My Daughter is in Israel and War Just Broke Out

Our first two kids have graduated and moved out and I couldn’t be more proud. The first went to work for a mission organization and travels all over the country. In her first two years of adulthood, she has logged more air miles than I have in TWENTY-two. We have fielded many questions and concerns about her travels—“Aren’t you worried about human trafficking?” “What if she misses a flight and can’t get home?” “What if she meets someone and moves there?” “I don’t think I’d get any sleep if it was my daughter.” Then comes the next daughter, and she applies for and is accepted to an 11-month service internship in Jerusalem. Now they really thought we were crazy. She landed in Tel Aviv on September 1, 2023 and on October 7, Hamas launched the largest and deadliest terrorist attack on Israel in fifty years. Now we’re getting more questions, and I have some thoughts I’d like to share.

First of all, Emily was called to this. She has had a strong walk with the Lord for years and has developed a sensitivity to His leading voice. She didn’t go to Israel on whim or for a sightseeing vacation. She followed the call of God to live among and serve His chosen people. Had I known that war would erupt a month after her arrival, I might have found a few Christian college brochures to lay around the house, but we didn’t know. God DID know and He still called her to go. I’m reminded of another young girl living in a foreign land when hatred for the Jews boiled over. Esther acknowledged in spite of her difficult situation that she was most likely uniquely positioned for a purpose for “such a time as this.” What better time to be in Israel to serve the needy than at their greatest hour of need?

Secondly, Emily belongs to Him. While her mother and I have made a significant investment in her life, only Jesus could pay the price for her and she belongs to Jesus. We have known that her whole life. Our role as parents has been that of stewards of a precious daughter of the King. We were not trying to press her into some mold we designed for her. Rather, we have been equipping her to recognize how God made her in His image with plans and purposes of His own. If Israel-during-conflict is a part of that plan, who are we as stewards to argue with the King? Besides, His purposes for her will be far more fruitful than anything we could dream up.

We are only 2 days into this conflict as I write this and for now Emily is relatively safe. In fact, during the first few hours after I learned what was going on, I was unable to reach her because she was napping so deeply that she didn’t hear 4 text alerts or 2 phone calls. But there are no guarantees that won’t change. I would be lying if I told you the thought hasn’t crossed my mind that she could be killed or captured while this conflict continues. I can’t pretend to know how that will feel if it comes to that. But I do think of Job from the Old Testament. He was a righteous man (a title I could not claim) who lost everything in a day including his 10 children. His wife encouraged him to curse God and die, but Job said, “Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” I want that kind of faith. And I know Emily aspires to have the faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who said “our God is able…but even if He does not…” God is able to shield her from harm no matter where she goes in the world, but even if He allows her to suffer, we still choose to follow Him.

For now I will leave you with one last thought about how my perspective has been shaped by this already. The news of this attack on Israel has, for obvious reasons, struck me a little differently than it would have in the past. But I think maybe it shouldn’t. Emily has already been learning so much about Jewish history and how Christians ought to find their roots in the same story. Their history is our history. We all have daughters and mothers and brothers and sons being killed or kidnapped by terrorists in Israel. Paul explained to the church at Rome (and to us today) that we have been grafted in to the family tree of Israel. This terror is not against “them”; it’s against “us.” Now is the time to stand with Israel, to pray for Israel, to be a blessing to Israel—because they are our family.

Bridges for Peace is an excellent organization working to be a blessing to Jewish people in need. If you have ever considered how you might be a blessing to Israel, please consider starting with them. They have been actively meeting needs for over 50 years and are rightly positioned to help where it is most needed. https://www.bridgesforpeace.com/learn/bridges-for-peace-in-action/

Yes, please pray for Emily. And pray for the whole family there in Israel. And if the Lord leads you and provides you with the means, be a blessing to Israel.

Blessings to You,

JP Jobe

Psalm 46