Mourning And Miracles: God's Hand On Israel In Difficult Times And Amazing Times

(Galilee, Israel) — Yesterday marked the three-year anniversary of the day that approximately 1,200 people were slaughtered by Gazan terrorists in southern Israel. On that horrific October 7, entire families were executed. Young women were subjected to horrific sexual violence and then murdered. Bodies were mutilated and decapitated. The head of one murdered soldier was reportedly found in an ice cream freezer in Gaza more than two months after the attack. An ambulance carrying wounded people was set ablaze, leaving some victims almost entirely unidentifiable. And that is just the beginning of the vile wickedness that took place on what began as a peaceful Saturday morning.

The agents of evil believed they scored a victory. In their minds, it was a great blow to the state of Israel. And in that, they were right. However, it was not a knock-out blow. Not even close. They found that truth out quickly enough.

Our nation rose from the ashes with strength, resilience, and courage! Those responsible have been brought to their rightful end. The few who are still around are not long for this earth. Throughout history, God has shown that those who harm the “apple of His eye” will suffer the consequences of their heinous actions. The perpetrators of October 7 were no exception.

God’s love and mercy to His people have continued from that day on. He has comforted those who mourn, both the families of the slain during the attack and those of the nearly 1,000 soldiers who have fallen during the fighting since then. He has come alongside those who survived the attack, those who endured captivity, those who suffered torture. That is not to say that it has been easy. But when God was sought, He was sure to be found. Daily, I and so many others pray for the multitude of victims who wake up every morning with the lingering trauma of what they endured that terrible day.

There is one other ray of light that breaks through on an otherwise very dark day. It is the change in the mindset of many Israelis. Our people have moved to the right politically, and many have moved toward faith in God. An amazing spiritual awakening is taking place. Though it may not last, seeing people turn toward God fills me with far greater hope than what I’ve been watching in the past as they drift toward hedonism, liberalism, and globalism.

We have also seen the hand of God on many occasions these past three years. Most recently, the reported attempt to hijack a commercial aircraft carrying 174 Israelis and crash it in a 9/11-style attack ended with all lives spared. You’ll read more about that just below. To me, the survival of those passengers was an extraordinary miracle, another powerful reminder of God’s mercy.

Yesterday was a difficult day. We mourn. We remember. And we thank God that Israel still lives.

A Miracle In The Skies

On September 30, God spared Israel its own version of 9/11. If the plan had succeeded, it is very likely that more would have been killed in one horrific act than were slaughtered that fateful October day three years ago. Hamam Al-Hammami is an Omani, born in the UAE. Trained as a pilot, he flew until he was grounded due to his extremist views – views he may have picked up when he spent some time in Syria. Eventually, he was hired by flydubai as a copilot, where he settled in and bided his time.

FL1073, a flight number I am personally familiar with from several of my own itineraries, took off from Dubai, UAE, destined for Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. At one point in the flight, Al-Hammami asked permission from the pilot to perform his Islamic prayers. The pilot, a Hindu from India named Smit Machchhar, assented. Once Al-Hammami was behind Machchhar, he removed the emergency axe with which every cockpit is equipped, and he struck the pilot. A struggle began.

This is when the first miracle took place. A little girl named Nina needed to use the restroom at precisely the time the struggle was taking place. Seeing the pilot being attacked, she ran to tell her mom. That began a series of events that led to Al-Hammami being subdued by passengers, a plumber stabilizing the plane, and a couple of pilots who just happened to be deadheading on the flight taking over the controls and making an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Within those few sentences I just typed are a myriad of miracles – supernatural interventions by God to protect not just those in the aircraft, but the thousands within Ben Gurion Airport’s terminals where Al-Hammami had planned to crash the plane.

Everyone here in Israel recognizes the miraculous hand in the saving of FL1073, although not all will admit it or attribute it to God. The aviation world itself is in shock. For so long, the concern had been passengers trying to hijack and crash a plane. Now they have to consider that the suicidal crazy person might be one of their own pilots. While it can be a point of concern for believers, there is one peace that we have. No matter what happens to us in this life, we know that we have an eternity with our Savior awaiting us. However, we also know that God doesn’t get upset if we tell Him that we’d prefer not to fly to that eternity in a hijacked plane.

AN UNEXPECTED ALLY

My German publisher forwarded to me a wonderful message from an unexpected friend of Israel. The sender was Kai Höss, a passionate believer and a lover of Israel who happens to be the grandson of Rudolf Höss, the German SS officer who was also the commandant of the Auschwitz concentration camp where my mother’s parents were interned. It read:

Today, October 7, I remember with you and all those who care…

Three years have passed since that terrible morning of October 7, 2023, yet I know that for so many Jewish families the pain, the absence, and the memories remain very real. I remember those who were murdered, those who were taken hostage, the wounded, the bereaved, and all whose lives were forever changed. And I want my Jewish friends to know that you are not forgotten and that you do not stand alone.

As a Christian—and especially in light of my own family history—this day touches me deeply. I cannot change the past, but I can choose where I stand today: against antisemitism, against hatred and dehumanization, and alongside the Jewish people.

And above all, I am reminded that Israel’s hope does not ultimately rest in the promises of men, but in the faithfulness of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

“He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.”
Psalm 121:4

The same God also promised:

“Fear not, for I am with you… I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you.”
Isaiah 41:10

May the God of Israel comfort every grieving heart, strengthen those who are weary, protect His people, and bring healing where wounds remain. On this October 7, I remember with you, I mourn with you, and I continue to stand with you.

With love, remembrance, and prayer,
Kai

I was so moved to receive this, especially considering the bizarre and tragic connection between our respective grandparents. Kai, you are proof that sin need not be generational and that God’s love and grace are more powerful than any family’s past. Thank you for your powerful words. I trust that all of you readers are as blessed as I am.