In the days prior to October 7, I had discussions with my mom about a certain story in Scripture. We someohow foucsed on one of the Bible characters who is usually overlooked, a person who today I would say is “hidden in plain sight”. After October 7, the story of this individual took on new meaning and  jumped into the pages of the 21st century. Her story is told in 2 Kings chapter 5, verses 1-6. This chapter  describes the healing of Naaman, the captain of the Syrian army. But, the character to which I’m referring is not Naaman, but rather a little Jewish maid, his wife’s servant.

In Luke 4:27, we read of the Lord Yeshua speaking in a synagogue and saying how of all the lepers in Israel, only one was healed, Naaman the Syrian. Of all people who need healing from Israel, this enemy of Israel, a man who kidnapped a little Jewish girl, was healed. The men at the synagogue were outraged, they didn’t understand the grace of God. Neither did Naaman at first, which led to him being angry as well, when he first heard the instructions from Elisha. Yet, unlike the men in the synagogue, Naaman humbled himself and eventually placed his trust in God.

 As the head of the Syrian army, Naaman was number two in status in his country after the king. Yet with all his prestige, honor and power, he suffered from one major problem: He was a leper. He had no hope. This illness is one only God could heal. God began to work in Naaman’s life when He gave through him, victory for the Syrian army. Through this story, we see once again, how God can use any person to fulfill His will.

It is difficult to think of that situation as grace, but God did in fact show grace to Naaman when He allowed a young girl from Israel to be taken captive and brought to the house of Naaman to be a servant to his wife. We don’t know much about this girl. In fact, we don’t know anything about her.

In Israel’s present war in the Gaza Strip, in an unfathomable reality where so many children, boys and girls, teenagers, were kidnapped by the enemies of Israel, this story is all too real and familiar. As details are shared more and more of what these children went through, our hearts ache for them. They were torn from their homes and families and saw things unimaginable for the human soul to comprehend. The medical teams treating those who escaped from capture and those who were hostages and were released, report of children who physically seem fine, but their eyes are full of sadness, their minds are distracted. One can only imagine what this young girl, from the story in 2 Kings, went through, what she felt when she realized she would never see her family again.

Yet, despite this girl being taken into captivity, she continued to trust the God of Israel, and by doing so, she remained spirituality free. Moreover, she was a witness and a testimony of God’s lovingkindness to her mistress, Naaman’s wife, as she said: “If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would cure him of his leprosy.”

The words of this servant child were so convincing that they were passed on to the king of Syria. We should never underestimate the power of a simple testimony, or the influence that a child can exert.

After Naaman hears the suggestion of this servant girl to go to Elisha, he tells the king about it and receives permission to embark on a journey that he hopes will bring about his healing from leprosy. In accordance with his understanding of how this would take place, he takes with him loads of silver and gold on the assumption that he would need to present gifts to the one who heals him. But gifts were not part of the servant girl’s suggestion. She simply pointed to Elisha and who he was representing. What a genuine, child-like faith she had.

Many of us know the rest of the story. Naaman arrives, gets upset when Elisha doesn’t even meet him in person and sends him instructions through his servant. Naaman thought there were better rivers than the Jordan in Syria and that this journey was a waste of time. Naaman’s servants pursuade him to do what Elisha instructed and so, he obliges, goes into the Jordan river and is healed. Even his servants were obedient to the suggestion of the servant girl, as they, too, sought his healing. Naaman’s life is transformed from that point on, as he acknowledges the God of Israel and chooses to obey Him.

But, let’s go back to the story of this young servant girl. There are several points of differences between her and Naaman. She was a Jewish girl from Israel – he, a Syrian. She a young girl, he – a great man. She remains nameless- he is known by his name. She was a girl taken captive to enemy territory – he, the head of the Syrian army. He was a leper, she – a vessel for his healing. Nothing here is left to chance. God directed this girl’s path to the house of Naaman. She was a connecting link in the chain leading to his healing, not only physically, but spiritually, as well. As difficult as it may sometimes appear to be, God has a reason for every trial and crisis, even if we don’t see it at that moment. This girl’s family, if alive when she was taken, would have endured severe anguish and emotional distress as she was taken captive.

Yet, if there is one thing we can learn at this point from the story, it is that through those hardships, the grace of God is often revealed.

It would have been very natural and expected that this young girl would resent her captor, to hate Naaman and rejoice in his illness. After all, he was the man responsible for her kidnapping. Yet, instead of harboring hate towards him, she was concerned for him. From the few details we read in this chapter, we can deduce that this girl grew up in a God-fearing home and that she exhibited the fruit of the seeds sown by her parents. It is easy to look at this girl and think she was naive, that she was young and didn’t understand much of what was going on or the situation that she was in, thus explaining why she would offer advice to help Naaman. I think that children who recently returned from captivity understand and know more than children should know and experience.

I don’t think this girl was naive or so young that she didn’t understand. She knew enough about Elisha and that he was representing God and that by turning to him with faith, even leprosy could be healed. All this, without a man in Israel ever being healed by leprosy. Her faith would put many of us to shame. She was placed in an impossible situation, but we don’t see her expressing complaints or hatred toward God. Instead, she was full of compassion toward her captor. How easy it is for us to focus on our hardships and be a stumbling block to others, instead of a blessing. This girl rememberd God in her captivity. She could have been silent, not seeing a point in offering her help, but she decided to speak and was decisive and convincing in her words. Her faith resulted in a hardened soldier eventually coming to faith in the God of Israel.

God uses even the smallest, seemingly unimportant things, in this world. May we be faithful wherever we are, in whatever circumstance we are in, to bear fruit and be a blessing to others.

Scipture doesn’t tell us when this girl was kidnapped or what happened to her after this story. But the things she was taught and learned from her home, she accepted and internalized. It is similar to Daniel and his friends, whose hearts were rooted in faith and in the the truth of God’s Word, which allow them to bear witness to others of how great and powerful God is.

When thinking of the children and adults who were held hostage by Hamas and who have been released from captivity, one can only imagine how they are now coping. News channels keep saying how their souls are hurt and need healing. A lesson from this girl’s life shows how only with God, even a captive’s soul can become truly free.

Although there are similarities between the story in 2 Kings 5 and the present hostage situation, it should be understood that the two situations are vastly different from one another. In the story of the young, servant girl, she had no expectations that anyone would come to rescue her, or that she would be freed and certainly did not expect to be part of a prisoner exchange. The uniqueness of her story, her total removal and isolation from family and friends, her “adjusting” to her life as a captive with no demonstrations taking place back in israel demanding her release at any price is what distinguishes her story from the present situation. Her story is not intended to indicate that she should forgive the invasion into the land of promise and her being taken captive by a marauding army. Rather, it is to show that this young girl demonstrated faith in God in the midst of what appears to be a hopeless situation. We never know what one person’s faith is able to accomplish. God sees the end result. We only know part of the story and don’t know how it will end until it actually does end. Nor do we know how many soldiers Naaman was able to lead to faith in the God of Israel, as a result of his own miraculous healing.

Please pray for those who were physically released from captivity, that they would also be freed spiritually, that God would reach them and heal even in the darkest places that need His tender, loving touch of grace. Pray for those still in captivity, that God would reveal Himself to them wherever they are, above ground or underneath it, as no place is beyond His reach.

Growing up, I remember my grandfather often saying to us, his grandchildren, “May it be that when you grow up, you won’t have to go to the army because we won’t need to fight anymore”. My grandfather fought in several wars and knew first-hand the impact of war. If he were alive today and saw this war, it would break his heart.

I’ve mentioned before that I’m a history teacher. Some of the material I teach is about the War of Independence. Teaching this during a time of war, is rather surreal. The more I teach about it, the more parallels I see between this war now and the War of Independence. So please bear with me as I give a short, but important, history overview.

Today, November 29th, marks 76 years since the Resolution 181, known as The Partition Plan was accepted and passed by the UN General Assembly. The land, according to this plan, would be divided into three parts – a Jewish state, an Arab state, and Jerusalem as an international city under the supervision of the UN. Many Jewish settlements in the Negev area were to be included in the territory of the Arab state.  The Jewish state would receive most of the coastal and valley areas, including the Sea of Galilee and some access to the Dead Sea. However, there were security threats to the proposed borders. Despite all that, the Jewish leadership agreed to the plan, recognizing that this was a one-time opportunity. Celebrations broke out throughout Israel. Jews rejoiced, sang and danced in the streets at the prospect of establishing a Jewish country. The Arab leadership, however, responded very differently. They rejected the Resolution and declared that they would never accept a Jewish state. The Syrian representative at the UN declared that many years of war would pass on the holy places and there would be no peace there for generations. The then existing, Arab League declared that the partition line would be one of fire and blood. So much for peaceful intentions on their part.

The following day, on November 30th, Arabs fired at an Israeli bus on its way to Jerusalem, killing 5 and wounding 7. That signaled the opening of a war. that became known as the War of Independence, a war of existence, during which the State of Israel was established, on May 14, 1948. During the first few months, the war was between Arab forces led by volunteers from Syria and Egypt and composed of Arabs living in Israel, fighting and attacking Jewish settlements and vehicles. The IDF, as such, didn’t exist at the time. But the underground military organizations, that helped defend the Jews during the time of the British Mandate, fought to defend them again during the war.

When the British left, officially ending the Mandate over what was then still called “Palestine” = a name given by the Romans two thousand years earlier that “stuck” throughout the millenia, the State of Israel was born. The underground organizations were all joined into one army and the Israel Defense Forces was established in one day. Why defense? Well, that was always the attitude of the Jewish settlements, they sought then, and still seek, to defend and protect. Four Arab nations, along with military units from Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Sudan, all attacked the young, fledgling country which now fought for its survival.

At the beginning of the war, David Ben Gurion, who later became the first Prime Minister of Israel, told the leaders of the Hagana (the largest underground para-military organization): “We cannot win merely by military force. In our days, war is not done by the military alone and our war is not easier than all other wars. On the contrary, it is the hardest, because this war is not against the Jewish military force, but against the entire Jewish settlement in Israel and one cannot distinguish between the front lines and the home front. Each of us, great or small, man and woman, elderly and infant, whether they want to or not, are in the front lines…”.

Sounds very familiar, doesn’t it? A nine-month old baby did not choose to be on the front line. An elderly woman in her 80’s did not choose to be on the front line. Teenagers, men, women, children – did not choose to be in the front line, to be taken captive, to be starved, to be brutally beaten and to be afraid of speaking or even crying lest they be shot.

I won’t get into all the parallels of these two wars, or how the home front became the front lines as Arabs attacked Jewish civilians in their cities, how 60,000 Jews were forced to vacate their homes because of the fighting, how it was a war of live or die. Thousands of volunteers, Jews and non-Jews, came to Israel during the War of Independence to help with the fighting and establish the air force, navy, artillery corps, medical corps and more. They came out of identifying with the Jewish people and desiring to help them build a country – in Israel. Just as in this war, many chose to come at this time especially, to help with agriculture and supplying military equipment, even while many foreigners chose to leave Israel. There are too many parallels to list. The countries of the world had to decide which narrative to believe then and how to relate to the new State of Israel. Lies, tales (that we would call today “fake news”) and a false narrative abounded then, as they do now. Some of the countries who supported the Partition Plan at the outset, chose to withdraw their support when the war broke out. Some, however, continued to support and remained “friends in need”, such as Czechoslovakia (now known as the Czech Republic), and sent weapons and fuel to support Israel, just like during this current war.

The past few days have been full of news of hostages being returned as part of a cease-fire deal. One little girl returned alone, without parents to greet her, as both her parents were murdered on October 7th. Her siblings were able to hide and survive. As her grandfather was asked how they were, he said the children have “sadness in their eyes”. Many of these children return after having seen horrific sights, including parents or siblings murdered before their eyes and atrocities that are too difficult to express here. Pray for them, for their physical, as well as emotional, healing. Not just the children, but all the hostages, those who were returned and those still being held by Hamas and other terrorists.

The nation of Israel is still fighting for its survival. Yet, as we look to what was accomplished 76 years ago, we rejoice that we do have a country and in one way or another, the people express gratitude for all God has done and will continue to do in and for the “apple of His eye”. The fact that four well-trained, heavily-equipped, armies invaded Israel 76 years ago with the goal of removing all Jews from this land and to divide the land between them…and lost…is nothing short of a miracle. Many miracles happened during the War of Independence, and there are reports of many miracles that are taking place in the current war. May the nation of Israel turn to God for help and strength, as He is the one who brought forth the victory 76 years ago, the miracle that is Israel. We look forward to seeing His victory in this war as well.

Exactly one month ago today, on the 7th of October, 2023, the nation of Israel woke up to to news of another war. But, this war is different.

Numerous times throughout our history, the Jewish people have said, “Never Again”. We said it after the fall of Gamla in the Golan, after the fall of Masada in the Desert, and after the Holocaust in Europe. And now, we are saying it again.

As much as there was hope for this expression to be true, Black Saturday, as October 7, 2023 has come to be called, proved it was wrong. The brutal massacre of men, women, children and babies, young and old, civilian and military, that was carried out by the Hamas terrorist organization, revealed once again that antisemitism and hatred for Jews is very much alive. With the abundance of evidence and testimonies of the Holocaust and the atrocities committed by Nazi Germany, it was hard to imagine, at least until October 6,  how the fact of the Holocaust can still be denied. Yet, this latest war proved that another Holocaust is possible even in our time, as many around the world dare to claim Israel created fake news and that none of those atrocities ever happened. When one is blinded by hatred for Jews, or, relating to Jews as non-humans or as a group that it is okay to kill – we are reminded of the dark days preceding World War 2 and the Holocaust. I’ve seen photos of people around the world holding signs accusing Israel of the war; signs wishing to “clean the world”, while showing a star of David in a trash bin; signs accusing Israel of committing genocide – all while these people comfortably ignore the pictures of people burned, severed, decapitated, dismembered and shot multiple times, among other things. These photographic forms of antisemitism present a sad reality there is no real safe place for Jews in the world, except in Israel. For the first time ever, the Israeli government issued a travel warning to the entire world. Not just for specific countries, but everywhere. This is surreal and unimaginable. Where does all this hatred stem from? This is undoubtedly, a spiritual war as well.

Many try to encourage others to “consider ” both sides, in an effort to show that both sides are to blame. This is fundamentally and conceptually wrong. In line with this, there are those who criticize Israel and who say that praying for Israel’s victory is wrong, since Israel is not perfect and makes mistakes. Those who make such claims reveal a total misunderstanding of the situation. It is true that modern Israel is largely secular and far from God. It is also true that Israel has made mistakes since the beginning of this war. Nevertheless, pointing a finger at Israel to say Israel is to blame as well, is wrong. Some simple, but basic, facts are worth noting: (1) The Arabs in the Gaza strip voted for Hamas, a terror organization. (2) While there are those who seek to live their lives peacefully and yes, there are genuine born-again believers there, the majority hold to the same ideology as Hamas. (3) Before Israel attacks in a civilian-populated area, it warns the Arabs to evacuate to a designated area where food, water and medicine awaits them. It gives a warning in an attempt to avoid and to minimize, to the extent possible, the killing of innocent civilians. (4) Hamas on the other hand, kills many of those civilians who try to escape and even places women and babies before the IDF soldiers, to serve as a human shield. (5) These sides are not moral equals, and any attempt to present them as such, is misguided, misinformed and does more harm than good.

Should we pray for the people living in Gaza? Definitley. Should we pray for the salvation of our enemies? Absolutely. If you notice, I haven’t used the word “Palestinians”. While some may argue they are a nationality, or a nation or that there exists a place as Palestine, the use of such terminology is wrong. One of the slogans repeated by many antisemites these days is “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”. What that actually means is, that from the Jordan river to the Mediterranean sea, the land shall be free of Jews. Where will the Jews go then? Well, according to “Palestinian” ideology, they should be driven into the sea. In other words, All the Jews should be killed. The term “Palestine” was first used in 135 AD by the Romans, during the reign of the Roman emperor Hadrian. It was intended to add insult to injury to the Jews by re-naming the land “Palestina Capitolina” after Israel’s arch enemy, the Philistines. The name “Palestina” went through various changes, but essentially it remained “Palestine” for most of the next almost 2,000 years. At the end of WWI, the Jews and Arabs living here were both called “Palestinians”. The concept of a “Palestinian” nation never existed until Yasser Arafat of the Fatah terror organisation (which by the way, is a reverse of the initials Hataf, which means quick death, but that didn’t sound good to international ears), capitalized on the myth that the Arabs were actually Palestinians and that the Jews stole their land, a myth pushed to the hilt today. When one uses the term “Palestinian”, they are implying, knowingly or not knowingly, that there is a nation and land of Palestine. I have heard people use the term “Palestine” in regards to the areas under the control of the “Palestinian” Authority. This is in error as well. The areas of Gaza, as well as the area known as “the West Bank” (actually Judea and Samaria) were all given to the nation of Israel by God. As previously mentioned, terminology matters. If one refers to “Palestine”, it needs to be understood that from an Islamic perspective, that means there is no Israel because the “Palestinians” and other Arabs in this region, claim that this ENTIRE land known as Israel is theirs. Not just Gaza, not just the “West Bank” or the other villages, but ALL of the land that God gave to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (who later became “Israel”). Israel never stole this land from the “Palestinians”, first because one can’t steal what belongs to him and second, because there was never any people group known as “Palestinians”. If one wants to refer to “Palestinians” as an ethnic group, go ahead. The term itself does not denote the desire for a land by this group, just that they have common characteristics. But note they are not a nation, because that implies they have a  specific land over which they have sovereignty, as well as a history and a separate language.

Lest anyone make a mistake, I am not against Arabs or Gazans, nor am I urging anyone to relate to them as enemies. The enemies are Hamas and those who align themselves with it. I know many Arabs who would never, ever refer to themselves as “Palestinians”, who love Israel and pray for it. My heart aches over those innocent Gazans who truly desire peace and are suffering because of the evil Hamas regime that is using their lives as chips in a deadly game. So, in light of all that has been said, we have to ask ourselves: Whose side are we on? And I do not mean Israel or Gazans. We need to have a Biblical perspective, one that views this war as God sees it – a war against His people Israel, a people chosen by Him, yet who are failing to call upon Him for help. This is a war initiated by the enemy of our souls to turn people against God and against His promise of a seed which came through the nation of Israel, through which the Messiah did come, and to whom He will come again when Israel calls upon Him in repentance. The hatred towards the Jewish people is not new. The way it is being expressed may be new, but no matter how it is expressed, it emanates from the father of lies. It is a spiritual war fought in the flesh. God promised Abraham in Genesis 12:3 “And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed”. So, I ask you again. Who’s side are You on?

How can you pray? Pray for safety for the nation of Israel, for the IDF soldiers, for the return of ALL the hostages, for the believers in Gaza and the civilians who genuinely want peace, but who are put in harm’s way by their Hamas leadership and pray that the leaders of this nation will turn their eyes heavenward and call upon Him, Who longs to be gracious to us. And please pray for God to grant us a spirit of unity as a nation, and as a Body that will reflect His light in a dark world.

I wanted to start teaching about the holocaust this week. How do I start? How can I speak about atrocities that students can’t grasp in their minds, when only two weeks ago, a second holocaust happened that included horrors which even the first one did not contain?

Two short weeks that were two long weeks. It seems like these days went by slowly and quickly at the same time. It’s hard to believe that two weeks ago, early on a Shabbat morning, Israel was viciously attacked, resulting in the deaths of over 1,400 Israelis and foreign citizens at the hands of brutal, totally immoral beasts that call themselves “freedom fighters” – an attack that also left over 4,000 people wounded here and brought about a national trauma resulting from the shock of the attack, from which Israel is still trying to recover. That day has now become known as “Black Saturday”.

Interestingly, as a History teacher I taught last week about a previous black Saturday. One that occured during the time of the British mandate, when British soldiers aimed to destroy the military capability of the Jewish settlements and arrested hundreds of its leaders. When I said what that day was later called, a student of mine said – “just like what we had nearly two weeks ago.”

The news media is filled with stories about the dead and fallen, about survivors, about military strategies, about terrorists and the implications of this war and so forth, every day, all day. There do not appear to be enough words to even describe the horrors of what happened that day, as Jews were tortured, killed and butchered. Women were raped, pregnant women torn open, babies beheaded. Many I know have shared how they wept every day because of these atrocities. For some, it is all beginning to sink in only now. A friend shared on social media during the first few days how she was having difficulty praying, because she couldn’t find the words to express how she felt with all that was going on. So she read the Psalms and prayed out loud the words that she read. At some point, I realized I am no longer able to listen to the news on television or read any of the stories in the news or social media. It is just too much. It is not that hearing the news or the stories is not important. It is. But right now, it is like a flood of information, with a lot of noise.

I felt that I needed encouragement these days as well. With both of my brothers and many friends and family members in uniform, I had to be reminded again how God is holding Israel, the nation, my family and me, in His hands. These days, as everyone has an opinion about what is going on and what should be done, it is hard to get away from all of it and just take some time to focus on that still small voice, that often speaks through the storm. A friend from Italy sent me a song a week ago after there was another siren in Jerusalem. It turned out to be a song written by someone in my congregation and then coincidentally (or not :)), we sang it on Saturday. The song spoke about asking the Lord Yeshua to speak to our hearts through the storm and remove all fear, to shape us to His likeness even while the storm is raging around us and we are going through it. That greatly encouraged me.

There is a lot of uncertainty about the days ahead, yet the nation is making efforts to return to some sort of routine. Amidst all this storm, it is important to listen to what God has to say in His Word and allow Him to calm our hearts. The nation of Israel is in a war and while these are difficult days, we can remember that when we keep our eyes on Yeshua, we can walk through the storm, confidently trusting Him to bring us through.

Many friends, particularly those who live abroad, ask me what they should be praying for. Pray for wisdom, strength, courage and safety for the soldiers, peace for them and the families who await their return. Pray for those whose loved ones were killed during the massacre that took place on Black Saturday. Pray for the wounded, not only physically, because the traumas they experienced are impossible to grasp. Even the people working in the organization responsible for picking up bodies and remains from terror scenes, have never seen anything like what they saw that day. Not even after attacks by suicide bombers. Pray for wisdom and discernment for the government and its leaders. Pray that Israel would turn to God and trust Him to bring us victory, and not seek to be victorious simply on our own strength. Pray for wisdom how to encourage your Jewish friends, as well as what to say to those who condemn Israel and the Jewish people at every opportunity. We are still processing the pain of “the destruction of the daughter of my people” (Lam. 2:11). Take a stand for Israel. Sadly, some people on social media who are very eager to stand on the truth and advocate against abortions and other injustices, have not said a word about these horrors. If you are a true believer in Yeshua and you read about the land and nation of Israel in the Bible, don’t look at it just as stories of old in a land far, far away. The land is real, the people are real, the war is real. God is the greatest reality of all!

Shortly after this war began and the atrocities started to become known, my thoughts focused on the passage from 2 Kings 8:11-13.

11 And he stared steadily at him until Hazael was embarrassed, and then the
man of God wept.
12 And Hazael said, “Why is my lord weeping?” And he answered,
“Because I know the evil that you will do to the sons of Israel: you will set
their fortified cities on fire, you will kill their young men with the sword,
their little ones you will smash to pieces, and you will rip up their
pregnant women.”
13 Then Hazael said, “But what is your servant—a lowly dog—that he could
do this great thing?” And Elisha answered, “The Lord has shown me that
you will be king over Aram.”

When I read this long before this war, it was difficult for me to imagine these horrific actions that took place and what the nation went through. Yet, as more reports are made of the atrocities that were committed by Hamas, including the brutal murder of babies and children in the Jewish communities in the south, as well as men, women, elderly, soldiers, and as the numbers of those who were killed and wounded increased, the historical record in 2 Kings took on a different light and began to look all too familiar.

This present evil happened before, and the pain that Elisha felt, is similar to the pain felt today. The tears he shed, are shed by many in Israel today. Yesterday, when I heard some of the horrific reports about so many babies and children brutally murdered and the abuse they went through, it was too much for me to bear and I broke down in tears. I was in mourning for my people, my nation, for those whose only “guilt” was being Jewish. Indeed, as many have already said, this is another Holocaust. Many around the world are praying for Israel, agonizing with her over this great evil. Yet, many also blame Israel for what happened, siding with her enemies and even trying to justify these atrocities. How can this be if not for pure blind hatred towards Israel? Indeed, the eyes of many have been blinded by evil, and sadly, even some who claim to know the Lord Yeshua, are afraid or reluctant to take a stand with Israel. They seem to forget that the Messiah they profess to believe in, is a Jew. They seem to forget it is the Jewish people who need to call Him to return, not the church. They seem to forget that He won’t return to America or Europe, but will return to the land of Israel, to the remnant of Israel at the end of the time of testing and tribulation to gather them, after fighting and destroying Israel’s enemies. The words of the psalmist are truer than ever these days:

For behold, Your enemies make an uproar,
And those who hate You have exalted themselves.
They make shrewd plans against Your people,
And conspire together against Your treasured ones (Psalm 83:2-4)

This war against Israel is a spiritual one as well as a physical one. It is waged by those who hate God and His people. If we fail to see this is a spiritual war as well, we miss the big picture.

The numbers of wounded, missing and fallen soldiers and civilians is difficult to grasp, and it continues to grow every day. It is hard to understand why God allowed this to happen, but we need to remember it didn’t surprise Him as it did us a week ago. Even what Hazael was about to do to the people of Israel was known to God long before.

As we look at the history of Israel, we see how God worked through difficulties and crises. Let us pray that the nation of Israel will turn to God in repentance and call upon Him as our shield and protection. Let us pray that the nation of Israel will not boast in its military strength, but in God who longs to cover us with His wings – wings that are a shield and protection like an iron dome on the outside, yet warm and comforting like a mother hen’s wings. There is a reason for all that happened and though we do not know what it is, we know God does not forsake His people and He will take revenge on His enemies. Just as He punished Hazael and the nations who harmed Israel (Amos 1) for the atrocities they have committed, so He will punish Israel’s enemies. Psalm 83 expresses this desire for revenge, but the reason should not be missed (verses 16-18):

So that they will seek Your name, Lord.
May they be ashamed and dismayed forever,
And may they be humiliated and perish,
So that they will know that You alone, whose name is the Lord,
Are the Most High over all the earth.

These are difficult days. Though God’s enemies made a covenant against Him (Psalm 83:5), we can rest assured that He remains faithful to His covenants He made with us and He will carry us through to victory for His glory.

“For the Lord of armies says this: “After glory He has sent me against the nations that plunder you, for the one who touches you, touches the apple of His eye” Zecharaiah 2:8

As the atrocities of the past few days begin to unfold, and the stories are told, it is impossible to describe in words what happened and how we feel. “My eyes run down with streams of water because of the destruction of the daughter of my people…I called on Your name, O LORD, out of the lowest pit. You have heard my voice, do not hide Your ear from my prayer for relief, from my cry for help. You drew near when I called on You; You said, ‘Do not fear!” (Lam. 3:46-50, 55-57).

The enemies of Israel have attacked her, and she is crying and hurting. They made a fatal mistake and touched the apple of God’s eye – the same God who calls Israel His own, His beloved, His daughter and who has issued a warning from ages past agaisnt those who touch Israel. The Lord of heavenly armies will avenge Israel and fight for her.

Now is the time to pray, now is the time to intercede before the heavenly throne that God would destroy the enemies of Israel who seek to destroy her. I am reminded these days of the story of Elisha who, along with his servant, awoke to find the marauding bands of Aram (Syria) surrounding them.

“Now when the attendant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was circling the city. And his servant said to him, ‘This is hopeless, my master! What are we to do?’ ¹⁶ And he said, ‘Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are greater than those who are with them.’ ¹⁷ Then Elisha prayed and said, ‘Lord, please, open his eyes so that he may see.’ And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. ¹⁸ And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, ‘Please strike this people with blindness.’ So He struck them with blindness in accordance with the word of Elisha.” 2 Kings 6:15-18.

The servant expressed what many feel these days – hopelesness. What are we to do? Between hearing the sirens and running to safe rooms or shelters, stocking up on supplies, heeding warnings to remain indoors and listening to the news, the situation sometimes appears hopeless, it is easy to become consumed with worry, fear and anxiety. Yet, God has proven time and again He watches over Israel. The situation of Elisha’s servant is not just a nice story. It really happened. Just because we can’t see with our physical eyes the angels surrounding us, doesn’t mean they aren’t there. We ARE surrounded by the armies of the Lord. God IS protecting us and those who are with us, are greater than those who dared attack the apple of God’s eye.

This story greatly encourages me. Israel awoke early Saturday morning to a surprise attack from its enemies. Yet, as Elisha told his servant, “do not be afraid”. Humanly speaking, there is every reason to fear, spiritually, there is none. God will fight for us. It is natural and human to be worried, I know. But we can’t allow fear to control us.

Friends and family abroad have written to me a lot these last few days, praying and interceding non stop. I appreciate that greatly. Please, continue to pray. Now is the time to stand with Israel, now is the time to pray that the nation of Israel turn its eyes to the One who has called her to be a light to the nations. One Israeli news channel, broadcasts “With God, we will win!”. That is the first time I have ever seen any news media clearly broadcast on its screen anything about God. Yet, that is exactly the attitude we pray and hope the nation will have in these days. Pray that people will see that our victory is not by our strength, but from God alone.

“In righteousness you will be established; You will be far from oppression, for you will not fear; and from terror, for it will not come near you. If anyone fiercely assails you it will not be from Me. Whoever assails you will fall because of you. Behold, I Myself have created the smith who blows the fire of coals and brings out a weapon for its work; and I have created the destroyer to ruin. No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; and every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their vindication is from Me, declares the LORD” (Isa. 54:14-17).

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”.

 “Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is caused to stumble, and I burn not?” 2 Corinthians 11:29

This verse has been on my heart for some time. In conversations with a few women who had gone through some tough times, they all said that during these difficult times they experienced a crisis in their faith. Though their individual crises were significantly different from one another, they all experienced pain and anguish of various kinds which affected their daily lives. Often as people share with me their trials and sufferings, I empathize with them and feel what Paul described in the verse above. My heart longs to help, to comfort, to encourage them not to lose hope. I want to dry the tears, to help ease the pain in their hearts, to urge them to press on to the throne of Grace where they can sit at the feet of the One who longs to hold them close to His heart, where there is joy and peace.

Paul identified with the suffering and feelings of helplessness a brother or sister who needs our help. If a brother or sister stumbles (in Greek, the word is actually “scandal”), our hearts should ache because of our zeal for the Lord. To feel this way requires that we be sensitive to our brothers and sisters in Messiah. If someone doesn’t come to a regular fellowship meeting or to a social gathering, we should express an interest and ask if they are well. If we notice we haven’t seen someone in a while, we should make an effort to find out why. The difference that a timely word of encouragement can make in a person’s life is enormous. We need to open our eyes to those around us and show a genuine interest. How can we wash each other’s feet if we don’t see their feet have become dirty from their exposure to the things of this world? It is so easy to go about in our daily lives and personal concerns without noticing that someone needs a smile, a helping hand, a shoulder to lean on or to cry on, someone to pray with, someone who will wash their feet.

We need to pray that our eyes would not only be open, but that we would act on what we see. Sadly, there are many wolves in sheep’s clothing who actively seek to  harm the flock and devour the sheep and harm the flock. What do we do then? I believe our concern and responsibility should not only be for the local sheepfold we are in, for the sheep whom we know well, but for the entire flock. What about the sheep who are harmed by those who were supposed to protect them? What about the sheep who cry out, but no one listens to their cry? Or, even worse, what of those whose cry is heard, but others try to silence their cry for one reason or another?

It is easy to talk about helping the sheep, protecting them and doing all we can so the Bride of Messiah would be pure and holy. But, when the time comes and push comes to shove, are we willing to step up and actively support, strengthen, encourage and protect a brother or sister even if there is a personal cost to pay?

May God help us to open our eyes to our brethren who are hurting, so that our unity be truly characterised by love, by a genuine concern for them, by being there and providing encouragement in time of need. A gentle word and a helping hand will yield eternal benefits, beyond what we can ask or even think.

When we go through unknown or challenging times, we need to remember God’s faithfulness and all He has done in our lives. He WAS faithful in the past, IS faithful now and He WILL CONTINUE TO BE faithful in the future. Faithful is not only a reflection of Who He is, but an inseparable part of what He does. We CAN trust Him in ALL things.

Although we know these things, sometimes we simply need to be reminded of them. That’s what happened to me. While trying to encourage others, I was the one that needed the encouragement and reminder a few months ago.

I began the new school year at a new school here in Jerusalem. After teaching for two years at a combined elementary and junior high, I now teach high school. I began looking for a new teaching position this past summer after deciding to leave my previous school. Going to interviews again was not easy, and at times, even frustrating. But, I trusted that God would close the doors He didn’t want me to go through and open the one that He prepared for me. The position I was interested in had to be part-time and not include being a homeroom teacher this year. I wanted to invest more time in discipleship and other things. This was the opposite of what some schools were looking for. When the day for my interview at this school came, my mom and I prayed that morning that I would receive an answer right away. And that is what happened. The school offered me exactly what I was looking for and I was the one who had to give them an answer if I was interested, which I was. On the first day of school, I met some of the other teachers. They were warm and welcoming and offered to help in whatever I needed. I went home that day with a heart full of gratitude, knowing that this position, as well as the welcoming and attitude of the staff, were all God’s grace.

In addition to starting a new position, I also moved into a new apartment. This, too, was an indescribable gift of grace, as I found an apartment that was exactly what I was looking for. There were a lot of challenges related to the move and sometimes, I thought maybe I was making a mistake. But, then came the encouragement from some people with whom I am very close. And sure enough, when my impatience was replaced by faith, my eyes were open to see how He was working all things out.

In a similar way, the past year was difficult from a number of perspectives. There were moments I felt completely drained. Nevertheless, during that time, I kept praying and God encouraged me through His Word to continue looking to Him and casting my cares upon Him. This past summer was full of changes and activities and the only way I can describe getting through it is by grace upon grace and sometimes I felt overwhelmed by it. In His mercy, God allowed me to find not only what I was looking for, but what I needed in terms of an apartment and employment, as well as the refreshment and encouragement He gave me.

As I talked with friends about difficulties or hardships they were experiencing, I realized once again how we don’t always know what those sitting or serving beside us in the body of Messiah are going through. Outwardly, many are smiling and appear happy, while inwardly, some are hurting. We so often greet each other at various events and gatherings and ask, “How are you” and smile. Sometimes, we don’t even bother wait for a response. And, if we do, what is the response we hope to hear? When I hear some say they are OK, but their faces show their hearts are burdened, I regret to say I don’t always take the time to inquire what happened and if there is anything I can do to encourage them in any way. Granted, we can’t always be the ones to listen to every problem and we certainly don’t have answers to everything. But, we don’t need to have answers or solutions to people’s burdens or difficulties. Just showing an interest, expressing a word of encouragement and taking the time to pray with and for that person, can make a difference in someone’s day. We aren’t always aware of what people are going through. So, we should be careful not to be quick to judge their behavior, as we could easily judge wrongly. 

Relationships nowadays often lack the personal “follow through” in communication. Opening our eyes to those around us is not enough. We need to act on what we see as well. When the Lord Yeshua saw that the multitudes who came to hear him had nothing to eat, he had compassion on them and did not send them home hungry. Instead, he fed them. This was a lesson for his disciples to learn that they were to go and do the same. But, more so, whatever they later fed the multitudes, whether it was physical or spiritual food, they first received it from Yeshua. If we were to have a compassion meter, where would we be on the scale? Would it show that we have compassion for others or that our compassion is lacking? The next time we ask people how they are doing, will we truly listen and respond to what is shared with us?

Will we allow God to use us as vessels to pour into the lives of others? As the Lord Yeshua said to his disciples, the harvest is great but the workers are few. When we ask God to send workers to the field before us, we need to be ready to be among those workers who are sent.

“He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may take refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and wall.” (Psalm 91:4)

I have been reflecting recently on the concept of being sheltered under the wings of God. I prepared a devotion for the elementary school last week and shared about Ruth, the Moabitess, coming under God’s wings, and I took a closer look at the verse quoted at the top of this post. The thought of taking refuge under God’s wings is beautiful. But, what significance does it have for us? We could easily ask, “What does this mean for me, personally?”

When Ruth came to Bethlehem with Naomi, she turned her back on all that Moab had to offer. She left all her family, friends, hope, security and stability and went to a land foreign to her – a land where she was considered a foreigner, a land where there was no guarantee that she would again enjoy any of the things she left behind. It could be understood that Ruth counted the cost and declared in words that have been repeated countless times over the centuries, that Naomi’s people would now be her people and Noami’s God will be her God (Ruth 1:16). What an amazing statement! It took on added significance when Boaz said to her later that she came to take refuge under the wings of the God of Israel (Ruth 2:12).
As I shared this with my students, I realized that the words and thought expressed in Psalm 91:4 had a much deeper meaning that what I thought previously. Coming under God’s wings presents not only a word picture of a mother fowl gathering her chicks under her wings to protect them and give them comfort. It is an expression regarding God’s compassion, tenderness and faithfulness. His truth is described as a shield and an impenetrable wall. Nothing can break through. We can lean on His Word because He stands behind it to perform it. God’s faithfulness is constant, because He never changes.
This week, I spoke with my mom about some things that were on my mind recently. At one point, she asked me if I was worried because of a terrorist attack that happened in the city the day before. My answer was that God called me to live in Jerusalem, so I am not worried. I know that He will give me the grace to do what He called me to do, in all things. I realized shortly thereafter how true this statement was – in ALL things, even those which discouraged me. I needed to remember to take refuge under God’s wings, trusting Him to be my shield and wall. I needed to rest in His presence, confident that He is in total control of all things, including my life, and that under His wings I can find refuge and comfort, as well as peace.

My congregation recently suffered a great loss and shock, as one of our Elders passed away following complications from Covid 19. He left behind a wife and three children. The sense of loss was immense. The entire congregation still feels like it is going through a valley, experiencing pain with many unanswered questions. Yet, in the midst of it all, we know that death is not the end. We have the hope of resurrection and of life eternal. Our good Shepherd and the Chief Shepard of our congregation, Yeshua, will remove our tears, remove our pain and lead us through to green pastures, never leaving our side. Yes, we have a hope that this world does not have, nor can it understand. It is a hope of life forevermore with the Lord Yeshua, in Whose presence is fullness of joy.

If you are going through a valley, if you are discouraged, don’t despair. Be encouraged, for there is hope even in the valley. Yeshua, the Great Shepherd of the sheep, knows His flock, each one by name. Nothing is hidden from His sight. He is in control of everything and works everything to the praise and glory of His name. Maybe, as you read this, you are going through a tough time. Even though you may not feel it, He is, indeed, at your side. He will never leave you nor forsake you. He will bring light into your darkness if you just trust Him and allow His wings to cover you.