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	Are you with Israel? The miracle of the restoration of Israel!
Sunday, June 14, 2026	www.bibleinthenews.com Audio & Print versions

On a visit to Israel earlier this year we were able to visit Sderot which sits on the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip. Sderot has experienced over 20,000 missile attacks since 2005 and faced continuous rocket fire from the Gaza Strip since 2001. The situation deteriorated after the “disengagement,” in 2005, when Israel under Ariel Sharon forced the Jewish residents of Gaza to leave their communities which were subsequently destroyed. Sderot was attacked on the infamous day of October the 7th, 2023. Terrorists broke through the security border fence there, penetrated the town of Sderot and occupied the police station. Near the border there is a small hill which provides a lookout into Gaza and over the town of Sderot. Next to the viewing platform is a new visitor center, named, “Israel survived to tell,” which relays the story of October the 7th. Indeed, Israel has “survived to tell,” time and again, since it was born as a nation and survived the onslaught of well equipped Arab armies in 1948. It survived in 1967, it survived in 1973, it survived two intifadas, terrorist attack after terrorist attack. It survived to tell the miracle of Israel.

After leaving the Sderot view point, we drove past the schools built with massive protective roofs, to shield them from terrorist rocket fire. I am not aware of anything like this anywhere else in the world. We then started to search for the memorial in Sderot on the site on which the police station used to sit, stopping at a small cafe to ask for directions to the memorial. It turned out we were within walking distance and decided to walk as we already had parking. As we approached the memorial on foot we were surprised by the amount of people which were there. I had been expecting it to be quite empty. There were groups of high school students, there was a group sitting in a circle on the grass as the story of the site was relayed to them, there were people who were upset, people comforting each other. Around a substantial portion of the outer edge of the area there was a wall which contained broken pieces of cement from the police station, which stood here a few years ago. At the center of the site are a number of tall memorial pillars. Some of these pillars have Bible verses etched into them or other meaningful quotations. Four of them have Bible verses which tell a story of sorrow, God’s mercy on Israel cast off and rejected, a cry to God in distress and answered prayer and deliverance, finally a hope that the people would rise up like a lion. These verse are:

The October 7th memorial, on the site of the former police station, in the community of Sderot, Israel.

“For these things I weep; my eye, yea my eye, sheds tears…” (Lamentations 1:16)

“And when I passed by thee, As I saw thee wallowing in thy blood, I said unto thee: In thy blood, you shall live and I said unto thee: In thy blood, you shall live” (Ezekiel 16:6)

“Out of my distress I called upon the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free.” (Psalm 118:5)

“Behold, the people rise up like a young lion; they rouse themselves like a lion…” (Numbers 23:24)

One of the quotes which is not a Bible verse caught my eye. It said, “Are you with Israel?” Under the quotation etched into the pillar was, "Romi Shira Swissa, 6, October 7th, 2023.” When I looked this up, I found out that on October 7, a couple with two children (ages 6 and 3) attempted to get out of Sderot because of the missiles. Terrorists murdered the parents in front of the children, who ended up stranded across from the Sderot police station in the back seat of the vehicle. They were later rescued under fire. When the rescuer approached them, 6 year old Romi asked him, “Are you with Israel?” The story can be read here: https://www.710360.kan.org.il/en/sderot/swissa

A school in Sderot, with a massive protective roof, built to protect the children from rocket fire.

“Are you with Israel?” In the days after October 7 as antisemitism has surged across the world, these words present a challenge. Israel has been portrayed in a very negative and deceptive way in the mainstream media and of course across social media. There have been claims of mass starvation and genocide in Gaza, neither of which were even close to being true. Pictures of starving children in Gaza have been shown to be either children with other severe medical issues or children from other places. Claims of genocide or attempted genocide don’t make any sense - why would Hamas terrorists hide behind civilians if there was a genocide happening? If civilians were being targeted why would Hamas not allow them into the hundreds of kilometres of tunnels beneath the Gaza Strip?

In a leaked memo, Canada’s national broadcaster the CBC instructed it’s journalists on October 7:

Lamentations 1:16 etched on a memorial pillar in Sderot, Israel.

“Do not refer to militants, soldiers, or anyone else as “terrorists.” The notion of terrorism remains heavily politicized and is part of the story. Even when quoting/clipping a government or a source referring to fighters as “terrorists,” we should add context to ensure the audience understands this is opinion, not fact."

Also after the October 7 massacre, the BBC in the UK, was condemned for failing to call Hamas “terrorists”.

On a sign at the Sderot memorial it summarizes the events of October 7:

“The terrorists initiated a massacre during which approximately 1,200 men, women, and children were brutally killed - the heaviest loss of life in one day the Jewish people have experienced since the founding of the State of Israel. Additionally, 251 hostages were taken captive, and thousands more were injured.”

Why after the horrific events of October 7, which are in fact so depraved, we would not want to discuss it, would major national broadcasters in the civilized world instruct their journalists to not call terrorists, “terrorists?"

Numbers 23:24, etched on one of the memorial pillars in Sderot, Israel.

Despite all this, war is messy and civilians have been killed and a lot of damage has been done, which creates a moral dilemma. Rather than attempting the impossibility of analyzing every action of the Israel Defence Forces, it is best to take a step back and notice how the enemies of Israel justify the terrorism, war and violent protest. The idea is that “Resistance is justified when people are occupied,” even some would justify the actions of Hamas on October 7. This in fact answers the question above of why the media will not call terrorists, “terrorists."

It is because they believe that justice belongs to the ‘occupied’ Palestinian people. It is easy to show that historically this is in fact not true. It is easy to show that the Jewish people are indigenous to the land of Israel. But let’s remember one important fact. It was the hand of the Almighty that brought the Jewish people back to their land from the four corners of the world. This was recognized by Bible believers as they saw the humanly speaking improbability of prophecy unfolding before their eyes. So that in the end, God judges the nations for how they have treated his people Israel.

"Are you with Israel?" etched on a pillar at the memorial in Sderot, Israel.

"For behold, in those days and at that time, When I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will enter into judgment with them there on account of My people, My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; they have also divided up My land.” (Joel 3:1,2 NKJV)

Currently in St. John’s Newfoundland, I came across an old hand painted preaching sign, which recognizes “The Miracle of Israel!” What a miracle it is and even a greater miracle than when this sign was made. But how many today recognize that miracle, or have quietly set it aside as an inconvenient truth? “Are you with Israel?”

One fact matters. The Almighty brought back his people from the four corners of the world, speaking over 80 different languages and from over 100 different countries to make a nation in the land of Israel. Ezekiel 38 describes, "the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely.” This is the miracle of Israel. A witness to the hand of the Almighty working to bring about His purpose.

"Israel a Modern Miracle!" - hand painted preaching sign, from over 50 years ago in
St. John's, Newfoundland.

"He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit.” (Isaiah 27:6)

The restored nation of Israel, cleansed, redeemed and made righteous, under the direction of the Messiah and his saints, will fill the face of the earth with God’s glory. May that day come soon. Until that day comes, speak and display the miracle of Israel.

"You have given a banner to those who fear You, That it may be displayed because of the truth.” (Psalm 60:4)

This has been David Billington with you for the Bible in the News, at www.bibleinthenews.com. Thanks for listening.

Printed: Sunday, June 14, 2026

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