1. Praise:

   Jacob's time living with Laban and away from his family was very fruitful. He came to see how unworthy he really was as we hear when he prays in the Torah portion, God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, YHWH…I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and truth which You have shown unto Your servant… (Gen. 32:9-10)

   • Lord, how true this is for everyone who has ever lived (Rom. 3:23), yet we bless You that You show those of us whom You have chosen to be part of Your family the reality of this truth (1 Tim. 1:15).

   • Abba Father, we give You thanks for taking unworthy people like us and through Your Son, making us worthy in Your sight (Luke 15:21; 2 Thess. 1:4-5, 11-12).

   • We praise You Lord that You remember we are but dust (Psa. 103:14), yet You still care enough about us to number the hairs on our heads (Luke 12:7).

   • We thank You Lord that we have the same testimony as Jacob in that You have so often answered us in our times of distress and have never left us nor forsaken us (Gen. 35:3; cp. Psa. 50:15; Matt. 28:20).

   • I sought YHWH and He heard me and He delivered me from all my fears. (Psa. 34:4) Amen!

2. Government & society:

   Last Sunday, PM Bibi Netanyahu asked for a pardon from his endless court trials from Israeli President Herzog. This does not seem to make sense, as although he is not pleading guilty and asked for this without any conditions, many people will conclude that he was in fact guilty. Netanyahu's reasoning is that his attention can no longer be diverted at this time, and while this is absolutely true people will still end up at least wondering what the real truth is. Will this bring unity to the nation or further division? And what will Herzog, who leans to the left, do?

   • Lord God of Jacob, as this did not take You by surprise, lead us as we pray (Isa. 42:9).

   • Abba, work for the good of Your glory and for Israel's sake from this situation (Rom. 8:28).

   • Father God, by Your Spirit create order and light out of the inevitable chaos which strong opinions in Israel's society and government will create out of Netanyahu's request (Gen. 1:2-3).

   • God of truth, expose the truth of the allegations against Netanyahu and use all he has had to endure to turn him to look to You for great mercies (Psa. 33:4; 51:6; 140:6-7; Isa. 40:29; Mic. 3:1).

   • God, we have often asked You to shut down these politically-inspired court cases against Israel's leader, and again we ask You to do just that through Bibi's request (Psa. 38:12; 91:3).

   • Almighty One, turn the heart of Herzog to do that which is Your will (Prov. 21:1).

   • Lord God, bring to Bibi a Daniel-like counselor in whom he sees Your Spirit (Dan. 4:9; 5:11-14).

   • Abba, protect and provide great wisdom and unity to Israel's current coalition as they walk through the diplomatic mine-field that both its "friends" and its foes have placed before it (2 Chr. 20:6-7).

   • King of Israel, may You alone determine when Israel's next elections should be held (Eccl. 3:1, 17b).

   • Lord, rebuke and silence Israel's media who often distort what right-wing politicians or personalities say to make it sound hateful and racist and undemocratic (Dan. 6:20; Eph. 2:2).

   • God of hosts, enable a just ultra-Orthodox [Haredi] draft law to be passed and remove the divisive issue of most Haredi young men not serving in the IDF from off of the rest of Israeli society (Job 34:29-30; Prov. 13:14; 29:8).

   • As Israel has no written constitution, God of Abraham, let Your Word be its guide and so have the final say in all areas of life into which Your Word speaks (Psa. 119:9, 116, 154; Isa. 8:20).

   • Lord God, in line with the above, You ordain the death penalty for murderers and kidnappers, so as that is being legislated by the Knesset, let it be approved and applied (Ex. 21:12, 14, 16).

3. Foreign relations:

   The spread of global hatred against Israel is a result of the hatred against Israel's God (Psa. 83:14). It is basically a spiritual issue as we see idol worship spreading – including in the West. "Mother Earth," "New-Age gods," "Self-worship," "Freedom to do whatever I want to do," and often "Democracy," are all idols revered more than what God's Word declares. Thus their animosity at the God of Israel is, of necessity, redirected against His chosen people.

   • King of kings and Lord of lords, may Your foreign policy be established on earth in our day, and may You continue to use Israel to hasten that (Deut. 28:9-10; Psa. 9:19-20; 33:10-11; Luke 11:2).

   • Use the current anti-Zionist atmosphere to cause Israel to be that prophesied set-apart nation (Num. 23:9b), and use it to also hasten the time when Israel will be the head of the nations (Deut. 28:12-13).

   • King Yeshua, overrule in Netanyahu's relationship with US President Trump, guiding him as to when it is acceptable to compromise, and when it is not (Psa. 9:19-20; 17:4-5; 141:3).

   • God of Jacob, as more nations "recognize" an imaginary Palestinian State, place Your words in the mouths of Israel's representatives as to a correct and biblical response (Psa. 29:3-11; 81:10; Jer.1:9).

   • Once again Lord we saw the UN stand against Your land with a majority of the General Assembly voting this past week that Israel must restore the Golan Heights back to Syria and be reduced to its pre-1967 Six Day war "Auschwitz" borders; therefore war against this anti-God NGO (Mic. 7:16).

   • God, anoint Israel's active outreach to non-Western nations to be extremely successful (Isa. 2:3).

   • Protect and anoint Israel's Foreign Minister Sa'ar and its UN Ambassador Danon (Psa. 143:10).

4. Gaza:

   The IDF is the only army that is willing to disarm and dismantle Hamas. It was close to doing that when Trump stopped it with his unworkable and perilous "ceasefire" plan. Even America's Arab "allies" refuse to tangle with Hamas. Yet Trump just announced that he expects phase two of his plan to begin before Christmas this year, but there is no International Stabilization Force prepared to take over where the IDF is today, so this seems to be more hype from the American leader.

   • Abba, burden US believers to intercede for their president specifically about how he deals with Your nation, as right now he is leading that nation on a very dangerous path (Num. 24:9b; 1 Tim. 2:1-3).

   • God Almighty, stiffen Israel's leadership to not bow to the US and to demand that Hamas be totally disarmed and disbanded, or it will move on to phase two of Trump's plan (Job 17:9; Prov. 28:1b).

   • Abba Father, continue hardening Hamas' leaders against agreeing to any deal (Psa. 55:9).

   • Lord, we are amazed at how Obadiah 1:11-14 in the prophetic reading basically describes the Oct. 7th massacre and ask You to continue to war against Hamas until it is destroyed (Ex. 17:14-16).

   • King Messiah, Captain of heaven's hosts (Josh. 5:13-6:2), we bless You that the IDF is aggressively enforcing the ceasefire line between them and Hamas in Gaza (Psa. 44:5-8; 68:35), and is actively destroying Hamas' tunnels and killing or capturing all Hamas terrorists in their area (Isa. 41:15-16).

   • God, remove all legal chains handcuffing the IDF from fighting in a biblical manner (Zech. 10:5).

   • Abba Father, reinforce Your protection over Israel's warriors while they are basically in a defensive posture controlling about 60% of Gaza (Psa. 3:5-8).

   • Lord of hosts, prevent any foreign Muslim soldiers from being stationed in Your land in Gaza (Psa. 10:16). [Note: there are some Israeli-Arab Muslim soldiers in the IDF.]

   • We praise You Almighty King, that Finance Minister Smotrich has refused to allow Israeli funds to be used for the reconstruction of Gaza (Job 27:13-17; Prov. 3:13-14).

   • Lord God, if this war will not end unless Israel is willing to repossess all of Gaza, then reveal this to Israelis and their leaders and let them commit to doing that (Judg. 2:1-4; Psa. 80:3; Prov. 16:9).

   • King Yeshua, build Your Body among the Gazans and reign as Gaza's true King (Matt. 16:18).

5. Internal security:

   A grave danger of Trump's Gaza plan is the hope it gives to Western and Arab nations that it could lead to a "Palestinian State" on God's land. Yet the Oct. 7th Hamas massacre erased that option from at least 80% of Jewish Israelis, and it is 100% against God's will.

   • Thank You Lord God, for Your declaration of blessing upon Jacob/Israel in Shabbat's Torah portion that includes the land which You promised to Abraham and Isaac (Gen. 35:10-12).

   • King Messiah, fulfill that which You said in the prophetic portion that salvation resulting in holiness would come upon the house of Jacob, and that it would also possess its possessions (Obad. 1:17).

   • Lord Yeshua, as You are planting Israel back in its land with all of Your heart and soul (Jer. 32:41) move upon Your Body to intercede for Israel to co-operate with You and extend its sovereignty over all of the land west of the Jordan River (Ezek. 36:37; John 15:16; 1 John 5:14-15).

   • God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, restore to the Jews their biblical land deeds (Psa. 125:3): Hebron (Gen. 23:17-18), Shechem [Nabulus today] (Gen. 33:19) and the Temple Mount (2 Sam. 24:24).

   • Lord God, expose the lying spirit embedded in Islam which manipulates world leaders to reject Your revealed will and to believe that two-states will lead to peace (Psa. 28:3; 120:6-7; Jer. 6:14; 8:11).

   • God of Israel, as You are jealous over Your land (Ezek. 36:5-7), arise and destroy all plans to create a "Palestine" on it – including plans from Israel's "friends" (Psa. 125:3; Zech. 14:1-3).

   • Lion of Judah, release the IDF to fulfill Numbers 24:8-9 in Judea and Samaria (Psa. 125:3).

   • Expose all smuggling routes Iran is using to bring weapons in for Palestinian terrorists (Obad. 1:6)

   • God of Israel, like You did in the Torah portion, so again let Your terror to come upon all those in Your land who would attack and kill today's sons of Jacob (Gen. 35:5).

   • Lord Messiah, as the Palestinian Authority is part of Israel's problem, divide them internally and set them and Hamas against each other whenever, and wherever, they interact (Job 38:13; Psa. 129:5).

   • Yeshua Lord, save many Palestinians and uproot the spirit of Islam out of Your land (Psa. 125:3a).

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

   Trump stopped Israel from completely defeating Iran, Hizbullah and Hamas. Today we read reports of all three rebuilding and working together to destroy Israel. Only God knows which other Muslim groups would join in, and which of its Western allies would behind closed doors rejoice that finally the Jewish problem has been solved!

   • Abba Father, Your promises and reputation/name are at stake if Israel were destroyed (Ex. 32:11-13), therefore arise and scatter Your enemies who hate you and Your people (Psa. 68:1; 83:1-18).

   • God of the nations, increasingly confound all those who hate Zion (Psa. 35:4, 26; 129:5).

   • Lord God, as Esau/Edom is one of the spiritual roots of Islam, we ask You to watch over Obadiah 1:3-4 in the prophetic portion and let Islam's pride draw them into destruction (Prov. 16:18; 29:23a).

   • Abba, keep Israel on high alert and Your angels actively working behind the scenes (Psa. 35:5-6).

   • Lord, as Israel just announced that its Iron-Beam laser defense system will be fully operationally by December 30th, overrule all Iranian plans to attack before then, unless Israel's announcement is in fact a trap for Iran's demonic leadership (Mic. 4:11-13).

   • Lion of Judah fulfill Jeremiah 49:38a and continue to build Your throne, i.e., Your Body, in Iran.

   • Also Lord, use the extreme water shortage in Iran to topple its current regime (Jer. 49:38b).

   • God of Israel, guide Israel to know how to deal with Trump's mixed messages as he warns Lebanon and Iraq that Israel might attack – with his blessing – but then he warns Israel not to attack Syria that might be a more dangerous enemy than either of the others (Prov. 13:10; Isa. 23:9)!

   • King of Jacob, let Syria's demand for Israel to return the Golan Heights it captured in the Six-Day War to it show Israel the fallacy of trusting the new Syrian leadership (Psa. 28:3; Jer. 9:7-9).

   • God of Abraham, if You are using Israel's activities in South Syria to fulfill Jeremiah 49:1-2, as that area is part of the tribe of Manasseh's inheritance, then lead us as we pray about this.

   • God Almighty, amplify Israel's attacks against Hizbullah's efforts to rebuild in Lebanon (Isa. 14:2b).

   • Abba, South Lebanon up to the Latani River is a part of Your inheritance to the tribes of Asher and Naftali, therefore guide Israel as to when and how to possess it (Deut. 11: 24; Josh. 13:2-7).

   • King Messiah, pull Israel and all ME Kurdish groups into a closer relationship in every area, and use this to lead to the creation of Kurdistan, and to bring You much glory (Ezek. 43:2; Mal. 1:5).

7. Aliyah:

   God states in Isaiah 54:7-8 that the 2,000 year old captivity of the Jews in the nations is seen by Him as a small moment and just a little wrath! He goes on to say that with great mercies He will gather His people back home – and this is what we privileged to see today.

   • Lord God, thank You for all of the Jews who have made aliyah since Oct. 7th, yet a majority of Jews remain in the captivity, so we ask You to be merciful and bring them back (Isa. 54:7-8; Jer. 31:3).

   • Lord, wake up all the Jewish "ostriches" in the West who think they can hide their heads in the sand from the rising hatred towards them and their families and turn their eyes to Zion (Jer. 51:6-10).

   • Abba, let Jews truly hear the open threats from Muslims in the West against them (Psa. 120:6-7).

   • God of Isaac, as many Jews are afraid to live in Israel, show them that living in the nations today is also very dangerous and that the chances of gentile security forces laying their lives down to guard Jews is a lot less than Israel's security forces who do that on a daily basis (Psa. 38:12).

   • God, erase the lies and distortions in the media which cause Jews to hesitate to return (Dan. 6:22).

   • Lord God, set Jews free who are mentally, emotionally, or financially trapped in what they consider as "comfort zones" while living in gentile nations (Psa. 107:14-16; 137:4-6).

   • Abba Father, let the election of Mamdani, a Muslim anti-Zionist anti-Semite, as the next mayor of NYC, wake up Jews throughout America to this dangerous trend (Jer. 51:6-10; Zech. 8:7-8).

   • King Messiah, raise up more Jewish sons and daughters of Zion in the captivity who will openly and boldly speak to their associates to make aliyah and will also lead them home (Jer. 50:4-5).

   • Lord, we praise You that Israel is actively pursuing plans to deal with emergencies which will result in huge numbers of Jews wanting to make aliyah over a short space of time, and ask that You would oversee all the details so that these plans will ultimately be blessed by You (Prov. 21:30-31).

   • Almighty God, declare to Israeli rabbis Let My people come! (Isa. 62:10)

   • Also Lord, aid Israel to speed up the processing of new immigrants into society (Psa. 119:60).

   • Messiah Yeshua, burden Your Body to persistently pray for the Jews in their nations to return home to Israel (Ezek. 36:37), showing them that it is for Your holy name's sake (Ezek. 36:22-24).

   • Lord Yeshua, speak to wealthy Christians and Jews to give generously and help to finance both the aliyah and the integration of new immigrants into Israeli society (Ezra 1:4; Isa. 60:9).

8. Salvation:

   Jeremiah 32:37-44, Ezekiel 36:24-28, Zechariah 12:2-10 and many other verses show that all Israel will be saved on their land. Thus praying for Israeli Jews to receive the truth of Yeshua as their Messiah and King is 100% in line with His will (1 John 5:14-15).

   • We thank You Lord for the increased spiritual hunger that many Israelis are openly expressing since the Oct. 7th Hamas slaughter (Prov. 2:1-9; Jer. 29:13).

   • God fulfill Obadiah 1:21 in Shabbat's prophetic reading quickly: Saviors shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be YHWH's.

   • Let the focus on light of both the Chanukah and Christmas seasons turn unsaved Jews to see You, Lord, the true Light of the world (Psa. 18:25-28; John 8:12; 9:5; 1 John 1:5).

   • Yeshua Lord, during Chanukah You declared Yourself as the Good Shepherd (John 10:14, 22), so during this holiday please seek and save many of the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Luke 19:10).

   • Lord God, send out many more laborers into the various Jewish harvest fields (Matt. 9:37-38)

   • Use Messianic Jewish IDF soldiers to provoke their fellow warriors to jealousy (Rom. 11:14).

   • [Ask God about any particular groups of Jews He wants you to pray for this week.]

9. Body of Messiah:

   Yeshua confronted the Jewish rulers with their failure to discern the signs of the times (Matt. 16:2-3). What might He say to His Body when so many are oblivious to all of the prophecies literally being fulfilled in and around Israel today?

   • Lord God, bless with great success and deeper revelation the 1,000 person delegation of US Church leaders and influencers in Israel this past week who desire to go back and share the truth about Your land and Your people, especially to the next generation (Psa. 25:5; Gal. 4:16).

   • Messiah Yeshua, awaken Your Body to realize that Obadiah 1:15 in Shabbat's prophetic portion is very near and that the context is how their nations have dealt with Israel (Ezek. 35:15; Gal. 6:7).

   • King of kings, teach Your Body that a nation that recognizes a "Palestine" is blaspheming You by boasting against Your mountains (Ezek. 35:10-13), and then burden Your Body in those nations to cry out for mercy (Ezek. 22:30-31), and to proclaim blessings on Your nation, Israel (Num. 24:9b).

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

   • King Messiah, wake up the Body to consistently intercede for Jews to make aliyah (Isa. 43:5-7).

   • Lord Yeshua, burden Your Body to persistently pray for all Israel to be saved (Rom. 10:1).

   • God, use the Christmas hymns that many believers love to sing to show them that they are singing about a Jewish child who is the King of the Jews and who came to save them (Isa. 9:6-7; Matt. 2:1-2).

10. Water:

    While we thank God for giving Israel amazing breakthroughs on the desalination of water, still the rain that falls from the skies is what draws Israelis to consider their great and gracious God (Isa. 41:17-20; Matt. 5:45b). So we continue to ask Him for rain at this season.

11. IFI:

    Thank you for praying for us and standing with this nation at this time.

Shabbat shalom from Israel

Chuck Cohen, for the IFI team

Psa. 121:5-8