Numbers 23:24, “The people will rise like a lioness; they rouse themselves like a lion that does not rest till it devours its prey and drinks the blood of its victims.”
At 3 a.m. on Friday, June 13th, a metaphorical shofar blew through the night’s stillness as Israel issued its people an emergency alert while conducting a preemptive strike on Iran’s nuclear program in an operation called Rising Lion. The alert was a wake-up call, giving the nation a few hours to sober up, get ready, and brace for Iran’s retaliation. Though we have been at war with Iran and its proxies since October 7th, 2023, nothing could’ve prepared us for what was to come. In the blink of an eye, our lives changed, and we became frontline soldiers, fighting for survival at every turn. For twelve days, we ran to and from bomb shelters, watched as our cities were destroyed, mourned lives taken too soon, and endured intense trauma.
I never thought having a bomb shelter (mamad) in your home was a luxury until my family and I had to sprint to the nearest public shelter multiple times a day. With no mamad in our apartment, we lived on constant alert. Shoes and backpacks stayed by the door, electronics were always charged, and our clothes stayed on — even at night. Work was near impossible, and rest was limited as we anticipated the next siren. Adrenaline continually coursed through our veins, too, keeping us ready for when we had to jump into action. Simple tasks, such as taking a shower and making dinner, had to be done quickly, while everyday tasks like food shopping or walking the dog felt like high-risk missions.
By day three, my family and I moved like a well-oiled machine, sprinting out the door within the five-minute window. Each time we entered the bomb shelter, we didn’t know if we’d exit to find the world around us demolished. There were a few close calls, especially the day my mom and I were driving during two attacks (read here), but praise God, we remained safe.
Throughout the chaos, I often wondered how people without Yeshua (Jesus) were coping. If it weren’t for His peace dwelling within me, I would’ve been a mess. Yet, even when my mom and I were huddled under a bridge during a missile attack or we felt the bomb shelter shake from a nearby hit, we were not afraid because we trusted that God had us sheltered under His wings.
Philippians 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Shifting From Survival Mode to Regular Routine
On June 13th, we went from 0 to 100, with no idea how long Operation Rising Lion would last. Our lives were perpetual jack-in-the-boxes as we attempted to keep up with our daily lives while fighting for survival. Then, on June 24th, after a tragic morning of attacks and destruction, a ceasefire was announced, and the government said we could return to normal. Just like that, we were expected to clear away our emergency supplies and return to our regular routines. Except, nothing was the same. Over 10,000 people lost their homes. Twenty-eight civilians were killed by Iran’s ballistic missiles. Entire research centers and neighborhoods were destroyed. And yet, the world spins on, and we’re somehow supposed to catch up on sleep and get back to work like nothing happened.
Trauma is unpredictable. For some, it presents itself as panic attacks. For others, it hides behind sarcasm and humor — a lifeline most of us clung to when things were too tense to process. And, for others, it looks like returning to our previous schedules, blatantly ignoring what just happened. But something did happen. Nothing we experienced was normal, and it shouldn’t be downplayed.
Nevertheless, this is the resilience of the Israeli people. We are a nation built on pain and hardships, yet with every attack against us, we continue to endure and emerge stronger than ever. So, as the rubble is cleared away and headlines fade, we move forward, praying for a better day. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. We’re still at war, and there are over fifty hostages still being held in Gaza. The last two weeks were a mere battle in the larger fight that continues to rage on every side.
Wake Up, Watchman
We are living in a time where people are crying out for hope. Now, more than ever, believers must armor up, sharing Yeshua’s love with others, standing in truth, and diving deep into the Word to understand why the shaking in the Middle East affects them too! Whether the world realizes it or not, the clock is ticking, and our positions in God’s army have never been more critical. It’s time for churches, communities, and home groups to stop feeding our flesh and start raising strong warriors who are grounded in the Word and ready for battle. Personal spiritual growth is vital, but when the sermons we preach and the scriptures we consume solely revolve around self-improvement and individual prosperity, we risk being spiritually blind to what’s really happening.
If we are truly on fire for God and have surrendered our lives to Him, we must always be ready. Like the parables of the ten virgins and bags of gold, we must WAKE UP and assume our position as watchmen! We cannot be like the disciples who couldn’t stay awake in the Garden of Gethsemane. As Yeshua tells His disciples in Luke 13:35-40, “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
For the last two weeks, my family and I have been literal watchmen — scanning the skies, listening for sirens, and watching for danger — but just because everything has gone quiet in our area doesn’t mean our charge is over. Since the ceasefire was announced, I’ve felt the Lord urge me to train my mind, body, and spirit in preparation for the next battle. I don’t know about you, but I’m done with lukewarm, self-serving faith.
The time is now! We must wake up and prepare for war, because the shofar will sound again. It may not be tomorrow or next week, but it will happen soon. Are we ready?
Romans 13:11-14, “And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.”
