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Caesarea: Where the Gospel Penetrated the Gentile World

By Stephen Faircloth

Tucked along the sparkling coast of the Mediterranean, the ancient city of Caesarea wasn’t just a marvel of Roman engineering—it was a stage where God’s unfolding plan for the world stepped into the Gentile arena. For anyone walking its ruined streets today, it’s easy to imagine Roman chariots racing in the stadium or waves lapping against Herod the Great’s grand harbor. But the stones of Caesarea whisper of something greater: the unstoppable reach of the Gospel.

It was here, in Caesarea, that the Gospel of Jesus Christ broke through a cultural and spiritual barrier that had long divided Jews and Gentiles. In Acts 10, the apostle Peter was summoned to the house of Cornelius, a Roman centurion described as “God-fearing.” As Peter preached, the Holy Spirit fell upon Cornelius and his household—Gentiles receiving the same Spirit as the first Jewish believers in Jerusalem. In that moment, the family of God flung its doors wide open. No longer was the good news reserved for one people, but for all nations, just as Jesus had promised.

The city witnessed not only divine breakthroughs but also divine judgments. Herod Agrippa I, the grandson of Herod the Great, died in Caesarea, struck down after accepting the praises of the people as if he were a god (Acts 12:19-23). Both Scripture and the historian Josephus record this sobering event, reminding us of the peril of pride and the glory that belongs to God alone.

Caesarea also served as a crossroads for the apostle Paul. From here, he sailed on missionary journeys, faced trials under Roman rulers like Felix and Festus, and ultimately appealed to Caesar, setting the course for his voyage to Rome (Acts 23-27). During this time, Luke, Paul’s companion and the author of Luke and Acts, likely remained free to move about the land. It’s not hard to imagine Luke walking the streets of Jerusalem or sitting with eyewitnesses, gathering the material he would later weave into his Gospel (Luke 1:1-4). Even in chains, God’s servants were at work, and His Word was moving forward.

The city itself was a testament to Roman ambition. Herod the Great transformed a modest Phoenician port known as “Strato’s Tower” into a grand harbor he called Sebastos, honoring Caesar Augustus. Around it rose temples, palaces, theaters, and baths. Yet amid all this grandeur, a simple stone discovered by archaeologists stands out: the Pilate Inscription, a dedicatory plaque mentioning Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor who condemned Jesus. It’s a quiet reminder that even powerful men like Pilate lived in the shadow of a much greater King.

In A.D. 66, Caesarea again became a flashpoint—this time as the First Jewish Revolt ignited. The city’s tensions exploded in violence, and in its stadium, the Roman general Titus forced 2,500 Jewish captives to fight to the death in grisly celebration. What had once been a place of Gospel peace now echoed with the horrors of war and vengeance.

Yet God was not done with Caesarea.

In the centuries that followed, Caesarea became a beacon of Christian thought. The great teacher Origen spent over two decades here, establishing a theological school and one of the ancient world’s finest libraries. From this treasure trove of knowledge, Eusebius, the “Father of Church History,” would write his sweeping account of early Christianity, preserving the memory of martyrs, apostles, and faithful communities.

Caesarea reminds us that God’s story moves through unlikely places. It marched into a Roman stronghold, shattered cultural boundaries, and transformed a harbor of empire into a harbor of faith. Whether you’re standing in a grand city or feeling small in your corner of the world, remember this: the Gospel has never been confined by walls, rulers, or borders.

Like Peter, may we be ready to go where God sends us, even if it surprises us. Like Paul, may we be faithful—even in chains. Like Cornelius, may we hunger for truth and welcome it when it comes. And like those who walked the streets of Caesarea long ago, may we be part of God’s great story—anchored in Christ and carried by the Spirit to the ends of the earth.

Stephen Faircloth serves as President of CBN Israel, where he is passionately committed to supporting the nation and people of Israel. He leads a broad range of advocacy efforts and humanitarian initiatives that bring practical aid and lasting hope to some of Israel’s most vulnerable—terror victims, Holocaust survivors, refugees, and families facing deep poverty.

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Weekly Devotional: Rooted to Flourish

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:1-2 NKJV).

You’ve probably heard the phrases, “You are what you think,” and, “Choose your company wisely.” Psalm 1 echoes both sentiments. It tells us that the person who experiences God’s blessing is the one who avoids destructive influences and instead finds joy in God’s Word—meditating on it continually.

Who we surround ourselves with shapes our thinking, our actions, and ultimately our character. The psalmist warns us to stay alert and discerning, steering clear of voices that lead us away from truth. Instead, we’re called to intentionally delight in God’s instruction and let it shape our hearts and lives.

The one who does this, the psalmist says, is like “a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither” (v. 3). In a dry, arid land, this image speaks of vitality, strength, and resilience. A life rooted in God’s Word will flourish—even in harsh conditions. 

But it’s not just about surviving—the tree bears fruit. It thrives. In Scripture, fruit is a common metaphor for the visible evidence of inward transformation. It represents character, choices, and actions that flow from a life deeply rooted in God.

When we immerse ourselves in His truth and allow it to reshape us, it doesn’t stay hidden inside. It overflows—producing love, righteousness, peace, and wisdom that bless others and glorify God. True spiritual growth will always manifest in how we live, how we serve, and how we love.

The psalm brings this powerful image to a close with a promise: “Whatever he does shall prosper.”

Spiritual growth doesn’t happen by accident. It requires vigilance, intention, and a steady delight in the Lord’s ways. The question for each of us is: Are we bearing fruit, or are we more like the chaff blown away by the wind (v. 4)?

What do you delight in—and what does your life reflect?

PRAYER

Father, help me to guard my heart and mind from anything that would draw me away from You. Teach me to love Your Word and meditate on it daily. May my life be rooted in Your truth and bear fruit for Your glory. Amen.

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Israel’s Lion Rises—and the U.S. Hammer Strikes at Midnight

By Arlene Bridges Samuels

On Thursday afternoon, June 12, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu walked to the Western Wall (Kotel) with his prayer shawl draped over his suit and the customary kippah on his head. He wedged a note from Numbers 23:24 into the crevice, “Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion.”

The note in the Kotel was made public the next day—after Netanyahu’s address during Israel’s Operation Rising Lion ascending out of ancient Jewish history before the air strikes on Iran early the next morning. Indeed, the Lion is rising with God’s Hand—evident in extraordinary plans and miracles, despite the faltering Islamic Regime that deliberately targeted Israeli civilians and infrastructure.

Days passed during which Israel fought alone with extraordinary success against the Islamic Regime, the world’s largest terror threat. Global news outlets and commentators declared that division existed between President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu. Would the U.S. commander-in-chief utilize our B-2 stealth bombers to drop the Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), often dubbed the “bunker buster” bomb—on Fordow, Iran’s deepest underground nuclear production site?

The answer exploded into headlines in the early hours of Sunday, June 22. Our commander-in-chief, President Donald J. Trump, who earlier gave the Islamic Regime a final two-week ultimatum for diplomacy, acted militarily after the Regime’s pointed refusal. The United States B-2 Spirit stealth bombers struck Iran’s nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. The operation was code-named Midnight Hammer, and President Trump enacted his covert maneuvers with his words and schedule. He spoke in nonspecific terms, presented a calm demeanor, and maintained a normal schedule—that is, until right before Midnight Hammer began.

Planned diversionary flights by U.S. stealth bombers headed east in an aerial fake. Other B-2s flew west toward Iran, their true destination to destroy three nuclear sites. In a cooperative goal to disable the terror regime, Midnight Hammer and Rising Lion implemented their own specialized skills and weaponry. Israel never asks the United States for boots on the ground, and during the B-2 attacks, Iran fired no missiles at our U.S. Air Force and no military personnel were harmed. The precision of the Israel and American air forces in targeting only military sites and Islamic Regime terrorists is admirable. In contrast, Iran’s leaders directly attack Israeli civilians, which is unsurprising since that is how Iran’s proxies Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis have functioned during decades of evil.

At this writing, a ceasefire is in place between Iran and Israel, brokered by President Trump. Currently described as the Twelve Day War, Israel extraordinarily met its goal to disable Iran’s nuclear dream of destroying the world’s only Jewish state. Since 1979, the Islamic Regime and its surrogates have attacked and killed Americans upwards of 45 times. In the Iran hostage crisis of 1979, 66 Americans were held captive for 444 days in the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. In 1983, Iran-backed Hezbollah drove a truck bomb into a U.S. Marine compound in Beirut, Lebanon, killing 220 Marines. In the Iraq War, Iran-backed terrorists killed at least 603 American soldiers. In 2020, an Iranian ballistic missile hit an American air base, leaving 100 American soldiers with traumatic brain injuries. President Trump not only aided Israel with our precision stealth bombers, he enacted justice for our country!

Although the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and our State Department have issued domestic and global alerts for our vigilance, it seems the U.S., Israel, and the world can rest a little easier for now. 

Oppressed Iranian citizens are celebrating the possibility of freedom after more than four decades of Islamic tyranny. Nevertheless, almost immediately, outrage against President Trump was voiced by Democrats, leftists, and Islamist imams in the United States. President Trump has remained consistent since he first ran for president, repeatedly declaring, “Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.” He added on May 13, “Iran can have a much brighter future—but we’ll never allow America and its allies to be threatened with terrorism or a nuclear attack. The choice is theirs to make. We really want them to be a successful country.” Although he preferred demonstrated diplomacy smartly done, he acted on peace through strength as the only solution to disarm Iran’s goal of destroying Israel and America to gain worldwide dominance.

President Trump’s stance is the opposite of past American leaders’ appeasement. Their disastrous 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action Joint (JCPOA) was based on their inability or refusal to recognize the difference between evil and good. During the Obama and Biden eras, Hillary Clinton and John Kerry directed an operation of deception to foist it onto Americans. Obama made a $400 million cash transfer to the Ayatollahs. Biden as president gave huge sanctions relief that amounted to $16 billion. When John Kerry ran the State Department, he blocked FBI arrests of Iranian operatives in the U.S. to protect the misguided JCPOA agreement.

When you hear less-than-reliable versions about the decisions of President Trump or Prime Minister Netanyahu, recall these examples of free speech hatred in the United States. Yasir Qadhi—a Muslim cleric in Plano, Texas, who is considered the “architect of Islamization in Texas”—pushes American Muslims to unite against non-Muslims, whom he refers to as Kaffir—“filthy unbelievers.” Praising the Islamic Regime, he is against Muslims who do not agree with his ideological warfare.

Say what you will, it does not change the fact that President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu know the vast difference between evil and good. They have acted in a war they did not ask for but which was necessary to gain peace for our world through strength. They are rational leaders seeking peace by disabling the irrational Islamist Regime instigating hate through terror. Polling varies, and while Americans are anxious about what’s next, three in four voters now see Iran as a real security threat.

On June 21, when President Trump gave his speech after the U.S. Air Force’s precision strikes to cut off the head of the Iranian snake, he declared in closing: “I want to just say we love You, God.” On June 22, PM Netanyahu returned to the Kotel to give thanks for President Trump and pray for the IDF. Again referring to Numbers 23:24, he commented: “Today I return to the same place—and there is a new note: ‘And a nation rose as a lion.’”  

Our CBN Israel team welcomes you to join us with prayers reflecting on this verse: 

Revelation 5:5: “Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Prayer Points:

  • Pray for U.S. Army soldiers stationed in Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates. 
  • Pray for Israeli civilians under fire from Iranian ballistic missiles.
  • Pray for displaced Israeli families and for Israel Defense Forces.
  • Pray for Iranians longing for freedom.

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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Hope Reaches Israelis Under Fire

Since the war with Iran began, Israel has endured relentless missile attacks, leaving behind a trail of devastation. Communities across the country are reeling, and the need for immediate relief has never been greater.

In the coastal city of Bat Yam, just south of Tel Aviv, an Iranian missile struck a residential building—destroying it and rendering several surrounding buildings uninhabitable. Hundreds of residents were suddenly displaced, forced to flee their homes with nothing but the clothes on their backs.

One elderly survivor shared her harrowing experience: “The building was shaking. I was holding the door shut—and it felt like it was going to fly off.”

CBN Israel’s Nicole Jansezian reported from the heart of the destruction: “It was here that an Iranian missile made a direct hit—demolishing one building and shearing off the side of another. The damage left many structures around this area completely unlivable.”

CBN Israel’s Roberto Torres-Cedillo was also on the ground, speaking with survivors and witnessing the relief efforts firsthand.

“Today, a bus is taking elderly residents—including Holocaust survivors and people with disabilities—from Bat Yam to a safe shelter in Netanya.”

Thanks to the compassionate support of donors like you, CBN Israel quickly launched a trauma hotline, providing emotional and spiritual care for those grappling with shock, fear, and grief.

Roberto shared the deep gratitude of those receiving help: “Thank you to the donors who are sharing God’s love during this time—reminding the people of Israel that the God of Israel sees them, and that even in mourning, they are not alone. ‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.’”

And your gifts to CBN Israel can make a life-changing difference for many others who are hurting in the Holy Land. You can be there for those in need with groceries, essentials, housing, financial aid—and encouragement.

Please help us bring healing to hearts and homes in crisis!

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The Elah Valley: Where Faith Faced Fear

By Stephen Faircloth

Scripture often speaks not only through words, but through the land itself. The hills, valleys, and roads of ancient Israel weren’t just a backdrop—they were part of the message. To walk the land is, in many ways, to walk into the heart of the Bible’s message. One powerful example is the Elah Valley—a place etched forever in the memory of God’s people as the site where a shepherd boy’s faith overcame a giant’s threat.

This valley was not chosen at random. The biblical author of 1 Samuel 17 places the clash between David and Goliath right here for a reason. The geography tells a story that magnifies the miracle.

To picture it, imagine Israel as a loaf of bread: tall in the center and flat on either side. That center is the Hill Country—home to Bethlehem, where David was born. To the west lies the Coastal Plain, where the Philistines held power. Between them lies a transitional region called the Shephelah, a series of rolling hills and fertile valleys—natural highways between enemy territories. One such highway is the Elah Valley.

This valley was more than a battlefield. It was a threshold between light and darkness, between the people of God and the forces seeking to conquer them. On one end stood Gath, Goliath’s hometown—symbolizing defiance and brute strength. On the other stood Bethlehem, the city of David—symbolizing covenant, promise, and God’s chosen future.

When the Philistines encroached upon the Elah Valley, their aim wasn’t just a skirmish—they were advancing toward Bethlehem, toward the heart of Judah. Their movement was strategic, their goal clear: to gain a foothold in Israel’s highlands and disrupt the plans of God’s people.

Enter David.

Sent by his father Jesse to check on his brothers, David didn’t arrive at the battlefield by chance. He walked a path his ancestors had known, through a valley his enemies coveted. What began as an errand quickly became a divine appointment. Where others saw a giant, David saw an opportunity for God to be glorified. His courage was not rooted in military prowess but in a deep, immovable trust in the Lord of hosts.

Even today, you can stand in the Elah Valley and trace the brook where David chose five smooth stones. You can see where the Philistine forces gathered, and where Saul’s army waited. The very land still whispers of that unforgettable moment when faith stepped forward, and fear fell.

The Elah Valley reminds us that battles—both ancient and personal—are often fought in in-between places. The terrain may feel uncertain, the threat intimidating. But it is precisely there, in that valley between opposing forces, that God often reveals His power.

As you read the story of David and Goliath, don’t just see a boy and a giant. See a valley of decision, where geography and destiny collided—and where God’s faithfulness shone through the courage of one who trusted Him completely.

When you understand the land, you begin to understand the heart of the story. And when you walk through the valleys of your own life, remember: the God of the Elah Valley still fights for His people.

Stephen Faircloth serves as President of CBN Israel, where he is passionately committed to supporting the nation and people of Israel. He leads a broad range of advocacy efforts and humanitarian initiatives that bring practical aid and lasting hope to some of Israel’s most vulnerable—terror victims, Holocaust survivors, refugees, and families facing deep poverty.

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Weekly Devotional: Let Your Light Shine—Living for God’s Glory

Have you ever truly reflected on Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:16 (NLT)? “Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”

It’s easy to point fingers at culture, politics, or the media for the spiritual decline we see around us. But Jesus turns the spotlight inward. He tells us we are the ones who shape how people see God. Our lives, our choices, our visible faith—these are what lead others to glorify our Father in heaven.

The challenge is that many believers compartmentalize their faith—treating their “spiritual life” as something separate from the everyday. But Jesus didn’t call us to a private faith. He called us to a faith that touches everything—how we work, serve, speak, give, and treat others.

What draws people to God? Not arguments or appearances, but a life consistently lived with integrity and compassion. When our actions reflect Christ in the ordinary and unseen moments, the light of God shines into the darkness.

The prophet Amos rebuked Israel not just for empty religious rituals, but for their injustice: “They sell honorable people for silver and poor people for a pair of sandals. They trample helpless people in the dust and shove the oppressed out of the way” (Amos 2:6-7).

Their mistreatment of others dishonored the very God they claimed to worship.

Could it be that one reason many turn away from God today is because His people misrepresent Him? Church services and spiritual disciplines are vital—but it’s in the way we treat our neighbors, colleagues, and even strangers that God’s reputation is most clearly displayed.

So ask yourself: Do my words and actions reflect God’s love? Do they inspire others to praise and worship Him?

PRAYER

Father, let my life be a reflection of Your goodness. May everything I do and say bring glory to Your name and draw others to know and worship You. Amen.

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Are the Iranian People on the Brink of Freedom?

By Arlene Bridges Samuels

We are witnessing world and biblical history in the making. Like David bravely confronting Goliath in 1012 B.C., Israel in A.D. 2025 is crushing the world’s deadly threat from the Islamic Regime—3,037 years later. Despite Iran deliberately directing its ballistic missiles toward Israel’s civilians, Jews are incredibly resilient. Yet they are painfully aware of the incredibly high stakes of victory amid deaths, injuries, and frequent dashes to bomb shelters. 

Israel has been fiercely engaged in a defensive war since October 7, 2023—fighting not only for its own existence but also on the frontlines for the United States and the free world. The rallying cry Am Yisrael Chai (“The people of Israel live”) expresses gratitude to God for His eternal, redemptive plans enacted through the Jewish people.

Today, via worldwide media, millions of people on planet Earth have a front-row seat to Israel’s Operation Rising Lion—the daring military operation targeting Iran’s military and nuclear strength. However, Marziyeh (Marzi) Amirizadeh, born and growing up amid the oppressive Islamic Regime for 33 years, suffered in another kind of front-row seat in 2009. After their radical conversion to Jesus, Marziyeh and a friend ran a covert operation giving out 20,000 Bibles. They were spied on by the Regime’s authorities, then arrested—and brutally forced into Evin Prison, one of the worst in the world.

Sentenced to death by hanging, Marzi underwent punishing traumas before being miraculously released nine months later. She legally immigrated to the United States and obtained her American citizenship. Years later, she fulfilled a long-held hope by visiting Israel in 2023 for the first time. She has now visited Israel three times. Her most recent trip last fall was the inaugural tour sponsored by Jonathan Feldstein, founder of the Genesis 123 Foundation, and Marzi’s NewPersia.org.

These two remarkable people created the organization Root & Branch, which offers a meaningful way for Christians to connect with Israel. Jonathan, an Israeli modern Orthodox Jewish father and grandfather, and Marzi, a Christian author and speaker, pioneered this specialized tour. It combines an agricultural pilgrimage to harvest olives with spiritually uplifting activities along the Gaza border and interacting with the IDF.

Marzi’s life reflects her mission to promote understanding and freedom for her Iranian people and to stand firmly with Israel. A beautiful Iranian American, she loves her “Jewish Savior’s homeland.” I invite you to read about and connect with my remarkable friend at www.NewPersia.org  

Hers is a significant voice, now more than ever during Israel’s Operation Rising Lion. In 1979, when the apocalyptic Ayatollahs ousted the government of Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran, the new government’s malicious nature expanded into a behemoth of worldwide terror that is more obvious now than ever before. 

Marzi is a sought-after speaker/author for interviews in Israel, America, and beyond. Sharing a few of her firsthand perspectives will illuminate both the Islamic Regime’s evil mindset and the hopes of the 90 million inhabitants still longing for freedom.

In a 2024 interview with Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz at Israel365, Marzi explains that prior to 1979, “Iran as a country was very pro-Israel, a big ally. Iran was one of the most advanced, enlightened westernized countries.” She added, “Iran is not an Arab country. It is Persian with Farsi as the language, not Arabic.” Iranians look to ancient “King Cyrus as their father” and “believe that their country has been taken hostage.”

Ezra 1:1-2 is a magnificent verse about Persians and Jews! In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, the word of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah was fulfilled. The LORD put it into the mind of King Cyrus to issue a proclamation throughout his entire kingdom and to put it in writing: This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: “The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and has appointed me to build Him a house at Jerusalem in Judah.”

Marzi also addressed the Iranian hunger for learning about Jesus. During the years that she gave out 20,000 Bibles, she engaged in thousands of conversations about Jesus. Iran is considered the fasted-growing Christian community in the world despite the hard-line Islamic Regime’s ban on Persian Bibles, murdering pastors, and closing churches. In the last 20 years, more Iranians became Christians than in the previous 13 centuries.

On one of her X posts, Marzi shared short videos from Iranians that show the true nature of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) terrorists. They are haphazardly bombing buildings in Tehran to kill innocent civilians. A building in Tehran’s Narmak location is a recent example. The IRGC’s goal is to blame Israel, whose policy is the exact opposite.

The IDF targets only terrorist leaders, staff, and operatives. When Israel must eliminate known terrorists hiding on purpose in civilian neighborhoods, their policy is to notify civilians directing them to leave. Marzi warns, “Don’t be deceived by fake media.” She points out that the Regime knows how to play the role of victim and sell its lies to the world. 

Marzi’s Facebook posts hold many perspectives. In one post Marzi suggests that a regime change with Iran means “the elimination of the supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei and his four sons.” At this writing, with fast-moving news unfolding, Vladimir Putin has reportedly offered Ali Khamenei asylum in Russia.

In another post, Marzi shared a video from an Iranian man driving past the Imam Hasan military base in Kermanshah, Iran. He filmed it while the Israeli Air Force was destroying the base—and “praised PM Netanyahu for his bravery.” Marzi made it known in another post that the Islamic regime “has shut down the internet to stop Iranians from sending films and true news outside in order to spread their own lies and propagandas.”

She could not contact any of her friends in Iran. 

Although Elon Musk has activated Starlink for Iran, confirming that “The beams are on,” it is not yet accessible to everyone. The government opposes Starlink’s presence, and the logistical need for satellite dishes and ground terminals make access inconsistent. Hopefully, Starlink connectivity will grow more available with time.

A June 14 video showed Iranian people dancing in the streets—a form of civil disobedience and protest—while leaving the major cities after last week’s Israeli airstrike campaign began. Marzi commented, “They are celebrating the elimination of the evil Islamic regime and its followers.” 

Let us join with prayers that the celebrations will multiply across Iran, where Jews and Persians will once again revitalize their friendships in freedom, shalom, and joy!

Prayer Points:

  • Pray thanking God for the flawless skill of the Israeli and American air forces. 
  • Pray for Mossad implementing a complex plan on Iranian soil.
  • Pray for Iranian and Israeli civilians seeking the end of Iranian terror.
  • Pray for a quick and successful end for Operation Rising Lion.

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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Hope Reaches Israelis Under Fire

In recent days, Iran launched direct ballistic missile attacks against Israel—an alarming escalation that has shaken the nation. For families across the country, the threat of war isn’t just on the horizon—it’s at their doorstep.

When sirens sound, mothers clutch their children and rush to bomb shelters. Elderly Holocaust survivors huddle in fear, and entire communities brace for what may come next.

But thanks to friends like you, they’re not facing this crisis alone. Thanks to the compassion and generosity of our donors, CBN Israel is delivering emergency food and supply boxes packed with the essentials Israelis need to survive in bomb shelters.

Each box includes:

  • Shelf-stable food and “combat rations” to last for several days
  • Battery-powered radios and chargers to stay informed during blackouts
  • Comfort items for babies and children during long hours in bomb shelters

Because of the caring support of friends like you, we have already distributed thousands of aid packages to those hit hardest by the war—including terror victims, displaced families, and the most vulnerable.

Together, we can show Israelis that they are not forgotten. That someone cares. That God’s love is still shining—even in the darkest times. As threats continue to mount, your ongoing support is more vital than ever. You can help provide food, shelter, and hope to those who need it most.

Thank you for standing with Israel when it matters most.

GIVE TODAY

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Biblical Israel: Ein Gedi

By Marc Turnage

The name Ein Gedi means “spring of the kid (young goat).” Ein Gedi, which is the largest oasis on the western shore of the Dead Sea, sits between two riverbeds (in Hebrew, nahal, in Arabic, wadi): Nahal David to the north and Nahal Arugot to the south. The oasis contains four springs, Ein David, Ein Arugot, Ein Shulamit, and Ein Gedi, that flow year-round supplying three million cubic meters of water annually. 

The springs have allowed habitation, which dates back to the Chalcolithic period (ca. 4000 B.C.). Its most continuous inhabitation goes from the beginning of the seventh century B.C. until the early Arab period as indicated by archaeological and literary evidence. The book of Joshua locates Ein Gedi within the tribal territory of Judah (15:62). Ein Gedi’s location within the tribal territory of Judah explains David’s use of the oasis when he hid from Saul (1 Samuel 23:29; 24). During the biblical period, a road from the southern end of the Dead Sea and the lands to the east, Moab and Edom, ascended from Ein Gedi into the central hill country towards Bethlehem. 

Although located along the arid shores of the Dead Sea, the fresh-water springs and temperate climate year-round allowed Ein Gedi to flourish as a place of agriculture. Date palms and perfume-producing plants became the primary crops of the oasis. The book of Ben Sira mentions the date palms of Ein Gedi. 

In the first century B.C., the arrival of hydraulic plaster from Italy in Judaea enabled the Jewish leaders, the Hasmoneans, to construct aqueducts at Ein Gedi, which allowed them to expand the agricultural production at Ein Gedi. During the first century B.C. and A.D., Ein Gedi produced a perfume, balsam, which served as the cash-crop of the kingdom of Herod the Great and Judaea. It was exported all throughout the Roman world. Herod the Great’s construction of the palace fortress of Masada, just south of Ein Gedi, served to protect the produce of the balsam.

The dates of Judaea also were exported to Italy. The site of Ein Gedi was destroyed during the First Jewish Revolt (A.D. 66-73) but rebuilt in the years after the revolt and served as a location of a Roman garrison as well as a military and administrative center for the Jewish rebels during the Bar Kochba Revolt (A.D. 132-136). The Romans conquered Ein Gedi at the end of this Jewish revolt. Remains of the Jewish rebels and their belongings were discovered in caves near the oasis of Ein Gedi in the twentieth century.

Marc Turnage is President/CEO of Biblical Expeditions. He is an authority on ancient Judaism and Christian origins. He has published widely for both academic and popular audiences. His most recent book, Windows into the Bible, was named by Outreach Magazine as one of its top 100 Christian living resources. Marc is a widely sought-after speaker and a gifted teacher. He has been guiding groups to the lands of the Bible—Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Greece, and Italy—for over twenty years.

Website: WITBUniversity.com
Facebook: @witbuniversity
Podcast: Windows into the Bible Podcast

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Weekly Devotional: Far from the Promise

“David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. So when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him” (1 Samuel 22:1 NKJV).

David found himself for a period of his life having to flee from Saul. Saul pursued him wherever he went. David felt so pressed that he even had to seek refuge with Achish, the Philistine king of Gath (Goliath’s hometown). As you can imagine, the Philistines mistrusted David and did not welcome him warmly. So, David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. 

Adullam sits on the border between the Philistine territory of Gath and the tribal territory of Judah (David’s tribe). It overlooks the Elah Valley where David defeated the Philistine champion, Goliath.

So, David flees from Saul, unaccepted even by Saul’s enemies, and finds himself in the cave at Adullam overlooking the site of his greatest victory.

When David defeated Goliath, he found himself at the top. He defeated Goliath, saved Israel, defended the honor of God and Israel, and was taken into Saul’s court. Also, he had been secretly anointed the future king by Samuel. Things looked promising. 

You have to wonder whether David thought his path from his victory in the Elah Valley to the throne was going to be a smooth, straight shot. To a certain extent, when he stood over the body of Goliath, cutting his head off with Goliath’s sword, the Philistine army fleeing with the Israelites in pursuit, he stood very close to God’s promise to him of the kingship, there in the Elah Valley. 

When he found himself in the cave of Adullam, overlooking the same valley, the location of his greatest triumph, he was the furthest from God’s promise than he had ever been. 

Every morning when he woke up, he looked over the scene of his greatest victory, and you wonder whether he found himself despairing of God’s promise. “Has God really said?” “Because I certainly don’t see the path from where I am today to what he promised me.” “Me, a king?” “I’m running for my life and living in a cave, hardly the house of a king.”

Have you ever found yourself in a place where you feel an overwhelming sense of despair? The vision that God gave you for your life seems like a million miles away, and God Himself seems even further away. You remember your victories, those moments when you felt triumph that God was right with you. But now all of that seems like a dream, and you find yourself in despair.

The cave of Adullam was not the end of David’s story. Nor will your times of despair be the end of your story. God is faithful. Rarely does He bring us straight from the victory field to the throne. Rather, He leads us on a winding journey where we learn to trust Him and His promises, even when He and they seem far away.

God is at work; therefore, we will not despair forever.

PRAYER

Father, wherever we find ourselves, please lead us in Your ways and to Your promises. We choose to trust You. Amen.

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