of terrorism; all living hostages 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 politicians, judges, lawyers, diplomats; Jewish university students in Israel and in exile; professors, teachers, medical personnel; Jews on their death beds; Israeli media personalities, tour guides and archeologists; Israelis living in exile; Jews who have recently made aliyah; Jewish hippies, LGBTQ+ and new agers; Jews in Iran, Turkey, Ethiopia, India, and China; Spanish and Portuguese speaking Jews; and unsaved loved ones of Messianic Jews.

9. Body of Messiah:

   On His return, the Lord Yeshua will sit on King David's throne as Israel's King Messiah and judge the nations from Jerusalem. This is why Satan is so incensed over Israel's restoration and its soon-to-come salvation. Yet why are so many believers blind to this, and thus do not see what the spiritual battle over Israel is all about?

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

   • Shepherd of the sheep, reveal to believers that the word "scripture" in the New Testament refers in context only to the Old Testament – the Tanach (Matt. 22:29; Luke 4:21; 1 Cor. 15:3-4; Gal. 3:8).

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

   • Also rebuke those believers who reject Romans 9-11 as being as "inspired" as the rest of the NT.

   • Divine Physician, heal Your Body of its biblical anorexia and prophetic illiteracy by pouring out a hunger to feed on all of Your Word (Jer. 15:16; Amos 8:11; Acts 20:32; 2 Tim. 2:15; Heb. 5:13-14).

   • Lord, cast out of the Body the curse of generational anti-Semitism (Num. 14:18b; Jer. 17:14).

   • Abba Father, show believers that it is impossible to watch You fulfill end time prophecies today if they do not know what Your Word, especially the Tanach, says about these days (Luke 24:25:27).

   • Strengthen, multiply and use the Israeli Body for Your name's sake Lord Yeshua (Psa. 115:1-3).

10. IFI:

    Since we often do not know what God is doing when it comes to the current situation until after He does it, we earnestly ask that you ask Him to guide us as we guide others in prayer. Thank you and may our precious Prince of peace guard over all of us in His perfect peace (Isa. 26:3).

Shabbat shalom, and blessings from Zion

Chuck Cohen, for the IFI team

Jude 1:24-25