Early Wednesday morning as I dropped off our tour guests at Ben Gurion Airport, we were met with an unusual orange control tower. The tower was lit in orange to honor the red-headed Bibas children and their mother, Shiri.

On Wednesday, a funeral procession from somewhere near Tel Aviv (where the bodies were forensically investigated, then prepared for burial) to Kibbutz Nir Oz, the Bibas’ home town, took place. It seems the entire nation has come together to show their love for the family and support for Yarden, Shiri’s husband who was recently released from captivity. The heavy sense of loss lingers over a hurting nation and is palpable everywhere I go.

Christian friends, may we never forget the Jewish roots of our Christian faith, and the lengths God has gone on behalf of Israel to preserve her as the vehicle of world redemption. Just as in Job’s day, tragedy may seem unbearable, but the truth remains: God always has and always will have a grand plan for His people. May they come to know Yeshua (Jesus) as Comforter, Redeemer and Messiah.