Shabbat Shalom!
This week, I’m writing to you while on the way to Norway for a special time of ministry. Even as I travel, my heart is still overflowing from the Feast of Trumpets that we just celebrated here in Israel. It was such a wonderful, powerful time—full of prayer, worship, and the reminder that God is faithful to His people. Now, as the Feast of Trumpets passes, our eyes are turning toward Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. This is one of the most holy and significant days in the Bible, a day of fasting and repentance. For us as believers, it is also a time to lift our eyes to Yeshua, who stands right at the center. He is the One who fulfills this feast, the One who has made atonement once and for all.
Life in Israel during this season feels like walking in two worlds at once.
On the one hand, we are celebrating God’s appointed times, joining together as a nation to seek Him and remember His promises. On the other hand, we are still living with the daily reality of war and uncertainty. Just a couple of days ago, a drone exploded in the city of Eilat. Rockets continue to fly overhead. I was even sitting on the beach with my coffee when one passed above me before being intercepted. Praise God for His protection! This is the atmosphere we are in—peace and tension, joy and danger all mingled together.
In the midst of this, the Lord gave me a word to share with you this Shabbat. Nahum says:
“Behold, on the mountains the feet of him who brings good tidings, who proclaims peace! O Judah, keep your appointed feasts, perform your vows. For the wicked one shall no more pass through you; he is utterly cut off.”
Nahum 1:15
What an encouragement! Nahum spoke this at a time when Israel was under great distress. Yet before he described all the mighty things God would do, he began with a reminder of God’s greatness. He is the God of Israel, the God of creation, the One who moves nations and raises up or brings down empires. When we look to Him, our doubts fade, and our faith grows strong.
This verse also speaks about the Mevasser—the one who brings good news and proclaims shalom.
Even when times are dark, God calls us to lift up our voices, to declare His peace, and to stay faithful in keeping His feasts and our vows to Him. Sometimes, when I pray, I feel like I’m speaking first to my own spirit—reminding myself of who God is and what He has promised. Circumstances can feel impossible, but with Him, nothing is impossible. His peace isn’t the absence of trouble; it’s His presence with us right in the middle of it.
So, dear friends, I want to bless you today!
If you are walking in a season of blessing, rejoice in it! Praise God, and don’t hold back your thanksgiving. If you are facing trials or going through a valley, keep your eyes on Him. Pray, worship, and let your faith be strengthened in the knowledge that He is greater than every challenge.
From Israel, between the trumpet blast of Rosh Hashanah and the deep prayers of Yom Kippur, I send you this encouragement: may the Lord cover you with His presence, surround you with His peace, and fill your heart with fresh hope. He is faithful, He is near, and He is greater than anything we face.
Shabbat Shalom and blessings,
Pastor Israel
