ARTICLES

By Stephen Faircloth

Just a few miles north of Nazareth, across the Beit Netofa Valley, lie the remains of the ancient village of Yodfat. In the time of Jesus, it would have been an easy day’s walk from His hometown. Nestled among the hills of Galilee, Yodfat was a working village where daily life revolved around simple but essential tasks. Families raised sheep and goats, spun wool into thread, and wove it into cloth. The discovery of loom weights and pottery fragments reveals a community shaped by labor, creativity, and trade.

Yodfat gives us a glimpse into the kind of places where Jesus lived and ministered. These were not grand cities or centers of power, but ordinary villages filled with people trying to provide for their families and remain faithful to God. In places like this, Jesus taught, healed, and shared the message of the kingdom.

The village also carries a sobering history. During the First Jewish Revolt, it became a fortified stronghold. The Roman army eventually surrounded it, building a ramp to breach its defenses. The historian Josephus, who was present during the siege, described the desperation of those final days. In the end, the village was destroyed and never rebuilt, leaving behind a silent testimony to both human struggle and the passing nature of earthly life.

Yet even in its ruins, Yodfat speaks. Archaeological findings reveal a community marked by both diversity and devotion. Some homes show signs of wealth, with decorative elements similar to those found in Jerusalem. Others reflect the lives of artisans and laborers. There were merchants, craftsmen, and undoubtedly the poor, all living side by side.

More importantly, the remains point to a people committed to their faith. Ritual immersion pools and stone vessels indicate careful attention to purity laws. The absence of certain animal remains reflects adherence to dietary practices found in the Torah. This was a community seeking to honor God in the rhythms of everyday life.

These were the kinds of people who heard Jesus’ voice. When we consider Yodfat, we are reminded that God’s work often unfolds in ordinary places. Jesus did not limit His ministry to prominent cities or influential leaders. He walked through villages like this one, meeting people in their homes, their fields, and their places of work.

Yodfat also reminds us of how quickly circumstances can change. A thriving village became a ruin within a generation. What once felt stable disappeared. Yet God’s purposes continued. The message Jesus proclaimed in those hills did not end with the destruction of a village. It carried forward, reaching far beyond Galilee.

As we reflect on Yodfat, we are invited to consider our own lives. We may not live in ancient villages, but our daily routines are not so different. We work, we provide, we navigate challenges, and we seek meaning in the midst of it all.

God meets us there. He meets us in the ordinary, in the familiar places where life unfolds day by day. Just as Jesus walked the hills of Galilee, He walks with us now, calling us to live faithfully in our own time and place.

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.

“Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ… standing firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27).

What does your life communicate about your faith? Not just in words, but in daily choices, attitudes, and responses. Paul’s encouragement to the believers in Philippi invites us to consider not only how we live, but why it matters.

Paul wrote this letter with deep joy. Though he had faced hardship and opposition in Philippi, he later heard that the believers there were growing strong in their faith. They had not given up. They were standing firm despite pressure. That news filled him with gratitude, but also with purpose. He urged them to continue living in a way that reflected the gospel they believed.

At first glance, his instruction sounds personal: live a life worthy of the gospel. But Paul quickly widens the focus. He speaks of standing firm “in one Spirit” and striving “together as one.” In other words, the way each person lives affects the strength of the whole community.

This challenges the way we often think. Faith can feel like a private matter, something between us and God alone. But Scripture consistently points us toward something bigger. Our walk with Christ is personal, but it is never meant to be isolated. We belong to a larger body, a people, a shared witness.

Every act of faithfulness strengthens that witness. Every compromise weakens it. When we choose integrity, we encourage others to stand firm. When we pursue humility, we help create unity. When we remain steady in difficult moments, we give courage to those around us. Our lives become threads woven into something greater than ourselves.

Paul also reminds the Philippians not to be intimidated by opposition. Living for Christ will not always be easy. There will be resistance, misunderstanding, and pressure to conform. But when believers stand together, rooted in the same Spirit, they find strength that goes beyond what any individual could carry alone.

So, the question becomes more than “How am I living?” It becomes, “How is my life shaping the community God has placed me in?”

A life worthy of the gospel is not about perfection. It is about alignment. It is about allowing the truth of Christ to shape how we think, act, and relate to others. And as we do, we become part of a community that reflects His character to the world.

Your faith matters. Not only for you, but for those walking beside you.

PRAYER

Father, help us live in a way that reflects Your gospel each day. Shape our lives so that we strengthen and encourage those around us. Unite us in Your Spirit and make us a community that honors You. Amen.

Ziva has always lived in a close-knit neighborhood in Beit Shemesh, where families share life’s joys and burdens. That sense of community was shattered in March 2026 when an Iranian ballistic missile struck her area directly, devastating blocks of apartment buildings and displacing hundreds of residents.

At first, Ziva thought the blast was a construction accident. Then the horrifying reality became clear. Nine people were killed, including a member of her extended family. Many others, including children, were rushed to hospitals for surgery after suffering severe injuries. The neighborhood she once knew was left covered in rubble and broken glass.

For Ziva, the trauma has been overwhelming. A mother of four children with special needs, she now struggles with post-traumatic stress while trying to care for her family. The explosion left her too shaken to immediately return to her apartment. “I don’t have the headspace,” she admitted, describing the urgent need for food, clothing, and a safe roof over their heads.

As sirens continued to sound across Israel, fear remained a daily reality for families like hers. With over 250 people displaced and entire buildings deemed unsafe, the path forward feels uncertain.

But in the midst of this crisis, caring and compassionate friends like you were there.

Thanks to the support of generous donors, CBN Israel immediately reached out to Beit Shemesh to provide urgent relief. Food, emergency supplies, and practical assistance were given to families who had lost so much in a single moment. The steadfast partnership of friends like you became a lifeline for Ziva and those facing sudden homelessness and trauma.

Your gifts to CBN Israel can bring hope and stability to families torn apart by war. Mothers, children, and entire communities can receive the help they desperately need as they begin the long process of rebuilding.

Please join us today in standing with Israel’s families in their time of greatest need.

GIVE TODAY

“If you carefully obey my commands I am giving you today, to love the Lord your God and worship Him with all your heart and all your soul, I will provide rain for your land in the proper time, the autumn and spring rains, and you will harvest your grain, new wine, and oil. I will provide grass in your fields for your livestock. You will eat and be satisfied” (Deuteronomy 11:13-15 hcsb).

In an agricultural world where farmers depended entirely on rain, timing could mean the difference between life and loss. If the rains came too early, the crops could be ruined. If they came too late, the fields would dry out and die. Everything depended not just on rain, but on rain arriving at the right time.

As the people of Israel prepared to enter the Promised Land, God gave them a promise that required trust. Unlike Egypt, where irrigation systems could control water, this new land depended on rain from heaven. Survival would rest in God’s hands.

They would plant their fields and wait. Imagine the tension of that waiting. Seeds buried in the soil, no visible growth, eyes scanning the sky day after day. Would the rain come? Would it come in time?

God’s promise was clear. If they loved Him, obeyed Him, and remained faithful, He would send the rain in its season. He would provide what they needed, exactly when they needed it.

But the temptation was real. Other nations worshiped gods they believed controlled rain and fertility. Turning to those gods offered a sense of control, a way to ease uncertainty. It was a way of saying, “What if God doesn’t come through?”

We may not bow to ancient idols, but the struggle is familiar. When God’s timing feels slow or uncertain, we look for ways to take control. We try to secure outcomes on our own. We place our trust in what we can see, manage, or manipulate.

Yet God calls us to a different posture. He invites us to trust Him, not only for provision, but for timing. The rain does come. But it comes in its season.

There are seasons in our lives when we are planting and waiting, when nothing seems to be happening. Prayers feel unanswered. Progress feels delayed. But just as the farmer trusts that growth is happening beneath the surface, we are called to trust that God is at work even when we cannot see it.

God is not late. He is precise. He knows when to send what we need. His provision is not random. It is intentional, timely, and sufficient. When we walk in trust and obedience, we can rest in the assurance that He will care for us.

The question is not whether God will provide, but whether we will trust Him while we wait.

PRAYER

Father, teach us to trust Your timing. When we feel anxious or uncertain, remind us that You see what we cannot. Help us remain faithful and patient, knowing that You will provide exactly what we need in the right season. Amen.

As summer begins, Israel is emerging from months of intense conflict with Iran that left deep scars across the nation. Neighborhoods like Beit Shemesh are still recovering from devastating missile strikes that forced many people to evacuate with little warning.

For thousands of displaced residents, life was abruptly uprooted. Families found themselves living in hotels across the country, trying to process loss, trauma, and uncertainty. Children struggled with fear and disrupted routines. Elderly residents were separated from familiar surroundings. Parents carried the heavy burden of staying strong for their families while coping with their own anxiety.

In the midst of that crisis, the Israel Trauma Coalition stepped in to coordinate critical support. Under the leadership of CEO Talia Levanon, the coalition provided psychiatric care, social workers, and safe play spaces for children who needed stability and reassurance. “It was very challenging,” Levanon reflected. “Not only because people were exposed to trauma and loss, but also because we had to secure the right food, the right social workers, and the right therapy for everyone, from 5-month-old infants to 94-year-old seniors.”

Through a vital partnership with CBN Israel, essential gaps were filled. The generosity of friends like you made it possible to care not only for displaced families, but also for the caregivers and first responders who were reaching their limits. Support for trauma therapists and play therapy programs ensured that those on the front lines could continue helping others heal.

Even amid heartbreak, hopefulness took root. “I was filled with hope,” Levanon said. “I felt that we were coping, that we were together.”

Through your compassion and support, healing and stability can return to families across Israel. You can stand in solidarity with them during one of their most difficult seasons and help restore courage and confidence for the days ahead.

Please join us in offering help and hope throughout the country!

GIVE TODAY

By Stephen Faircloth

Mount Carmel stretches like a green ridge along the Mediterranean coast, where the mountains of Samaria meet the sea. Unlike much of the land of Israel, Carmel is known for its beauty and fertility. Regular rainfall nourishes its slopes, making it a place where crops flourish and life seems secure.

Because of this abundance, Carmel became closely associated with prosperity. The Bible often points to it as a symbol of richness and blessing. Yet this same abundance also made it a center for a dangerous temptation. Just to the north lay Phoenicia, where Ba’al, the god of storms and fertility, was worshiped. On a mountain known for rain and growth, many began to believe that Ba’al was the one providing it.

Over time, the people of Israel drifted. They no longer trusted fully in the Lord. Instead, they tried to secure their future by turning to other sources. If Ba’al controlled the rain, then perhaps he should be honored too. It was a way of easing uncertainty, a way of taking control.

But God had already spoken clearly. He alone would send the rain in its proper time. Trust and obedience were the foundation of their provision. When the people turned away, the rain stopped. A drought settled over the land, exposing the emptiness of their misplaced trust. It was in this moment that Elijah called the nation to Mount Carmel.

The setting was not accidental. This was the very place where Ba’al was believed to rule, where rain and fertility were most evident. There, on that mountain, Elijah confronted the prophets of Ba’al and the wavering hearts of the people: “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him.” The challenge was simple, but deeply personal.

The prophets of Ba’al cried out for hours, calling on their god to respond. Nothing happened. No fire. No answer. No power. Then Elijah prayed. God responded immediately. Fire fell from heaven, consuming the sacrifice and leaving no doubt. The God of Israel alone is the living God. And after the fire came the rain.

This story is not only about a dramatic moment in Israel’s history. It speaks directly into our lives. We may not stand on Mount Carmel, but we often face the same question. Where do we place our trust? What do we look to for security, provision, and control?

It is easy to rely on what seems visible and dependable. Like the people of Israel, we can be tempted to trust in what promises quick results or certainty. But those things cannot truly sustain us.

God still calls us back to Himself. He invites us to stop wavering and to choose. Not halfway, not with divided hearts, but fully. To trust that He alone provides, He alone sustains, and He alone answers.

Mount Carmel reminds us that God is not silent. He reveals Himself. He responds. And when we turn back to Him, He brings restoration. The question remains: will we trust Him completely?

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.

“Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the sons of Israel to go forward” (Exodus 14:15 NASB).

The people of Israel stood trapped. Behind them was Pharaoh’s army. In front of them was the sea. Fear rose quickly, and their voices turned to panic. Had they come this far only to perish in the wilderness?

Moses responded with what sounded like strong faith: “Stand still and see the salvation of the LORD.” It was a call to trust, to wait, to watch God act. And in many moments, that is exactly what faith looks like.

But this time, God answered differently: “Why are you crying out to Me? Move forward.”

In that moment, God challenged not their fear, but their hesitation. The miracle they needed would not come while they stood still. It would come as they stepped forward.

Imagine the scene. The sea had not yet parted. There was no visible path, no sign of escape. And yet God’s command was clear. Go forward.

Faith, in Scripture, is rarely passive. It is not only believing that God can act. It is moving when He calls, even when the outcome is unseen. The people had to step toward the very obstacle that terrified them. Only then did God make a way.

How often do we find ourselves in similar places? We pray, we wait, we hope for God to intervene. We tell ourselves to be still and trust. Yet sometimes, God is not asking us to stay where we are. He is calling us to take a step.

It may feel uncertain. It may even seem unreasonable. But obedience often begins before clarity.

God did not part the sea first and then invite them to walk through. He called them to move, and as they did, He revealed His power. Their action became the doorway to His deliverance.

This is the tension of faith. We want absolute certainty and assurance before we act; however, God often asks for obedience before we see the miracle He wants to perform.

What is the step in front of you today? Where is God asking you to move forward, even though the way is not yet clear?

The same God who made a path through the sea still leads His people. He is not asking us to create the miracle. He is asking us to trust Him enough to step toward it.

As we move, He makes the way.

PRAYER

Father, give us courage to move forward when You call. Help us trust You even when we cannot see the outcome. Teach us to walk in obedience, believing that You will make a way where there seems to be none. Amen.

This week’s Torah reading is Parashat Shmini (Leviticus 9:1-11:47). Read on Shabbat, April 11, 2026 / 23 Nisan 5786. The following is a special devotional drawn from this week’s reading.

“For the LORD said, By those who come near Me I will be treated as holy, and before all the people I will be honored” (Leviticus 10:3).

Parashat Shmini marks a pivotal moment in the life of Israel. After days of preparation and consecration, the priests begin their service in the Tabernacle. Aaron offers the sacrifices as commanded, and the presence of God appears to all the people. Fire comes forth from before the LORD and consumes the offering on the altar. The people respond with awe, rejoicing and falling on their faces. It is a moment of divine nearness and unmistakable glory.

Yet within the same chapter, a sobering event unfolds. Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, offer unauthorized fire before the LORD. Their action, though perhaps well intentioned, does not follow the command given by God. The result is immediate and severe. This contrast between accepted worship and misguided offering reveals the seriousness of approaching God with reverence and obedience. Holiness is not defined by human impulse but by God’s instruction.

Shmini also includes teachings about what is clean and unclean, guiding daily life beyond the Tabernacle. These instructions remind Israel that holiness extends into every area of life. It is not limited to moments of worship but is expressed in choices, habits, and discernment. God calls His people to be set apart, reflecting His character in both sacred and ordinary spaces.

This portion invites reflection on how we approach God. There is joy in His presence and gratitude for His nearness, yet there is also a call to honor Him with sincerity and respect. Worship is not only about emotion or expression. It is shaped by alignment with God’s will. When reverence and devotion come together, they create a space where God’s presence is rightly honored.

Some may be drawn to passion and spontaneity in their spiritual life. This reading encourages balancing that passion with attentiveness to God’s guidance. Others may feel distant or unsure how to approach Him. Shmini offers reassurance that God desires to reveal His presence, while also inviting careful and thoughtful devotion.

As this Shabbat arrives, consider how you are honoring God in both your worship and your daily decisions. Reflect on areas where greater attentiveness or reverence may be needed. Approach Him with humility and gratitude, trusting that His presence brings both joy and transformation. Let your life become an expression of holiness that reflects His glory.

PRAYER
Lord, help me approach You with reverence and sincerity. Teach me to honor You in my worship and in my daily life. May my heart reflect Your holiness and my actions bring You glory. Amen.