While the deadly conflict with Iran continues, believers in Israel are finding peace and purpose in the midst of devastation, by pointing to the Prince of Peace.
Ellie Birnbaum, Israel director for Jews for Jesus, spoke to CBN News from inside a bomb shelter, where he and others have been taking refuge during relentless rocket barrages. “This is an epic biblical proportion battle we’re in the midst of,” he said. “A rocket fell just about 200 meters from my parents’ house and destroyed a whole building. I think eight people were killed… and 200 were injured.”
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Birnbaum described the chaos as “very scary,” with more than 100 ballistic missiles aimed at civilian areas. “We have the Iron Dome… they’re able to stop 95% of them, but those 5% are so deadly and so scary,” he added.
Yet even amid destruction, Birnbaum shared that the Spirit of God is moving.
“In times of storm… Jesus gave us an example of what happens in the storm when he took his disciples through a storm to expose his glory and to grow faith in them,” Birnbaum said. “He actually tells to them, ‘Why are you afraid? Where is your faith?’”
Rather than focusing on fear or geopolitics, Birnbaum urged viewers to recognize where true hope comes from. “God wants to expose, as we go through these crises, where our faith is and who can give us peace. And the only one who can give us peace is Jesus, is Yeshua, who is the Messiah of Israel.”
CBN’s host turned to Scripture to underscore the prophetic significance of the moment. Reading from Ezekiel 37:14, he declared, “I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it.”
The verses surrounding that prophecy were also read aloud as a declaration over Israel: “These bones… are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone.’ Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I’m going to open your graves and bring you up from them.’”
As war escalates and fear spreads, Birnbaum’s message remained anchored in eternal hope. “There’s real people who are affected by it,” he said. “And those real people need hope… and I believe and I’m confident that that only hope is found in the Messiah Yeshua.”
Jews for Jesus has mobilized teams to help first responders while also bringing the Gospel to those suffering in this moment of darkness. “We’re trying to bring some light, some hope in that practically,” Birnbaum said. “But also sharing the deeper hope that we have as we do it.”
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He closed with a plea to fellow believers: “Please pray. Keep praying for us as we do our uttermost best to be the hands and feet of Yeshua on the ground here in Israel as we await for His return.”
To pray along with them, believers are invited to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, for the innocent victims in Gaza and Iran and for a great spiritual awakening across the Middle East, that the name of Jesus would be declared far and wide.
James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.
