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~GETTING TO KNOW ISRAEL~

WindowKids: Israel

Tirzah and her friends were having a wonderful time racing each other under the warm sun.  It was recess and they were glad to have a break from their morning lessons.
    “You may play for 10 minutes, children,” Mrs. Shalev had announced.  “Stay close to the building, and make sure you can always see one of the teachers!”  All morning Mrs. Shalev had seemed worried.  As she let the class go out to play, she looked even more concerned. 
    Tizrah thought this was rather strange.  Mrs. Shalev was such a peaceful person and their village was a such peaceful place.  What was there to worry about?  Everyone knew everyone else.  Everyone seemed to care about each other.  It had been that way for many years.  The children played safely in the streets – even after dark – and people left their cars and homes unlocked.  They lived in complete safety. 
    At least, that’s the way it had been up until a few weeks ago. That was when Israel had been attacked by a neighboring country.  Lately, loud sirens had been blaring, alerting them that missiles and bombs might be coming. 
    The enemy had missed Tizrah’s village so far.  But some of the adults said that was going to change.
    Giggles and laughter filled the air as Tirzah and a dozen of her classmates ran around the schoolyard.  Even though some of the grown-ups said they were living in dangerous times, Tizrah and the other children were not concerned.  Not at that moment, anyway.  They were too busy having fun.
    What she and her friends didn’t realize was that before the day ended, their world would change forever.
    That’s why I was there.  My name is Hymnie.  I’m a hummingbird, and I sing hymns.  And, more importantly, I’m a messenger for Jesus.  On this particular day, I was on a mission.  As soon as I reached Tizrah and the other children, I knew it was time to deliver my message.
    “Tirzah!”  I called out.  She was so happy playing her game that she didn’t hear me.  So I buzzed in closer.  “Tirzah!”
    Tirzah turned her head, glanced at me, but then went back to her game.  I guess she wasn’t expecting to meet a talking hummingbird.
    “Tirzah!  I have an important message for you,” I said.  She finally stopped and blinked up at me.  “Gather your friends and go to the shelter.  Right now!”
    She squinted at me with a puzzled expression.
    “Hurry!” I told her.
    “You’re a… a hummingbird,” she said.  “And you’re… talking.”
    “Yes,” I said, trying to be patient.  “Now please do as I say – go to the shelter!”
    Tizrah opened her mouth as though about to ask another question, but then shouted to the other children, “Go to the shelter!”
    The other children stopped playing and looked at her.
    Suddenly the siren began to sound.
    “Go to the shelter!” Tizrah repeated.  “Go to the shelter… everyone!”
    Having practiced this many times, the children began to run to the shelter.  No one talked, or screamed, or made a fuss.  They filed in quietly.  Just as the last child entered, something bright – almost like a shooting star! – streaked across the sky.  Then came the explosion:  BOOM!!
Safely inside the shelter, the children looked at each other with wide eyes.  They knew this was no drill.  It was the real thing.  Their village was under attack.
Tizrah saw me and shook her head.  “How did you know?”
“Jesus sent me to warn you.  He knew the enemy was going to shoot missiles at your village today.”
“Who’s Jesus?,” she wondered.
The other children were watching and listening now. 
“Jesus,” I told them, “is God’s only Son.  God sent Him to earth over 2000 years ago to die on a cross for you and for your classmates… and for every person who has ever lived or will ever live on planet earth.”
The children were interested in this, but a few didn’t seem to believe me.
“How come we’ve never heard of this Jesus person?” one of them asked.
“I don’t know,” I said, “but He was a Jew – just like you.  And more than that:  He’s the Messiah.”
“Messiah?!” someone gasped.  They were all familiar with the Messiah – the Anointed One. 
“Yes, Jesus is the Messiah.”  I paused, waiting for them to think about that.  Then I said, “He sent me to keep you safe and to tell you how much He loves you.”
    Tirzah’s eyes brimmed with tears.  “Thank you, Hymnie.  Thank you for protecting us from the enemy and for telling us about Jesus the Messiah.”
    “I’m just a messenger,” I told her.  “Jesus is the One you should thank.”
    “Thank You, Jesus,” Tizrah prayed.  “Thank You, Jesus, the Messiah.”
    The other children all began to give thanks to Jesus, the Messiah. 
    Just then, the door burst open.  “Children!” Mrs. Shalev shouted.  “Are you alright?!  Is everyone here?  I was so worried!”
    Tirzah wiped the tears from here eyes.  “We’re more than alright.  Hymnie told us to go to the shelter….”
    “Hymnie…?” Mrs. Shalev said.  “Who’s….?”
    “…And then he told us about Jesus the Messiah.”
    Mrs. Shalev’s face suddenly filled with joy. 
    “Jesus is the One who kept us safe!”
    “Yes,” Mrs. Shalev nodded, smiling.  “Yes, He is.”
    “Then you know about Jesus the Messiah?” one of the other children asked.
    Mrs. Shalev’s smile grew even larger.  “He is my Lord and Savior.”
    “Can you tell us more about Him?”
    Closing the door, Mrs. Shalev sat down with the children.  “I would love to tell you about Jesus.”
    More missiles fell from the sky and there were explosions that shook the small shelter.  But the children barely noticed.  I barely noticed!  I found a comfortable spot on Tizrah’s shoulder and listened right along with everyone else as Mrs. Shalev told stories about Jesus.