1. Praise:

   In Shabbat's Torah portion, Moses once again needs to pray for mercy on a rebellious Israel whom God wants to destroy. This is a wonderful example of how to pray for Israel, as Moses pleads that God's name, that is, His reputation, is at stake before the gentiles, as well as what He has revealed of His nature to His people if He erases Israel (Num. 14:13-19). His response should be the foundation for all of our prayers – whether for Israel, our birth-nations, or personal issues. YHWH said, 'I have pardoned according to your word [prayer], but as truly as I live, all the earth will be filled with the glory of YHWH'. (Num. 14:20-21; cp. Psa. 29:3)

   • Amen Lord God, and let that happen soon and suddenly (Psa. 72:19).

   • Lord Yeshua, holy Lamb of God, we bless and praise You because You are worthy to receive power, and riches, wisdom, and strength, honor and glory, and blessing. (Rev. 5:12)

   • Lord, we thank You for the encouragement that we have in Your Word which is much greater than the encouragement we get from answers to our prayers that we see in the headlines, as headlines come and go, but Your Word endures forever (Isa. 40:8; Mark 13:31).

   • We bless You Lord for ultimately presenting us faultless before Your Father's glory (Jude 1:24-25).

2. External security – Middle East [ME]:

   "Operation Rising Lion," Israel's war against Iran's efforts to develop nuclear weapons and build thousands of ballistic missiles, continues. Israel has eliminated many of Iran's military and intelligence leaders and nuclear scientists, and has delivered a severe blow to the evil Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp [IRGC] and its leaders who are the point of the spear for the Ayatollah to rule over the Iranians and to conquer the world for Allah.

   • Abba, You have directed us to intercede over many years for You to fulfill Jeremiah 49:38, and we praise You for being able to see that in the process of happening today (Isa. 14:27; 1 John 5:14-15).

   • We know that many of Iran's [Elam's] "princes," military and other leaders, have been "destroyed," and we ask You Lord to also "destroy the king"/the Ayatollah himself (Jer. 51:20-23; Dan. 2:21).

   • God Almighty, scatter these radical Shi'ites who theologically delight in war (Psa. 68:1, 30b).

   • Release a spirit of paranoia on all remaining Iranian leaders so that wherever they are, wherever they go, or whoever they communicate with, they "see" Mossad agents all around them (Job 4:12-21).

   • King Messiah, use this war to set Iranians free from the demonic regime that reins over and crushes them – while it constantly declares "Death to Israel" and "Death to America" (Prov. 29:2).

   • We exalt You Lord Yeshua for setting up Your "throne" in Iran (Jer. 49:38a) as reports of millions of Iranians being saved over recent years is now common knowledge (Psa. 2:12).

   • Lead them in prayer for their nation (1 Tim. 2:1-4) and in blessing Israel and the Jews (Gen. 27:29).

   • Use Israel's attacks to sever all ties between Iran and Russia, China and North Korea (Eccl. 12:14).

   • Thank You for how You used the Oct. 7th Hamas massacre to wake-up Israel (Rom. 8:28), and for guiding Israel's response which in reality led to the destruction of Iran's "Ring of Fire" around it.

   • Abba, thank You for answering our prayer that the IDF would be able to fulfill Numbers 24:8-9a, and for having Israel name this operation after these verses (cp. Gen. 49:9).

   • You God are still a Man of war and we praise You for empowering Israel's attacks to be so much more effective than even what the IDF had hoped for (Ex. 15:3; Eph. 3:20-21).

   • Lord God of Samson, supply Israel with today's equivalent of a "jawbone of an ass" to smash Iran's main uranium plant Fordo, which resides deep under a mountain (Judg. 15:14-16; Psa. 114:7-8).

   • God Almighty, also aid Israel to totally wipe out Iran's current ballistic missiles stockpiles and their launchers and the industries where they will be able to build more (Jer. 4:7; 49:35).

   • God of Israel, reinforce Your angelic hosts to aid Israel's defenses against Iran's counter attacks by drones, ballistic missiles, or from its few remaining proxies (2 Kin. 6:16-17; Psa. 91:5; 121:4).

   • Lord God Almighty, we praise You that all Israeli jets have returned safely from their assignments ever since Oct. 7th, and ask for this miraculous protection to continue (Psa. 121:4; Isa. 31:5).

   • Lion of Judah, anoint all Israeli drone and cyber-warfare operators for Your glory (1 Chr. 5:18).

   • Over all that is, and will happen, in this war against Iran, we declare what Rahab in the prophetic portion said, YHWH your God is God in heaven above and in earth beneath. (Josh. 2:11b)

3. Government & society:

   As is often the case, when Israel deals with outside threats, Israelis stand united. This is what we see in Israel today, and it is a huge relief as previously, Israeli society was deeply divided. Even most of Israel's mainstream media are supportive of this war and amazingly of PM Bibi Netanyahu as well.

   • Abba, we pray for You to be very precise in how You lead Netanyahu, the security cabinet and the IDF leadership – and move upon them to openly thank You (Psa. 77:19; Prov. 16:9; 19:21).

   • King Yeshua, protect them so that pressure from both inside and outside of Israel will not force them to make decisions which are out of line with Your will (Psa. 103:19; Prov. 21:1).

   • Unite them, and turn them into sons and daughters of Zion for a just time like this (Zech. 9:13).

   • Messiah Yeshua, we bless You that Netanyahu is still Israel's prime minister today (Dan. 2:21).

   • Lord God, equip him with all he needs to be Your anointed vessel in that position (Psa. 68:27-28).

   • God Almighty, we thank You that You have been using Bibi's understanding of history to make him a son-of-Issachar type of leader (1 Chr. 12:32).

   • Guardian of Israel, arise and protect Your people so that fewer Israelis are murdered by Iran's Shi'ite missiles (Isa. 31:5). [I use the term "murdered" because while Israel aims at military targets, Iran's Ayatollah has specifically ordered his army to target Israeli civilians!]

   • Messiah Yeshua, release Your comfort upon all Israelis who are mourning for loved ones who have been murdered, or injured by Iran's missile attacks during this war (Isa. 61:3; 63:7-9; Matt. 5:4).

   • Abba Father, provide whatever is needed for the many Israeli families who have had their homes destroyed by Iran's missiles (Psa. 23:1-5; 130:7).

   • Do not allow Israeli leaders or citizens to substitute America for You (Psa. 118:8-9), but to see that while it is right to be grateful for all the help from the US, You are the One who controls the heart of whoever is the current "king" in Washington DC – whatever they decide (Prov. 21:1).

4. Operation "Gideon's Chariots,"

   the IDF's intensified military campaign against Hamas in Gaza continues, although with its attack against Iran, Gaza receives a lot less attention.

   • Lord God, convince more Israelis that as You have commanded them to possess Gaza, a part of Judah's inheritance, this should be Israel's "day-after" plan (Josh. 15:1, 47; Judg. 1:18; Prov. 16:9).

   • Lord of hosts, use the world's focus on Iran to release the IDF to increase the speed and effectiveness of its war against Hamas and bring it to a swift and victorious conclusion (Psa. 44:4-7).

   • God, use the reports of what the IDF has done in Iran to put the fear of both Israel's God and its army into the hearts and minds of all still-living Hamas members (Ex. 14:25; 23;27; Prov. 16:4).

   • Abba Father, as with Gideon, pour out Your wisdom on the IDF to invent new strategies and tactics that surprise, divide and defeat Hamas (Judg. 7:16-18).

   • Abba, give the IDF a divine plan to totally destroy Hamas' underground tunnels (Num. 16:31).

   • Lord God may You alone be the One who decides when this war ceases (Psa. 46:9; Eccl. 3:8b).

   • Do not allow Hamas to accept a ceasefire/hostage deal that blocks a total Israeli victory (Psa. 44:5).

   • Lord God, considering Israel's pre-war expectations of soldiers deaths, we praise You for how You are protecting those soldiers and ask You to increase Your protection (Deut. 20:1-8; Psa. 140:7).

   • God, use Israel's tolerating of humanitarian aid to reenter into Gaza to fulfill Proverbs 25:21-22.

   • Lord God, help Israel's society to see the hostage situation in proper perspective in this existential war against the spirit of Islamic Jew-hatred (Ex. 17:14-17; Ezek. 35:5).

   • Abba, since Hamas is an extension of the Muslim Brotherhood [MB] terrorist organization use this war to dry up many MB outreaches and roots and even save some of its members (Psa. 68:30b).

5. Foreign relations:

   The world's initial muted criticism of Israel against Operation Rising Lion is swiftly fading. Despite the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency's last report that Iran has lied and cheated repeatedly about its uranium enrichment program, even it is joining the chorus of global Jewish-nation-hatred – which is today's anti-Semitism dressed up in other clothes. Yet reports indicate that many ME Arab nations are in fact breathing a sigh of relief as those infidel Jews remove the hangman's nuclear noose which Iran was weaving to tighten around their necks as well.

   • Almighty God, You have placed today's world leaders to their posts (Prov. 8:15; Dan. 2:21a), so we ask You to use them, just like You did Pharaoh and Cyrus, for Your name's sake (Rom. 9:15-23).

   • Abba, we thank You for the exhortation that America's Israeli Ambassador, Mike Huckabee, wrote to President Trump on how he needed to listen to You voice most of all and ask You to use this to impact the president deeply (Psa. 29:3; 95:7b-8a; Jer. 7:23).

   • Aid Bibi when dealing with Trump to know when to bend, but not to break (Psa. 17:4-5; 141:3).

   • Lord, have Israel's leaders imitate Trump and pass policies that put "Israel first!" (Deut. 28:13).

   • Watch over Psalm 33:10-11 concerning the West's desire to make a "deal" with Iran (Jer. 1:12).

   • Creator God, You told Moses that You created man's mouth and You teach Your messengers what to say, so do that as Israeli politicians and diplomats speak out to the world today (Ex. 4:11-2).

   • King of Israel, use Gideon Sa'ar, Israel's Foreign Minister, its US Ambassador Dr. Yechiel Leiter and Ron Dermer, Bibi's special envoy, for Your glory (Prov. 25:13; Jer. 1:8-9).

   • Lord, anoint and protect Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon as well (Psa. 81:10; 119:13).

   • Lord Yeshua, turn believers to read Ezekiel 29:6-9, and let them see how furious You get with allies of Israel who are untrustworthy, and then turn them to intercede for their nations (Ezek. 22:30-31).

   • Also let them read Isaiah 34:8 and 16 and see how You are beginning to fulfill that threat.

6. Internal security:

   Shabbat's Torah reading has the report of the 12 spies. Ten brought out an evil report of the land and died at God's hand (Num. 13:32; 14:36-37). Joshua and Caleb brought a faith-based report (Num. 13:30; 14:6-9) and ended up, 40 years later, entering and conquering the land (Num. 14:24). They were sons of Zion and we see more like them being raised up in Israel today.

   • Lord God, use Numbers 14:9 in the Torah portion to show Your people that not possessing the land which You have sworn to give to their forefathers and their seed is seen as rebelling against You.

   • Abba, let verses like this and many others encourage Israel to spread its sovereignty over all of the land which You have sworn to them, despite what other nations or NGOs say or do (Psa. 105:5-12).

   • God of Israel, You say You are jealous over Your land (Ezek. 36:5-7), so strike down all plans to create a "Palestine" on Your land– whether from "friends" or foes (Psa. 33:10-11; Zech. 14:1-3).

   • Messiah Yeshua, teach believers that praying for Israel to possess its possessions (Obad. 1:17) is not political, but prophetic, and will lead to You being glorified worldwide (Ezek. 36:34-36; 37:14).

   • Commander of heaven's hosts, release Your angelic armies to battle against every demonic power of Israel's terrorist enemies in Your land (2 Kin. 6:16-17; 2 Chr. 32:7-8; 1 Chr. 15:46).

   • Lord, uproot Your enemies out from of Your land – and do it suddenly (Psa. 125:3; Jer. 12:14-17).

   • God of all, as Israel's security forces battle against the terrorists in Judea and Samaria, use Joshua 2:24 in Shabbat's prophetic portion to encourage them to fight with both faith and courage (Josh. 5:1).

   • Lord God, let the world's focus on Operation Rising Lion open a window of opportunity for Israel's security forces to press the war against internal terrorists swiftly and without hindrance (Psa. 35:8).

   • Abba, provide all the intelligence Israel needs to stop all terrorist attempts (Job 12:22; Psa. 139:12).

   • God, uncover and destroy all links between these terrorist groups and Iran (Prov. 15:3; Isa. 29:15).

7. Aliyah:

   We are so grateful to be God's witnesses as He fulfills His promises and returns the scattered Jews back to His Land (Jer. 31:10). Yet we have a great responsibility as well as God expects His Body to be very involved with this prophetic fulfillment (for example Isaiah 49:22).

   • Abba Father, thank You for allowing us to witness You fulfill exactly that which You prophesied so many millennia ago (Jer. 31:8-10; Zech. 8:1-8).

   • Lord Yeshua, reveal to Your Body that aliyah is actually a literal answer to the 2,000 year old prayer that Your name be sanctified by Your will being done on earth (Ezek. 28:25-26; Luke 11:2).

   • Lord, let believers see that Isaiah 43:5-6 calls them to co-labor with You to bring home the Jews.

   • Lord God, promote many sons and daughters of Zion to head up Jewish communities in the captivity who will exhort them about need to make aliyah and will then lead them home (Jer. 51:6-10).

   • God Almighty, turn Jewish leaders from struggling for their "right" to live in "peace and safety" in gentile nations to instead battle for them and their communities to make aliyah (Jer. 51:9-10).

   • Also God, release more hunters to chase home Your people who are stuck in the exile (Jer. 16:16).

   • Abba, bring back whole families and communities together (Ex. 12:37-38; Jer. 31:3-5).

   • Lord, show Jews, including Messianic Jews, who think they are more helpful to Israel by remaining in exile that in reality they are resisting Your will (Isa. 43:5-7; Jer. 31:10; 32:41; Ezek. 39:26-29).

   • Almighty God, block the influence the media has over Jews by how they report – and distort – the news from Israel, which too often causes Jews to be very frightened to make aliyah (Num. 14:9).

   • Use Operation Rising Lion to release the 8,000 or so Iranian Jews to return to Israel (Ex. 9:15-17).

   • God of Israel, replace any bureaucrat in Israel's Interior Ministry and the Jewish Agency who is lukewarm about aliyah, with those who, like You, are zealous for Zion (Zech. 8:1-8).

8. Salvation:

   God tells the "watchmen" (Jer. 31:6) to pray (31:7a), YHWH, save Your people, the remnant of Israel (Jer. 31:7b). "Watchmen" [notzrim] is the word for "Christians" in Hebrew today, and so we can pray for this with the utmost confidence (1 John 5:14-15).

   • Lord, teach Your pre-saved nation their need of a mediator between them and You as it is clear from the Torah portion that this is what You ordained for the atonement of their sins (Num. 15:25-26).

   • God, use the Iranian missiles which are hitting Israel's humanistic strongholds along its coast, like Tel Aviv and Haifa, to wake up many of these "secular" Israelis to cry out to You (Psa. 50:15).

   • Abba Father, increase a biblical fear of You in the lives of many Israeli Jews (Psa. 85:9; Acts 13:26).

   • Lord of the harvest, we ask You to send out laborers into the Jewish harvest fields (Matt. 9:37-38).

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

   • Lord Yeshua, walk in Samaria once again, revealing Yourself to Jews living there (John 4:25-26).

   • Give dreams and visions of Your true nature to the Jews living in Judea (Joel 2:28; Rev. 1:10-18).

   • Lord Yeshua, by the power of Your Spirit let Your glory shine brightly through all believing Israelis and use them to provoke other Israelis to jealousy (Matt. 5:14-16; Rom. 11:14).

   • Also use Iranian believers spread out in the nations, who are excited that Israel is ending their evil regime, to provoke Jews to jealousy with both salvation and to make aliyah (Rom. 11:11).

   • [Seek God for what specific group of Jews He wants you to intercede for during this week.]

9. Body of Messiah:

   Believers need to be familiar with all of God's Word to be able to perceive and agree with what He is doing today. And since so much end-time prophecy centers on Israel's resurrection and salvation, as well as various foes coming against it, knowing His Word helps us to pray in line with His will – even in the midst of the chaotic events of today.

   • Lord God, gift Your Body with elders who teach and preach from all of the Word, (Acts 20:27), and who openly declare Your eternal love for, and covenant with, Israel (Deut. 7:6-8; Jer. 31:35-37).

   • Restore the authority of the totality of Your Word in Your Body (John 17:17; 2 Tim. 3:15-17).

   • Blessed Redeemer, let Your children see You as the Lamb of God (John 1:29, 36), the Lion of Judah (Joel 3:16; Rev. 5:5), and as still that Man of War whom Israel praised today (Ex. 15:3; Isa. 42:13).

   • King Messiah, teach Your Body the necessity of interceding for their governments – including those which are anti-biblical, anti-Christ and anti-Zionist (2 Tim. 2:1-4).

   • Also God, teach Western believers how to pray about the spirit of Islam which has invaded their nations and is intimidating their leaders to not fully and unashamedly stand with Israel (Eph. 6:12).

   • Abba, as Israel is the pupil of Your eye, let believers see the full repercussions of this, which is that You view the world through the lens of Israel (Zech. 2:8b)!

10. IFI:

    End-time events are often compared to the travail of women in childbirth as there will be an increase in both pains and the frequencies. I believe we are in those times, yet whether I am correct or not, we treasure your prayers for us to know how to intercede for His will to be done in Israel today, so that our God will be glorified throughout the earth (Psa. 115:1-3).

Thank you, Shabbat shalom, and blessings from Zion

Chuck Cohen, for the IFI team

Psa. 46:7-11