“Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.” Nehemiah 4:20

This week was unprecedented for Israel. For the first time ever, sirens throughout the entire country sounded simultaneously, giving citizens just minutes to take cover before nearly 200 ballistic missiles rained upon Israel from Iran, only to be successfully intercepted by the IDF’s brilliant anti-missile systems. Much like Nehemiah’s trumpet-bearing watchmen surrounding Jerusalem, Israel’s sirens this week ushered in a new phase in the Jewish state’s battle to defend itself against its enemies.

As watchmen on the walls, Christians must note that there are significant trumpet blasts at this time that need our full attention, and more importantly, require our response to act.

Stop. Remember what the Lord has done. This is the sentiment of the Feast of Trumpets that the Jewish people are currently celebrating, a two-day feast that ends on Friday 4th October. The Feast of Trumpets is also known by its Biblical name, Yom Teruah, which means “a massive shout by a crowd or blowing of a horn.” When God commanded the Israelites to observe the Feast of Trumpets, they were given detailed instruction to blow the shofar repeatedly throughout the feast. The Feast of Trumpets commences the 10 “days of awe” that culminates with Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year, and is a time for prayer, reflection and repentance.

Throughout the Bible, the blowing of the shofar is intended to awaken His people; it was used to call to war, to bring people to assemble, to stir them into action, and to make proclamation.

For whichever reason the shofar is blown, its purpose is always to get the attention of God’s people.

One year ago this Monday, Hamas massacred over 1,200 innocent Israelis in their attempt to wipe out the Jewish people. Over 100 remain captive inside Gaza. October 7th 2023 was the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. It was wake-up call to the world that Israel must not stand alone in the threat vowed by the Islamist terror groups that want Israel’s destruction. The trumpet is sounding, but is the church listening?

Since October 8th 2023, a condemning narrative against Israel erupted both from sections of the media, by politicians and even from among figures in the church, warning Israel not to take action against its foes, or at best to limit its aims, or at worse misrepresenting Israel’s aims. This has morphed into a myriad of attacks against Israel’s right to defend itself, with the UN and even the leadership of the Church of England, recently demanding that Israel withdraws completely from the Judea and Samaria, and from the Jewish holy sites in Jerusalem. Christians everywhere should recognise that these appalling attempts to undermine Israel’s sovereignty are unbiblical. The trumpet is sounding, but is the church listening?

Since October 8th 2023, antisemitism in the UK has reached record levels, trebling since the Hamas attacks against Israel. Figures released this week show that from October 7th to September 30th 2024, the UK’s Jewish community experienced 5583 antisemitic incidents – the highest total ever recorded in any 12-month period. The trumpet is sounding, but is the church listening?

 

Also since October 8th 2023, Israel has been attacked by Hezbollah on an almost daily basis with more than 9,000 rockets being fired from Lebanon, and Israel has also been attacked by the Houthis and by Iran directly in April and again this week. Israel didn’t start the war in Gaza, Hamas did. Israel didn’t start the war in Lebanon, Hezbollah did. And if Israel goes to war against Iran, it is important to remember that it was started by Iran. The threat by the Islamic Republic of Iran is a threat to Israel and the entire Middle East, but also to Britain and the entire Western world. The trumpet is sounding, but is the church listening?

Also since October 8th 2023, Hamas has crumbled. Hezbollah is crumbling. And the Iranian regime is quaking in fear. Iran’s “ring of fire” surrounding Israel is being extinguished by Israel’s tenacity and courage. Yet, the ideology behind their motives remains – their ambition is to wipe Israel off the face of the earth is still their end-goal. This is why Israel’s battle is like no other warfare in the world. The trumpet is sounding, but is the church listening?

As these historic events take place before our eyes, a trumpet is sounding for Christians to awaken and hear the spiritual battle cry. The response from Christians specifically is not with fighter jets and drones – we can leave that in Israel’s capable hands – the call is for Christians to fight for truth concerning Israel and the Jewish people, and to pray for Israel’s defence and for Jerusalem’s peace.

This weekend Christians across the UK will stop to remember the victims of Hamas’ terror in homes and in churches across the land. As we reflect on the impact October 7th and the rise in antisemitism against the Jewish people in the UK, CUFI is sounding a “metaphorical” trumpet call for Christians everywhere to renew their determination to fight antisemitism and stand with Israel.