A special message from Dr. Sigler, Ariel Ministries CEO II

“I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war!” (Psalm 120:7) On October 7, Hamas launched a surprise attack against Israel by land, sea, and air—infiltrating and overtaking towns and villages near the Gaza border and brutally murdering innocent civilians. More Jewish lives were lost on this day than on any other day since the Holocaust. As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced, “Citizens of Israel, we are at war. Not an operation [a round of fighting], at war!”

I have been in contact with our Israeli staff each day since, and they are thankfully far away from the front lines, but I could hear the pain in their voices as the entire nation is devastated by this breach of safety in which even grandmothers and young children have been mercilessly kidnapped and taken brutally into Gaza. Israel’s sense of security and shalom has been shattered, as almost exactly 50 years ago when the nation's enemies unleashed a similar surprise attack that launched the Yom Kippur War. Please pray for Israel’s leaders, for wisdom and decisiveness, for the rescue of the captives, and for a swift and decisive victory as the government promised, “We will win this war.” Of course, we know that this will mean a major response and the loss of many more lives.

This attack came right at the end of the joyous celebration of Israel’s fall festivals and the weeklong observance of the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot), leading up to the traditional celebration of the gift of the Scriptures to the nation at Sinai known as Simchat Torah (Rejoicing in the Torah). Yet now, our joy has turned to sorrow. In our sorrow, our surprise, and the sudden call to arms in response to this bloodshed, we find our comfort in God’s sovereignty and in the ultimate saving message of the Messiah—the Prince of Peace—as we stand together with Israel.

Please pray!

• Many IDF soldiers and reservists from believing families are activated and engaged on the front lines.
• Our Ariel staff and ministry partners have sons and daughters who are called to active duty.
• The friends and former classmates of our children are on the battle front, and we are getting messages constantly.
• Antisemitism is clear in the tone of many in the media. Let us stand against it.

Dr. Tim Sigler

Ariel Ministries, CEO II