Even as Israel recovers from yet another missile attack from Iran, a sobering one year anniversary fast approaches. On Oct 7th, 2023, thousands of Hamas terrorists broke across the Gaza-Israel border and perpetrated the most barbaric acts of cruelty imaginable: beheading children, burning babies alive, gang raping, mutilating bodies, torturing without mercy, and killing Jews for being Jews. They carried out 1200 brutal murders, and took over 250 hostages in a single day. There are no words to accurately describe their heinous acts, committed in cold blood — all done in the name of Islamic jihad.”
October 7th is a horrific, watershed moment in human history. It represents an attack not just on the state of Israel — but on the whole civilized world, on Judeo-Christian values, on democracy, on freedom. The very same radical Islamic ideologies that brought about 9/11 motivated 10/7.
When I lived in Jerusalem, the main focus of my graduate studies was the Holocaust. I found the acquiescence of the German church in the 1930s and 1940s is tragic and disturbing. So many European Christians stood by passively as the Nazis unfolded their genocidal plans against God’s Chosen People. For decades I have hoped that I would have done better if I were in their shoes. I have hoped that we as a Church would do better if a similar situation arose in our day. And the reality is: this is our time. This is the moment for our generation to stand up and show that we possess courage, and moral clarity in the face of evil.
In the 1930’s there were 4 groups of Germans — the perpetrators, the collaborators, the bystanders (which were by the far the largest segment of society) — and then what Jewish historians call “the Righteous among the Nations.” They were a small (but mighty) minority who risked their lives to stand up for their Jewish friends. To stand up for truth, goodness, decency, and the sanctity of life. Our actions in this season determine which we will be. How will the Church’s response to Jew hatred in our generation be remembered?
We must be completely clear on this: the atrocities committed by Hamas are evil to the core. They are clear expressions of a demonic, violent spirit of anti-Semitism. All of Hell is set against God — His plan, His people, His promises. God has made many promises to do with Israel’s past, present, and future. Satan knows that God has promised the Jewish People will continue to be a Nation before Him, and that they will not be uprooted from the Land of Israel again (see Jeremiah 31, Genesis 15, Amos 9, and may other passages). If the Jewish People no longer exist, then God did not keep His Word. For millennia Satan has been attempting to destroy the Jewish People in order to prove God a liar (see Psalm 83:4, Esther 3:13). But despite Satan’s most despicable attempts, God will never renege on His promises. This war is not merely a physical war — men fighting other men. It is a full-on spiritual battle.
And shockingly what has the response of the world been in the past year? Across our country and the Western World, college campuses, academia, and mainstream media have erupted in the vilest displays of anti-Semitism seen since the Nazi era.
The unprovoked Oct. 7th attack has sparked a very necessary war on terrorism — fought by Israel for the sake of the whole free world.
It’s significant to remember that one of God’s names, found 235 times in the Hebrew Scriptures, is Adonai Tsevaot. This Name of God is often translated as the Lord of hosts — but also means the Lord of armies. It speaks to the Lord’s sovereignty over all of creation because this word Tsevaot is the plural of Tsava צָבָא — the Hebrew word for ‘army’ (still used in modern Hebrew to refer to the IDF). “Tzava” can refer to either an army or a great multitude or host. This Hebrew root word is about commanding (often militarily) over a large number. An army carries out the desire of its commander (see Joshua 5:13-15, 2 Kings 6:16-17) — and God is the ultimate commander over creation — a commander who fights on behalf of justice and righteousness.
Adonai Tzevaot is found 235 times in the Hebrew Scriptures and it is spotlighted in 1 Samuel 17:45: “David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of Adonai Tzevaot, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.”
Our true hope — and Israel’s true hope — is Adonai Tzevaot. He has ultimate sovereignty over everything on heaven and earth. He shall have the final say. He brings his salvation, comfort, and healing as he masterfully orchestrates and commands all of his creation with a unique and powerful authority.
God did not promise our lives on this fallen earth would be free of war or tragedy. In fact, He warned us: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) It is critical we set this reality firmly in our minds, so our faith in God is not shaken when we see these things: “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen….”
The fact that our hearts long for a world without war point us towards the reality that we are not meant for this fallen world. Someday all wars will cease, and Jesus the Messiah will reign in shalom as King in Jerusalem. Someday God will redeem all that is broken with a New Heaven and a New Earth: “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)
The Jerusalem Post reported that the most searched Google term during the Iran missile crisis on April 14th was “Tehillim” (the Hebrew word for “Psalms”). In overwhelming numbers, the Jewish People were turning their Scriptures and calling out to God in their distress. And God answered their prayers in a stunning turn of events. I know many Israelis — secular, Orthodox, and Messianic — who all believe they witnessed a miracle of Biblical proportions on April 14th and Oct 1st, when none of their cities were destroyed by the Iranian rockets. Israel’s anti-missile defense systems usually work with 90% accuracy, but miraculously they worked with 99% accuracy those key evenings. God’s hand of protection was and is upon His Land and His People.
Psalm 71:5 reads: “For you are my hope, O LORD God: YOU are my trust from my youth.” We shouldn’t give ourselves (or others) false hopes or false assurances of peace in this broken world. But should look to the Lord, who is the guaranteed hope. The Lord has promised that Israel will continue to be a Nation before Him as long as the sun and moon and stars are in the sky. He has promised to be the “Guardian of Israel” (Psalm 121:4). We can remind Him of those things in prayer, and He will act on them.
This is a crucial time for Christians to come alongside the Jewish community in their hour or need. What will our response be? Will we respond like most German Christians in the 1930’s? Or will we show courage and resolve to stand with Israel in meaningful ways?
Melissa Briggs is an experienced Hebrew teacher who is passionate about making the riches of the Hebrew language accessible to Christians. Her ‘Explore Hebrew Courses for Beginners’ are a unique blend of Biblical and Modern Hebrew taught from a Christian perspective.
