SPECIAL EDITION: When the Captives Return: A Cry of Joy and Warning

by: Linda Kirby/WGON 10/12/2025

This morning, my tears are not of sorrow—they are the overflow of joy, relief, and reverence. The hostages are coming home. After days of intercession, years of tension, and lifetimes of longing, we witness a moment that echoes ancient deliverance. But let us not mistake this for closure—it is a beginning. A beginning that demands discernment, gratitude, and vigilance. As we rejoice, we must also remember: captivity is not just physical—it is spiritual, political, and generational. And every release carries a warning. Let us weep, yes—but let us also watch.

We are watching a miracle unfold—one that many thought would never come. But miracles are not just gifts; they are assignments. What will we do with this moment? Will we celebrate and move on, or will we steward it with prayer, clarity, and prophetic urgency?

Let me be blunt: This release is not just a diplomatic success—it is a spiritual test. Who do we trust? Hamas has a long history of breaching ceasefires and manipulating negotiations. Getting the hostages back is a profound relief, but it does not erase the danger. One of the earlier released hostages reportedly overheard Hamas members saying the captives were becoming a burden. Historically, when hostages lose their strategic value, Hamas has been known to execute them quietly, while continuing to use their presumed presence as a shield. So let us be clear: the timing of this release is not man’s triumph—it is God’s intervention. Yes, President Trump did the legwork, but it was the Lord who ordered his steps. This is not just politics—it’s providence.

We must ask hard questions: Who can we trust? And for how long? In the Middle East, a nation may be your ally today and your adversary tomorrow. So how far do we extend trust? Peace deals can be signed by all parties, but history reminds us—they often unravel within days, sometimes hours. Will this one hold? Only God knows, because it is His plan that will prevail. We are living in the end times, and the Middle East—especially Israel—is the epicenter of prophetic fulfillment. Scripture speaks of a “covenant with many,” and with each new peace agreement, we must ask: Is this the one? Is prophecy unfolding before our eyes?

So today, I cry. I cry for the families reunited. I cry for the children who will sleep in safety. I cry for the prayers that pierced heaven and brought deliverance. But I also cry out—for wisdom, for vigilance, for truth. Let this moment be a trumpet blast, not a lullaby. A trumpet blast that calls each of us to be released from the hostage of sin. A call to be received home to Jesus, the true Deliverer. Let us not only rejoice for the captives freed in Gaza—let us weep and intercede for those still bound in spiritual chains. Let this physical release stir a deeper cry: Lord, set the captives free.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me… He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.”

— Luke 4:18