ARTICLES

This week’s Torah reading is the holiday portion for Shabbat Chol HaMoed Sukkot (Leviticus 22:26-23:44; Numbers 29:12-28). Read on Shabbat, October 11, 2025 / 19 Tishrei 5786. The following is a special devotional drawn from this week’s reading.

“Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you come into the land that I give you and you keep My rules and do them, then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit” (Leviticus 26:3-4).

God promises blessing in the land when His people live in obedience, not as a condition of earning love but as the natural fruit of covenant faithfulness. The rains fall in their season. The harvest flourishes. The land responds to faithful stewardship. During the festival of Sukkot, Israel dwells in temporary shelters, remembering their reliance on God’s provision. The promise of rain and harvest reminds them that blessing is never to be taken for granted.

The reading for this Shabbat celebrates God’s sheltering presence and His provision during the wilderness journey. It reminds us that life itself is lived under His covering, and that the blessings of land, food, and security are gifts that call for gratitude and obedience. The festival invites each generation to pause, dwell, and remember dependence even in times of plenty.

Throughout life there are seasons of plenty, seasons of need, and seasons of waiting. God’s promise remains that when we walk in His ways, life will grow even in unexpected places. Obedience and trust invite His rain, both physical and spiritual. When we lose sight of this truth, we risk taking His provision for granted or turning to lesser sources of strength. Sukkot calls the heart back to dependence, reminding us that God alone is our shelter, our provider, and the one who sustains all things.

Those enjoying a season of abundance are called to guard their hearts against complacency. Let gratitude shape your attitude and generosity define your response. Those facing challenge or uncertainty can hold fast to the assurance that God has not turned away. His word still brings rain to the dry places. And for anyone standing between those extremes, faithfulness in the present moment becomes the seed of future blessing.

Take time each day, whether sitting beneath the sukkah or pausing in a quiet place, to reflect on God’s faithfulness. Notice the blessings that surround you, even the small ones that often pass unnoticed. Offer Him thanks. Choose one way to respond in obedience and generosity from what He has given you. Let your gratitude and your actions declare that your trust is in the Lord who provides rain in its time.

PRAYER
Lord, help me to live in dependence on You. Teach me to walk in Your ways so that Your blessing may flow in my life. May my gratitude and obedience reflect Your goodness and faithfulness. Amen.

Married just one month, Yovel planned to relax over the October 7 weekend with her new husband Mor. It had been a hectic season of wedding events and Jewish holidays. Instead, friends insisted they all go together to a music festival in southern Israel. That decision would alter Yovel’s life forever.

Ten minutes after they arrived, rockets flew overhead, and they jumped back in the car and sped north. Believing they were out of harm’s way, the road was suddenly blocked by a white Hamas truck. Mor decided to go around it, telling them to “duck and start praying.” As he swerved, bullets pounded their car. Tragically, a bullet hit Mor’s head, as the car flipped into a ditch.

When Yovel regained consciousness, asking who in the car was alive, she panicked when Mor didn’t answer. Trying in vain to revive him, she screamed, “It can’t be that you’re dead! It can’t be. We just got married—there’s no way!” And then, they realized that Hamas terrorists were roaming nearby, shooting anyone in the vehicles they had struck, and finishing off any survivors.

So for five hours, they pretended to be dead, as they heard the horrific sounds of abductions, rapes, and executions. Finally, the army arrived, and got them to a hospital. Yet now, Yovel, who is 26, is dealing with severe anxiety attacks and nightmares, and can’t go back to work.

But through CBN Israel’s partnership with the Jewish Agency, friends like you gave Yovel financial assistance to help support her until she is able to work. Donors also offered her trauma care and counseling, as she starts her life over. She says, “Thank you for opening your hearts, so that we can smile and laugh again… It is not taken for granted how you are standing with us.”

And your gift to CBN Israel can offer compassionate relief to hurting Israelis in other ways, including hot meals, shelter, and basic essentials.

Please help us bring healing to those in crisis! 

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Photo Caption: Homes in Kibbutz Kfar Aza riddled with bullet holes and displaying photos of residents killed or taken hostage following Hamas’s deadly rampage.

By Stephen Faircloth

On October 7, 2023, the people of Israel endured their darkest day since the Holocaust. In a coordinated attack, Hamas terrorists crossed into southern Israel, murdering 1,200 civilians, abducting more than 250 hostages, and committing atrocities too horrific to fully describe.

Families were slaughtered in their homes. Women were abused in unimaginable ways. Even babies and elderly Holocaust survivors were not spared. For Israel, October 7 was not simply another day of conflict. It was a cruel reminder that the hatred fueling centuries of antisemitism is still alive.

For Christians, this day should never fade into distant memory. Just as September 11 became a defining moment for America, October 7 has become a watershed moment for Israel. It was not only Israel’s tragedy but ours as well, since more than forty Americans were killed that day. Their blood was shed alongside their Israeli brothers and sisters.

From the earliest pages of Scripture, God’s covenant with Abraham established a divine link between Israel and the nations: “I will bless those who bless you, I will curse those who treat you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:3).

This covenant is not an artifact of history. It remains alive today, a promise that explains why the survival of Israel has always testified to the faithfulness of God. Every attempt to destroy the Jewish people has failed, and it will continue to fail, because the Lord has promised that they will never be uprooted from the land He gave them.

In the aftermath of October 7, Israel responded with extraordinary courage. Within hours, the Israel Defense Forces mobilized to dismantle Hamas’s terror infrastructure. Strikes were carried out against Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iranian proxies in Syria and Iraq.

In cooperation with the United States, Israel struck at Iran’s nuclear facilities, dealing a decisive blow to an existential threat. These actions were not symbolic but essential to Israel’s survival. Each young soldier who defends the homeland does so knowing they are protecting not only Israel but also the values of faith, freedom, and life cherished around the world.

Yet the battle is not only military. War today is fought on the field of public opinion. In the first days after October 7, the world recoiled at Hamas’s savagery. But within weeks, the narrative shifted. Suddenly Israel, not Hamas, was accused of genocide and oppression. This inversion of truth is nothing new. It echoes centuries of antisemitic lies, from medieval blood libels to Nazi propaganda.

The truth is that Israel has gone to unprecedented lengths to protect civilians, warning residents of Gaza to evacuate, opening humanitarian corridors, and even pausing operations to allow the delivery of aid. Hamas, on the other hand, hides behind civilians, tunnels under hospitals, and uses schools as weapons depots.

The Bible warns that a day would come when people would call evil good and good evil. That day has arrived. Christians must refuse to be deceived.

October 7 also unleashed a surge of antisemitism around the world. In Europe, mobs chant “Death to the Jews.” In America, Jewish students are harassed on college campuses and synagogues live under constant threat.

Antisemitism is not merely hatred of a people. It is rebellion against the God who chose them. For Christians, silence in the face of antisemitism is complicity. To bless Israel is to bless God’s covenant. To ignore or excuse antisemitism is to oppose His purposes.

Despite the horrors of October 7, Israel still longs for peace. History shows this. Israel has made peace with Egypt and Jordan, signed the Abraham Accords with several Arab states, and reached out to nations once hostile. Peace is possible, but it will never come through appeasing terror.

No nation can coexist with an enemy sworn to its destruction. Real peace will come only when terror is defeated and truth prevails. The prophets envisioned a day when nations will beat their swords into plowshares, and while that day has not yet come, we can pray in faith that God’s promises will be fulfilled.

The question before Christians in America is simple. Will we stand with Israel? Our response must be prayer, advocacy, and blessing. We must pray for the peace of Jerusalem, speak the truth in a world of lies, and support Israel through generosity and solidarity.

The light of Israel has not been extinguished. It continues to shine as a testimony of God’s covenant-keeping faithfulness. As followers of Christ, we are called to ensure that it shines brighter still until the day He fulfills His promises in full.

In remembrance of October 7 and in steadfast support of Israel and the Jewish people, we invite you to stand with CBN Israel as we confront antisemitism, defend truth, and bring comfort and hope to those who still suffer today.

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Prayer Points for Israel

• Pray for the people of Israel, asking God’s protection over every community as they live under multifront threats.
• Pray for comfort for the bereaved who remember October 7, 2023, and for all mourning loved ones lost since then.
• Pray for emotional healing for survivors of trauma and for those battling post-traumatic stress to receive wise counselors, strong community, and lasting restoration.
• Pray for wisdom, courage, and unity for Israel’s leaders and defenders as they pursue peace and security for the nation.
• Pray for truth to prevail over propaganda and confusion, for discernment online, and for journalists to report with accuracy and integrity.
• Pray for Christians and Americans to stand in faithful solidarity with the Jewish people and to reject antisemitism and false narratives.
• Pray for a just and lasting peace that alleviates Palestinian suffering while safeguarding Israel’s right to live in security.
• Pray for the CBN Israel team serving displaced families and terror victims, and for the CBN News team in Jerusalem to report truth with boldness, wisdom, and protection.

Stephen Faircloth is the President of CBN Israel, an initiative dedicated to sharing the true story of the Jewish nation and inspiring a global community of Christians to stand with Israel and support her people in need. Our vision is to reshape the global conversation about Israel by fostering understanding, hope, and healing between Jews and Christians around the world. For more than 50 years, the Christian Broadcasting Network has supported Israel. By joining CBN Israel, you become part of this enduring legacy, transforming lives today and strengthening Christian support for Israel for generations to come.

By Stephen Faircloth

At the western edge of the Jezreel Valley, beneath the slopes of Mount Carmel, lies the ancient city of Megiddo. Perched above one of the most important trade routes of the ancient world, Megiddo once guarded the crossroads connecting Egypt with Damascus and Mesopotamia. Whoever controlled this city held the key to regional power.

Archaeologists have uncovered twenty layers of settlement at Megiddo, each built upon the remains of the last. Its commanding position made it both prosperous and dangerous. Pharaohs, kings, and armies fought for control of this place. It was here that Pharaoh Thutmose III won a decisive victory in 1468 B.C., and where King Josiah of Judah fell in battle centuries later (2 Kings 23:29-30). The ground of Megiddo carries the memory of human conflict and the cost of ambition.

Megiddo was allotted to the tribe of Manasseh, though the Israelites never fully secured it. Later, Solomon fortified the city, building massive gates, stables, and storerooms. Beneath the surface, engineers carved a remarkable water system, a tunnel that connected the city to a spring outside its walls. Even in siege, the people could draw living water hidden from their enemies. Their survival depended on a source unseen by others.

This image speaks powerfully to our spiritual lives. Our strength and peace come not from what is visible, but from the hidden flow of God’s Spirit within us. Jesus said, “Whoever believes in Me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them” (John 7:38). Like the people of Megiddo, we are sustained by what God provides in secret.

The name Megiddo appears once more in Scripture, in the book of Revelation. John writes that the armies of the world will gather for battle at Armageddon (Revelation 16:16). Many assume this refers to Megiddo itself, but the Bible never mentions a Valley of Armageddon. The term likely means “the mountain of assembly,” pointing not to Megiddo’s hill, but to Jerusalem, the mountain where God has placed His name. The final conflict will not be fought in the Jezreel Valley but around the holy city, where God will establish His kingdom and bring His justice to the earth (Revelation 11:1-2; 14:20; 20:9).

Megiddo reminds us that battles and power struggles are part of history, but God’s plan is greater than any human design. His purposes reach beyond the rise and fall of nations, pointing to the day when His peace will reign forever.

When you think of Megiddo, remember the hidden spring beneath the surface, a source of life that never runs dry. In the same way, God’s Spirit is your well of strength, quietly sustaining you through every challenge. Though the world may rage around you, His living water flows within, bringing peace, purpose, and victory that cannot be shaken.

Stephen Faircloth is the President of CBN Israel, an initiative dedicated to sharing the true story of the Jewish nation and inspiring a global community of Christians to stand with Israel and support her people in need. Our vision is to reshape the global conversation about Israel by fostering understanding, hope, and healing between Jews and Christians around the world. For more than 50 years, the Christian Broadcasting Network has supported Israel. By joining CBN Israel, you become part of this enduring legacy, transforming lives today and strengthening Christian support for Israel for generations to come.

By Stephen Faircloth

“On the fifteenth day of the seventh month the LORD’s Festival of Tabernacles begins, and it lasts for seven days. The first day is a sacred assembly; do no regular work. … Live in temporary shelters for seven days: All native-born Israelites are to live in such shelters so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in temporary shelters when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the LORD your God” (Leviticus 23:34-35, 42-43). 

Each year as autumn arrives, Jewish families and communities around the world step outside their homes to build temporary shelters called sukkot or “booths.” For one week they eat, pray, and often sleep beneath roofs made of branches and palm fronds. Through this ancient and sacred tradition of faith and remembrance, they recall the time when God led their ancestors through the wilderness and provided for every need.

Sukkot, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles, is a festival of both thanksgiving and remembrance. It celebrates the harvest while recalling the forty years Israel spent wandering in the desert. During that time, the people lived in tents, utterly dependent on God for food, water, and daily direction in every step. The sukkah or “booth” is a visible reminder that true security is not found in walls or possessions, but in the presence and faithfulness of the Lord.

The Feast of Tabernacles was one of the great pilgrimage festivals when the Israelites were commanded to go up to Jerusalem to worship. It was a time of joy and celebration, as families gathered to give thanks to the God who sustained them. Every part of the festival pointed back to Him, from the waving of palm branches to the offering of fruit from the harvest. Each element reminded them that every blessing came from His hand.

During the feast, the roof of the sukkah is made thin enough to see the stars shining above, symbolizing deep trust in God’s covering. Sitting beneath it, worshippers are reminded that even when the world feels chaotic and unstable, God’s shelter remains sure. His protection is not fragile, even when our circumstances are.

Sukkot also looks forward to a greater promise. The prophet Zechariah wrote that one day all nations will come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles and to worship the Lord as King. This vision points to the coming reign of the Messiah when God will dwell among His people and all creation will rejoice in His presence.

When Jesus walked the earth, He too went up to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7). Standing in the Temple courts, He declared, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.” His words transformed the meaning of the feast. No longer would people need to dwell in temporary shelters to experience God’s presence. Through Christ, God came to dwell permanently with His people.

Sukkot reminds us to pause, give thanks, and dwell under the covering of our heavenly Father. It calls us to rest in His faithfulness, to rejoice in His provision, and to look forward to the day when He will make His home among us forever.

Stephen Faircloth is the President of CBN Israel, an initiative dedicated to sharing the true story of the Jewish nation and inspiring a global community of Christians to stand with Israel and support her people in need. Our vision is to reshape the global conversation about Israel by fostering understanding, hope, and healing between Jews and Christians around the world. For more than 50 years, the Christian Broadcasting Network has supported Israel. By joining CBN Israel, you become part of this enduring legacy, transforming lives today and strengthening Christian support for Israel for generations to come.

This week’s Torah reading is Parashat Ha’azinu (Deuteronomy 32:1-32:52). Read on Shabbat, October 4, 2025 / 12 Tishrei 5786. The following is a special devotional drawn from this week’s reading.

“Pay attention, heavens, and I will speak; listen, earth, to the words of my mouth. Let my teaching fall like rain and my word settle like dew, like gentle rain on new grass and showers on tender plants” (Deuteronomy 32:1-2).

In these opening lines Moses calls heaven and earth to bear witness to his words. His speech is not mere rhetoric; it is life giving truth. The imagery of rain and dew evokes gentleness and persistence. God’s instruction is not delivered in a rush or a shout but in steady, nourishing flow. Moses frames his message so that every listener knows this song is meant to sustain, convict, and renew.

Ha’azinu as a whole is a poetic testimony that recounts Israel’s unfaithfulness, God’s faithfulness, and the consequences of turning away. What is striking is how Moses portrays God both as just judge and compassionate redeemer. Even when warning of judgment, he never relinquishes hope. God will avenge, restore, and turn His people back. The song is a mirror held to the heart of Israel, to see both the brokenness and the promise.

In our lives today, we too need Moses’ song. We need to hear the balance of warning and hope, the call to repentance and the assurance of mercy. Perhaps there are moments when God’s voice seems distant or His covenant seems conditional. Yet Moses reminds us that our history is held in His hands, that our failures do not silence His promises, and that His words can fall gently, like rain, awakening life in our soul.

If you find yourself hardened by repeated failures or discouraged by unmet expectations, this week offers a fresh invitation: listen again. Let the words fall slowly. Let them wash over doubt. Let them seep into places that have grown dry. And if you are in a season of blessing, let this song keep you humble, reminding you of the fragility of faith and the constancy of God’s mercy.

This week, take time to listen. Choose a stanza of Ha’azinu to read slowly. Meditate on one phrase that unsettles or restores. Let the imagery of rain and dew speak to your heart. Then respond with confession, gratitude, or renewed commitment. Let God’s words shape your steps.

PRAYER
Lord, help me listen to Your words this week. Let them fall like gentle rain on my heart, convicting and restoring. May my life echo Your mercy and truth. Amen.

By Stephen Faircloth

“Be careful to celebrate the Day of Atonement on the tenth day of that same month, nine days after the Festival of Trumpets. You must observe it as an official day for holy assembly, a day to deny yourselves and present special gifts to the LORD” (Leviticus 23:27).

Yom Kippur is the holiest day in the Jewish year. It is called the Day of Atonement, a sacred time set apart for repentance, reflection, and renewal before God. The period leading up to this day, beginning with Rosh Hashanah, is known as the Ten Days of Awe.

It is seen as an opportunity to prepare your heart and repair relationships before standing in humility before the Lord. According to Jewish tradition, this is when God determines whose names will be written in the Book of Life for another year.

Because of its seriousness, many prepare weeks in advance. In some traditions, prayers for forgiveness called Selichot are recited even before Rosh Hashanah, ensuring that one enters this season ready to meet God in repentance. Yom Kippur itself is seen as a day of judgment, when individuals stand before the Lord in fasting and humility.

The symbols of the day also reflect its purpose. For instance, it is customary to wear white, and in many communities, men put on a white robe called a kittel. This practice recalls the promise in Isaiah 1:18: “Come now, let’s settle this. Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.”

Prayer lies at the center of the observance. Yom Kippur has more services than any other Jewish festival, with five held throughout the day. Among them, the Viddui is the central confession, asking forgiveness not only for personal sins but also on behalf of the entire Jewish people.

This prayer reflects the biblical truth found in Jeremiah 17:9: “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” Repentance on Yom Kippur emphasizes not only admitting sin but also making genuine changes in behavior.

The call to reconciliation mirrors teachings found in the New Testament as well. Jesus instructed His followers that if they bring an offering to God while knowing that a brother holds something against them, they must first seek reconciliation before presenting their gift.

In the same way, Jewish tradition stresses the importance of making peace with others before coming to God in fasting and prayer. Forgiveness and reconciliation with people prepare the way for forgiveness from God.

Another important element of the day is the reading of the Book of Jonah. Jonah’s story highlights the struggle between human resistance and God’s mercy. Though commanded to call the people of Nineveh to repent, Jonah wrestled with questions of who deserved judgment and who deserved forgiveness.

His experience often reflects our own tendency to doubt, resist, and decide for ourselves who is worthy of redemption. Yom Kippur reminds worshippers to turn from such disobedience and join God in extending His mercy.

For those who believe in Jesus, Yom Kippur also carries a powerful message. The day points to the work of the Messiah, who provides the ultimate atonement by taking away sin. This truth offers both assurance of forgiveness and a continual call to live in repentance.

Stephen Faircloth is the President of CBN Israel, an initiative dedicated to sharing the true story of the Jewish nation and inspiring a global community of Christians to stand with Israel and support her people in need. Our vision is to reshape the global conversation about Israel by fostering understanding, hope, and healing between Jews and Christians around the world. For more than 50 years, the Christian Broadcasting Network has supported Israel. By joining CBN Israel, you become part of this enduring legacy, transforming lives today and strengthening Christian support for Israel for generations to come.