Many are now calling Hamas’ brutal attack on Israeli citizens “Israel’s 911.” Though very accustomed to terrorist attacks and terrorist mindset, Israel was taken by surprise as Hamas launched an all-out assault on citizens. It was a new kind of wake-up call on October 7, 2023. Imagine what it must have been like…

There are plenty of news sources in which to get details of the attacks, so I will not rehash them here. Instead, I want to share insight and perspective with you. Dr Erez Soref is CEO of One for Israel, a ministry made up of Israeli-born believers in Yeshua. The work they do in spreading the Gospel to both Jews and Arabs, and providing humanitarian assistance is astounding. EXPERIENCE ISRAEL Tours also happens to partner with them and they do a fabulous job coordinating our tours.

Listen as Dr Soref describes the attack from an Israeli perspective, and what One for Israel is doing to help people in need.

Psalm 121:4 tells us that the God who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. He will be faithful to His people.

Psalm 121 was the passage that immediately came to mind last Friday night (in Arizona) when news of the attack broke. I pulled out my Bible and began to pray that Psalm back to the Lord, asking the Keeper of Israel to move on their behalf.

Ironically, days before, good friends invited me to come to their home near the hills of Prescott AZ for a last-minute personal retreat in order to finish teaching preparations for an Israel tour I was to lead in less than a week. While there the news set in that this was no ordinary terrorist attack, and our tour was postponed. I spent sleepless, but prayerful nights gazing out the window, looking to the hills, and reciting the words of Psalm 121:1-4:

 I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
² My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.

³ He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
⁴ Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

~Psalm 121:1-4

I am heartbroken each time I hear news directly from Israel. (And I’ve heard plenty.) Yet, I am also moved by the fact that, regardless of the pain and suffering endured, the Jewish people are incredibly zealous for life. So much so that 90% of the country immediately went “back to business as usual.” Nothing seems to keep them from living life.

In reality, tours are still running and all the national parks and Biblical sites other than around Gaza (where there are few places tourists would go) remain open. If not for major airlines suspending flights, it was possible for our tour to run. But we made the right decision and are now making plans to include these guests on our February 2024 EXPERIENCE ISRAEL Tour.

Indeed, God will watch over His people, and Israel will overcome what Hamas has thrown at them. In the process, let’s pray this tragedy unifies the nation.

But as for you, 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