August 25th, 2024

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As I sit down to write today, my heart is heavy yet filled with gratitude. The news has been troubling—reports of Hezbollah's plans to send missiles to Tel Aviv. But once again, we saw the hand of God at work, as Israel's intelligence discovered the threat ahead of time. Our fighter jets were sent out, and the weapon sites were destroyed before they could cause unimaginable harm.

In moments like these, I am reminded of Psalm 121:4, which says, "Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep." These words ring so true in our current situation. It’s easy to see God’s protective hand over this land, and I am deeply thankful for His constant watchfulness. While we rejoice that Tel Aviv was spared from harm, my heart aches for our brothers and sisters in the north. Although no lives were lost, they are enduring the stress of frequent sirens and the need to run for shelter at a moment's notice. The constant tension, the uncertainty—it weighs heavily on all of us here in Israel.

As believers, we are called to trust in the Lord's protection, even in times of fear and danger. Today, I find myself reflecting on the story of Elisha and his servant in 2 Kings 6. When the servant saw the army surrounding them, he cried out in fear. But Elisha prayed, "O Lord, open his eyes so that he may see." And when the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, he saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.  Sometimes, like Elisha’s servant, we need our eyes opened to the reality of God’s protection. We may not see the heavenly armies that surround us, but we can be confident that they are there. The Lord is our shield, our fortress, our strong tower.

In these challenging times, let’s lift up our brothers and sisters in the north in prayer. Let’s ask the Lord to grant them peace, strength, and protection. And let’s also pray for the leaders of Israel, that they would have wisdom and discernment as they make decisions to protect this land.

As I close, I encourage you to meditate on Psalm 91 today. Let the words remind you of God’s promises of protection, not just for Israel, but for all who seek refuge in Him. Thank you for standing with us in prayer. May the Lord bless you and keep you, wherever you are reading this from today.