For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,

And for Jerusalem’s sake I will not keep quiet,

Until her righteousness goes forth like brightness,

And her salvation like a torch that is burning. Isaiah 62:1

The events of yesterday seem as if they were taken out of horror movie. Never, in any way, had I thought stories such as I heard yesterday would ever be possible, certainly not in Israel.

Early on Saturday morning, the eighth day (the “Great Day”) of the Feast of Succot, hundreds of terrorists infiltrated Israel from the Gaza Strip. Their attack was so widespread that they broke down the fence, went in with vehicles and motorcycles carrying heavy weapons. They went into Israeli cities, communities and military bases, murdering and wounding multitudes, confirming they are dead and abusing their bodies. They also took innocent men, women and children captive and removed them to Gaza (and, perhaps, other places). Hundreds of terrorists moved on into Israeli communities with the sole purpose of murdering as many Jews as they could.

All the while, thousands of rockets were fired to south and central Israel, sending tens of thousands of people to safe rooms and shelters.

Throughout the course of the day, I kept hearing of another person I know being called up to fight or to his or her reserve unit. It was surreal. How could this happen?

Between hearing the sirens, and feeling the booms from the rockets and hurrying to the safe room, we’d hear the news, people calling the news crying for help, for rescue, saying their mother, father, spouse or children were kidnapped to Gaza and they couldn’t do anything. People wrote to whoever they could, tried to hide from the terrorists and trying to remain as quiet as possible, so they wouldn’t be discovered, despite hearing weapons being fired and bullets hitting the walls of the buildings where they lived. As of now, hundreds are missing and their whereabouts and fate are unknown.

Israel is at war. This is not a cliche. The heart aches for the land which is bleeding. The heart aches for the mothers and fathers who heard and saw their children taken captive by enemies to enemy territory. Please pray now for Israel, for the soldiers, the civilians, the people kidnapped. God only knows what they are going through, and trying to imagine their suffering is more than one can bear. Pray for the many believers who have been called up to their units or are in active duty in the military. Pray for the leaders and decision makers to deal with this horrific tragedy quickly and efficiently. Pray for peace in the hearts and minds of the believing community here.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Pray for Israel. He that never slumbers nor never sleeps was, is and always will be in control. It is hard to look up amidst the storm, but He is above the storm and can say to it, “Be still”.