ARTICLES

By Stephen Faircloth

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Stephen Faircloth

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Stephen Faircloth

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Stephen Faircloth

The ancient city of Dan marked the northernmost boundary of Israel, often described in Scripture as the land stretching “from Dan to Beersheba.” Situated at the foot of Mount Hermon, Dan was blessed with abundant water from the springs that form one of the headwaters of the Jordan River. This abundance gave the region its lush beauty and made it an attractive place for settlement and trade.

Originally known as Laish, the city was conquered by the tribe of Dan after they could not remain in their allotted territory near the Philistines. They renamed it Dan, and it became a place of both blessing and sorrow. After the kingdom divided, Jeroboam I established one of his golden calves here, building a rival sanctuary that Scripture condemns as “the sin of Jeroboam.” Archaeological discoveries at Dan include the remains of this great high place, as well as inscriptions confirming the site’s role as a center of worship.

The city’s gates also hold a powerful story. Excavators uncovered a stela fragment that mentions the king of Israel and a ruler from the “House of David.” This provides remarkable confirmation outside the Bible of David’s dynasty. Even the gate itself recalls the biblical image of rulers judging at the entrance to the city, a place where power and justice were displayed for all to see.

Dan’s geography and abundance made it an influential site, but it also became a symbol of misplaced trust. Instead of allowing the springs and fertile land to remind them of the Lord’s provision, the people turned to idols. What God had given as a gift was twisted into a substitute for His presence. The prophet Amos later rebuked those who swore by “the god of Dan” (Amos 8:14), showing how deeply idolatry had taken root.

The history of Dan invites us to pause and ask where our own loyalties lie. Do we cling to the blessings while ignoring the One who gave them? Do we build our own “high places” of comfort and control, or do we let God remain the true source of life in our lives? Like the people of ancient Israel, we are tempted to rely on what we can see and touch rather than on the living God who calls us to faith and obedience.

At the same time, Dan’s story reminds us of God’s patience and mercy. Though the people strayed, God continued to send prophets, reminders, and calls to return. Even when His people built false altars, He never stopped desiring their hearts. That same mercy reaches us today. Wherever we have allowed idols to creep in, the invitation remains: return to the fountain of living waters.

Our blessings, like the fresh springs of Dan, are meant to point us back to God, not pull us away from Him. The ruins of Dan whisper this truth across the centuries: no substitute can hold the place of God, and no idol can satisfy like His presence.

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

This week’s Torah reading is Parashat Vayeilech (Deuteronomy 31:1-31:30). Read on Shabbat, September 27, 2025 / 5 Tishrei 5786. The following is a special devotional drawn from this week’s reading.

Then Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel. And he said to them: “I am one hundred and twenty years old today. I can no longer go out and come in. Also the LORD has said to me, ‘You shall not cross over this Jordan.’ The LORD your God Himself crosses over before you; He will destroy these nations from before you, and you shall dispossess them. Joshua himself crosses over before you, just as the LORD has said” (Deuteronomy 31:1-3).

In this moment Moses prepares Israel for transition. He acknowledges his limitations, then points the people to the faithfulness of God and to the leadership of Joshua. Even as Moses steps back, he urges the people to remember that God goes ahead of them into the unknown. The promise is not dependent on the presence of Moses but on the unchanging character of God.

This text teaches us that leadership and legacy are never about individuals but about pointing others to God’s faithfulness. Moses’ final charge is not to depend on him, but to trust the One who leads and remains constant beyond human frailty. Israel is called to move forward into their future even when their founding leader no longer walks with them in person.

In our own lives, transitions come as seasons end, roles change, and guiding voices grow silent. This portion invites us to see that faith cannot rest on people but must rest on God. When we face change or uncertainty, we can hold fast to the One who goes before us. Our task is not to cling to former leaders or past seasons, but to walk forward in the confidence of God’s presence.

If you find yourself in a season of change, whether endings, slowdowns, or new paths, please take courage. God is not leaving you. Even when human strength fades, His faithfulness remains. And if you are in a time of stability or growth, remember that your ability to lead or act is not ultimate. You are a vessel pointing others to a greater strength. Let your influence always serve the One who never changes.

This week, reflect on one area of transition in your life. What step forward do you sense God asking you to take? How can you lean more on His presence than on your own strength or the reputations of others? Let your forward movement show trust in the One who goes before you.

PRAYER
Lord, as I face change and uncertainty, help me rely not on people but on You. May I walk forward in faith, trusting that You go before me and will uphold me. Amen.