ARTICLES

Nazareth: The Village That Formed the Messiah

Posted on December 2, 2025

By Stephen Faircloth

Nazareth, the hometown of Jesus, rests quietly on the Nazareth Ridge in the Lower Galilee. From its limestone heights, the village overlooks the sweeping Jezreel Valley to the south and the fertile Beit Netofa Valley to the north. Though small and unassuming, Nazareth occupies a remarkable place in the story of God’s redemption.

The New Testament gives Nazareth its first mention (Matthew 2:23; Luke 1:26), telling us that Mary lived there and that Joseph brought his family back to Nazareth after their return from Egypt. It is in this humble village that Jesus grew up, learned His earthly trade, worshiped at the synagogue, and began to be known as “Jesus of Nazareth” (Matthew 21:11). Luke also records how Jesus read from Isaiah in the Nazareth synagogue and declared the Scripture fulfilled in their hearing, provoking strong reactions (Luke 4:16-30).

Although few earlier written sources mention Nazareth, archaeology reveals that the area had been occupied for centuries. Excavations show evidence from the Middle Bronze Age through the Iron Age II, and into the Hellenistic and early Roman periods. Tombs discovered from the first century B.C. through the first century A.D. mark the village’s boundaries, since Jewish burial practices required tombs to lie outside inhabited areas. From these finds, scholars estimate that Nazareth in Jesus’ day covered roughly sixty acres and housed perhaps five hundred people.

Nazareth was not isolated. Only 3.8 miles north stood Sepphoris, the capital of Galilee during Jesus’ youth. The close proximity suggests that the people of Nazareth interacted economically and culturally with a major urban center. Moreover, Nazareth’s location between two valleys that carried international trade routes means Jesus likely grew up hearing many languages and seeing travelers from across the region. His early life unfolded not in obscurity but in a village that stood near the crossroads of cultures.

Archaeologists have uncovered what may be a Jewish ritual immersion bath from the early Roman period, a discovery that could point to the location of Nazareth’s synagogue. This site, along with early Christian remains, lies within the modern Basilica of the Annunciation, completed in the 1960s. According to later Jewish tradition, the priestly family of Hapizez settled in Nazareth after the destruction of the Temple in A.D. 70, a detail confirmed by an inscription from Caesarea.

By the fourth century A.D., Christian pilgrims were already making their way to Nazareth. They were shown a cave believed to be the home of Mary, a place long venerated and continuously honored with churches from the Byzantine era onward. Today, Nazareth remains a major pilgrimage site anchored by two historic churches: the Catholic Basilica of the Annunciation and the Greek Orthodox Church built over the ancient spring.

Nazareth teaches us something profound about the ways of God. He often chooses what is small, quiet, and easily overlooked to carry out His greatest work. The Messiah emerged not from a royal city or cultural capital but from a humble Galilean village. God’s purposes often grow in hidden places, taking shape long before the world takes notice.

What places or seasons in your life feel small or overlooked? Nazareth reminds us that God delights in working through humble beginnings to accomplish extraordinary purposes.

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.

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Weekly Devotional: When the Impossible Becomes Possible

Posted on December 1, 2025

“Then Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I do not know a man?’ And the angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you. Therefore, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.’… ‘For with God nothing will be impossible.’ Then Mary said, ‘Behold the maidservant of the Lord. Let it be to me according to your word’” (Luke 1:34-38).

Mary lived in a land burdened by Roman rule, where the people of God longed for redemption and wondered how God’s promises could possibly come to pass. In this climate of waiting and uncertainty, the angel Gabriel appeared to a young woman in Nazareth with a message that would change the world. She would bear the Messiah, the Son of the Most High. Though she believed God, she asked the natural question: “How can this be?”

Gabriel’s answer still echoes across generations: “For with God nothing will be impossible.” What was impossible for Mary was possible for God. What seemed impossible for Israel’s redemption was well within His power. The coming of Jesus reminded God’s people that He enters human history precisely when circumstances appear hopeless.

Mary’s story reflects the story of Israel. Both faced situations beyond human ability. Both wondered how God would fulfill His promises. And in both cases, God intervened through His Spirit and faithfulness. The miraculous birth of Jesus revealed that God’s plans move forward not through human strength, but through His power working in yielded hearts.

Mary did not understand every detail. She did not know how Joseph would respond, how her community would react, or what challenges lay ahead. But she knew the character of God. Her response, “Let it be to me according to Your word,” was an act of profound trust. She surrendered her life to God’s purposes even without knowing how He would accomplish them.

Throughout Scripture, this is how God works. He brings light into darkness, hope into despair, and possibility into impossibility. He opened barren wombs, parted seas, raised up deliverers, and restored the broken. The annunciation stands as a declaration that when God steps into a situation, everything changes. He is with us, and nothing is impossible for Him.

This Christmas, many of us face circumstances that feel overwhelming. Maybe it is a broken relationship, a medical diagnosis, a financial burden, or a burdened heart. We may find ourselves asking the same question Mary asked: “How can this be?”

The invitation of Advent is to trust God even when we cannot see the outcome. It is to believe His word above our fears. God still works through those who trust Him.

PRAYER

Father, thank You for sending Your Son into a world that seemed impossible to redeem. Teach us to trust You when our circumstances feel overwhelming. Give us hearts like Mary, willing to say yes to Your word, confident that nothing is impossible with You. Amen.

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Giving Thanks for the U.S.-Israel Partnership 

Posted on November 27, 2025

By Arlene Bridges Samuels 

Throughout years of travel introducing Christian leaders to Israel, one of the most memorable experiences has always been meeting members of the Israel Defense Forces. Whether standing on the Israel-Lebanon border or overlooking Syrian terrain, IDF briefings have consistently revealed the realities of enemy tactics and regional threats. At the conclusion of these gatherings, participants often expressed gratitude to the soldiers, recognizing that while they defend their own nation, they also stand on the front lines of freedom for the United States.

The enduring partnership between Israel and the United States continues to provide enormous benefits to both nations. Israel serves as America’s most trusted ally and as its eyes and ears in one of the world’s most volatile regions. As families gather around Thanksgiving tables to reflect on God’s blessings, prayers for the U.S. military, the Israel Defense Forces, and their families remain heartfelt and essential.

Together, Israel and the United States have worked to weaken the Islamic Republic of Iran’s military and nuclear ambitions. In the Twelve Day War this past summer, both nations significantly disrupted Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, delaying its program for months or even years. Since the Islamic Revolution of 1979, Iran’s extremist rulers have branded the United States as “the Great Satan” and Israel as “the Little Satan.” For decades, the regime has sought to expand its influence far beyond the Middle East, establishing a presence in the Western Hemisphere, particularly in Latin America.

Venezuela offers a striking example. Once the thriving jewel of South America, it has collapsed under the socialist dictatorships of Hugo Chavez and Nicolás Maduro. Now allied with Iran, Venezuela has become a focal point of Iranian activity in the region. For too long, Americans viewed Iran as a distant threat to Israel and Arab nations in the Middle East. That perception is no longer accurate. Venezuela stands today as a close ally of Iran, the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism.

In September, controversy arose after President Trump authorized the destruction of illegal drug shipments from Venezuela bound for the United States. U.S. warships were stationed in the Atlantic as part of a broader effort to disrupt Iran’s growing foothold in the Americas. A Rand Corporation report revealed that Tehran has turned Venezuela into its weapons depot and trafficking hub. Since 2007, Iran has built factories in Venezuela to manufacture armed reconnaissance and kamikaze drones.

The partnership has generated billions for Maduro’s regime and allowed Iran to evade sanctions while expanding its “axis of resistance” against the West. The distance between Iran and the U.S. has effectively shrunk to roughly two thousand air miles. Elements of Iran’s elite Quds Force have even trained parts of Venezuela’s military.

Venezuela shares a border with Colombia, whose western coastline meets the Pacific Ocean. This geography facilitates the flow of drugs, weapons, and money through both the Atlantic and Pacific corridors. Hezbollah, an arm of the Iranian regime and a designated terrorist organization, remains active throughout Latin America. It operates in Venezuela, Colombia, Argentina, and other nations, financing its activities through drug trafficking, human trafficking, illegal mining, and identity theft.

According to The Daily Mail, Venezuela’s cooperation with terrorists extends beyond military ties. Between 2010 and 2019, the Maduro regime issued more than ten thousand passports to individuals from Iran and Syria. Lebanon, home to Hezbollah, also benefited from these arrangements. Determining how many of these individuals have entered the United States remains virtually impossible.

Hezbollah’s history in Latin America is long and deadly. In 1992, the group carried out a bombing at the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina, killing more than twenty people. Two years later, it bombed a Jewish community center in the same city, killing eighty-five and injuring more than two hundred others. These attacks were among the deadliest in the Americas before September 11, 2001. Although Israel has dismantled much of Hezbollah’s infrastructure in Lebanon, the group’s ideology of hatred continues to inspire acts of terror worldwide. Its growing presence in Latin America poses a renewed threat to both the United States and Jewish communities around the world.

Given Iran’s expanding influence in the Western Hemisphere, recent U.S. military strategies appear designed to disrupt the regime’s ambitions closer to home. On November 24, 2025, the U.S. State Department announced the designation of Venezuela’s Cartel de los Soles as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.

The statement declared: “Based in Venezuela, the Cartel de los Soles is headed by Nicolás Maduro and other senior members of the illegitimate regime who have corrupted Venezuela’s military, intelligence, legislature, and judiciary. Neither Maduro nor his cronies represent Venezuela’s legitimate government. Cartel de los Soles, along with other designated organizations including Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa Cartel, is responsible for terrorist violence throughout our hemisphere as well as for trafficking drugs into the United States and Europe.”

The late Andrei Sakharov, Soviet physicist and human rights advocate, once observed, “A country which does not respect the rights of its own citizens will not respect the rights of its neighbors.” Venezuela’s alliance with Iran and its oppressive governance tragically illustrate this truth.

As Thanksgiving is celebrated across the United States, believers are reminded to give thanks for nations where Christians are free to worship, and to pray for those where persecution persists. Israel stands as a nation where Christians are protected and welcomed, a stark contrast to regions where they are targeted for their faith.

The U.S.-Israel partnership has proven mutually beneficial in countless ways. Israel’s investments in the American economy create thousands of jobs, while more than 2,500 U.S. firms maintain a presence in Israel. Israeli technology helps protect U.S. airports, cyberspace, and vital infrastructure. The two nations share not only intelligence but also a foundation of faith, freedom, and innovation that continues to strengthen their alliance.

As this season of gratitude unfolds, the CBN Israel team extends warm wishes for a memorable Thanksgiving. 1 Chronicles 16:34 reminds us: “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His mercy endures forever.”

Prayer Points:  

  • Pray for the armed forces of the United States and Israel, and for the families who share their sacrifices for freedom.
  • Pray for persecuted Christians in Nigeria, North Korea, Sudan, and other nations where faith is under attack.
  • Pray for the 11,000 IDF soldiers diagnosed with mental health issues and physical injuries after two years of war.
  • Pray for President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu to be guided by divine wisdom and protected as they lead their nations.

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.

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Kibbutz Nirim Return

Posted on November 26, 2025

Kibbutz Nirim was a peaceful community near Gaza’s border. But that changed when Hamas violently invaded on October 7 two years ago. Adele, a longtime resident, recalled the horror her family faced during the brutal onslaught:

“My three grandchildren were on that bed, and we told them, ‘Hide under the blanket. You’re going to hear a loud noise. Don’t come out from under the blanket, no matter what happens.’” Her son-in-law raised his gun, waiting until he saw the safe room door handle move—then he kicked open the door and shot the terrorist who was standing there.

On that day, she saw homes torched and in ruins. Five kibbutz members were murdered, and five hostages taken, with two killed in Gaza. Since then, residents were displaced, living as refugees in their own land…until now. 

Despite the trauma they experienced, Adele and many of her neighbors are returning to Nirim. They are committed to this once vibrant farming village of around 500 Israelis, including 130 children. But they faced big challenges. Hamas had destroyed so many buildings—including the community center, main kitchen, and the kibbutz store. How could they start over?

Thankfully, friends like you were there. Through CBN Israel, donors built them a new community center, with a dining hall, kitchen, and a grocery store. Life has gone from dark silence to the sounds of children playing, and meals being prepared in the new kitchen.

As more residents come back, having a central hub for fellowship has been a true blessing. Adele says, “Thank you for being such loyal friends!” And Michal, another resident, adds, “None of this could have happened without you believing in us and loving us… Thank you!”

Your gifts to CBN Israel can bless war victims with food, safe lodging, trauma therapy, and more—while providing ongoing aid to hurting families and the elderly.

Please join us as we stand with Israel’s people at this crucial time!

GIVE TODAY

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Jordan Valley: The Lifeline of the Land

Posted on November 25, 2025

By Stephen Faircloth

The Jordan Valley forms one of the most dramatic and defining landscapes in the land of Israel. Stretching from the Sea of Galilee in the north to the Dead Sea in the south, it follows the path of the great Syro-African Rift, a vast geological fracture that runs from Syria to central Africa. This deep scar in the earth creates a narrow corridor marked by extremes of beauty, climate, and history.

Here the Jordan River winds its way southward, leaving the Sea of Galilee and meandering more than two hundred miles over a direct distance of only sixty. The twisting course reflects both the shifting terrain and the powerful pull of gravity as the river descends to the lowest place on the surface of the earth. Today, this valley forms part of the modern boundary between Israel, Jordan, and the West Bank, yet in ancient times it served as a vibrant artery that connected regions, peoples, and cultures.

The Jordan Valley long provided one of the main travel routes between the western hill country and the heights of Transjordan. Merchants, shepherds, armies, and pilgrims crossed this corridor as they moved east and west. It also offered a clear north-south route for those journeying between Galilee and Judea. In the first century, many Jewish pilgrims from Galilee used this very road when traveling to Jerusalem for the festivals. The Gospels describe Jesus Himself walking this route on His final approach to the Holy City, passing through Jericho and teaching along the way (Luke 19:1-11).

The northern section of the valley, stretching from the Sea of Galilee to south of Beth Shean, received generous rainfall in antiquity. This made it one of the most fertile regions in the land, rich with agriculture and dotted with thriving settlements. Further south, however, the climate shifts dramatically. The high ridges of Samaria block the moisture from the Mediterranean, transforming the landscape into a harsh and arid expanse. Yet even here, along the riverbanks, thick vegetation grows, nourished by the flowing waters.

Throughout biblical history, the valley hosted towns and cities of great importance. Beth Shean guarded the northern approach from the Jordan; Jericho, one of the world’s oldest cities, dominated the central valley; and sites like Pella, Deir Alla (biblical Succoth), and Rehov served as key administrative and religious centers. Together they formed a chain of life and culture that tied the eastern and western regions together.

The Jordan Valley also appears again and again in Scripture. It is the place where Israel crossed into the Promised Land, where prophets traveled and taught, where John baptized his followers, and where Jesus began His public ministry at the Jordan River. It is a landscape of passage, transformation, and new beginnings.

To stand in the Jordan Valley today is to sense the weight of this history. The winding river, the shifting climates, and the ancient cities all whisper the stories of those who walked before us. This valley was not only a route on a map. It was, and remains, one of the central lifelines of the biblical world, shaping the journeys of prophets, kings, and the Messiah Himself.

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.

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Weekly Devotional: Gleanings from God’s Provision

Posted on November 24, 2025

“When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field when you reap, nor shall you gather any gleaning from your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the stranger: I am the LORD your God” (Leviticus 23:22).

Harvest season was a time of joy and reward in ancient Israel. After long months of plowing, planting, and praying for rain, the farmer finally gathered the fruits of his labor. Yet even in that moment of abundance, God gave an instruction that must have tested human instinct: leave the corners of your field and any fallen grain untouched. Those portions were not for the farmer’s family, but for the poor and the foreigner.

It was a lesson in generosity and humility. The field belonged to the farmer, but the harvest belonged to God. He was the true source of every blessing, and His command invited His people to remember that all provision comes from His hand. Leaving the gleanings was an act of worship, a visible sign that the farmer trusted God enough to give away what might have been his own.

We see this principle in the story of Ruth. A widowed foreigner, she gathered grain from the edges of Boaz’s field and found not only sustenance but redemption. In her humble labor and Boaz’s compassion, the love and provision of God became tangible. What began as an ordinary act of obedience turned into a story of grace that reached all the way to the lineage of Christ.

The command to leave the edges of the field still speaks to us today. It reminds us that faithfulness is not only about what we keep but also what we release. God calls us to live with open hands, to make room in our abundance for others, and to reflect His love and generosity in our daily lives.

Perhaps we no longer reap from physical fields, but each of us has resources, time, and influence that God has entrusted to us. What corners of your “field” might you leave for others? How might you create space in your blessings for someone in need?

When we give freely, we proclaim with our actions that the Lord is our provider. In sharing what we have, we reveal His character to a watching world and participate in His ongoing work of mercy.

PRAYER

Father, thank You for every single blessing and provision You have given me. Teach me to live with an open hand, to see the needs of others, and to share what You have entrusted to me with both faith and generosity. Amen.

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Torah Reading Devotional: Parashat Toldot (תּוֹלְדוֹת) “Generations”

Posted on November 21, 2025

This week’s Torah reading is Parashat Toldot (Genesis 25:19-28:9). Read on Shabbat, November 22, 2025 / 2 Kislev 5786. The following is a special devotional drawn from this week’s reading.

“These are the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham fathered Isaac, and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife” (Genesis 25:19-20).

The opening lines of this portion draw us into the unfolding story of promise, inheritance, and identity. Isaac steps into a covenant already shaped by Abraham’s faith, yet the events that follow reveal how God continues His work in every generation. Rebekah becomes pregnant after Isaac’s prayer, and the struggle between the twins in her womb hints at future tension. Esau and Jacob emerge with contrasting personalities, desires, and destinies. Human choices, family complexities, and divine purposes weave together as God advances His plan.

As the story develops, Esau trades his birthright for a bowl of stew. Jacob, guided by Rebekah, receives the blessing intended for the firstborn. The narrative does not hide the imperfections of this family. Instead, it reveals that God works through real people with real flaws. Isaac’s quiet faith, Rebekah’s insight, Jacob’s ambition, and Esau’s impulsiveness all become part of the larger tapestry of God’s promise. The covenant remains steady even when human actions are shaky and faulty.

This portion invites us to reflect on the legacies we inherit and the ones we create. Every family carries blessing and brokenness. Every life holds patterns passed down and choices that shape what comes next. God calls us to live with awareness, courage, and trust so that His purposes can continue through us. We are part of a story much larger than our own, yet our decisions matter deeply within it.

Some may feel the weight of past patterns or the pressure of expectations. Others may sense the exciting opportunity to build something new. Whatever your place in the story, know that God is present in both the struggle and the promise. He works through imperfect people, just as He did in the lives of Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Esau. How we respond to His guidance helps determine the direction of the generations that follow.

Take time this week to consider your part in the story God is writing. What is one area where you can choose faithfulness over impulse, hope over resignation, or kindness over rivalry? Let your choice become a seed for blessing in your life and in the lives of those who come after you.

PRAYER
Lord, thank You for the generations before me and for the calling You place on my life today. Help me walk with wisdom, courage, and trust so that Your blessing may continue through me to future generations. Amen.

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A World Without Modern Israel

Posted on November 20, 2025

By Arlene Bridges Samuels

Two important questions are often missing from the heated debates about Israel amid the tidal wave of Jew-hatred dominating the news and public discourse. Taking a step back from the noise, both detractors and evangelicals would do well to ask: “What if modern Israel never existed?” And further, “how would its absence, or its destruction over the last seventy-seven years, affect me, my family, my friends, or my nation?”

If we accept God’s perspective as revealed in Scripture, we must act on it. For those of us in the evangelical community, it is now essential to equip ourselves with accurate, fact-based talking points about our ally, Israel. We are engaged in an information war that relentlessly targets the Jewish state, our spiritual homeland. The time has come for us to speak truth and counter lies with courage and clarity.

In addition to our biblical foundation, we must also rely on trustworthy secular sources. Many who oppose Israel reject the authority of the Bible altogether. That should motivate us to meet falsehoods with verified, factual information. Today, we have access to excellent resources that promote information integrity, the responsible use of truth to confront information warfare.

I am an admirer of historian and commentator Victor Davis Hanson, whose scholarship and clarity bring both depth and reason to public debate. In his November 15 broadcast, Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words, he addressed the troubling Tucker Carlson and Nick Fuentes interview that drew more than sixty thousand viewers.

Hanson, who identifies as “a person of Christian faith,” is not a self-proclaimed Christian Zionist, yet he stands out as one of the most eloquent pro-Israel voices in the conservative world. He described Fuentes and Carlson, the former a Holocaust denier and white supremacist and the latter increasingly hostile to Christian Zionists, as representatives of what he calls the “Alt-Alt-Right.” This fringe group accuses Christian Zionists of being “crazy” and of “getting America into wars.”

One of Hanson’s points is especially compelling. Supporting Israel is in the national self-interest of the United States. He notes that Israel is a constitutional parliamentary republic, a democracy surrounded by hundreds of millions of people in nations that are not. As the Zionist Organization of America points out, Israel occupies only one-tenth of one percent of the landmass of the Middle East.

When critics claim that the United States wrongly gives Israel three-and-a-half billion dollars each year in security assistance, Hanson calls it a wise investment. He describes it as a “return on our money,” since Israel’s intelligence and technology cooperation greatly benefit America. He adds, “When we give them F-35s, they don’t call us up and say, ‘It’s broken.’ They improve it, and it works even better.” He also praises Israel’s Iron Dome and Iron Beam defense systems as innovations that serve both nations. His entire podcast is worth hearing.

While Hanson’s argument about national self-interest is persuasive, I believe we can also make a case for personal self-interest. Genesis 12:3 declares God’s promise to Abraham and his descendants: “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse, and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” This verse is not only a covenant but also a divine principle of blessing.

Evangelicals who use truth and knowledge to defend Israel participate in information integrity, an act of faithfulness that honors God and benefits all people, believers and nonbelievers alike. As Proverbs 12:22 reminds us, “The Lord detests lying lips, but He delights in people who are trustworthy.”

When it comes to tangible blessings, Israel’s innovations have improved and often saved lives around the world. These facts provide powerful evidence that the modern state of Israel fulfills God’s promise to be a blessing to the nations.

According to Israel Advanced Technology Industries, a nation of just ten million citizens—eight million Jewish and two million Arab—hosts approximately 1,800 life sciences companies. Israel’s technological and medical advances reach every corner of the globe.

PressureSafe is a handheld device that detects bedsores before they become visible. Bedsores affect two-and-a-half million patients annually in the United States, causing sixty thousand deaths and costing nearly twenty-seven billion dollars in healthcare expenses. PressureSafe is ninety-two percent accurate across all skin tones.

MobileODT, another Israeli innovation, helps prevent cervical cancer, which kills three hundred thousand women each year. The portable, battery-powered ThermoGlide system allows physicians to detect and treat precancerous cells in a single visit. It is used in more than sixty countries where access to follow-up care is limited.

CorNeat KPro is a revolutionary artificial cornea that restores sight in less than an hour of surgery. Each year about two million people lose their vision to corneal blindness, yet donor corneas remain scarce. CorNeat’s synthetic alternative is changing that reality.

MeMed distinguishes between bacterial and viral infections within fifteen minutes using a small blood sample. Misdiagnosis leads to the overuse of antibiotics, and MeMed’s accuracy is saving lives and combating antibiotic resistance.

Flexible Stent technology, first developed in Israel in 1996, has saved countless lives. Israeli companies pioneered drug-eluting cardiovascular stents and innovative nasal stents for sinus surgery.

Outside of medicine, Israel has given the world drip irrigation, WaterGen (which produces clean drinking water from air humidity), cherry tomatoes, ReWalk robotic exoskeletons that help paraplegics walk, and countless breakthroughs in AI, cybersecurity, agriculture, and biotechnology. Israel’s USB drives, GPS systems, and cancer therapies continue to shape our world every day.

Since 1948, this small nation has had an outsized influence on global health, agriculture, technology, and humanitarian relief. Israel’s culture of tikkun olam, the Hebrew phrase for “repairing the world,” continues to inspire both Jewish and non-Jewish innovators alike.

Imagine a world without modern Israel. Millions would suffer or die without its medical technologies. Farmers across continents would lose efficient irrigation systems. Computers, cars, and hospitals would operate with less security and precision. Even those who deny Israel’s right to exist benefit daily from its creativity and compassion.

To equip yourself with verifiable facts rather than opinions, visit Unpacked, a leading resource that documents Israel’s global impact. Become part of the Information Integrity movement and speak boldly about the innovation nation that God has used for centuries to bless humanity.

Our CBN Israel team invites you to join us in prayer and to share truth about our spiritual homeland.

Prayer Points:

  • Pray for Christian courage to speak truth with wisdom and grace to counter misinformation.
  • Pray with thanksgiving that all hostages have finally returned home, whether alive or deceased.
  • Pray for the brutalized hostages who continue to suffer from severe trauma.
  • Pray for President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu to have mutual wisdom as they address the complex challenges in Gaza.

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.

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Elderly Widow: Golda’s Story

Posted on November 19, 2025

At 84 years old, Golda has endured a lifetime marked by hardship and loss. Born during World War II, she lost her father in the battle for Leningrad and barely survived the chaos that followed. Her mother, sick and destitute, carried two small children through hunger, bombings, and the devastation of war.

“The sadness of war never really left us,” Golda recalls. “My mother was always worried about how to feed us. She lost everything, even the photographs of my father.”

Years later, Golda immigrated to Israel, hoping for a new beginning. Life was difficult, but she found strength in her faith and her new home. “In Ukraine, I was bullied for my name, Golda,” she says softly. “Only in Israel did I finally feel I could be myself.”

Now a widow living alone, Golda’s challenges have only grown with age. Her small apartment was once flooded, leaving her without a working washing machine for years. She washed her clothes by hand, struggling daily with loneliness and physical pain.

When CBN Israel learned of her situation, friends like you made it possible to bring help and hope. Through the support of generous donors, Golda received a new washing machine and essential repairs to her apartment. “I’m so happy,” she says with a smile. “It’s wonderful. Something so simple has made such a difference.”

Today, in a nation still recovering from war, Golda treasures the kindness shown to her. “It is very hard to be alone,” she says. “At my age, attention and kindness mean everything. Thank you for caring.”

Through CBN Israel, you can touch the lives of elderly Holocaust survivors and widows like Golda. Your gift provides food, home repairs, and comfort to those who feel forgotten. Together, we can remind them that they are loved and never alone.

Please stand with the people of Israel today and bring hope to those in need.

GIVE TODAY

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Galilee: The Heart of Jesus’ Ministry

Posted on November 18, 2025

By Stephen Faircloth

The region of Galilee is one of the most beautiful and significant areas in the land of Israel. Stretching across the northern portion of the country, its hills, fertile valleys, and cool mountain air set it apart from the surrounding arid landscapes. The name “Galilee” means “circle” or “district,” and it truly served as a crossroads of peoples, trade, and ideas.

Galilee divides naturally into two areas: Upper and Lower Galilee. The high ridges and forested peaks of Upper Galilee rise above 3,000 feet and extend into what is now southern Lebanon. In contrast, Lower Galilee is made up of lower hills and broad valleys, with open farmland and easy travel routes that connected villages and towns. These routes linked the Mediterranean coast to the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan Valley beyond.

The beauty and fertility of this region made it a thriving place for agriculture and settlement throughout ancient times. Its valleys produced rich crops, and its springs provided life-giving water even during the dry season. The peaceful hills and abundant fields of Galilee formed a setting that reflected both God’s provision and His presence among His people.

Galilee also became the heart of Jesus’ life and ministry. He grew up in Nazareth, a small village nestled among the hills of Lower Galilee. Here, He worked alongside His earthly father Joseph, learning the rhythms of village life. From this quiet place, Jesus began His public ministry, traveling through the towns and synagogues of Galilee, teaching the good news of the kingdom of God.

It was in Galilee that Jesus called His first disciples, fishermen who worked the waters of the nearby Sea of Galilee. He performed many of His miracles here: turning water into wine at Cana, calming storms, healing the sick, and feeding multitudes on the grassy slopes near the lakeshore. For those who lived in Galilee, everyday places became holy ground as the presence of God walked among them in the person of Jesus.

The landscape of Galilee still speaks to the heart of faith today. Its hills remind us that God often works through humble beginnings, and its quiet valleys echo with the message of the One who taught by the sea and prayed in the mountains.

When we think of Galilee, we are reminded that the work of God often begins in simple places and among ordinary people. Just as Jesus brought light to Galilee, He brings light to our own lives, transforming the familiar into the sacred.

Where is your Galilee, the ordinary place where God may be calling you to serve, grow, or begin something new? Like the first disciples, may we be ready and willing to follow when He says, “Come, follow Me.”

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.

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