1. Praise:

    Tomorrow, the Shabbat between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is known as Shabbat Shuvah – the Shabbat of return or repentance. The prophetic portion ends with Micah 7:18-20, which reveals how awesomely gracious is our God.

    • Thank You Lord for being willing to forgive – literally "carry" – Your peoples' guilt (Mic. 7:18a).

    • We praise You Lord Yeshua for being the One who did this for us on the cross (Isa. 53:11b, 12b).

    • God, thank You that in Your love You at times even pass over Your peoples' rebellion (Mic. 7:18b).

    • What a relief to read that You do forsake Your anger because You delight in keeping Your mercy [+ chesed = covenant-love; covenant-faithfulness] (Mic. 7:18c).

    • We bless You Abba that as we all still struggle with our "old man," You say that You will subdue [+ conquer, tread down] all our iniquities, and cast all our sins into the depths of the sea (Mic. 7:19).

  2. Salvation:

    This Wednesday at sunset until after sunset Thursday most Jews in and outside of Israel will observe Yom Kippur – the Day of Atonement. About 70% of Israeli Jews will fast for a full day, and seek God to forgive their sins. Let's pray that God would do just that as Yom Kippur is a very appropriate time for all Israel to be saved (Rom. 11:26).

    • Lord God, we know that no one is saved unless by Your grace You reveal Messiah Yeshua to them, so we ask for You to do that with multitudes of Jews over Yom Kippur (Matt. 16:15-17; Eph. 2:8-9).

    • Abba Father, as You say in the prophetic portion, heal their backsliding, pour out Your love on them freely and turn away Your righteous anger from their sins (Hos. 14:4; cp. Jer. 14:7-9).

    • God of Israel, as You said in Jeremiah 32:37-40, Ezekiel 36:24-27, and other places in Your Word, we ask You to save those Jews whom You have already brought back from the captivity.

    • Lord Yeshua, reveal to all Jewish politicians that You are the King of Israel (Isa. 33:22; Zeph. 3:15).

    • Loving God, over Yom Kippur, save all living Holocaust survivors and their families; survivors of terrorism; hostages still alive and their loved ones; IDF soldiers and families; loved ones of soldiers killed or severely wounded; soldiers with PTSD; many anti-Bibi demonstrators; widows, widowers, orphans; rabbis worldwide; Israeli politicians, judges, lawyers, diplomats; university students; teachers, professors, scientists, astronomers and medical personnel; Jewish anti-missionaries; Jews and living in Judea and Samaria; Jews on their death beds; Jews living with guilt over previous abortions; Israeli archeologists, tour guides, and Israelis in the nations; Jews who have recently made aliyah; Jewish hippies, LGBTQ+ and new agers; Jews in Iran, Ethiopia, Turkey, India, China; Spanish and Portuguese speaking Jews; unsaved loved ones of Messianic Jews.

  3. Government & society:

    The manipulation against Israel's current government and PM Bibi Netanyahu is on the increase. Many nations who said they supported Israel's right to self-defense, backtracked once Israel began to fight back. Also, there is the internal pressure to end the war against Hamas and bring the hostages home, but to this day Hamas has never agreed to release all of the hostages or to end their war against Israel and the Jewish people.

    • Abba Father, guide us as we pray for Israel's government since what is reported in the media is often distortions of truth, or out-and-out lies against Israel's current leadership (Isa. 59:14).

    • Lord Yeshua, by Your God-given authority, rule over Israel as its King (Psa. 103:19; Matt. 28:18).

    • God of Israel, show each government minister Your priorities for them at this time (Psa. 5:8; 43:3).

    • Abba, unite Israel's coalition and turn all of them into children of Zion (Zech. 9:13).

    • Lord God, guide us as we intercede for Bibi Netanyahu (Luke 18:1; 1 Thess. 5:17).

    • King Yeshua, be Bibi's "iron dome" against all mental, emotional, physical and spiritual attacks that are aimed at him from people, as well as demonic forces (Deut. 33:29; Psa. 3:3).

    • God, surround him with godly counselors whose advice he takes to heart (Prov. 9:9; 11:14; 24:6).

    • Thank You that Netanyahu recently said that since Israel is becoming diplomatically isolated in the world, it needs to become more self-sufficient as both of these are answers to prayer (Num. 23:9b).

    • Lord God, now move upon Your nation to take the next steps and show them that this isolation is a divine nudge to turn them to look completely unto You (Deut. 8:3; Isa. 30:1-3; 41:10-16).

    • Abba Father, impart wisdom and boldness to Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz (Eccl. 9:16a, 18).

    • King of Israel; shut down the political "Absaloms" who try to stir up rebellion (Psa. 119:158).

    • Abba, let their counsel be confounded, just like You did with Ahithophel (2 Sam. 15:31; 17:14).

    • God Almighty, give Israel's leaders courage to no longer allow unlawful demonstrations to run wild just because they are demonstrating for the release of the hostages (1 Per. 2:13-14).

    • Yet Abba, move on families who have loved ones still hostages to cry out to You (Psa. 50:15).

  4. The IDF "Operation Gideon's Chariots II" against Hamas and to free the hostages continues. While this is one of the most just wars in history and is being fought with the utmost care to avoid civilian injuries, Israel is still damned by most of the world for daring to defend itself and its future generations. We believe that we could be seeing 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 being fulfilled.

    • Abba Father, as the war and hostage situation have gone on for far too long, we ask for the sake of Your nation and Your glory, for You to arise and bring this to a victorious end (Psa. 44:4; 64:7; 68:1).

    • Do not let US President Trump sway Bibi to end this war unless it is 100% Your will (Prov. 19:21).

    • As Hamas once again says they are ready to negotiate the release of some hostages, hold Bibi and the coalition to their demands that all hostages be released at once, Hamas vacates Gaza, Gaza is demilitarized and the Palestinian Authority is not involved in Gaza in any way (Job 5:12; Isa. 46:10).

    • Hedge in all IDF military leaders who are double-minded about the goal of this war – which should be the total destruction of Hamas – today's Amalek (1 Sam. 15:2-3, 18; Jam. 1:8).

    • Lord God, encourage the IDF soldiers as they read the Torah portion to trust in You (Deut. 31:3, 6).

    • Almighty God of hosts, please increase Your angelic protection over IDF soldiers against explosive devices, kidnapping attempts, accidents or friendly fire incidents (Psa. 32:7; 121:4).

    • We praise You Lord for how the IDF is destroying most of Gaza's high-rise buildings which Hamas has used, and is still using, against Israel's troops (Prov. 16:18; Isa. 2:12).

    • Almighty Creator, open up the earth and destroy all remaining Hamas tunnels, yet protect any living hostages who are being caged down there (Deut. 11:6; Psa. 146:7).

    • God of compassion, You helped both Abraham and David to rescue all of their hostages, so we ask You to help the IDF to do exactly the same today (Gen. 14:14-16; 1 Sam. 30:18-20; Psa. 57:3-4).

    • God of Jacob, remove Israel's reluctance to repossess Gaza, as it is theirs to possess (Judg. 2:1-4).

  5. Foreign relations:

    Netanyahu will speak at the annual UN General Assembly session later this afternoon. Of greater importance is his meeting with Trump on Monday. We have prayed for God to use Netanyahu and all Israel's other representatives, as voices of truth and warnings out of Zion, as a deceived world, unified by Jew-hatred, is racing toward a final confrontation with the King of Israel.

    • Come near you nations to hear; and pay attention all you people…For the indignation of YHWH is on all nations…He has utterly destroyed them…For it is the day of YHWH's vengeance, and the year of recompense for the controversy [+ strife; dispute] of Zion.Isaiah 34:1a, 2a, 8

    • Lord Yeshua, in view of these verses, wake up Your Body in the nations to plead for mercy before You pour out Your judgment upon them (Gen. 6:5-8; Isa. 60:12; Ezek. 22:30-31).

    • Show Your Body that nations who just recognized a "Palestine" are blaspheming You by assuming that they can do whatever they want with Your land – especially Your mountains (Ezek. 35:10-13).

    • Creator God, watch over Psalm 9:19-20 and 33:10-11 against the UN's unbiblical plans.

    • King Yeshua; based on what we have heard during the UNGA sessions, arise and fulfill Numbers 24:9b over the UN and of its anti-Semitic and anti-Christ outreaches (Isa. 8:9-10; 54:17).

    • God of Israel, as with Balaam, turn the curses against Your people from nations, global NGOs like the UN, and the mainstream media, into blessings because of Your love for them (Deut. 23:5; 33:3).

    • Lord God of Israel, as more and more nations "recognize" a Palestinian State, speak very clearly to Israel's leaders as to their correct and biblical response (Psa. 29:3-11).

    • Abba Father, we are seeing this push to "recognize" a "Palestinian State" as You in fact fulfilling Zechariah 12:2-3, and if that is correct, please guide us as we pray (Amos 3:7).

    • God, use this global pressure to push Israel into being that nation which dwells alone (Num. 23:9b), and open Israelis' eyes to see that You forbid them from being like other nations (Ezek. 20:32-38).

    • We praise You for the much more aggressive stance that Israel's foreign ministry under Gideon Sa'ar is taking, especially as it speaks truth and rebukes the lies that are spewed against Israel (Gal. 4:16)

    • King of kings, impart to Bibi all the wisdom and courage he needs to deal biblically, boldly and righteously, with US President Trump and his administration (Psa. 23:1; Isa, 30:21).

    • Lord God, overrule the Trump-Netanyahu meeting that is scheduled for this Monday (Psa. 103:19).

  6. Internal security:

    God is hearing our petitions as many more Israeli leaders and citizens are in favor of Israel extending sovereignty over more of its land. While this is in part a response to the Oct. 7th Hamas pogrom and the world pressure on Israel to establish a "Palestine," still we can perceive God, behind the scenes, directing all of this (Psa. 77:19).

    • Lord God of Israel, we read of how important the resettling of the land is to You (Jer. 32:41) and so we ask You to do this now – as we perceive that the fullness of time has come (1 John 5:14-15)!

    • Abba, give Israeli government ministers courage to resist all outside attempts to reject this extension of sovereignty, even if it comes from Trump, as it is in line with both Your Word and international law (Judg. 2:1-4; Neh. 2:20).

    • King Messiah, as this sovereignty chariot gathers speed and intensity, take control of its reins and guide it on to a swift and sudden victory (Psa. 68:17).

    • We thank You for Deuteronomy 31:7-8 in the Torah reading about possessing the land and ask that as Your people read it, Your word would inspire faith and not return to You void (Isa. 55:11).

    • We praise You for once again stating in the Torah portion that You swore to give the land – from the River to the Sea – to the children of Israel, as pray that becomes a reality very soon (Deut. 31:23).

    • King Yeshua, burden Your Body to ask for Your promises about the land to be fulfilled as You have said that ultimately this is for Your holy name's sake (Psa. 87:2; 115:1-3; Prov. 3:12; 1 Thess. 1:3).

    • Lord God, the UAE said the Abraham Accords would be at stake if Israel extends its tent pegs over Judea and Samaria, yet please remind Israel's leaders of Your accord with Abraham (Gen. 15:18).

    • King Messiah, use our prayers as silver trumpets to support "Operation Iron Wall," Israel's battle against Your/their enemies within Your/their land (Num. 10:9).

    • Lord God of hosts, arise and uproot Your enemies from Your land (Psa. 125:3; Jer. 12:14-17).

    • God, expose and destroy all ties between Palestinian terrorists and Iran (Psa. 129:5; Isa. 29:15).

    • King Messiah, please protect Your people during Your fall feasts, (Ex. 34:23-24; Psa. 121:4).

    • Direct armed civilians to the right place at the right time to help stop terrorist attacks (Josh. 4:12).

  7. External security – Middle East [ME] and beyond:

    Scripture indicates that the closer we get to Messiah's return the greater becomes the attempt to wipe Israel off the map (Zech. 12:2-3; 14:2-3). Yet this war against Israel is God's way of testing the nations so that they are without excuse when He drags them into His Valley of Judgment (Joel 3:1-2). We see this today as the threats from Israel's so-called Western "allies" who support Israel's foes increase while they do not even realize that by doing this they are placing their own necks into the Islamic hangman's noose.

    • Precious Lord, Your thoughts and ways are higher than ours (Isa. 55:6, 8-9), so be very clear and precise as You guide us in prayer (Psa. 10:17).

    • Lord God, give Israel Your priorities as it faces multiple threats surrounding it (1 Chr. 19:10-13).

    • Lion of Judah, create the IDF into an even more effective and fear-inspiring weapon to bring You glory in Israel, among its enemies, and throughout the world (Josh. 2:11; Isa. 41:15-16; Jer. 51:20-14).

    • King of all, increase Israel's ability to use cyberwarfare effectively (Psa. 144:1).

    • God of Israel, hasten the fulfillment of Jeremiah 49:35-38 over Iran today.

    • We thank You that Israel is already thinking of its next steps in its war against Iran – whether in the near future or years from now – and we ask You to oversee all of those plans (Prov. 21:30-31).

    • Enable Israel's attacks against the Houthis to wipe out this Iranian proxy (Psa. 60:12; 68:35).

    • King of Israel, guard over Israel in its diplomatic meetings with Syria's current government under the oversight of US President Trump and his administration (Psa. 5:8; 31:3).

    • Abba, open Trump's eyes of to see what Israel is seeing, that Qatar is a hostile state (Psa. 55:19-21).

    • We bless You Lord for giving Bibi wisdom and courage to tell Saudi Arabia that any normalization of relations between Israel and them would only occur after Hamas is destroyed (Prov. 16:1, 9)!

    • Most high God, download wisdom to Your nation concerning the recently signed mutual defense pact between Saudi Arabia and the nuclear-armed Pakistan (Psa. 139:12; Dan. 2:22).

    • Messiah Yeshua, protect Your Body throughout the ME; let them grow numerically and spiritually; and teach them to bless and pray for Israel and the Jews (Num. 24:9b; Jer. 49:38a; Matt. 16:18b).

  8. Aliyah:

    God is using the explosion of anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism in many nations where Jews thought it was safe to live to convince them otherwise. Because of this, the interest in aliyah has gone up. We are asking for this increased interest to become an actual increase in aliyah today.

    • Lord God, during the fall feasts speak clearly to Your people in the nations that they are in essence "hostages" in the captivity – and all they need to do to be free is to make aliyah (Jer. 31:17; 46:27).

    • When Jews say at the end of Yom Kippur, "Next year in Jerusalem," may Your Spirit speak deeply into their spirits asking, "Why not? Do it for God's sake and your family's sake." (Psa. 137:4-6)

    • Lord God, draw home Your people in grace and mercy (Isa. 54:7; Jer. 31:3), yet if they resist, use the explosion of anti-Semitism to turn their hearts to Zion (Jer. 16:16; 51:9-10).

    • Almighty God, allow the explosion of anti-Israel/anti-Semitic acts in the West to cause Jews who never considered aliyah to serious contemplate moving to Israel (Jer. 50:4-8).

    • We again ask You Abba, to remove all hindrances from the path of Your people who are stuck in the captivity, such as comfort and security, either true or false; finances, either too much or too little; fear from negative media reports of Israel's situation; the real fear of major life changes; an inflated fear of children serving in the IDF; family members who refuse to make aliyah; etc. (Isa. 62:10).

    • God of Jacob, for Jews scared of living in Israel in the midst of a war, show them that life outside of Israel today is also a war and the chances of gentile security forces laying their lives down to protect them is a lot less than Israel's security forces who already do that daily (Psa. 38:12).

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

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

    • Messiah Yeshua, Shepherd of Jacob, bring back Israelis living in the nations, especially those who have had a saving encounter with You while outside of the land (Isa. 35:10; 51:11).

    • Gracious God, pour out abundant favor and sufficient finances upon all believing organizations whose ministry is to aid in the aliyah process (Isa. 49:22; Rom. 15:27).

  9. Body of Messiah:

    To be united with God goals for today, we must be familiar with all of His Word. As most end-time prophecies point to Israel's restoration and salvation, and the enemies that this creates, knowing His Word enables us to intercede according to His will for His nation, despite the chaos in today's world, and the blatant lies in most of the media.

    • Abba Father, raise up more sons and daughters of Issachar in the Body who perceive the signs of the times and know Israel's place in Your last-days plans (1 Chr. 12:32).

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

    • Lord God, strip Your Body of all doctrines of distraction, replacement and fulfillment theories, and any other teaching that is out of line with Your Word (Isa. 29:24; Matt. 15:9; Rom. 16:17).

    • God, confront adherents of replacement theology with New Testament verses such as: Matthew 1:1; Romans 15:8-12; Galatians 3:8; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Revelation 5:5-6; 22:16; plus many others.

    • Lord, sent Your fear on our family in Messiah who curse Israel and the Jews in their minds and also break the snare of generational anti-Semitism that many of them may have inherited (Psa. 124:7-8).

    • Lord Yeshua, let more of Your disciples see Your judgments coming on more of world today based on how many nations are pushing Israel to divide Your land (Isa. 34:1-8; Joel 3:1-2).

    • King Messiah; strengthen, multiply and use the Israeli Body for Your name's sake (Psa. 115:1-3).

    • Burden believers to ask You how they can provoke Jews to jealousy more effectively (Rom. 11:11).

  10. IFI:

    As the political pressure on Israel increases, we notice an increase of the enemy's spiritual oppression on us. Therefore, we treasure Your prayers and the other ways in which you support us.

Thank you, Shabbat shalom, and blessings from Israel

Chuck Cohen, for the IFI team

Micah 7:18-20 [from the prophetic portion]