May Calendar Story-When God Hears
Between Two Sons: When God Hears
In the bustling Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem, I discovered that God’s love reaches both Jews and Arabs — the descendants of Isaac and Ishmael.
A New Way of Seeing Israel
I once thought I understood what it meant to pray for Israel. Every time my church mentioned the nation in prayer, I immediately pictured the Jewish people — the chosen descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
I prayed for their protection, for peace in Jerusalem, for hearts to turn to Yeshua the Messiah. But in all those prayers, one group rarely crossed my mind: the Arabs.
Not because I didn’t care, but because I didn’t really know them. “Israel,” to me, meant the Jewish people alone. The Arabs, I assumed, were simply the others — descendants of Ishmael, somehow outside of God’s promise.
But everything changed when I walked the land myself.
A Shift in Perspective
The Holy Land isn’t only a land of the Jews. It’s also home to Arabs, Christians, Muslims, Druze, and many others. Every street corner carries layers of story, pain, and promise.
As I travelled from one biblical site to another, I sensed that God was showing me something deeper than historic beauty. He was revealing His heart — a heart big enough for all His children.
Meeting Roger: From Hatred to Hope
On our second day in Israel, we met Roger, an Arab believer whose story left a mark on my heart.
He grew up in a world where hatred toward the Jews was part of daily life. Even as a Christian, that resentment shaped his worldview — until one day, he met Jesus.
God’s love shattered years of bitterness. His heart softened, and everything changed.
Today, Roger leads a ministry where Jewish and Arab believers share the Gospel together — standing as One New Man in Christ. Watching him speak about reconciliation made me realise: this is what the Kingdom of God looks like.
👉 You can watch his full story here
Jacob’s Juice Stall
A few weeks later, on our third-last day, we met Jacob near Jaffa Gate. He runs a humble juice stall — but it’s more than a business; it’s his ministry.
(✨Here is the spoiler: The December calendar photo was taken from his stall. And you have to check out the December story.)
Jacob grew up in a Christian Arab family, but his faith wasn’t personal until a painful season brought him to his knees. In that lowest moment, the Lord revealed Himself to Jacob.
Now, every cup of fresh juice he serves carries a message of hope. He blesses visitors from every nation, sharing God’s love through simple daily work. Because the wall beside the juice preparation area was adorned with scriptures, posters, crosses, and two worship flags. Additionally, worship music filled the air around his stall.
Through his small stall, Jacob proclaims God’s name with joy — and that witness stays with you long after you leave.
👉 You can watch his full story here
Remembering God’s Promise to Hagar | Muslim Quarter
Later, as we wandered the narrow alleys of Jerusalem’s Muslim Quarter, the aroma of spices, roasted nuts, and fresh herbs filled the air. Women sat beside their baskets of greens, their voices soft and kind.
In that moment, I thought of Hagar.
Her story has always moved me deeply. Sent away into the wilderness with her son, Ishmael, she ran out of water and hope. But then the angel of the Lord called to her:
“Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.”
(Genesis 21:17–18)
The name Ishmael means “God hears.”
Even in rejection and loneliness, God heard. He didn’t turn away from Hagar or her son. He had a plan for them too — a promise that still echoes today.
As I watched the life of the market around me, I realised: God still hears the descendants of Ishmael. He still loves the Arab people, just as He loves the children of Isaac. His mercy is wide enough for both.
A Shopfront That Speaks
This month’s calendar photo was taken right there in the Muslim Quarter — a vibrant shopfront overflowing with textiles, jewellery, and embroidered fabrics.
At first, it looked like just another market stall. But as I lingered, I sensed something more.
Behind every door is a family. Behind every stall, a story. Behind every face, someone made in the image of God.
These streets, though filled with tension, also shimmer with life and resilience. They remind me that God’s covenant love is not small or exclusive — it’s vast, generous, and redemptive.
When God Hears
As I looked up, a golden tapestry swayed gently in the breeze — its pattern like an unfinished story being woven by unseen hands. And I thought: that’s exactly what God is doing here.
He’s weaving together the lives of Jews and Arabs, believers and seekers, into one divine design. Threads of history and hope intertwine, forming a picture only He can see.
When God hears, He doesn’t respond to one group alone. He listens to every heart that cries out to Him — every Roger, every Jacob, every Hagar.
That’s the real miracle happening in Israel today.
God’s Heart for Both Peoples
As you look at this month’s calendar photo, may it remind you of God’s unchanging heart. Behind every street and shop are people whom He loves deeply — Jews and Arabs alike.
The cross stands as the bridge between Isaac and Ishmael, between every nation and tongue. Jesus alone is the true Prince of Peace.
He came not just to reconcile people to God, but people to each other.
A Call to Prayer
Will you pause and pray today?
🙏 Pray for the believers in Israel who are building bridges across generations of division.
🙏 Pray for Arab families to encounter Jesus in dreams and visions.
🙏 Pray for Jewish hearts to recognise their long-awaited Messiah.
🙏 Pray that true peace — not political but spiritual — will fill the land.
As you hang this calendar on your wall, remember: every image is more than a photograph. It’s a window into a living story — one that continues to unfold as God hears the prayers of His people.
Because when God hears… He redeems.
Bring a piece of Israel’s beauty—and His heart for both Jews and Arabs—into your home.
👉 Order your 2026 Israel Wall Calendar here
