ARTICLES

On a quiet Shabbat morning, life changed instantly for Yury and Olga and their three young children. As the long-anticipated war with Iran erupted, waves of missiles rained down across Israel. In Beersheva, one ballistic missile struck their residential neighborhood, shattering their home and their sense of security.

“When we got out of the bomb shelter and returned home, we saw that the place was completely destroyed,” Yury said. “The doors were blown out. Not a single window was intact. All the appliances were destroyed. I don’t even know how glass cut into the metal of the refrigerator. Nothing was intact. I don’t know how we are going to live like this.”

Outside, Yury had watched rockets streak across the sky. “I saw seven rockets being knocked down. One got away. The blast threw me down. I ran inside because I didn’t know if my family was alright.” Inside, Olga and the children were covered in dust and trembling from the shock wave that blew their door open.

Now, every siren brings fear. “My daughter grabs onto me,” Yury shared. “She holds her little elephant and shakes, saying, ‘Daddy, daddy.’”

In the middle of this crisis, compassionate friends like you were there.

Thanks to generous CBN Israel partners, our team quickly arrived in Beersheva to assess the damage and stand beside this young immigrant family. Donors provided emergency funds for groceries, clothing, and essential supplies so the children would not have to walk through broken glass. Partners also made it possible to help replace destroyed appliances, giving the family stability in the midst of chaos.

“I felt powerless,” Yury admitted. “But your help came at the perfect time. Now I can take care of my family. I’m so humbled. Thank you.”

Your gifts can bring relief and hope to families like Yury and Olga’s. Thank you for standing with Israel’s families in their darkest hours.

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By Stephen Faircloth

In the central Golan Heights, about six miles east of the northern Sea of Galilee, lie the ruins of the ancient village of Gamla. The town once stood on a narrow ridge between two deep valleys, visible from the Bethsaida Valley below. Although the Gospels never mention Gamla, Jesus and His disciples would have known this village on the horizon.

Gamla offers a remarkable glimpse into Jewish life during the first century. When Roman forces destroyed the town during the First Jewish Revolt in A.D. 67, it was never rebuilt. Because of this, the site preserves a rare snapshot of a Jewish community from the time of Jesus.

The settlement began earlier as a Hellenistic fortress before becoming a Jewish village in the centuries leading up to the New Testament period. Excavations reveal that the people farmed the surrounding land and produced olive oil, an important product in the region.

Archaeologists discovered large olive presses at the site, including one connected to a ritual immersion bath. This suggests the villagers sought to maintain ritual purity even in their daily work. Evidence also indicates the growing of grain and grapes in the nearby fields.

One of the most significant discoveries at Gamla is its synagogue, the largest urban synagogue from the Roman period found in Israel. Benches lined the walls so the community could gather around the center of the hall where the Scriptures were read and explained. A niche in the wall likely stored the sacred scrolls, and a small room nearby may have served for study.

Other discoveries reveal that some residents enjoyed prosperity. Decorative plaster fragments and jewelry such as rings and gemstones point to homes of wealth. Yet alongside this prosperity were ritual baths and stone vessels, showing the people remained committed to observing their faith.

Gamla also bears the marks of a tragic end. Arrowheads, ballista stones, and a breach in the city wall confirm the fierce battle described by the historian Josephus. The destruction of the town preserved it as a kind of time capsule from the first century.

Standing among the ruins today reminds us that earthly cities do not last forever. Communities rise and fall, and even thriving towns can disappear. Yet the devotion of those who worshiped God there still speaks across the centuries.

Gamla invites us to reflect on our own lives. The villagers built homes, worked the land, gathered to hear the Scriptures, and sought to live faithfully before God. Their story reminds us that what matters most is not how long our cities stand, but how faithfully we walk with the Lord while we are here.

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.

“The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack. He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He renews my life; He leads me along the right paths for His name’s sake. Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff—they comfort me” (Psalm 23:1-4).

Psalm 23 begins with a statement that is both simple and bold: “The LORD is my shepherd.” In just a few words, David shows us what the life of faith is meant to be. Not a life powered by self-sufficiency, but a life guided by a faithful Protector who knows exactly what His people need.

Sheep are not built to thrive on their own. They are vulnerable, easily unsettled, and prone to wander. In the hills and valleys of Israel, that vulnerability was obvious. The landscape could be harsh, the weather unpredictable, and danger could come quickly from predators or thieves. A flock’s safety depended on the presence, vigilance, and leadership of the shepherd.

That everyday reality becomes the psalmist’s picture of God. The Lord does not merely watch from a distance. He leads. He provides. He restores. He directs. He stays close enough to guard and steady His people when the path narrows and the shadows deepen.

Notice the movement in the passage. The Shepherd brings His sheep to “green pastures” and “quiet waters” places of nourishment and peace. He also leads along “right paths” the safe way forward, the road that honors His name. Then comes the part we all recognize: the darkest valley. The psalm does not pretend that faith eliminates hard seasons. It promises something better: even there, we are not abandoned.

David’s confidence is not grounded in perfect circumstances. It is grounded in presence. “You are with me.” In the valley, the psalm shifts from talking about God to talking to God. The Shepherd is no longer a concept. He is near.

And with Him come the rod and the staff, tools of protection and guidance. They are a comfort not because the sheep are strong, but because the Shepherd is attentive. His correction keeps us from drifting into danger. His defense keeps the enemy from taking what belongs to Him.

For many of us, this is where the struggle becomes personal. We admire the image of God as Shepherd, but we resist being shepherded. We live in a culture that praises independence and control, so we assume maturity means handling everything alone. Yet much of our worry is born right there, in the exhausting attempt to carry what God never asked us to carry.

Peace begins to grow when we stop striving to be self-made and start living as well-loved. The Lord is a good Shepherd. He is not careless with our lives. He will not lead us where His grace cannot sustain us.

PRAYER

Father, You are our Shepherd. Help us surrender our need to control and learn to follow Your lead. Guide us on right paths, restore our hearts, and keep us steady in the valley. We trust You to care for us for Your name’s sake. Amen.

This week’s Torah reading is Parashat Ki Tisa (Exodus 30:11-34:35). Read on Shabbat, March 7, 2026 / 17 Adar 5786. The following is a special devotional drawn from this week’s reading.

“The LORD said to Moses, whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot out of My book. But now go, lead the people to the place about which I have spoken to you. Behold, My angel shall go before you” (Exodus 32:33-34).

Parashat Ki Tisa contains one of the most dramatic moments in Israel’s wilderness journey. While Moses is on the mountain receiving instruction, the people grow restless and form a golden calf. Fear and impatience lead them to seek a visible substitute for God’s presence. The scene reveals how quickly trust can falter when waiting becomes difficult.

Yet this portion also reveals the depth of God’s mercy. Moses intercedes for the people, pleading that God remember His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Instead of abandoning Israel, God responds with compassion. Though discipline comes, the relationship is not destroyed. The covenant endures because God chooses mercy alongside justice.

Later, Moses ascends the mountain again and encounters God in a powerful moment of revelation. God proclaims His own character, declaring that He is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in steadfast love and truth. This description becomes one of the most important declarations about God’s nature in all of Scripture. Even after failure, God invites His people back into relationship.

Ki Tisa reminds us that spiritual life often includes both failure and restoration. Like Israel, we may struggle with impatience, doubt, or misplaced trust. We may attempt to fill silence with substitutes rather than waiting faithfully. Yet God does not withdraw His mercy when we turn back to Him. His compassion remains stronger than our weakness.

Some may be carrying regret or disappointment in their spiritual journey. This portion offers hope that restoration is possible. Others may be walking in renewed clarity and commitment. Let this reading inspire humility and gratitude, remembering that faith is sustained by God’s grace rather than human perfection.

As this Shabbat begins, reflect on where patience and trust are needed in your life. Bring your failures honestly before God, and receive the mercy He freely gives. Choose one step that renews your devotion, whether through prayer, reconciliation, or renewed obedience. Let your heart rest in the truth that God’s compassion is greater than our mistakes.

PRAYER
Lord, thank You for Your compassion and patience. When I grow weary or lose my way, draw me back to You with mercy. Help me trust Your presence even when the path is uncertain. May my life reflect gratitude for Your steadfast love and faithfulness. Amen.

As Israel faced an intense war with Iran and daily missile barrages, her most vulnerable citizens were in grave danger. In cities like Bat Yam, sirens sounded with little warning, giving residents barely a minute to reach a bomb shelter. For elderly Holocaust survivors, that short window of time can mean the difference between life and death.

Ninety-year-old Sonya, a Holocaust survivor from Romania, lives alone in Bat Yam, a coastal city frequently targeted by missiles. When the war erupted on the morning of February 28, Sonya found herself running to the nearest shelter again and again. In one single day, she attempted to reach safety eight times.

But because of serious mobility issues, Sonya could not move fast enough. Each siren left her vulnerable and afraid. The danger was real, and she knew she could not manage alone.

Sonya had been helped by CBN Israel before, so she reached out once more, hoping someone would answer. Because of caring friends like you, help came quickly.

CBN Israel mobilized immediately. Our team arrived in Bat Yam, assessed her situation, and evacuated Sonya to a safer location in Netanya where she could rest without the constant fear of incoming rockets. For a woman who had already survived the horrors of the Holocaust, donor support provided peace of mind during yet another time of war.

Across Israel, elderly survivors and vulnerable residents are facing the same terrifying reality. Many cannot reach shelters in time. Many have no one to help them.

Because of the generosity of compassionate partners, CBN Israel is on the ground, rescuing those at risk and providing tangible hope in life threatening moments.

Please join us in standing with Israel and protecting her most vulnerable in their time of urgent need.

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By Stephen Faircloth

Many visitors to the modern State of Israel assume that the country’s current borders match the land described in the Bible. In reality, the geography of biblical Israel does not perfectly overlap with the modern nation. Even within Scripture, the boundaries of Israel shift during different historical periods.

For example, the Bible describes Israel at times as extending east of the Jordan River into the region of Gilead. Meanwhile, the far southern area of what is now modern Israel, stretching beyond the Beersheva basin toward the Gulf of Eilat, lay outside the central territory of biblical Israel. In biblical times, this area was known as the Wilderness of Zin and the Wilderness of Paran.

Yet this wilderness still played an important role in the story of God’s people. According to Numbers 13:21, it was from this region that Moses sent the spies to explore the Promised Land. In that sense, Moses stood in territory that today belongs to the State of Israel, though he had not yet entered the land promised to the people of God.

Modern place names can add to the confusion. Take the Negev as an example. Today the term often refers to the broad desert stretching south from the Hebron hills to Eilat. In the Bible, however, the Negev more specifically described the Beersheva basin and the southern edge of the hill country. Understanding these differences helps travelers better appreciate the landscape through which the biblical story unfolded.

One of the most striking features of this region is the Zin Valley. The riverbed running through it is usually dry, yet springs near the ancient Nabatean site of Avdat supply water throughout the year. In a land known for its harsh desert terrain, such sources of water were vital.

It was in this wilderness setting that a pivotal moment in Moses’ life occurred. In Numbers 20, the people of Israel cried out for water during their desert wandering. God instructed Moses to speak to the rock so that water would flow. Instead, in frustration, Moses struck the rock. Though water came forth, Moses’ disobedience carried consequences. God told him that he would not enter the Promised Land but would only see it from afar (Deuteronomy 34).

Water in the wilderness meant survival. Shepherds who guided their flocks through these barren landscapes had to know where water could be found. Their animals depended completely on them to locate hidden springs in a seemingly lifeless land.

Later desert dwellers such as the Nabateans mastered this same skill. Their capital at Petra became a center of trade partly because they developed advanced systems for collecting and storing precious water. Along the desert trade routes between Petra and the Mediterranean port of Gaza, Avdat served as one of their important stations overlooking the Zin Valley.

The Wilderness of Zin reminds us that even barren places can become settings for God’s work. The desert exposed the needs of the people of Israel and revealed the importance of trusting God’s guidance. In seasons when life feels dry and uncertain, the Lord remains the One who provides water in the wilderness and direction in unfamiliar terrain.

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.