Call 540 672 5671  |  
Mon-Thur 8:30 am-5:30 pm; Fri 8:30-12:30 EST
Choices

God’s People Delivered: A Certain Hope

“And it shall be said in that day, ‘Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us.’” Isaiah 25:9

By Staci Schefka

On October 7, 2023, the world was shocked by the news that Hamas had orchestrated a surprise attack on the nation of Israel. In one day, over a thousand were killed, and another 250 were abducted and taken to Gaza. What these hostages have endured can only be described as horrific.

During her 477 days in captivity, Daniella Gilboa, a 20-year-old Israeli soldier, was confined to underground tunnels with little access to daylight, fresh air, or basic necessities. Yarden Bibas, a 35-year-old welder held for 484 days, was subjected to severe physical abuse, like being kept in a cage and repeatedly beaten. He was also psychologically tormented with false reports that his wife and children had been killed. These are only a fraction of their stories. 

Today there are still unreleased hostages, but those who have been rescued or released often share what sustained them all those terrifying months: hope. The hope that

You have met your free view limit.
To access the full article, please login or subscribe.

Subscribe Today

Last Generation is a magazine for people seeking spiritual answers to the current issues of our times.

Your subscription will give you:

  • Immediate access to all web content, including archives as they are expanded
  • Special access to web-only articles
  • A 32-page copy of Last Generation Magazine delivered to your home 6 times a year*
Subscribe Today

*Digital-only subscriptions also available



References

  1. 1. “Freed Israeli Hostages: What They Endured in Captivity and How They Survived,” AJC, Mar. 5, 2025.

  2. Personal interview.

  3. Ibid.

About the author

Staci Schefka is a contributing editor for Last Generation magazine. She has a BA in communications and enjoys teaching community health classes. She is also the registrar and marketing director for Hydrotherapy Hub
(hydrotherapyhub.com), a virtual education and networking platform providing resources and instruction in simple hydrotherapy modalities.

mic