The Son of Israel
Israel faces more enemies now than ever who are actively seeking its destruction. We are challenged daily with the task of protecting ourselves from terror attacks on our citizens and missile fire on our cities. Sending a child off to the military in this type of hostile and volatile situation is not something that any parent wants to experience, but this is a part of Israeli life.
Many parents face a new season in life when their child turns 18. While in many countries, including the U.S., that season is often college, our reality is different. We face a much more complex and sometimes frightening path for our children; one of military service. Upon graduation, our young people are drafted to serve a mandatory 3-year, fully operational, active military service in the IDF. After receiving grueling training, these young men and women are sent out into the field to defend Israel. It isn’t voluntary or even optional, and the pay is very little. However, it is one of the civic duties of living in a country like Israel, whose survival often depends on the strength of our defense forces, composed of mainly young people like my son, Guy.
Being a pastor’s son is a calling all on its own. Having to face both challenges simultaneously has made Guy’s — my youngest son — journey unique. He felt the strong calling to ministry early on in his young life and God’s special anointing has made him a strong leader among his young peers. The Lord has also blessed him with special favor. Guy has been praised by his commanders week after week for his excellence in training.
Guy has been shining the light of Christ from the day he joined IDF. Throughout the duration of his boot camp, preparation, and training, he has not complained but instead, pushed through every challenge along the way, making sure he leads by example, especially when it’s hard. He is serving in the Infantry Brigade (NAHAL), in one of the combat units. This means he will face more than his share of responsibility and will need all our prayers.
As a family, we lived through this season with our oldest son Sasson, our daughter Moriel, and now our youngest son Guy, who is finishing his intense training. Soon, he will be sworn in, initiating his active duty as a combat soldier. As parents, Vicky and I couldn’t be more grateful to God for making Guy such a lighthouse among his peers.
Guy, along with the rest of his unit, stood at the Western Wall, right where Temple Mount stood, and was sworn-in in a special IDF ceremony at the beginning of June. These young Israeli soldiers were given an oath on the Bible while formally being presented with a weapon to be used to defend their country.
Hashba’ah — the swearing-in ceremony is an important and very symbolic one. It’s about young Israeli men standing on Temple Mt. before God, their families, and their commanders, giving an oath to defend their country, even at the cost of their lives. However, our trust is in Yeshua alone. Guy’s life, future, and calling are in God’s hands, and we entrust him to the Lord just as He entrusted us with Guy when he was born.
Please pray for Guy and the thousands of new soldiers that begin active operation duty in the IDF after this induction ceremony. May Yeshua keep them safe as they stand as guardians of God’s nation!