1. Praise: Shabbat’s prophetic portion includes Isaiah’s vision of God seated on His throne. John tells us (John 1:1812:41) that the prophet is actually seeing the pre-incarnate God the Son!
    • In the year king Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphim…and one cried to another, and said, ‘Holy, holy, holy, is YHWH of hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory’.Isa. 6:1-3

    • While we know that this is true today, we praise You for a time coming soon when Your glory will be manifest to all (Hab. 2:14).
    • We rejoice that You are still being glorified in heaven – now as the Lamb of God (Rev. 5:12-14).
    • We honor You Lord Yeshua, knowing that this also honors Your Father (John 5:23).
    • Messiah Yeshua, we declare that You are Lord, to the glory of God our Father (Phil. 2:6-11).
    • How awesome and humbling it is to read that You knew us and loved us in eternity (Jer. 1:531:3).
    • We know we are saved purely by Your grace for You chose us and not us You (John 15:16a).
    • Praise You Messiah Yeshua, that You are now our wisdom and righteousness, our sanctification and redemption (1 Cor. 1:30). What a joy to look to You for all of these precious things (Heb. 12:2)!
    • Thank You that Your current intercession for us saves us completely (Rom. 8:34Heb. 7:25).
    • Bless You for sending the gift of the Father, the Holy Spirit who glorifies You in us (John 16:13-14).
    • What an incredible truth to recognize that Israel is the only nation in all of history who’s King sits on the right hand of our God in heaven (Psa. 110:1).
  2. The current government & Covid-19: About a third of Israelis have been vaccinated and the morbidity rate is coming down – but slower than authorities expected. The ultra-Orthodox/Haredi community flaunts most government guidelines, and has a higher percentage infected people. This is deepening the division that is already exists between the Haredi and the rest of Israeli society. For the most part, the Israeli-Arab communities also do not heed the government guidelines.
    • As we have prayed about this a lot, we trust in faith that You are answering (Jam. 5:16a).
    • Please “Goshen” Israelis from all of the future mutations of this virus (Ex. 8:229:26).
    • Continue to give wisdom and discernment to Israel’s government about  lockdowns (Dan. 2:21).
    • Surround all those making hard decisions with modern-day Daniels (Dan. 1:420).
    • Prevent the power that is being wielded in this pandemic from corrupting Israel’s leaders (Gal. 6:8).
    • Forbid that pride hinder any of Israel’s leaders from receiving good counsel (Prov. 11:1415:20).
    • Lord, as we read in Shabbat’s Torah portion, raise up a Jethro who will encourage Israel’s politicians to recognize that delegation is a way to get things done more efficiently (Ex. 18:13-26).
    • Protect all of Israel’s true servant-politicians from manipulation from any source (Num. 23:23).
    • Thank You for all the Haredi rabbis who do speak out against the lack of compliance and violence within their community (Psa. 11:5Prov. 10:6Rom. 13:1-4).
    • Lord, as You did with Saul on the road to Damascus, reveal Yourself to many Haredi (Acts 9:1-18).
    • Protect the rest of Israeli society from that spirit of rebellion and lawlessness that at times runs free in some Haredi neighborhoods and groups (Deut. 31:27Matt. 23:28).
    • Show Israelis that this is a war against Covid-19 and give them patience and endurance (Col. 1:11).
    • Enable scientists and researchers who are dealing this virus, seeking for treatments and prevention, to stay ahead of the mutations (Psa. 23:3b4aProv. 16:9).
    • We ask that You give to all members of Israel’s health care community protection, strength and may Your blessing be upon them and their families, as we proclaim Numbers 6:24-26 over them.
    • Continue to bless the economy so that those who are hurting can get financial help (Deut. 28:2-6).
    • Lord, revive the tourism industry – including hotels, tour companies and guides (Psa. 85:6).
    • Use remote learning in surprising ways to bless and teach all Israeli students (Isa. 54:13).
  3. The Israeli government & the US administration: President Biden is busy with other areas of concern at this time, but the people he has appointed to deal with both Iran and the Palestinian issue are a deep concern to those of us who stand with Israel and with God’s Word.
    • Guide Israel’s politicians on when to say “No” to this US administration as needed (2 John 1:7-11).
    • Give wisdom and discernment to recognize and reject all unbiblical demands (Psa. 118:8-9).
    • Give Israel’s leadership strategy on how best to respond to and work with Biden (Prov. 15:1).
    • Divert Biden with other issues, preventing an Israel-Palestinian peace from becoming his focus.
    • Bless and anoint Gilad Erdan, Israel’s ambassador to both the US and the UN (Psa. 89:20-23).
    • Make him be a bold voice out from Zion to American and the international community (Joel 3:16).
    • Surround him with a team of people who actually know, trust and listen to You (Psa. 1:1-3).
    • May the new US ambassador to the UN be willing to stand with Israel unreservedly (Ex. 18:9-12).
    • Oversee the choosing of the new US ambassador to Israel (Psa. 75:6-7).
    • Lord, reveal to the American Church the biblical reality that how Biden and his administration deal with Israel is the make-or-break issue for their nation (Num. 24:9bJoel 3:1-2).
    • Encourage them that while the prayers and spiritual battles over Trump did not see the results most hoped for, Your throne of grace is still open to their prayers in America’s time of need (Heb. 4:16).
  4. Israeli elections – March 23rd: All Israel’s political parties submitted their final lists this past Thursday. Any challenge to those names needs to be done over the next week. There have been some interesting developments as well as you will read below.
    • Thank You for those politicians and parties which already dropped out of the race, as we see this as Your answer to our prayers for a continual purging of the “dross” in Israel’s leadership (Isa. 1:25-26).
    • If more politicians need to drop out, please show them the door (Psa. 109:8).
    • We also thank You for breaking up the Arab Joint List as three of the four parties are more focused on the Palestinians than the welfare and integration of the Israeli Arabs into Israeli society (Psa. 55:9).
    • Abba, we ask for a miracle that the three right-wing leaders – Netanyahu, Sa’ar and Bennett, would realize that for Israel’s sake, they must work together (Psa. 47:9Eccl. 4:11-12Jer. 32:1727).
    • Since each one wants to be the prime minister, confront them with the need to humble themselves for the good of this nation – and only then will You lift them up (Prov. 16:1929:23).
    • Forbid that this fourth election gives Israel the same results as the first three (Isa. 43:19).
    • Lord, enough with all the anti-Bibi campaigning. Please lead the politicians to campaign on their proposed policies and not on personalities.
    • Give Israel a government that will fulfill Isaiah 60:1 a bit more, as we already see 60:2 in the world.
    • Give Israel a government that will not need to submit to Haredi manipulation to function.
    • Raise up sons of Issachar with a voice in the new government (1 Chr. 12:32)
    • Bless Israel with a government that focuses on security as its number one priority (Judg. 2:18).
    • May they budget all the finances that are needed to protect this nation.
    • Provide a government that will have financial wisdom in all other areas as well (Deut. 28:12-13).
    • Speak to Your Body, the church, to help provide those finances as per Your Word (Isa. 60:3-12).
    • Lay the burden of praying for these elections on the Israeli Body of Messiah (1 Tim. 2:1-4).
    • Regardless of what we see, we agree with Peter that You Yeshua are now Lord of all (Acts 10:36)!
  5. Security – Iran: Antony Blinken, the new US Secretary of State, just said that Iran is a few weeks away from enough uranium for a nuclear weapon. Israeli leaders see six months to two years as a more accurate figure. Also, the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency has just revealed that Iran has gone way beyond that Iranian deal and is enriching uranium at a fast pace. Yet Biden wants to rejoin that wicked deal as soon as possible. All this is very dangerous to Israel and the rest of the Middle East, in fact to the rest of the world.
    • Let the IAEA report show the Biden administration how untrustworthy is Iran’s regime (Psa. 35:20).
    • God, as Iran’s current leaders curse Israel continually, watch over Numbers 24:9b (Jer. 1:12).
    • As Haman was hung on the gallows he prepared for Mordecai, so let these modern-day “Persian” leaders fall into the trap they are setting to annihilate Israel (Est. 7:10Psa. 35:7-8).
    • We also bless these men who curse Your nation, asking You to save or remove them (Jer. 49:38).
    • Dry up all funds Iran uses to wage war, but provide for the needs of the Iranian people (Psa. 37:17).
    • Increase the animosity of the Iranians against their wicked leaders and lead them to be set free.
    • We thank You that You said You would personally protect Your regathered Israel (Jer. 31:10).
    • We look to You, and trust in You, to be Israel’s Guardian – always (Psa. 121:4).
    • Reinforce Your angelic hosts on the northern and northeastern borders (Psa. 35:4-6).
    • Grant wisdom and insight to the IDF command and provide wise counsel (Prov. 20:1824:6).
    • If Israel needs to attack, direct the timing, the strategy and the tactics (Prov. 21:31).
    • Protect those who collect intelligence for Israel, both inside and outside of its borders (Psa. 5:12).
    • Guide Israel’s spy satellite operators to see exactly what You want them to see (Psa. 36:9b).
    • If there are targets in Iran, Syria, Lebanon or Gaza that are not in Israel’s target bank, draw a divine bulls-eye on them (Dan. 2:47).
  6. Security – internal: There is supposed to be new elections in the Palestinian Authority, and Hamas – the terrorist overlords of Gaza – are being permitted to run. Also, Biden has already renewed contact and financial support for the Palestinians, and is in support of that anti-biblical two-state solution in God’s land.
    • Prepare the IDF for a renewal of Palestinian terrorism (Josh. 4:131 Chr. 12:24).
    • As the enemy plans evil against Your people, Lord, turn it into a blessing (Gen. 50:20Deut. 23:5).
    • Overrule the Palestinian elections for Your holy name’s sake(Prov. 19:21).
    • Give Israel’s security forces Your plans to deal with a possible Hamas victory in the elections.
    • Protect all of Israel’s spies and collaborators among the Palestinians (Psa. 121:3-4).
    • Protect all the Palestinian Christians living in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip (Psa. 91:1-16).
    • Continue to guard and prosper all Israelis who live in Israel’s biblical heartland (Jer. 32:41-44).
    • Thank You for the relative quiet on the Gaza and Lebanon borders during this pandemic (Mal. 1:5).
    • Be with all of the soldiers – young and not so young – that guard Your nation (Psa. 140:7144:1).
    • Lift up their hearts and spirits to You, and protect them from discouragement (Jer. 31:10-13).
    • Shield all the modern technology that is so central to Israel’s life and defense today (Psa. 3:1-3).
    • Lead the IDF in developing new technologies to keep Israel way ahead of its enemies (Ezek. 37:10).
    • We specifically ask You to do this in the cyberwarfare arena (Isa. 48:6).
    • Show the IDF what the problem is with its drones as three have fallen in enemy territory this week.
    • Thank You for Your promise that Israel remains a nation before You – at least until the new heavens and new earth (Jer. 31:35-37).
  7. Aliyah: The Jewish Exile’s demise began in May 1948 when Israel declared its independence. Since then, God has been closing one “safe-haven” after another for His people outside of His land.
    • Lord, let American Jews see that the American chapter of the exile is quickly closing (Jer. 51:6-10).
    • Stir up the younger generation of Jews throughout the West to return home (Jer. 31:17).
    • Impart a spirit of adventure to many of them, and let them flee the boredom of a life of “comfort” and “security” and the reality of “endless sameness” until they die (1 Sam. 14:7-10Psa. 91:12).
    • Lord, unite families in Israel by bringing exiled relatives home (Jer. 3:14).
    • Revive household and intergenerational aliyah for extended families to return (Jer. 31:8-9).
    • Open wide all doors in Israel so that all types of Jews are welcomed (Hos. 1:9-11).
    • May the next government make affordable housing a priority (Isa. 65:21Ezek. 28:26).
    • Show Christians that the return of the Jews is an answer to the 2,000 year old prayer of the Body of Messiah that Your kingdom would come and Your will would be done – on earth (Luke 11:2)!
    • Then place a new burden of intercession for aliyah on believers throughout the world (Isa. 62:10).
    • If there are any true prophets today, let them lead in intercession for this (Jer. 27:18).
  8. Salvation: Shabbat’s prophetic portion closes with Isaiah 9:6-7 [in the Hebrew verses 5-6], that are a very clear prophetic description of Messiah Yeshua.
    • For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name [His essential nature] shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end; upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from now and forever. The zeal of YHWH of hosts will perform this.Isa. 9:6-7

    • Give increase to the seeds that have been sown this year (Luke 10:2).
    • Prepare the ground and water it to bring forth Your increase (1 Cor. 3:6)
    • As you often deal in household salvation (Acts 16:34), bring the unsaved loved ones of believers into the Kingdom of Your dear Son soon.
    • Abba, for all Jews who will die in 2021, please reveal Messiah Yeshua to them first (John 6:44).
  9. Water: The Sea of Galilee needs only a little more water to be full. Let’s believe God for the complete filling of this wonderful lake during this season and that Israel would need to open the gates at the southern end of the lake to let it overflow into the Jordan River.

Shabbat shalom and blessings from Zion

For the IFI team