ARTICLES

“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.

“Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation” (Habakkuk 3:17-18).

Scripture often paints the Promised Land as a place of abundance. Flowing streams, ripened grain, heavy clusters of grapes, olive groves, and herds in open pasture all testified to the goodness of God. It was a land where shepherd and farmer alike could thrive, a visible reminder of divine favor and provision from the Lord.

Yet Habakkuk foresaw a very different scene. The trees would stand bare. The vines would produce nothing. The fields would yield no grain, and the barns would echo with emptiness. The prosperity that once signaled blessing would vanish under the shadow of invasion and judgment. Because of the people’s persistent disobedience, devastation would sweep across the land.

Habakkuk did not deny the coming loss. He did not minimize the pain or pretend the crisis was small. Instead, he made a deliberate declaration: “Yet I will rejoice in the LORD.” His joy was not rooted in crops, livestock, or national security. It was anchored in the unchanging character of God.

We are quick to rejoice when our lives resemble a fruitful harvest. When relationships flourish, resources are steady, and prayers are answered in ways we hoped, praise comes easily. But what happens when the fields of our lives seem stripped bare? When opportunities dry up, health falters, or we suffer because of choices others have made?

Habakkuk reminds us that joy is not a reaction to abundance. It is a response of trust. He chose to rejoice in “the God of my salvation,” not in the gifts God provided. Even if everything visible was taken, the Lord Himself remained.

Our circumstances may shift suddenly. Security can disappear. Plans can unravel. Still, we are invited to make the same choice: to fix our confidence not on what is failing around us, but on the God who never fails. Joy becomes an act of faith, a steady declaration that our hope rests in Him alone.

When the harvest fails, God is still faithful. When the barns are empty, He is still our salvation. And that is reason enough to rejoice.

PRAYER

Father, when our fields seem barren and our efforts feel fruitless, help us fix our eyes on You. Teach us to rejoice not in temporary blessings, but in Your unchanging goodness. You are our salvation and our steady hope. Amen.

This week’s Torah reading is Parashat Tetzaveh (Exodus 27:20-30:10). Read on Shabbat, February 28, 2026 / 9 Adar 5786. The following is a special devotional drawn from this week’s reading.

“You shall command the people of Israel that they bring to you pure olive oil beaten for the light, to cause a lamp to burn continually” (Exodus 27:20).

Parashat Tetzaveh continues the instructions for the Tabernacle, focusing on the priesthood and the sacred garments worn by Aaron and his sons. The portion begins with the command to keep the lamp burning continually. This light, fueled by pure oil, symbolizes steady devotion and ongoing awareness of God’s presence. It is not a light that flickers occasionally, but one that is tended with care day after day.

The detailed description of the priestly garments reveals that worship involves preparation and intentionality. The breastpiece, the ephod, the robe, and the engraved stones each carry meaning. The names of the tribes are placed over the priest’s heart, showing that leadership in God’s presence requires compassion and responsibility. Service before God is both sacred and relational.

Tetzaveh reminds us that holiness is sustained through faithfulness in routine acts. The daily tending of the lamp, the offering of incense, and the wearing of sacred garments speak of constancy. Spiritual life is not built on rare moments of inspiration alone. It grows through steady obedience, quiet prayer, and faithful attention to what God has entrusted.

Some may long for dramatic experiences of faith, yet this portion points to the power of consistency. Light remains when oil is replenished. Relationship deepens when hearts are carried before God in prayer. Each small act of devotion strengthens the larger structure of worship. God values the daily offering as much as the extraordinary one.

For those feeling weary, this reading encourages perseverance. Continue tending the lamp. Continue showing up in prayer and service. God sees the quiet faithfulness that others may overlook. For those in seasons of energy and clarity, let your light shine steadily, guiding others and honoring the One who provides the oil.

As this Shabbat begins, reflect on what fuels your spiritual life. Consider one practice you can renew, whether gratitude, study, generosity, or prayer. Let your devotion be steady and sincere. Trust that the God who commanded the lamp to burn continually desires your heart to remain attentive and illuminated by His presence.

PRAYER
Lord, help me keep the light of faith burning in my life. Teach me to serve You with consistency, compassion, and devotion. May my heart remain attentive to Your presence each day. Amen.

Kibbutz Nirim was a peaceful community near Gaza’s border. But that changed when Hamas violently invaded on October 7 two years ago. Adele, a longtime resident, recalled the horror her family faced during the brutal onslaught:

“My three grandchildren were on that bed, and we told them, ‘Hide under the blanket. You’re going to hear a loud noise. Don’t come out from under the blanket, no matter what happens.’” Her son-in-law raised his gun, waiting until he saw the safe room door handle move—then he kicked open the door and shot the terrorist who was standing there.

On that day, she saw homes torched and in ruins. Five kibbutz members were murdered, and five hostages taken, with two killed in Gaza. Since then, residents were displaced, living as refugees in their own land…until now. 

Despite the trauma they experienced, Adele and many of her neighbors are returning to Nirim. They are committed to this once vibrant farming village of around 500 Israelis, including 130 children. But they faced big challenges. Hamas had destroyed so many buildings—including the community center, main kitchen, and the kibbutz store. How could they start over?

Thankfully, friends like you were there. Through CBN Israel, donors built them a new community center, with a dining hall, kitchen, and a grocery store. Life has gone from dark silence to the sounds of children playing, and meals being prepared in the new kitchen.

As more residents come back, having a central hub for fellowship has been a true blessing. Adele says, “Thank you for being such loyal friends!” And Michal, another resident, adds, “None of this could have happened without you believing in us and loving us… Thank you!”

Your gifts to CBN Israel can bless war victims with food, safe lodging, trauma therapy, and more—while providing ongoing aid to hurting families and the elderly.

Please join us as we stand with Israel’s people at this crucial time!

GIVE TODAY

By Stephen Faircloth

Roadways are among the most important features of biblical geography. They shaped where people lived, how cities developed, and who controlled trade and communication. To control a road was to control movement, influence, and power. Many biblical events unfolded not by accident, but because of where those roads led. When we overlook the geography, we often miss part of the story.

Jerusalem in the Old Testament period did not sit directly on a major international highway. The primary north-south route through the central hill country ran west of the city. Steep valleys and rugged terrain made direct access from east and west difficult. For that reason, the region of Benjamin just north of Jerusalem became crucial. It functioned as a crossroads where major routes converged. Anyone traveling east or west from Jerusalem first moved north to connect with those roads. Geography shaped opportunity.

By the New Testament period, however, Jerusalem’s prominence required better access to the Jordan Valley. A road developed between Jerusalem and Jericho, roughly twenty-three miles apart. The journey was dramatic. From about 2700 feet above sea level in Jerusalem, the road descended to nearly 850 feet below sea level at Jericho. Travelers moved from cool hill country to arid wilderness in a single day. The path wound through a canyon system east of Jerusalem, the largest branch known as Wadi Qilt.

Wadi Qilt carved a rugged corridor through the Judean wilderness. Its steep cliffs and narrow passes offered both shelter and danger. At its eastern mouth near Jericho stood Herod the Great’s winter palace. Josephus records that Herod died there in 4 B.C. His palace complex straddled the wadi, and he diverted its water to fill pools and baths, a display of luxury in the midst of desert barrenness.

This was not an obscure path. Jesus Himself likely traveled this route. Galilean pilgrims often journeyed south along the Jordan River, crossed near Jericho, and then ascended to Jerusalem through the canyon. When Luke records Jesus telling the story of a man “going down from Jerusalem to Jericho,” He places the parable within this very terrain. The winding road, isolated stretches, and rocky hiding places made it believable that robbers could strike. The Good Samaritan story is rooted in real geography.

The road through Wadi Qilt reminds us that God’s purposes often unfold along difficult paths. Pilgrims walked this descent and ascent to worship at the Temple. They passed royal palaces, harsh wilderness, and dangerous turns. Yet the road led to encounter with God.

Our own lives follow similar terrain. We travel through high places and low valleys, through stretches that feel exposed and uncertain. At times the descent is steep and the wilderness dry. But the road still leads somewhere. The God who met pilgrims on that ancient path meets us on ours.

Biblical geography teaches us that location matters. So does direction. The question for us is not whether the road is easy, but whether it leads toward faithfulness. Even through wilderness canyons, God guides His people upward toward 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.