Hey friends, God is showing off again…and I love the way He does so! Earlier this month, Palestinian terrorist/arsonists set fire to forests all around Israel for the sole purpose of inflicting even more stress and pain on a nation continuing to grieve the loss of loved ones and the captivity of hostages. (See here and here.)

But, as He has done time after time throughout history, God turns what the enemy meant for evil into a testimony of His supreme sovereignty and grace!

In the midst of one of those forests is a place called Gardens of Life, planted by Be’ad Chaim, a social outreach ministry dedicated to promoting and preserving life by offering viable alternatives to abortion. Since Israel’s rebirth in 1948, one of every four babies in Israel suffers abortion each year, tragically surpassing the number of children murdered in the Holocaust. of Be’ad Chaim works to save lives and reverse that trend.

Yet, on that fateful day, the fires roared toward the Gardens of Life but didn’t touch it! Michael Mistretta, CEO of Fellowship of Israel-Related Ministries (FIRM), describes what happened:

Last week [early May], wildfires tore through the hills surrounding Jerusalem—over 5,000 acres burned. But right in the middle of it all, one plot remained untouched.

The site is called the Gardens of Life, planted by our local partner Be’ad Chaim. Be’ad Chaim supports women facing unplanned pregnancies, offering practical support, counseling, and a path to choose life.

Since 2010, people have come to this garden to plant trees in memory of babies lost through abortion, miscarriage, or stillbirth. Over 2,000 olive and cypress trees now grow on this piece of land leased from a monastery near Latrun—in the area that was scorched in the fire.

But the garden? Not one tree burned.

The flames roared through the surrounding fields. They jumped roads. They hit buildings. But they didn’t cross into the grove.  When Sandy, Be’ad Chaim’s national director, saw the fire raging, she prayed. And she felt the Lord say:

“Even if the trees burn, the healing I’ve done here will remain in the hearts of the parents forever.”

Later, she said, “It should’ve (burned). But it didn’t. The only explanation is that angels were standing guard.”

It’s a reminder that the same God who spared His people in Goshen, and stood with three men in a blazing furnace, still draws lines the fire cannot cross.

Praying friends, please offer up prayers of thanksgiving for God’s protective hand upon this life-giving place! And if you would like to make a “donation of praise” to Be’ad Chaim, click here, then on the blue “Give” button in the upper right corner.

You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.
~Genesis 50:20

Indeed, God is saving many people alive!