Update (Day 958) Swords of Iron “Happy Shavuot”

Shalom, friends—and happy Shavuot, happy Pentecost!

Tonight begins the final day of the Omer count: 7 sevens, 49 days, leading us to the 50th day. We’ve been counting since Passover, remembering the journey from Egypt toward Sinai—and ultimately toward the Promised Land.

As someone serving in the army, hearing the booms, and living in the reality of Israel today, I keep coming back to this truth: part of the mystery of Israel’s future is found by looking to the past.

In Exodus 19, the Israelites journeyed, entered, and encamped—plural. But when they reached the mountain, the Hebrew shifts into a singular expression: Israel camped there as one. One people. One nation. One heart.

That unity matters now more than ever.

At Sinai, we received the Torah. We entered covenant. We said yes to the adventure God placed before us. And I believe we are being called again—not only Israel, but all who stand with God’s purposes—to unity with Him, unity with one another, and unity with the nations who choose to stand with Israel.

In the army we say, “Together, we will have victory.” But that means more than soldiers standing together. It means together with God, together as a nation, and together with faithful friends around the world.

 The Torah was given on an Aliyah journey—a journey toward the Land of Promise. And that journey continues today. Jewish people are fleeing rising antisemitism and coming home to Israel. We must help them. We must stand against antisemitism in all its forms, including its most violent forms: Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and jihadist terror.

Shavuot also points us toward another mountain: Mount Zion, Jerusalem, and the promise of God’s Spirit being poured out. Joel 2 speaks of sons and daughters prophesying, old men dreaming dreams, and young men seeing visions. I believe those days are near. 

There is also discussion around the location of Mount Sinai—whether it is in the Sinai Peninsula or possibly in Saudi Arabia, at Jabal al-Lawz, as some researchers suggest. Wherever it happened, the message remains powerful: God met His people on the journey and called them into covenant.

And He is still calling us.

As Shavuot begins, Israel celebrates with white clothing, flowers in the hair, dancing, dairy foods—and yes, some friends still asking for barbecue. It’s a joyful time, but also a holy reminder: we are called to come together.

Unity. Victory. Together with God.

Happy Shavuot. Happy Pentecost.