It’s Hanukah in Israel right now, and nobody hides their light under a bushel. There are candles everywhere: real ones in windows, in glass boxes by front gates, in shop windows, on store counters; large and electric ones in city squares, at entrances to neighborhoods, on tops of high rise buildings.
There’s also been a huge fire — a wildfire on Mount Carmel — which raged from Thursday afternoon to this evening, and only now — by the great mercy of God — has been brought under control. During an eight-day holiday that’s supposed to be all about miracles (and gifts and sufganiot), it’s been all about numbers: 77 hours unchecked, 12,000 acres charred, 5 million trees gone, 17,000 evacuated, 74 buildings lost, and 41 lives snuffed out.
But were other numbers as well: some 12 nations sending aid, nearly 30 foreign aircraft dousing flames, scores of non-Israeli firefighters joining in the fight — not to mention thousands of prayers, and one faithful Shepherd, who still quiets winds today.
I don’t know what He’s up to, exactly. But here’s what I do know:
Anyone can make good things work out for good, but only our Heavenly Father can bring good out of evil. –Florence Barclay
Elisabeth Adams 