ARTICLES

By Stephen Faircloth

Ein Gedi, which means “spring of the young goat,” is a place of life in the midst of barrenness. Located along the western shore of the Dead Sea, it is the largest oasis in the region, surrounded by dry, rugged wilderness. Yet from its rocky hills flow fresh springs that never cease, turning desert into a place of beauty and provision.

Four main springs supply water year-round, feeding streams that run through the valleys of Nahal David and Nahal Arugot. In a land where water is scarce, Ein Gedi stands as a reminder that God can bring abundance where none seems possible.

For thousands of years, people have been drawn to this oasis. Its history stretches back to ancient times, but for many readers of Scripture, Ein Gedi is most closely associated with David. When he fled from King Saul, it was here, among the caves and cliffs, that he found refuge (1 Samuel 24). Surrounded by danger, David hid in the wilderness, yet he also experienced God’s protection and provision.

Ein Gedi was more than a hiding place. It was a place of decision. In one of its caves, David had the opportunity to take Saul’s life and end his suffering. Instead, he chose restraint. He trusted God’s timing rather than forcing his own outcome. In that moment, the quiet streams and rugged hills of Ein Gedi became a setting for faith, patience, and obedience.

The oasis itself supported life in remarkable ways. Its steady water supply allowed for the growth of date palms and rare plants used in perfumes. Even in an arid environment, it became a place of fruitfulness and trade. What looked like wilderness from a distance held hidden resources that sustained many.

That truth speaks to our lives as well. There are seasons when we feel like we are walking through a desert. Circumstances may seem dry, uncertain, or even threatening. Like David, we may find ourselves in places we did not choose, waiting for God to act.

Yet Ein Gedi reminds us that even in the wilderness, God provides springs. He meets us in hidden places. He sustains us when resources seem scarce. And sometimes, He uses those very seasons to shape our character, teaching us to trust Him more deeply.

David did not remain in hiding forever. The same God who sustained him in the caves eventually brought him into his calling. But it was in places like Ein Gedi that his faith was refined.

When we find ourselves in our own wilderness seasons, we can take heart. God has not abandoned us. He is present, providing what we need, even if it comes in unexpected ways. In the desert, there are still streams.

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.

“He sought God throughout the lifetime of Zechariah, the teacher of the fear of God. During the time that he sought the Lord, God gave him success” (2 Chronicles 26:5).

King Uzziah began his life with great promise. Early in his reign, he made a deliberate choice to seek God. He surrounded himself with wise counsel, listened to instruction, and walked in reverence before the Lord. And as long as he continued on that path, his life flourished.

But his story does not end the way it began. Over time, Uzziah drifted. Success led to pride, and pride led to disobedience. The king who once sought God began to rely on himself. What started as a life marked by faithfulness ended in tragedy. His life stands as both an encouragement and a warning.

What does it really mean to seek God? Scripture makes it clear that seeking God is not merely an emotional experience. It is not defined by feelings or fleeting moments of inspiration. To seek God is to walk in reverence before Him, and that reverence is expressed through obedience. It is choosing His ways daily, even in small and unseen decisions. Yet the danger comes when we begin well but fail to continue.

It is possible to start with sincere devotion and slowly shift our focus. We may still speak about God, still identify as people of faith, yet our actions reveal that something else has taken His place. Pride can quietly replace dependence. Self-confidence can overshadow trust.

Seeking God is not a one-time decision. It is a daily posture. Each day presents us with the opportunity to choose again. Will we listen? Will we obey? Will we walk in humility before Him?

The life of Uzziah reminds us that consistency matters. Finishing well is just as important as starting well. God is not looking for occasional moments of devotion, but for hearts that remain turned toward Him over time.

When we truly seek Him, it shows in how we live. Our priorities shift. Our decisions reflect His truth. Our lives begin to align with His will. And in that place, we find what we are truly searching for.

PRAYER

Father, help us seek You not just in words, but in how we live each day. Guard our hearts from pride and self-reliance. Teach us to walk in humility and obedience, so that our lives remain anchored in You. Amen.

This week’s Torah reading is Parashat Emor (Leviticus 21:1-24:23). Read on Shabbat, May 9, 2026 / 21 Iyar 5786. The following is a special devotional drawn from this week’s reading.

“These are the appointed feasts of the LORD, the holy convocations, which you shall proclaim at the time appointed for them” (Leviticus 23:4).

Parashat Emor highlights the sacred rhythm of time. God appoints seasons and gatherings that shape the life of His people. These appointed times are not random observances. They are invitations to pause, to remember, and to realign the heart with God’s purposes. Each festival carries meaning, pointing back to God’s faithfulness and forward to His promises.

The listing of the feasts creates a pattern that weaves holiness into the calendar. From Sabbath rest to the celebrations of Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot, the people are reminded that time itself belongs to God. Life is not meant to be lived without reflection. It is structured with moments of remembrance, gratitude, and renewal. These rhythms protect the heart from forgetting and anchor the community in shared identity.

Emor also emphasizes the role of those who serve in sacred spaces. The priests are called to live with care and integrity, recognizing that their actions reflect the holiness of God. Their responsibility points to a broader truth. Every person is called to honor God not only in special moments but in daily conduct. Holiness is not limited to certain places or times. It extends into every part of life.

This portion invites us to consider how we mark time in our own lives. Without intention, days can pass without reflection or gratitude. God’s appointed times remind us to stop and remember. They teach us to celebrate His provision, to acknowledge His presence, and to renew our commitment to walk in His ways.

Some may feel caught in the busyness of daily routines, moving from one responsibility to the next without pause. Emor encourages creating space for rest and reflection. Others may be in seasons of waiting or uncertainty. These rhythms provide stability, reminding us that God is faithful in every season and that His timing is trustworthy.

As this Shabbat arrives, take time to honor the rhythm God has given. Pause from your work and reflect on His goodness. Consider one way you can build regular moments of gratitude and remembrance into your life. Let your time become a testimony that your days belong to the Lord who orders every season.

PRAYER
Lord, thank You for the gift of time and the rhythms that draw me back to You. Teach me to pause, remember, and honor You in every season. May my life reflect gratitude for Your faithfulness and trust in Your perfect timing. Amen.

Imagine living in a country whose very existence—and yours—is constantly threatened. For generations, Israel’s people have faced persecution, tragedy, and danger. In fact, a staggering one third of all Israelis live with some form of anxiety or trauma-related distress.

The horrors of the October 7^th attack by Hamas only intensified the trauma—followed by the ballistic missile attacks from Iran. How can any nation recover from so much terrorism?

Thankfully, friends like you were there through CBN Israel. Because they understand the escalating mental health needs on the ground, CBN Israel launched the Community Support and Resilience Center. Using innovative strategies, the center is designed to help residents not only cope, but to truly heal and rebuild their lives.

And it marks a significant milestone for the ministry’s work in the Holy Land. The center serves as a crucial network for counseling professionals, as well as individuals seeking help. Through workshops, seminars, and public events, it will facilitate training on essential self-care strategies, stress reduction, coping skills, and processing devastating events.

As the demand for professional counseling has overwhelmed government and healthcare systems, you are providing assistance at the community level to those who are still waiting. For those who are grappling with dark memories and loss, caring donors are giving them, as the ancient promise in Jeremiah 29:11 says, “a future and a hope.”

And your gifts to CBN Israel can offer a lifeline of hope in even more ways. You can bring groceries, financial aid, safe housing, and more to those in crisis.

Please join us as we reach out and care for others!

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By Stephen Faircloth

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PRAYER

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

This week’s Torah reading is Parashat Acharei Mot-Kedoshim (Leviticus 16:1-20:27). Read on Shabbat, May 2, 2026 / 14 Iyar 5786. The following is a special devotional drawn from this week’s reading.

“You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy” (Leviticus 19:2).

Parashat Acharei Mot-Kedoshim brings together two powerful themes: atonement and holiness. After the death of Aaron’s sons, God gives instructions for approaching His presence with care and reverence. The Day of Atonement becomes a sacred moment when the people are cleansed and restored. This foundation of mercy leads directly into the call to holiness in daily life.

Kedoshim expands the meaning of holiness beyond ritual. It speaks into relationships, justice, honesty, and compassion. Commands such as loving your neighbor, caring for the vulnerable, and acting with integrity show that holiness is not distant or abstract. It is lived out in ordinary interactions. God’s character becomes the model for how His people are to live with one another.

This portion teaches that holiness begins with God but is expressed through human action. To be holy is not to withdraw from the world but to live within it in a way that reflects God’s nature. Every choice becomes an opportunity to honor Him, whether through fairness in business, kindness in speech, or patience in difficulty.

At the same time, the reminder of atonement keeps this calling grounded in humility. Holiness is not achieved through perfection but sustained through God’s mercy. The people are invited to pursue a life that reflects Him while continually returning to His grace when they fall short. This balance of responsibility and mercy shapes a life of steady growth.

Some may feel the weight of trying to live rightly in a complex world. Acharei Mot-Kedoshim offers both direction and reassurance. God shows what is good and also provides a way back when we fail. Others may be experiencing a season of clarity and purpose. This is an opportunity to walk more fully in the call to reflect God’s holiness in every area of life.

As this Shabbat arrives, take time to reflect on what holiness looks like in your daily actions. Consider one relationship or situation where you can act with greater love, integrity, or compassion. Let your choices be shaped by the character of God, trusting that His mercy sustains you as you grow.

PRAYER
Lord, You are holy and You call me to reflect Your character. Help me live with integrity, compassion, and humility. Thank You for Your mercy that restores me when I fall short. May my life honor You in all I do. Amen.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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