Bedouins are one of the few remaining nomadic people groups in the world. As Arabs, they have a rich and very complex history and are scattered throughout the Middle East. In Israel, they are citizens of the State of Israel and these proud desert dwellers can thrive in the world’s harshest conditions. Their personal lives are mostly private.
But did you know that on October 7, 2023, when Hamas brutally killed over 1,200 Israelis and kidnapped 240 innocents, sadly, Bedouins suffered part of the carnage.
For the Bedouins, their nightmare has continued since they live in “unrecognized” villages, camps and family plots. Because of this they don’t always receive the same protection from Israel’s Iron Dome. They also have few bomb shelters which are plentiful in most Israeli cities and urban centers.
After the Hamas attack over 14 months ago, 19,000 rockets have been fired into Israel from the Gaza. The Bedouin community that lives in southern Israel has been right in the middle of it.
“Naila” a Bedouin woman and mother, lives happily with her family in the Negev desert outside of the biblical city of Arad in southern Israel. A loving mother, with five children whose livelihood derived off the family herd of sheep. Naila does everything she can to provide for her family and keep her kids safe. Without access to bomb shelters anywhere near their tent-like home, her plan of action when they hear a rocket alarm in the distant village is to take her family to the nearby wadi (dried riverbed or ravine) and take cover there. This has worked well and kept them safe from numerous rocket attacks, and it’s had become routine for Nalia and her family.
On October 1, 2024, Iran launched 400 ballistic missiles and hundreds of suicide drones at Israel, aimed at Tel Aviv, population centers, and airbases in the Negev. It was late at night and the children were sleeping when Naila heard the eerie wail of the rocket siren in the distance. Normally, when the alarm sounds, they have one to two minutes to make it to their “shelter.” Naila sprang into action waking her children and gathering the family outside to ensure every member was accounted for. In the cold desert air, a millisecond before Naila was about to lead her family to their wadi, she got a sick feeling to her stomach, a feeling of dread. She could not explain it but felt as if going to their place of safety would somehow be disastrous.
She instructed the family instead to run in the opposite direction and towards a different wadi, one that was much further. Confused, the family followed their mother, Into the desert in complete darkness. Occasionally illuminated by rocket interceptions in the sky and the faint glow of explosions in the distance. The impacts were growing closer as they could feel the concussions of explosions and interceptions. As they made it to the hiding place, the sky illuminated, the ground shook, and her children were crying hysterically. Nalia knew there was a rocket impact nearby. The family embraced each other for the next hour until the bombardment stopped.
When they returned to their home, their tents were littered with holes from shrapnel, an impact had certainly been close. When the sun rose the next day, Naila inspected their home and surroundings. To her utter astonishment there had been a direct impact in the wadi where her family typically took refuge, the same one they were initially headed the night before. And this was not a typical rocket either. This was an Iranian ballistic missile which had been intercepted as it reentered earth’s atmosphere above Israel. The walls of the wadi were peppered with shrapnel from the direct hit of the missile hitting the ground at hypersonic speeds. There would have been no chance for survival for Naila or her family had she not felt the need to run in the opposite direction. Nalia and her family experienced a miracle!
Today, Naila walks around with a big smile widening her face knowing that it was God who directed her steps that frightening night. But she has more questions than answers. Since she is a Muslim, she does not understand why God chose to spare her and her family. She also grapples with the complexity of these evil attacks which are originated from hostile Muslim countries.
The miracle has caused Naila to seek out the “God of Israel!”
Naila now spends all her free time with our team in Israel, learning about Jesus and what He has done for her. She is so close to putting her faith in Jesus Christ as her Savior!
Would you please pause and pray for Naila’s salvation in Jesus alone right now?
Jesus said: “No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him.” John 6:44
Father, You divinely protected Naila and her family sparing their physical lives. Now we ask You to draw the entire family to the heart of Jesus unto salvation. In Jesus’ Name.
Christmas Bible Trivia:
Did you know the wise men who were the first visitors to see Jesus after His birth were Bedouins?
The Prophet Isaiah gives us this clue:
“Herds of camels will cover your land, young camels of Midian and Ephah. And all from Sheba will come bearing gold and incense and proclaiming the praise of the Lord.” Isaiah 60:6
Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? And it should since it is very similar to what we read in Matthew 2:11 about Jesus’ birth and the wise men who came to worship after they followed the Star to His manger in Bethlehem.
The people from Midian, Ephah and Sheba were all Bedouins, they came from the east to Israel, and they raised and rode camels too.
Uncharted is privileged to work on a Bible translation for the Bedouins as they have never had the Scriptures in their own heart language of Bedawi Arabic.
So, the first people to meet Jesus are going to be some of the last people to have a Bible in their own language!
Can you see why the Uncharted Team is humbled and at the same time thrilled to lead this project?
