ARTICLES

Standing at Megiddo: Remembering Who Fights for Us

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.

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Weekly Devotional: Never Forget His Faithfulness

“Remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not” (Deuteronomy 8:2).

The command to remember echoes throughout Scripture. Again and again, God calls His people to look back, to reflect on where they have come from, and to recall His hand guiding them through every trial and season. Remember the road you traveled. Remember the hunger, the testing, and the miracles. Remember who sustained you.

It is often in our wilderness seasons that we learn how deeply we depend on God. When life feels uncertain, when our resources run dry, and when our strength fades, we discover His faithfulness. But how quickly we forget once the storm passes. We settle into comfort, and the urgency to cling to Him fades. God reminds us to remember, not for His sake, but for ours.

The Lord gave Israel special times each year to pause and remember His goodness. The biblical festivals were not only times of harvest and celebration, but moments of holy reflection. They reminded the people who sent the rain, who filled the barns, and who led them through the wilderness. Each feast was a living testimony to God’s provision and power.

During the Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot, the Israelites were told to live in temporary shelters for seven days. These booths reminded them of the fragile tents their ancestors lived in when God led them out of Egypt. Every year they stepped away from their sturdy homes and into simple dwellings so that future generations would never forget the God who provided for His people in the desert.

The lesson is clear. Prosperity is never an excuse to forget the Provider. Even when life feels stable, our hearts must remain dependent on the One who carried us when we could not stand on our own.

God calls us to remember so that gratitude and obedience will anchor our hearts. Remembering humbles us. It keeps us from pride and reminds us that every blessing we have has come from His hand.

Take a moment today to look back on your own journey. Think of the wildernesses God has led you through, the times when His grace sustained you, His mercy forgave you, and His power carried you. Each step of the way was marked by His faithfulness.

Never forget where you have come from, and never forget the One who brought you here.

PRAYER

Father, thank You for leading me through every season of life. Help me to remember Your faithfulness and to walk humbly before You in gratitude. In times of blessing or trial, may I never forget that every good thing comes from Your hand. Amen.

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Sukkot: Dwelling Under God’s Shelter

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.

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Torah Reading Devotional: Parashat Ha’azinu (הַאֲזִינוּ) “Listen”

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.

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Israel, The World’s Scapegoat on Yom Kippur 2025

By Arlene Bridges Samuels

The ancient Jewish Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, concludes this evening, October 2, 2025 (5786), after 25 hours of fasting, prayer, rest, and remembrance on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. Both secular and religious Jews, about 17 million people across the globe, have united in diverse practices on every continent, from bustling cities to quiet villages.

In Israel, the ancestral Jewish homeland, daily life comes to a complete halt as more than 7 million Jewish citizens devote themselves to forgiveness and renewal. Streets normally filled with cars become safe havens for children riding bicycles. Families gather in synagogues to recite liturgies that have echoed through the centuries. Among the rituals are Avinu Malkeinu (“Our Father, Our King”), a heartfelt prayer of repentance recited during the Ten High Holy Days; Al Chet, a collective confession of sins; and Kol Nidre, a solemn declaration nullifying rash or unintentional vows from the previous year.

For Christians, repentance is not limited to a single 24-hour period. It is a daily lifestyle grounded in relationship with Jesus, the Jewish Messiah. Yet the Day of Atonement foreshadowed His coming, when He willingly became the ultimate scapegoat for humanity’s sins and wrongdoing. The modern word “scapegoat” refers to someone unfairly blamed for the wrongs of others, but in the context of Yom Kippur its origins reach back to the Exodus.

When Moses descended Mount Sinai carrying the Ten Commandments, he discovered the Israelites worshiping a golden calf. Their disobedience prompted God to establish Yom Kippur as a means of repentance and forgiveness. From then on, scapegoats became central to the rituals of atonement, offering a vivid reminder to both Jews and Christians of humanity’s natural inclination toward sin. Leviticus 16:10 describes how two identical goats were chosen.

One, designated “for the Lord,” was sacrificed for the sins of the people, its blood sprinkled on the Mercy Seat inside the Tabernacle. The other, designated “for Azazel,” became the scapegoat. The High Priest placed his hands on the goat’s head, confessed the sins of the entire community, and symbolically transferred those sins to the animal. The goat was then driven into the wilderness, often over a cliff, to ensure it never returned.

This ancient act pointed forward to Jesus Christ, who fulfilled the role of both goats. He shed His blood for atonement and removed sins far from us. Psalm 103:12 captures this promise: “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” God’s majesty shines through these Old Testament festivals, which reveal a seamless story culminating in Christ. The study of both Testaments together illuminates the depth of His plan for redemption.

Two thousand years later, scapegoating continues in another form. It erupted 725 days ago, when Hamas launched its brutal massacres and unleashed an avalanche of propaganda. Within hours of the October 7, 2023, invasion, much of the world aligned with Hamas’s campaign of lies against Israel and Jews everywhere. Mainstream media amplified those lies, becoming accomplices rather than truth-tellers. They did not commit the murders, yet by uncritically repeating Hamas’s narratives they fueled more violence and antisemitism. Next Tuesday, October 7, marks the somber second anniversary of this attempted modern-day Holocaust.

Hostages remain in Gaza, some alive and others murdered. Food aid sits unused while Hamas manipulates civilians as pawns. Just last month, Hamas executed 20 Palestinians accused of collaborating with Israel. Videos surface of them looting aid trucks, beating civilians, and shooting at international relief teams. Their cruelty is not hidden; it is celebrated.

Israel, meanwhile, makes unprecedented efforts to protect civilians, even evacuating more than 7,000 Palestinians for medical care. Yet the world relentlessly blames Israel for everything. Hamas exploits Israel’s warnings to civilians, urging people to stay put so they can become human shields. Of course, no nation is without fault, but Israel and the Jewish people have become the world’s scapegoats in a new wave of hatred that seeks their destruction. The chilling chant “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” echoes the age-old desire to wipe them off the map.

History’s darkest strategies, once employed by the Nazis, now reappear as a thick black cloud over the world. Will the United Nations, global leaders, and international media outlets repent of their complicity? Even some Christians, Jews, and Muslims deny or ignore the reality that Hamas proudly uses hostages and civilians as shields.

For Christians especially, this is not only a geopolitical conflict but a spiritual one, waged both in the heavenlies and on earth against the God of Israel, the Author of the Bible. Scapegoating Israel is ultimately a rejection of the truth God entrusted to the Jewish people, including the birth of the Messiah through a Jewish virgin.

Psalm 103:12 reminds us of the mercy we receive through Christ.

On this Yom Kippur, we invite you to join CBN Israel in sharing truth, standing against scapegoating, and lifting prayers for Israel.

Prayer Points:

  • Praise God for atoning for our sins through Jesus.
  • Pray for Israelis as they face the painful two-year anniversary of October 7, 2023.
  • Pray for the members of the IDF risking their lives in Gaza City.
  • Pray for the families of the 913 IDF soldiers, sailors, and airmen who died defending their nation during Operation Swords of Iron.

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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Yom Kippur: A Call to Repentance and Renewal

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.

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Dan: At the Northern Gate of Israel

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.

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Weekly Devotional: Making Things Right with God and Others

“Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:23-24).

The Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur, is the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. It is a day of fasting, prayer, and repentance. Yet before the people of Israel ask God for forgiveness, they first seek reconciliation with one another. The lesson is clear: we cannot be right with God while remaining at odds with our neighbor.

Jesus affirmed this truth in His teaching. He told His listeners that if they remembered a broken relationship while presenting an offering at the Temple, they were to stop, leave their gift, and go make things right. For those living in Galilee, this meant a journey of at least four days back home, reconciliation, and then a return trip to Jerusalem. Reconciliation with others is not optional. It is the foundation for worship that pleases God.

Ancient Israel recognized different kinds of sin: deliberate sins against God, unintentional sins against God, and sins against one’s neighbor. Offerings and repentance could address sins against God, but offenses against others required more. They demanded confession, restitution, and reconciliation. Only then could a person stand before the Lord with a clean heart.

This practice continues in Jewish life today. In the days leading up to Yom Kippur, people search their hearts, ask forgiveness, and repair broken relationships. They do this because they know they cannot seek God’s pardon while ignoring the hurts they have caused.

The New Testament carries the same message. Zacchaeus demonstrated his repentance by making restitution, and Jesus declared that salvation had come to his household (Luke 19:8-9). John wrote that anyone who claims to love God but hates a brother or sister is a liar (1 John 4:20). Genuine love for God is proven by love for others.

As we reflect on the Day of Atonement, we are reminded that true reconciliation begins with humility. God calls us not only to confess our sins to Him but also to repair what is broken with the people around us. A restored relationship with God flows through restored relationships with others.

Is there someone you need to forgive or someone from whom you need to seek forgiveness? Ask God for the courage and humility to take the first step. Reconciliation opens the way for His blessing.

PRAYER

Father, search my heart and show me where I need to seek forgiveness or offer it. Give me the humility to repair broken relationships and the grace to walk in love, so that I may come before You with a pure heart. Amen.

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Torah Reading Devotional: Parashat Vayeilech (וַיֵּלֶךְ) “He Went”

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.

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Jewish New Year 5786: Hope Rising Amid Hatred

By Arlene Bridges Samuels

Am Israel Chai! The people of Israel live against all odds. With this week’s arrival of Rosh Hashanah, the “Head of the Year,” the nation of Israel is celebrating its 5786th year. Since the attacks of October 7, 2023, this ancient declaration has taken on deeper meaning. It has become a cry of defiance, resilience, and solidarity.

Not speaking as a prophet but as an observer, it is clear that a convergence of global events is unfolding. These events are marked by both hope and hate.

Hopes are reflected in the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, also known as “the birthday of the world,” which rabbinic tradition identifies as the day God created Adam and Eve. Prior to the holiday’s arrival on September 22, fifty thousand people gathered at the Western Wall for Selichot, prayers of forgiveness recited as spiritual preparation for the High Holy Days. Voices lifted petitions for the return of hostages, both living and deceased, and for the protection of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers engaged in the ongoing fight against the hatred of Hamas.

The year 5786 opened with celebration. Rosh Hashanah, which began at sundown on September 22 and concluded after nightfall on September 24, was observed with the sounding of the shofar on both mornings of the holiday and the traditional dipping of apples in honey to symbolize a sweet year ahead.

Events of hatred converged at the same time. One example is found in the continued hostility of the United Nations toward Israel. The U.N. Security Council deliberately scheduled its first briefing on the Hamas-instigated war to coincide with Rosh Hashanah. The 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, which includes Iran, Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan, and Algeria, pressed for this timing, knowing that many Israeli officials would be unable to attend.

Once again, the eighty-year-old United Nations, originally created to foster peace and cooperation after World War II, has strayed far from the noble intentions set forth in its founding documents. According to the Charter’s preamble, its mission is to prevent war, uphold human rights, and advance justice and cooperation among nations. In reality, it has failed to achieve these aims.

The U.N.’s refusal to acknowledge the obvious fact that Hamas launched the war on October 7, 2023, explains Israel’s emphatic rejection of last week’s vote for a Palestinian state. Although the vote called for a peaceful settlement for Gazan Palestinians, none of the 142 nations supporting it expressed willingness to resettle them. Under the Trump administration, the United States continued to oppose a two-state solution in Israel.

On September 21, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that leaders recognizing a Palestinian state after the October 7 massacre “are granting an enormous prize to terror.” He added, “It will not happen.” He also reminded the world that Israel has “doubled Jewish settlement in Judea and Samaria.”

Despite the persistent animosity of the U.N. General Assembly, numerous sources of hope reveal the resilience of the Jewish people. Several developments in Israel’s military realm, both technological and human, are remarkable.

One breakthrough is Israel’s Iron Beam, a high-powered laser weapon that intercepts and destroys rockets, mortars, aircraft, and UAVs. Scheduled for deployment by the end of 2025, the Iron Beam will make Israel the first nation in the world to employ laser interception for air defense. This unprecedented technological achievement will join Israel’s existing systems, including the Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow. The Iron Beam will bear the name “Ohr Eitan” (Eitan’s Light), in memory of Captain Eitan Oster, a heroic officer killed in southern Lebanon. Captain Oster’s father was one of the system’s chief developers. Another striking advantage of the Iron Beam is cost: while a single Iron Dome interceptor missile costs around $100,000, the new laser system neutralizes threats for only a few shekels per use.

Amir Baram of the Ministry of Defense emphasized the innovation’s global importance: “For the first time in history, we have the ability to fight with beams of light.”

Another source of hope is the IDF’s Lone Soldiers program. Over the past two years, more than 5,000 young men and women from over 60 nations have left their homes and families to defend the world’s only Jewish homeland. After October 7, their hearts were stirred to fly to Israel and put on the uniform of the IDF. They now serve alongside native-born Lone Soldiers, young Israelis who were orphaned or estranged from their families. What unites them all is an uncommon sense of purpose and a willingness to sacrifice for something greater than themselves.

A further convergence of hope was seen in the September 21 Memorial Gathering for Charlie Kirk. Though he did not wear an IDF uniform, Charlie believed that God had called him to lead a generation of students to love God and the United States. He was also a steadfast advocate for Israel and the Judeo-Christian faith.

After his second visit to Israel in 2019, he was interviewed by Israeli broadcaster Yishai Fleisher, international spokesperson for the Jewish community of Hebron. Charlie drew a sharp distinction between the IDF’s moral restraint and Hamas’s cruelty. He admitted that although he had considered himself pro-Israel before visiting, Western media had influenced his perspective until he saw Israel for himself. He observed that Israel’s disengagement from Gaza in 2005, when Jewish residents were forcibly removed from their homes, was “the biggest mistake Israel ever made.” His most piercing question was simple yet profound: “How can anyone occupy their own land?”

Though Charlie’s voice is missed, his legacy continues. Millions have been inspired to pursue righteous activism. His memorial service broke records, with Turning Point USA estimating over 100 million views, and the numbers are still rising. The proclamation of the Good News of Jesus’ sacrificial love reverberated worldwide, carried by leaders in ministry and politics.

Erika Kirk, Charlie’s widow and now CEO of Turning Point USA, spoke words of forgiveness that reflected the heart of Christ. “That young man… I forgive him because it was what Christ did, and it’s what Charlie would do. I forgive the man who killed my husband.”

The CBN Israel team invites you to join us in prayer and to be a bold voice for truth!

Prayer Points:

  • Pray for a safe Israel during their High Holy Days.
  • Pray for IDF members on the ground in Gaza City during their daunting operation.
  • Pray for Erika Kirk, her children, and Turning Point USA.
  • Pray for the IDF to locate hostages, whether living or deceased.
  • Pray for a total victory over Hamas.

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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