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Israel Has Changed Forever

October 25, 2023

Israel has changed forever. This nation and her people will never be the same. Over a thousand Israelis have been cruelly slaughtered and their blood soaks the ground. In all the chaos of war, pain, sorrow and grief, I hear the words of God to Cain in Genesis 4:10b, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.”

An unspecified number of civilians and soldiers have been kidnapped, dragged into Gaza to face absolute horror and imprisonment until they are rescued. In the midst of this tragic reality, I ponder Jeremiah 9:1 as my heart weeps, “Oh, that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!”

Hamas terrorists have fired thousands of rockets from Gaza. Like streaks of fire, they have brought death, destruction and terror to Israel’s cities and towns, causing millions to run to bomb shelters to huddle together, often for hours on end. With these sights imprinted on my mind and with the personal experience of running to my own shelter with my terrified children, I think of Psalm 83:1–4a: “Do not keep silent, O God! Do not hold Your peace, and do not be still, O God! For behold, Your enemies make a tumult; and those who hate You have lifted up their head. They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, and consulted together against Your sheltered ones.”

We know that the God of Israel is almighty and that He will give Israel the strength to weather this storm. We also know that the Lord is calling millions of Christians around the world to stand with, support and pray for Israel during these days. We further know that prayer is a powerful weapon and as Christians, we can meditate on powerful Scriptures of prayer like 2 Corinthians 10:3–5, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exists itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” Prayer is indeed powerful and as Christians who stand with Israel, we cry out for the healing of this nation and against the forces of evil that ultimately come against the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Ps. 83).

But we must also take action. Israel desperately needs the tangible gifts that carry the power to transform lives in this moment, bringing restoration, comfort and healing with the love of God.

With one voice, Bridges for Peace cries out to you to make a difference. We implore you to rise up and take your place in the crucial task God has given the Church at this time. You are called to stand with Israel, comfort Zion and help offer the emergency aid for the shattered Israeli communities in the south.

Bridges for Peace have been working for years in communities like Netivot, Sderot, Ofakim and Kiryat Ekron. Before the dark dawn on October 7, these communities were filled with rejoicing Jewish families celebrating the end of Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) and looking forward to dancing with the Torah (Gen.–Deut.) scrolls on Simchat Torah (Rejoicing with the Torah). But sunrise on October 7 thrust these communities into what many described as a “hell” of bloodshed, slaughtered families, screaming children, people fleeing to rooftops and coming face-to-face with masked Hamas terrorists. A nightmare became reality.

Now, we as Christians must mobilize! Bridges for Peace must act! I pray that you will join us. Please, in this grave hour, consider sending a special donation to our Crisis Assistance Fund so that we may show the love of God to people we have been working with for years. For years, we have conveyed His tender care to these people. And now, amid unimaginable pain, we have the opportunity to demonstrate that love in a tangible, real way. Join us in this hour! Pray and give!

With a heavy heart,
Rev. Peter Fast
International CEO

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