CBN Israel, Author at CBN Israel

Charlie Kirk’s Legacy: A Global Awakening of Faith and Courage

Posted on September 18, 2025

By Arlene Bridges Samuels

A global phenomenon is unfolding, and once again God turns evil into good. Thousands of years ago, Joseph offered this perspective. Betrayed by his brothers and left to die, Joseph rose to prominence in Egypt as Pharaoh’s second-in-command. When he reunited with his brothers, he declared, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Genesis 50:20).

The assassination of Charlie Kirk on September 10, 2025, magnifies today’s spiritual confrontation between good and evil. No one could have foreseen that one act of hatred would generate such an immense eruption of grief around the world. Charlie Kirk’s legacy is igniting a fresh movement of faith and courage in the minds and hearts of Christians and others alike. Executed for speaking truth, Charlie’s voice on earth has been silenced, yet untold millions are pledging their voices to carry forward his courageous love for Jesus, his devotion to America, and the Judeo-Christian principles he championed.

Within 48 hours of Charlie’s death, Turning Point USA received 37,000 inquiries about starting new chapters in high schools and colleges. The interest suggests exponential growth, continuing his mission “to lead the fight to save America.” Charlie helped mentor a new generation, demonstrating that truth must never be silenced, courage is contagious, and freedom must be defended at all costs.

Across the globe, countries including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Hungary, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and India have held vigils, lit candles, and sung hymns as vast crowds wept. The Polish Parliament paused to hold a moment of silence and prayer in his honor.

President Donald Trump offered a heartfelt tribute: “No one understood or had the heart of the youth in the United States better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by all, especially me, and now he is no longer with us. Melania and my sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika and family. Charlie, we love you.” President Trump also announced that Charlie will receive a posthumous Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian honor.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu honored him as well: “Charlie Kirk was murdered for speaking truth and defending freedom. A lion-hearted friend of Israel, he fought the lies and stood tall for Judeo-Christian civilization. We lost an incredible human being. His boundless pride in America and his valiant belief in free speech will leave a lasting impact. Rest in peace, Charlie Kirk.”

Israelis, aware of Charlie’s unwavering stance against antisemitism, expressed deep admiration and sorrow. After traveling to Israel for the U.S. Embassy move to Jerusalem in 2018, Charlie returned in 2019 and declared, “The greatest trip I ever took was to Israel and the second greatest trip I ever took was to Israel.” Charlie frequently defended Israel on college campuses and in speeches. “I am a defender of Israel as a homeland for the Jewish people. When I went to Israel, I saw the Bible come to life. We, as Christians, must honor the Jews.” He and his wife, Erika, even adopted the tradition of Shabbat for their family as a meaningful expression of faith.

Speaking at more college campuses than any other Christian conservative, Charlie often addressed misconceptions about Israel. “I am confronted many times by young Christians who believe that Israel is an oppressive apartheid state that should not exist in its current form. I am here to communicate clearly that we must do a much better job of conveying the geopolitical significance of the state of Israel. The world is a better place because of the state of Israel.” Charlie also condemned antisemitism in vivid terms. “Antisemitism is literally a brain rot that stops your ability to think independently, and you start blaming everything on a very small group of people. That has no place in decent society.”

The Israeli Hostages and Missing Families Forum expressed deep sorrow and gratitude for his unwavering support, posting a tribute video and writing, “Our hearts are with his loved ones during this painful time. May they find comfort in knowing how deeply his support was felt.” One vigil on a Tel Aviv beach displayed candles and a large sign reading, “When truth is feared, free speech is killed,” echoing Charlie’s warning: “When people stop talking, that’s when you get violence.” Miriam Feirberg, the mayor of Netanya, announced that a main square will be named in Charlie’s honor.

Charlie Kirk’s passing leaves the example of a modern Christian martyr. We would do well to recall one of his earlier observations, which now defines this moment: “You actually see what’s going on, that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities and darkness and spirits, that there is a spiritual war here.” Charlie explained that this was the only way to make sense of “what the country is doing to itself.”

Will the millions of flames ignited by his death continue to burn like the memory of September 11, 2001? Let us memorize Jude 1:3, which urges us to “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” We must run this spiritual race as if it were an Olympic event. Jesus handed His baton to Charlie. Will a new generation rise to grasp it and honor Jesus as Charlie did? Let us pray and act with purpose, no matter our age.

Our CBN Israel team welcomes you to join us in prayer and to share what you have learned here.

Prayer Points:

Pray for Charlie’s wife, Erika, their 3-year-old daughter, and their baby son.
Pray for Turning Point staff as they grieve, yet with purpose go forward.
Pray for awakenings among those who are making hateful comments.
Pray for believers to stay aware of spiritual warfare yet enhance their reliance on the Holy Spirit’s strength and Scriptures.

Arlene Bridges Samuels is the weekly feature columnist for CBN Israel since 2020. Working on the staff of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) as their SE Regional Outreach Director for nine years, International Christian Embassy Jerusalem USA engaged her as the Leadership Outreach Director part-time for their project American Christian Leaders for Israel. Arlene is an author at The Blogs-Times of Israel, is published at AllIsrael.com and The Jerusalem Connection, and has traveled to Israel since 1990. By invitation, she attends Israel’s Government Press Office Christian Media Summits as part of Christian media worldwide. In 2024, Arlene and her husband Paul co-authored Mental Health Meltdown: Illuminating the Voices of Bipolar and Other Mental Illnesses. www.TheMentalHealthMeltdown.com.

Feeding Israel’s School Children

Posted on September 17, 2025

Even before the war, many families in Israel were already struggling to meet their basic needs. Rising costs and economic challenges left thousands of children facing each school day without a proper meal. Now, with more households impacted by displacement and financial hardship, the need is greater than ever.

For children, hunger is more than just physical discomfort. It directly affects their ability to learn, concentrate, and thrive. Without a nutritious breakfast, many are at risk of falling behind in school, which can have long-term consequences far beyond the classroom.

This is where the compassion of friends like you has made a powerful difference. Through the generous support of caring donors, CBN Israel is helping to provide daily meals for children suffering from food insecurity. In partnership with Nevet, an organization dedicated to feeding schoolchildren in need, we are ensuring that tens of thousands of students across the country receive a healthy breakfast every morning before class.

Recently, CBN Israel staff joined the effort by preparing sandwiches and nutritious meals for hundreds of these children. These simple, wholesome breakfasts not only ease the financial burden on struggling families but also give each child the strength and focus they need to succeed in school.

“You made it possible for these kids to study and change their future,” said Tal Efrati from Nevet. “When they eat healthy food, they can concentrate in school. This is how they shape a better future for themselves. And your help allows us to do this for thousands of kids every single day.”

Partners are also helping to subsidize the cost of these meals, enabling schools across Israel to take part in this vital program. As Tal shared, “Thank you for your donation and your help. It helps us a lot to create this program and to increase our activity all around Israel.”

Your gifts to CBN Israel can help fuel a brighter future. You can place food in the hands of children who need it most and giving them the opportunity to grow, learn, and dream again.

Please join us in caring for Israel’s youngest and most vulnerable today!

GIVE TODAY

Shiloh: A Lesson in Obedience

Posted on September 16, 2025

By Stephen Faircloth

Rising quietly in the rolling hills about twenty-five miles north of Jerusalem, Shiloh once stood as the spiritual heart of Israel. After the conquest of the land, the Israelites set up the Tabernacle and placed the Ark of the Covenant here (Joshua 18:1). For centuries it served as the center of worship and pilgrimage.

Festivals were celebrated at Shiloh, and families from across the tribes traveled the main north-south road through the hill country to offer their sacrifices and prayers. The road itself became a path of expectation, carrying worshipers toward the place where God had chosen to make His name dwell.

It was to Shiloh that Hannah came with her desperate plea for a child. Here the priest Eli blessed her, and here God answered her prayer with the promise of Samuel’s birth (1 Samuel 1). When Samuel was old enough, Hannah returned him to serve the Lord, and in this sacred setting God began to reveal Himself to the young prophet (1 Samuel 3:21). This quiet settlement became the stage for some of the most tender and powerful encounters recorded in Scripture—moments of answered prayer, divine calling, and the unfolding of God’s purposes for His people.

Yet Shiloh’s story also carries a sobering warning. News of the Ark’s capture by the Philistines reached Eli at Shiloh, along with the deaths of his sons (1 Samuel 4). Archaeological excavations reveal a layer of destruction caused by fire in the eleventh century B.C., a date that matches the period of Eli and Samuel. By the time David and Solomon reigned, the Tabernacle was gone, and Shiloh was no longer the center of worship. Centuries later, the prophet Jeremiah pointed to its ruins as a living parable: “Go now to My place that was in Shiloh… and see what I did to it for the wickedness of My people Israel” (Jeremiah 7:12).

Shiloh teaches a timeless truth. The presence of God’s house is not a guarantee of His favor. The people of Israel trusted the symbol of His presence but ignored the God who dwelt among them. Their disobedience brought judgment, and the Tabernacle that once hosted His glory fell silent. Sacred space is never a substitute for a surrendered heart.

Today, visitors to Shiloh can still see the remains of its sanctuary and the evidence of its fiery destruction. Stones and earth bear witness to the message the prophets proclaimed: God desires obedience more than outward ritual, and His blessing rests on those whose hearts remain faithful.

This ancient ruin invites us to examine our own lives.

Are there places where we rely on outward appearances, religious habits, or spiritual memories rather than genuine devotion? Shiloh reminds us that God is not impressed by activity or ceremony but by hearts that love Him and walk in His ways. His presence is a gift, but His favor rests on those who obey.

Is there an area of your life where you are trusting a “symbol” of faith instead of living in daily surrender to God? How might you renew your devotion and obedience today?

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.

Weekly Devotional: Walking the Way of Blessing

Posted on September 15, 2025

“Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to Him” (Psalm 128:1).

The phrase “fear of the Lord” can sound strange to our modern ears. We often speak of God’s love and His invitation to draw near but not of fear. Yet in Scripture, the fear of the Lord is not a cringing terror. It is deep and profound reverence, an awe-filled respect for God’s holiness and greatness.

This reverence naturally leads to action. The psalmist tells us that those who fear the Lord are the ones who walk in His ways. To fear God is not merely to feel something; it is to live in faithful obedience to Him. Our obedience becomes the visible proof of our reverence.

Moses gave similar instructions to Israel: “Fear the Lord your God, serve Him only” (Deuteronomy 6:13). To fear God was to serve Him. And within the language of the Old Testament, fear and love were often two sides of the same coin. Deuteronomy commands, “Love the Lord your God and keep His requirements” (Deuteronomy 11:1). To love Him is to obey Him. To fear Him is to walk in His ways.

True blessedness flows from this posture of love and reverence. When we align our lives with God’s commands, we experience the security and joy that come from living under His care. The blessing is not merely material; it is the peace of knowing we are walking in the will of the One who holds all things together.

The world often equates blessing with success or comfort, but Scripture reminds us that the deepest blessing is found in a life surrendered to God. To fear the Lord is to recognize His greatness. To obey Him is to trust His wisdom. Together they lead us into lasting joy.

Where is God calling you to deeper obedience today? What step of trust would show your reverence and love for Him in a tangible way?

PRAYER

Father, teach me to walk in Your ways with a heart that loves and reveres You. Help me to obey Your Word in all I do, so that my life may reflect the blessing of knowing You. Amen.

Torah Reading Devotional: Parashat Ki Tavo (כִּי־תָבוֹא) “When You Enter In”

Posted on September 12, 2025

This week’s Torah reading is Parashat Ki Tavo (Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8). Read on Shabbat, September 13, 2025 / 20 Elul 5785. The following is a special devotional drawn from this week’s reading.

“When you enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, and you take possession of it and settle in it, you shall take some of the first of every fruit of the ground that you bring in from your land that the LORD your God is giving you and put it in a basket and go to the place that the LORD your God will choose to make His name dwell” (Deuteronomy 26:1-2).

This command opens a section of laws that concern entering the promised land with thanksgiving and responsibility. The offering of first fruits expresses gratitude but also acknowledges that all provision comes from God. When Israel enters the land, they are to bring the best of what the land gives as a symbol both of worship and of recognition that God is sovereign over prosperity.

The ritual of bikkurim requires more than ritual form. It demands posture of the heart: humility, generosity, and awareness that community flourishes when blessings are shared. The portion goes on from there to warn about complacency, and to outline blessings for obedience and consequences for turning away. In framing both gratitude and accountability, Moses invites Israel into a living relationship, not just a contract.

In our own lives entering new seasons—of opportunity, success, or rest—we often forget the importance of first fruits. We may keep for ourselves the best gifts, the best time, the best resources, forgetting that giving first is a way of trusting God, of setting Him first, and of cultivating generosity. When we express gratitude first, it shifts our relationship with what we have from ownership to stewardship.

If you are entering a season of abundance, try offering your best first to God: maybe time, maybe talent, maybe finances, or maybe recognition. Let your first fruit be not what remains but what you choose to give freely. And if you are in a season of want, remember that God’s call to gratitude is not tied to abundance. Even in little, giving what you have with faith honors Him and builds trust.

This week choose one area to offer first fruit: the first day, the first hour, the first portion of income, the first meal, the first words. Let it be an act of worship and trust that ushers in blessing from God.

PRAYER
Lord, help me enter new seasons with gratitude. Teach me to give first what comes to me in faith and recognition of Your generosity. Amen.

Middle East Nations Unwilling to Resettle Palestinian Arabs

Posted on September 11, 2025

By Arlene Bridges Samuels

Consider this extraordinary fact: Despite the plight of Palestinian Gazans, no Arab or Muslim country has offered to resettle them, even though 52 percent of these war-stricken people want to leave voluntarily, with some hoping to return at a later date. In a recent interview, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu generated controversy over Egypt’s Rafah Border Crossing, a flashpoint following the Hamas-instigated war of 2023. Egypt is one of several Arab nations refusing to help.

Heated exchanges erupted after the popular Telegram channel Abu Ali Express interviewed Prime Minister Netanyahu on September 5. Netanyahu accused Egypt of “imprisoning against their will residents in Gaza who want to leave a war zone.” His criticism was pointed. For years the Rafah Crossing, the southernmost passage between Gaza and Egypt, was an active route for smuggled goods. Netanyahu said he was willing to allow Gazans to leave through Rafah but explained that they “would then be blocked by Egypt.”

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty reacted with “utmost condemnation,” declaring, “Displacement is not an option and we will not allow it to happen.” He claimed there was “no legal or moral or ethical ground to evict people from their homeland.” Abdelatty then accused Israel of “committing genocide,” a false claim perpetuated by Hamas propaganda and embraced by millions. Meanwhile, for nearly two years, Egypt has known that thousands of semitrucks carrying tons of food were allowed into Gaza, though at times Egypt blocked their passage. Distribution of food aid has been obstructed by both Hamas and the United Nations. Hamas steals food at gunpoint, while UN agencies responsible for distribution often abandon the cargo, leaving it to spoil in the sun.

Hamas operates without conscience, fostering violence and chaos against its own population as well as against Jews and others who oppose its extremist agenda. Palestinians are used as human shields, and Hamas prevents much of the population from receiving international food aid worth billions of dollars. Why such waste? It serves Hamas’s propaganda. They starve Palestinians, then blame Israel. This is one of their most destructive strategies. The reality is that the Israel Defense Forces are the only military in the world that warns civilians before attacks. Yet these warnings give Hamas time to prepare ambushes, costing IDF soldiers more lives. Humanitarian aid intended for civilians is instead stolen by Hamas, which then resells it at enormous profit to the very people it is meant to help.

The warrior King David wrote in Psalm 34:14, “Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” The regimes that hate Jews do not embrace peace. Israel has pursued peace countless times, yet to no avail. Today Israel fights for peace not only for itself but for the free world.

The 1979 peace agreement between Egypt and Israel still influences regional policy. Yet little criticism is directed at Egypt’s Rafah Crossing, as the media routinely blame Israel instead. Gaza shares borders only with Israel and Egypt. Both countries closed their crossings in 2006 and 2007. Egypt’s fortified wall along the Gaza border is not new, but in February 2024 satellite images revealed that Egypt quietly began strengthening it. A massive 16-foot-high wall, reinforced with steel and concrete and extending 18 feet underground to block tunnels, was built around its eight-square-mile buffer zone. The wall is also equipped with electronic sensors.

Egypt’s refusal to resettle Palestinians stems largely from national security concerns. Hamas, founded in 1987 as an offshoot of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood, has long threatened the region with violence. Egypt, the United States, and the European Union classify Hamas as a terrorist organization. Yet when Israel points to the same facts, the mainstream media and the United Nations often ignore or distort the truth about the world’s only Jewish homeland.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi has supported Egypt’s refusal, warning that resettling Gazans in Egypt would be “catastrophic” for both parties. Egypt also fears that Gazans would remain permanently. While the UN calls resettlement catastrophic, it continues to promote the two-state solution, which would be catastrophic for Israel. Recent violence illustrates the reality: two Palestinian terrorists from the West Bank murdered six Israelis at a bus stop near Jerusalem. For Israel, the two-state solution is no longer a viable option.

Egypt’s refusal is echoed by Jordan, Turkey, and Qatar. Although Algeria and Kuwait support Hamas politically, they too have offered no resettlement. The United Arab Emirates has shown compassion by building a city for medical treatment and offering temporary sanctuary for injured Gazans, but it firmly rejects permanent resettlement. Why do Arab nations refuse? History provides the answer. Under Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian Liberation Organization was expelled from Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Tunisia for spreading chaos and terror. The same patterns continue today under Mahmoud Abbas’s Palestinian Authority and Hamas.

The reality is clear. Any attempt by Arab nations, or by Israel, to resettle Palestinians invites the risk of instability and disaster.

Our CBN Israel team invites you to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (Psalm 122:6) and to share these truths with family, friends, and churches.

Prayer Points:

Pray for the IDF as they carry out Operation Gideon’s Chariots II in Gaza City.
Pray for the families of hostages, whether their loved ones are alive or dead.
Pray for increased unity between Christians and Jews, and for prayer to lead to action.
Pray for Prime Minister Netanyahu and his cabinet to make wise decisions during Rosh Hashanah, September 22-24.

Arlene Bridges Samuels is the weekly feature columnist for CBN Israel since 2020. Working on the staff of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) as their SE Regional Outreach Director for nine years, International Christian Embassy Jerusalem USA engaged her as the Leadership Outreach Director part-time for their project American Christian Leaders for Israel. Arlene is an author at The Blogs-Times of Israel, is published at AllIsrael.com and The Jerusalem Connection, and has traveled to Israel since 1990. By invitation, she attends Israel’s Government Press Office Christian Media Summits as part of Christian media worldwide. In 2024, Arlene and her husband Paul co-authored Mental Health Meltdown: Illuminating the Voices of Bipolar and Other Mental Illnesses. www.TheMentalHealthMeltdown.com.

Emergency Safe Haven Restored

Posted on September 10, 2025

In June, the world witnessed Iran’s missile strikes on Israel that shook cities and towns across the nation. The city of Bat Yam, near Tel Aviv, was among those hit hardest.

One rocket damaged nearby neighborhoods, leaving destruction in its wake. An apartment complex with 20 families was spared from direct impact, but when residents rushed to the bomb shelter, they found it in shocking disrepair.

The air was thick with mildew, the lights were out, and the stairs were crumbling. Elderly residents could not descend safely, leaving them without real protection in the midst of crisis.

Even months later, Israel continues to face threats from Iran and its terror proxies across the region. Families know they must remain prepared.

Thanks to the compassion of friends like you, CBN Israel quickly partnered with Tenufa baKehila, or “Building Hope.” This dedicated group continues to repair and restore shelters throughout the Holy Land.

Under the leadership of director Gabi Nachmani, the team worked quickly. Gabi said, “We want every person to feel safe. By tonight, families will be able to come here, breathe fresh air, and know they are secure.”

He added, “Working with CBN is a joy. We share the same mission from the Bible—to stand with Israel and make sure Jewish families live in strength and peace.”

One grateful daughter of a resident shared, “My father could not get into the shelter before. Now with the safe steps and railing, he will finally be able to reach it without fear. Thank you for caring so much.”

Her father was moved to tears as he said, “You gave us back our safety. I bless you for helping us. May God reward you.”

Your gifts to CBN Israel continue to bring real hope. You can provide food, shelter, trauma counseling, financial help, and much more for those suffering from the impact of war and terror.

Please join us in making a difference for the needy and vulnerable in Israel!

GIVE TODAY

Arbel: Looking Out Over the Ministry of Jesus

Posted on September 9, 2025

By Stephen Faircloth

High upon the limestone cliffs of Mount Arbel, the land of Galilee unfolds in breathtaking detail. From this height, visitors see the fertile plain of Gennesar below and the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee beyond. It is here that the Gospels tell us 95 percent of Jesus’ ministry took place. To stand on Arbel is to glimpse the stage on which much of His teaching, healing, and miraculous works unfolded.

Arbel may be the same Beth-Arbel mentioned by the prophet Hosea (10:14). The present site, however, took shape at the end of the second century B.C. Jewish settlers, likely part of the Hasmonean expansion into Galilee, built their homes here. Rabbinic tradition even names a prominent sage, Nittai of Arbel, who later served as head of the Sanhedrin. This shows that from early on, the region carried both religious and cultural weight within Jewish life.

The people of Arbel prospered in agriculture. The valley below was especially fertile, producing flax for linen, along with grain, olives, and grapes. Archaeological excavations have uncovered wine and olive presses as well as pools likely used to process flax. Even in the shadow of conflict and empire, Arbel was known for its productivity and resilience.

Yet Arbel also carries a darker history. It was the scene of fierce clashes between Herod and his rivals in the late first century B.C. Rebels sought refuge in the caves carved into the cliffs, where they made their desperate stand. Later, during the First Jewish Revolt, Josephus himself fortified these same caves. Their remains can still be seen today. The cliffs, beautiful yet sheer, remind us of both the strength and the vulnerability of those who once sought safety there.

Centuries later, a synagogue was built in Arbel. Though simple compared to Herod’s fortresses, it stood as a gathering place for worship and teaching. Its ruins remind us that faith endured here long after empires rose and fell.

For believers today, Mount Arbel offers more than history. It offers perspective. From its heights we see the land where Jesus walked, taught, and called His disciples. The cliffs remind us that while kingdoms and rebels built fortresses that crumbled, the kingdom Jesus proclaimed endures forever.

When you look out over your life, what do you see? Are you clinging to crumbling fortresses of your own making, or do you see the enduring kingdom of God? Standing at Arbel invites us to lift our eyes beyond the struggles of this world and fix them on Jesus, whose ministry still transforms lives today.

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.

Weekly Devotional: Living Water or Empty Cisterns

Posted on September 8, 2025

“For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water” (Jeremiah 2:12-13).

In the dry land of ancient Israel, water was the difference between life and death. From November through April, rains nourished the land, but for the rest of the year people depended on springs, rivers, wells, or cisterns.

Springs and rivers offered fresh, flowing water that renewed life wherever it went. Cisterns, on the other hand, were pits dug into rock to collect runoff. They required plaster to keep the water from seeping out. The water inside was stagnant, often filled with sediment, sometimes even spoiled or poisoned. And when cracks formed, the water disappeared altogether.

Through Jeremiah, God compared the people of Judah to those who chose broken cisterns over fresh springs. Instead of trusting Him, the source of living water, they turned to false gods and empty substitutes that could never sustain them. They abandoned the fountain of life for pits that held nothing.

The prophet understood this image personally. His hometown of Anathoth had no natural spring, so the villagers relied on cisterns. He knew the taste of stagnant water, the disappointment of an empty reservoir, and the precious value of a fresh, flowing spring. His metaphor struck at the heart of Judah’s sin: rejecting God for lifeless idols.

The same temptation confronts us today. We are surrounded by cisterns that promise fulfillment such as success, wealth, relationships, and self-reliance. Yet they inevitably crack and fail. They cannot hold water. They cannot give life. Only God can. Jesus echoed Jeremiah’s message when He declared, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink” (John 7:37).

Where do you turn when your soul is dry? Are you sipping from cracked cisterns, or are you drinking deeply from the fountain of living water? Substitutes will always leave us empty, but the life that flows from God never runs dry.

What cisterns have you been tempted to dig for yourself? How might you turn instead to the One who is the true source of living water?

PRAYER

Father, forgive me for the times I have turned to empty substitutes instead of You. Refresh my heart with Your living water, and let Your Spirit flow through every dry place in my life. Amen.

Torah Reading Devotional: Parashat Ki Teitzei (אם־תֵּצֵא)— “When You Go Out”

Posted on September 5, 2025

This week’s Torah reading is Parashat Ki Teitzei (Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19). Read on Shabbat, September 6, 2025 / 13 Elul 5785. The following is a special devotional drawn from this week’s reading.

“You shall not see your brother’s ox or his sheep going astray and ignore them; you shall take them back to your brother. And if he does not live near you, or you do not know who he is, you shall bring it home to your house, and it shall stay with you until your brother seeks it; then you shall restore it to him” (Deuteronomy 22:1-2).

This commandment teaches that responsibility in God’s community goes beyond refraining from harm. It requires us to act with care and intentionality toward the well-being of others. Returning a stray animal may seem small, but it is no small matter to the one who lost it. In God’s eyes, such an act of attention and kindness reflects the deeper character of His people.

When Moses gave this instruction, he reminded Israel that the covenant was not just about worship at the sanctuary or great moments of sacrifice. It was also about how people treated each other in daily life. A community where neighbors return what is lost, rather than looking away, is one where trust is preserved, dignity is honored, and love is made visible.

In our own lives, the spirit of this commandment still applies. Perhaps we do not find a neighbor’s ox wandering the road, but we do encounter people who have lost something of value, whether a belonging, an opportunity, or even their peace of mind. Faithfulness calls us not to ignore these needs but to step in with care, even when it requires time or effort.

There are moments when we may be tempted to say, “It is not my problem,” and walk past. Yet God’s word teaches us otherwise. His people are not meant to live with indifference. Each act of care, no matter how ordinary, bears witness to a God who restores the lost and heals the broken.

If you are in a place of blessing, consider how your stability can serve others. A listening ear, a helping hand, or an act of fairness can become a form of returning what is lost. In these ways, we mirror the heart of God who restores His children to wholeness.

This week, ask yourself where you might put this teaching into practice. Perhaps you can return something misplaced, repair a relationship that has drifted, or restore someone’s sense of hope with an encouraging word. When we choose to notice and respond, we embody the covenant call to love our neighbor as ourselves.

PRAYER
Lord, open my eyes to see what is lost around me. Give me the courage and compassion to restore what I can, whether possessions, peace, or dignity. Let my actions reflect Your faithfulness and love. Amen.

ARTICLES

Charlie Kirk’s Legacy: A Global Awakening of Faith and Courage

Feeding Israel’s School Children

Shiloh: A Lesson in Obedience

Weekly Devotional: Walking the Way of Blessing

Torah Reading Devotional: Parashat Ki Tavo (כִּי־תָבוֹא) “When You Enter In”

Middle East Nations Unwilling to Resettle Palestinian Arabs

Emergency Safe Haven Restored

Arbel: Looking Out Over the Ministry of Jesus

Weekly Devotional: Living Water or Empty Cisterns

Torah Reading Devotional: Parashat Ki Teitzei (אם־תֵּצֵא)— “When You Go Out”

Charlie Kirk’s Legacy: A Global Awakening of Faith and Courage

Feeding Israel’s School Children

Shiloh: A Lesson in Obedience

About CBN Israel

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Charlie Kirk’s Legacy: A Global Awakening of Faith and Courage