“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
King David, the author of Psalm 139, understood the weight of leadership and the need for divine searching. As a warrior and ruler, he experienced moments of triumph and failure, yet he continually sought God's correction and guidance beyond his own introspection. His plea was for God to search and purify his heart and inner man from anything that was not of God, and lead him in truth and righteousness. This is a prayer that each of us can and should pray every single day.
Over the past week, the nation of Israel also finds itself in such a moment of deep reflection and reckoning after several major events.
Since the close of last week, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has published the results of several extensive investigations into the events of October 7th. This week the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) released its report too. These reports exposed critical vulnerabilities and misconceptions in the nation's security, both on strategic and tactical levels. The Shin Bet’s report also clearly pointed to the government’s significant role and influence in the buildup to October 7th through its policies and agendas.
At the same time, the government appointed a new IDF Chief of Staff, tasked with leading the military in the coming years.
The Investigations into October 7th: A Painful Reckoning
The coordinated Hamas attack on October 7th, 2023, remains the darkest day in Israel’s modern history. The infiltration of 5,500 terrorists, the massacre of over 1,200 civilians, and the abduction of 251 hostages exposed severe vulnerabilities in Israel’s intelligence and defense systems. As the IDF and Shin Bet published the findings of their internal investigations, they revealed critical failures in intelligence gathering, communication, and operational preparedness.
Among the revelations, the reports highlight that early warnings of Hamas’s movements were overlooked or dismissed due to longstanding assumptions that the group was not prepared for a full-scale attack or that it had the capacity to execute one. Gaps in security along the Gaza border and a slow response from key military units further worsened the situation. The reports acknowledge that a failure to adapt to Hamas’s evolving tactics contributed to the unprecedented breach.
While the investigation does not yet place direct blame on individuals, it underscores a collective failure at the highest levels that demands correction. The military leadership has vowed to implement sweeping reforms, including restructuring intelligence operations, improving rapid response capabilities, and fortifying border defenses to prevent such an attack from ever happening again.
A New Chief of Staff: Great Challenges Lie Ahead
As part of this process of correction, the IDF appointed a new Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, to lead the military into a new era of preparedness and resilience in light of ongoing regional threats. The new appointment comes after the outgoing IDF Chief of Staff, Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi, announced his early resignation back in January.
Lt. General Zamir is a veteran officer with extensive experience in both the Gaza and Lebanon fronts and he has his work cut out for him.
In his first address, Zamir made it clear that his top priority is to restore trust in the IDF’s ability to defend the nation. He outlined a strategy that includes strengthening coordination between the military and intelligence agencies, reassessing battlefield tactics, and ensuring that both technological advancements and human oversight are working together effectively. His appointment signals a shift towards proactive defense strategies, recognizing that Israel cannot afford to be caught off guard again.
IDF Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir
A Call for a Deeper Search
As Israel takes these necessary steps to search, investigate, and correct its security failures, there remains a deeper searching that must take place—not within the military but within the heart of the people themselves. Just as King David cried out in the opening Psalm, it is our prayer for a spirit of true repentance to sweep through the nation of Israel. This is the time to come before the Lord in petition that the hearts of the people would turn back to Messiah, the Rock of our salvation, to remove all hardheartedness. Our hope is to see them seeking the way everlasting found only in Yeshua. He is the way, the truth and the life.
Blessings and Shalom from Israel
Today is the first day of the joyous festival of Purim from the book of Esther. Esther may not be a frequent turn-to in your devotionals or one you hear taught
This has been another tumultuous week for Israelis throughout the nation. On Wednesday morning, the remains of Shiri Bibas and her two adorable sons, Ariel and Kfir (the two young red-head children) were laid to rest in a funeral
Tomorrow night (Saturday) Jewish families, both secular and religious, in Israel and in the nations, will gather around their tables for the traditional Passover meal, the first feast of the biblical year. A growing number of believers will also join in retelling the Exodus story of deliverance from bondage and slavery into freedom.
When we hear the word "peace," we often think of the absence of conflict or a sense of calm. However, the Hebrew word shalom (???????) carries a much deeper and richer meaning. It is one of the most well-known Hebrew words in the Bible, yet its full significance is often lost in translation.
Out of Zion Ministries is here to fulfill the calling on the Jewish people to be light and a blessing to the Body of Messiah in the nations. We do our best to keep you updated from our strategic location near the top of Mt.Carmel. If you have a question or a prayer request or if we can bless you in any other way, please do not hesitate to contact us.
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We encourage you to consider how to utilize the 'fruits' of your life to partner in Israel’s restoration. If cannot become involved personally, you can still be obedient to this call and partner with Out of Zion in supporting our mission to proclaim God's word to the Jewish people and to the nations.
