When Enemies Attack On Holy Days | The Mystery Of Resting While The World Rages

“Why, God, do You ask us to rest—only for the world to strike when we are most still?”

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The Question That Shook My Sukkah

It was during Sukkot, the Feast of Booths—a time of joy, remembrance, and thanksgiving—when it happened.

The sun was setting, the air smelled of pine and earth, and I was whispering prayers beneath the open roof of my fragile sukkah. My heart was full of gratitude, even in the simplicity of my shelter.

Then, without warning, darkness broke the peace.

I was attacked—physically, verbally, spiritually—while celebrating the very festival that proclaims God’s protection over us in temporary dwellings.

And as I sat trembling afterward, I asked aloud:

> “Abba, why do You tell us to rest on Your holy days… when the enemy seems to strike most fiercely on those very days?”

I thought of my brothers and sisters in Israel who were attacked on Rosh Hashanah.

Of the Jewish worshippers in Manchester killed on Yom Kippur.

And now, of myself, assaulted on Sukkot—the Feast of His Presence and provision.

It felt like a cruel mystery.

But sometimes, the hardest questions are the ones that lead us to the deepest truths.

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When Rest Feels Unsafe

We are commanded to rest on Shabbat and the feast days—not as a suggestion, but as a holy appointment.

> “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God.”

— Exodus 20:8–10

Yet, when war rages or evil strikes, our rest feels almost irresponsible.

We think, Shouldn’t I fight back? Shouldn’t I be ready?

But this is the divine paradox: rest itself is warfare.

In resting, we declare that God—not human might—guards our lives.

In keeping His appointments, we proclaim that His covenant still stands even when the world shakes.

> “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations.”

— Psalm 46:10

This verse is more than comfort—it’s strategy.

When we are still, it’s not passivity. It’s trust.

It’s saying, “The battle is not mine but Yours, O Lord.”

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Enemies on Holy Days: The Pattern of the Ages

The Scriptures are full of times when Israel was attacked on sacred days.

It’s not coincidence—it’s spiritual warfare.

When Israel was vulnerable in the wilderness, Amalek struck from behind, targeting the weak and weary (Deuteronomy 25:17–18).

When Yeshua was crucified, it was during Passover, a holy time of deliverance.

When Antiochus desecrated the Temple, it was during the Feasts of Dedication, now known as Hanukkah.

Why? Because the enemy hates holiness.

He attacks during the feasts not because God is absent—but because God’s presence is near, and the enemy trembles at it.

Yeshua warned us:

> “You will be hated by all because of My name. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls.”

— Luke 21:17–19

Our Messiah never promised that obedience to God would make us safe in worldly terms.

He promised that even in persecution, our souls would be preserved.

The attacks come because you are walking in obedience.

They come because your light threatens the darkness.

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Finding Shelter in the Storm

When I asked God why He allows these attacks, His answer came not in thunder but in a whisper:

“I am your shelter, not your walls.”

It struck me deeply.

We build sukkot—temporary shelters—to remember that our ancestors had no permanent walls, yet God Himself was their covering.

> “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”

— Psalm 91:1

Even when the sukkah shakes in the wind, even when enemies rage, there is a shadow—a Presence—that never leaves.

God’s command to rest is not naive. It is prophetic.

He calls us to cease striving precisely when the world demands panic.

It’s in our stillness that His strength is revealed.

> “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength.”

— Isaiah 30:15

This is the hidden power of Shabbat and the feasts:

They remind us that our strength is not in our swords but in our surrender.

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Yeshua’s Rest in the Midst of Danger

Even our Messiah showed us what divine rest looks like.

In Mark 4:37–39, when a storm threatened to drown the disciples, Yeshua was… asleep.

> “A great windstorm arose… but He was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. And they woke Him and said, ‘Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?’ He awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ And the wind ceased.”

The disciples saw danger. Yeshua saw authority.

His rest wasn’t denial—it was dominion.

When we rest in God, even while danger swirls, we share in that same authority.

We say to the chaos around us, “Peace. Be still.”

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The Mystery Resolved

So, why does God command rest when the enemy attacks?

Because the true victory isn’t won through frantic defense—it’s won through faithful dependence.

Every Shabbat, every feast, every time we stop working, we are declaring a prophetic truth to heaven and hell alike:

> “My Redeemer lives. My Defender neither slumbers nor sleeps. I am not afraid.”

The command to rest is not a setup for defeat. It is an invitation to witness miracles.

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When You Are Attacked for Obedience

If you’ve been attacked for your faith, for your obedience, or for your identity as a believer in Yeshua—know this:

You are not forsaken. You are part of a holy pattern.

Your pain echoes the cries of prophets, martyrs, and Messiah Himself.

> “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

— Matthew 5:10

Even when enemies strike on holy days, they cannot touch the eternal covenant written on your heart.

The feast still stands.

The light still shines.

The sukkah still shelters.

And most of all—God still reigns.

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Standing Together in Hope

If you’ve read this far, perhaps you too have felt the sting of standing for faith in a hostile world.

Maybe you’ve wondered, Why rest when everything feels unsafe?

Take heart, beloved. You are not alone. The very act of keeping God’s appointed times is a prophetic act of courage in a shaking world.

As we continue to dwell in temporary shelters, may we remember that our true dwelling is eternal.

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A Gentle Invitation

If this message spoke to your heart—if it comforted, strengthened, or inspired you—would you consider supporting this work of faith-based storytelling and encouragement?

You can pray for me, share this article with others, or offer a word of encouragement.

And if you feel led, you may also give to help sustain this ministry of words and witness.

Together, as one family of faith, we can keep shining light into the darkness—reminding the world that even when enemies strike on holy days, the God of Israel still shelters His people beneath His wings.

> “He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge.”

— Psalm 91:4

Shalom, peace, and courage to you—this Sukkot and always.

— Faith Hope