The Gospel of Matthew begins with his account of the birth of Messiah. What has always stuck me the most is that the Son of God would be called Emmanuel: God with us:
The God of the entire universe humbled Himself and became flesh, to live among us and to die for our sins in order to save us. If you need some reassurance today, know this: God is with us, and He will never leave us nor forsake us.
I heard an excellent sermon recently. The pastor invited the congregation to consider all the billions of stars and realize that Scripture reports that the magi knew “His” star. One specific star. God has named each of the stars, and there was one particular star that would be the heralding star of the coming of God Incarnate, Jesus (Yeshua) the Messiah.
The wise men were probably not ethnically Jewish. Scripture gives us clues to believe these seasoned astronomers were Gentiles.
First of all, the fact that they are looking for the King of “the Jews” suggests this was not “their” king. The wise men didn’t say, “Where is our King?”
This is nonetheless extraordinary because somehow these Gentile star-gazers knew that the Jewish Messiah would come and they wanted to be a part of the history God was writing.
A second reason that suggests that the wise men were not ethnically Jewish is because they did not identify Bethlehem as the place to find Jesus (Yeshua). If they had been deeply familiar with the Jewish Scriptures, the wise men would have been likely to discern that the promised Messiah would be found in Bethlehem, but instead, they ask where they can find Him.
The wise men were Gentile astronomers who fulfilled even this Messianic prophecy from Psalm 147:
The Gentile nations would come before the Promised King of kings bringing their gifts, their treasures, foreshadowing that the glorious Gospel would be available to all – Jew and Gentile alike.
Relationship Evangelism
I had an interesting conversation with my dental hygienist during my most recent visit. My dental hygienist comes from a very open, liberal background and attends a Unitarian “church.”
She has expressed curiosity about Jesus and I try to minister to her gently when my mouth isn’t full of toothpaste or her dental instruments!
At one point during our conversation, I said something about how Jesus is still alive.
To which she replied, very innocently, “Yes, you mean He still lives on when we talk about Him or in how we live.”
I challenged her nebulous response a bit, by saying, “Well, more than that. Jesus is literally still alive and sitting on His throne at the right hand of God the Father.”
(The Unitarians believe that Jesus and Buddha and Muhammed should all receive equal respect.)
I continued, “Think about it carefully. Buddha is dead. Muhammed is also dead and buried. Ghandi, same fate. Jesus was dead and buried, too, but the difference is, Jesus rose up from the dead and is literally alive and well! He is still alive!”
Her eyes lit up. I know she felt the impact of Truth in that moment.Please pray for her, the LORD knows her name. She is spiritually hungry and is open to hearing the Truth, but is in a relationship with a man who also espouses Unitarianism.
When those who are from spiritually afar come to us wondering who is the King, and is this King alive, and where can they find Him, it is our Commission to openly share the Gospel with them! Be sure to build relationships so that you can help lead others to a saving relationship with our Messiah!
Where is He who was born King of the Jews?
He is in our hearts –
but so much more than that –
He is alive and will forever rule and reign!
He is our King – the King of all kings!
Jesus (Yeshua) our Messiah came to dwell among us, and now He invites us to choose our eternal dwelling place to be with Him.
Shalom!
Hanukkah in the New Testament – and why this might be the best year to join in the celebration!
20 Kislev 5784 B”H
With Israel in the news and the ongoing war against Hamas, the celebration of Hanukkah will be especially meaningful this year.If you and your family have never celebrated Hanukkah, may this be the year! Pray and stand in solidarity with the nation of Israeland celebrate the victory God has given us through His Son, Messiah Jesus!
Hanukkah is mentioned in the New Testament
Many Christians do not realize that Hanukkah is actually mentioned in the New Testament.
Yes, the New Testament!
The reference to Hanukkah (the Feast of Dedication) is found just after Jesus (Yeshua) tells us that He is the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for His sheep in John chapter 10.
Our Good Shepherd Jesus (Yeshua) was being criticized by some of the Jewish leaders about His amazing claim and His revelation that He would lay down His life for His sheep.
Jesus (Yeshua) knew how to deal with the spirits of criticism, contention, and unbelief: He focused simply on declaring Truth and revealing who He is.
Christians should not be uncomfortable with Hanukkah
Similarly with Hanukkah, you will find that some Christians get very uncomfortable with the topic of Hanukkah. I’ve heard it all:
“Hanukkah is a holiday only for Jews.”
“We live in the time of grace.”
“We aren’t bound to the Old Testament.”
“Hanukkah has nothing to do with us.”
It makes me terribly sad that Christians have sat under teachings that ultimately reflect a supercessionist viewpoint.
Like the pharisaical accusers of John 10, some Christians accuse other Christians of being “out of their mind” for sharing in the celebrations of Hanukkah and even Passover. Let us learn from our Master Teacher, Rabbi Jesus, who shows us by His example how not only to respond to questioning but also how to live.
Supercessionist teachings have unwittingly caused Christian antisemitism
“Supercessionism” (also known as “replacement theology”) is the teaching that Christianity has completely “replaced” Judaism and so the “religion” of Christianity is therefore superior. “Replacement theology” leads to antisemitism because Christians distance themselves from their Hebraic beginnings and unwittingly lose sight of the fact that it was the Jews who were waiting for their Messiah. And Jesus came and lived as a Jew among Jews.
On the contrary, Christians really ought in some ways to feel indebted (!) to Israel for being welcomed by the grace of the God of Israel and grafted in to the chosen nation!
While we know that our Savior Jesus (Yeshua) fulfilled the entirety of the Law’s requirements, Biblical Judaism provides the framework for our faith and we need to understand our Hebraic roots. The Scriptures come alive when we immerse ourselves in the culture that is ours both to the native and to the grafted in.
We also need to collectively repent for the antisemitism that does lurk in the church.
The antisemitic attack against Israel by Hamas on October 7, 2023 was an attack against all of us – Jew and Gentile believer alike. We must show our support and love for Israel during such a time as this.
Jesus (Yeshua) is the King of Israel
Do you ever feel like you don’t belong?
In America, sometimes people feel like they don’t belong neither here nor there because they don’t know much about their family history or the countries from which their ancestors emigrated. I think these genealogy sites are helping like ancestry.com because people can start to piece back a bit of their story!
But what is so neat about the Gospel, if you really think about it, is that we see how united we really are. We might be from Europe or from Asia or Africa or Australia, but ultimately, heaven is our homeland:
And while we are here on earth, our identity is found in Christ (our Messiah) – the King of Israel.
This time of year many churches celebrate the coming of our Emmanuel. O Come, O Come Emmanuel . . . . born is the King of Israel.
You absolutely belong and you are not without country. We have a King! Our Jesus is the King of Israel and the King of all.
By the way, you absolutely have the freedom and invitation to celebrate the miracles that God has done, right along with Israel. Some unbelieving orthodox Jews consider the participation of Christians in Jewish holidays as religious appropriation, but that is because they do not (yet!) understand the full picture of salvation. We pray for and with them. This really is not religious appropriation because the story of Israel is truly the story of God’s plan for the salvation of the entire world: Jew and Gentile alike.
As to those who are concerned that perhaps we are “binding” ourselves back to Old Testament Law. By no means! Instead, we see our place in history, celebrate all that God has done throughout history, and await the future reality when our King will return for us. We respect and value the entirety of Scripture and embrace the Biblical celebrations of our faith.
The King of Israel celebrated Hanukkah
Our LORD Jesus (Yeshua) revealed Himself as the Good Shepherd who would give His life, even for those who would oppose Him or act incredulously toward Him.
And since He was not always met by cheerful recipients of His message, He sometimes went away.
In this case though, Jesus (Yeshua) did not retreat to the wilderness or the mountains.
He decided to head over to the celebration of the Feast of Dedication!
In Hebrew, “the Feast of Dedication” is “Hanukkah.”
So if we realize this, it is plain to see that Jesus (Yeshua) went up to the temple for Hanukkah.
Simply, He went for a winter walk.
He got away from his critics and chose to attempt to focus on the beauty of the holiday feast.
Sometimes we need to follow this exact example.
When you find yourself as an outsider or feeling attacked or burdened, step away for a while. Do something you enjoy and surround yourself with those who love you.
The enemy is always on the prowl
Despite His efforts to have some time to enjoy the Hanukkah celebration, Jesus (Yeshua) quickly had to deal with His critics all over again.
Have you ever tried to step away from something only to immediately be bombarded in another way? Maybe you went home to try to get some rest but the phone keeps ringing as your coworkers try to find you? Maybe you took a day off, but issues managed to arise and your hope for a quiet day turned into anything but?Maybe you even retired from a job only to find yourself back in the workforce?
Or maybe you cooked the entire Thanksgiving dinner and wanted to enjoy it, but by the time you finally got to sit down, your portion of food was ice cold. You still loved the company, but you didn’t get to enjoy it quite as much as perhaps you wanted!And then after you are tired and worn out, one of your distant relatives has the nerve to insult you.Surely that has never happened!
Messiah Jesus (Yeshua) was present for the yearly celebration of the rededication of Solomon’s temple and there He was on Solomon’s porch, but He couldn’t just relax and enjoy.
Our Savior would not have been surprised by any of this. The Feast of Dedication was about having overcome adversity. Solomon’s Temple had been attacked and desecrated, so Hanukkah was all about rededicating the sanctuary to the LORD and a miracle which occurred when a small amount of oil for the menorah (enough for one day) lasted for 8 days.
The Significance of the Temple
On the particular Hanukkah when Jesus was at Solomon’s porch, the mob took up stones as they accused Him of blasphemy. They attempted to stone Him, but His time had not yet come. The Temple would be destroyed and raised in three days – the Temple of His body. This Holy Temple, too, was attacked, but the enemy (again!) could not prevail.
There – together – Jesus and the Jewish leaders were at Solomon’s Temple to celebrate the purification of the temple from defilement, and yet the leaders were completely missing the point.
Jesus (Yeshua) is ultimately our Hanukkah miracle – our oil of gladness. He is the Anointed One and He pours out His Holy Spirit upon and into us so that we can shine bright for Him, just like the menorah that didn’t go out.
Hanukkah and the Light of the World
The Feast of Dedication, or Hanukkah, celebrates the victory of the Maccabees but also foreshadows the coming Light of the World who would give us everlasting victory.
When it seems that our victories are not long-lasting, we do not need to become discouraged. The Second Temple was ultimately destroyed by the Romans, but we do not cease celebrating the prior victory of the Jewish nation. Likewise in our world today, we have trouble, but we know that our Messiah and Savior has overcome the world.
Jesus (Yeshua) again had to slip away from his enemies. They were intent on stoning Him that Hanukkah, but He escaped and went beyond the Jordan:
Hanukkah commemorates the reality of war and the reality of victory if we trust in our LORD.
The Jewish people have dealt with diaspora and antisemitism and terrorism throughout their history. But they have not given up. God allowed Israel to become a modern nation in 1948 and it is not time to just give up on the dream of a sustained, safe Jewish homeland.
Israel is at war right now. Yet even so, menorahs have been erected in Gaza and all around the world menorahs will be lit outdoors and placed in prominent windows inside because the Jewish people refuse to cower to fear. Even the dreidels used on Hanukkah represent the toy tops that children would use when they were hiding in the caves during the Maccabean war. Israel is no stranger to war, but Israel will not be destroyed.
The battle is fierce, but history teaches an important lesson: if we trust in God, the flame ignited in our hearts by the Author of our Salvation can never be extinguished.
So if you have never celebrated Hanukkah before, this may be the best year to begin. Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. Celebrate that God has delivered His people on more than one occasion, and He will not abandon us now. Share online that you are celebrating so that people even in Israel can see how many believers support them and are praying for them. Pray for the salvation of the nation of Israel!
There is a saying among the Jewish people who say:
“The story of Hanukkah is they wanted to kill us, we didn’t let them, we won, and now, we eat!”
So grab yourself some filled donuts (sufganiyot!), make some potato pancakes (latkes), and decorate Hanukkah cookies with your children!
Am Y’israel Chai! Long live Israel! . . . and Have a very Happy Hanukkah!
Review: The New Testament for Everyone by N.T. Wright
I am a member of the Bible Gateway Blogger Grid (BG2). As a #BibleGatewayPartner, I have received a copy of the The New Testament for Everyone published by Zondervan Bibles at no cost to mein exchange for an honest reviewhere on the Adonai Shalom USA blog.#BG2 #BGBG
Professor N.T. Wright has earned a solid reputation as one of the foremost Biblical scholars of our day. He serves on the faculty of theology and religion at Oxford University and has also taught at Cambridge.
I have long respected N.T. Wright’s ability to defend the historicity of Jesus against some of the popular resurrection deniers like Marcus Borg and John Spong. I was raised indoctrinated in the Borg/Jesus Seminar camp, but I was moved by Wright’s conviction that Jesus did indeed live, die, and rise again in power. I read many books by N.T. Wright before converting to Bible-believing Christianity.
The evangelical church as a whole has been blessed by N.T. Wright’s scholarship because he has been willing to engage in respectful debate concerning the Historical Jesus and provide a wealth of commentary and study materials on various New Testament topics. Wright’s dedication to searching the riches of Scripture proves that it is absolutely possible to remain a person of faith in the academy. Because of people like N.T. Wright, Bible-believing Christians need not become disproportionately distrustful of or shun academic pursuit. We may not agree on everything, but N.T. Wright definitely brings thoughtfulness and a wealth of knowledge to theological study and discussion.
N.T. Wright has chosen to work to help ordinary people understand deep theological concepts and he doesn’t just hide away in an ivory tower, but rather uses his scholastic aptitude for the sake of the Gospel.
Knowing that N.T. Wright values the Bible as the Word of God and is not a deconstructionist theologian trying to disprove or devalue the Word of God makes the New Testament for Everyone all the more appealing.
I never thought of this before, but Wright’s given name is Nicholas Thomas – he goes by his initials N.T. And he is a New Testament (N.T.) scholar! How providential! :). Next time you need a commentary on the New Testament, check out a book by Professor N.T.!
The title and tagline immediately grasped my attention: a New Testament translation completed by an eminent theologian who wants “everyone” to be able to understand it. Amazing!
I spent enough time in Divinity School to know that not every professor/theologian cared if the general public could understand their posturing and pontificating.
In contrast, Professor N.T. Wright is using his God-given intellectual abilities to share the Gospel in a way that modern readers can truly understand. This is a gift!
From the back of the book jacket: “If the Bible cannot be understood by everyone, then it is not good news. From the very first days of the church at Pentecost, the good news of Jesus was translated into languages of everyday people through the power of the Holy Spirit, spreading like wildfire to the ends of the earth.”
The Pentecostal minister in me says, “Amen!”
Also, “The language used in this translation seeks to convey the meaning of the original Greek while also being accessible to the modern reader, making it a valuable resources for scholars, pastors, and . . . everyone!”
I believe the New Testament for Everyone translation will become very useful for church Bible studies and pastoral sermon preparation.
Deity Pronouns
“Religious” words such as the “Holy Spirit” and deity pronouns such as “He” when referring to Jesus are traditionally capitalized in Bible translations. It is becoming more common for these words to be printed in lowercase, with academics citing no distinction in the original languages. The New Testament for Everyone follows this custom and I noticed it fairly quickly when I began reading through some of the first pages of the Gospel of Matthew.
This editorial practice concerns me; however, because we live in a day and age in which respect is lacking. The utilization of lowercase text for the third Person of the Trinity simply makes me uncomfortable, but that is just my personal preference.
But speaking of pronoun debates, at least we can all agree here that Jesus was a man. 😂😇
Translation, Updated Language, and the Power of Pentecost
The English language is malleable and has changed over time. Certainly, as a British scholar, N.T. Wright knows this because even his Canadian and American colleagues do not use the queen’s (now king’s!) English.
John tried to stop him. “I ought to be baptized by you,” he said, “and are you going to come to me?” This is how it’s got to be right now,” said Jesus, “This is the right way for us to complete God’s whole saving plan.”
Upon reflection, it is so very true that this is the way most of us talk nowadays. It is quite different from the New King James Version’s:
And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.
I really like how N.T. Wright communicates that “fulfilling all righteousness” is “completing God’s whole saving plan.” My only concern would be if this translation is veering far from a literal understanding/translation of the original Greek, but it seems that Wright (accomplished in Greek) is doing his best to express the original in terms we understand today. Indeed, in the preface, Wright shares that he does not intend to paraphrase, but instead to translate as closely as possible while recognizing that there are certain words or phrases that are virtually untranslatable from one language to another. He writes, “all translation is risky, but it’s a risk we have to take.” (Wright, vii).
Returning to the example of Pentecost, N.T. Wright, powerfully points out, “The first thing that happened in the life of the church was translation. On the Day of Pentecost, God’s powerful wind swept through Jesus’ followers, filling them, like the sails of a great ocean-going sailing ship, so that they could take God’s good news to the ends of the earth. And they found themselves speaking other languages, so that everyone in the crowd could understand.” (Wright, vii).
Wright continues his preface in a highly accessible, attention-grabbing writing style. I am looking forward to reading through this entire translation this winter, snuggled under a blanket by the fireplace.
Book Contents
As promoted by the title, this book contains all of the writings of the New Testament Scriptures translated in a way that makes sense to English-speakers today. In the New Testament for Everyone, each of the books is named using the traditional names except for the letter of Jude: N.T. Wright helps readers understand that this letter was written by “Judah,” important for contextualizing the Hebraic nature of much of the writings even of the New Testament.
If you know me well, you will notice that I often prefer to write Jesus the Messiah as opposed to Jesus Christ. This is because I feel that “Christ” has become a title almost like a last name but one that, due again to our language, does not carry the original meaning of Messiah/Anointed One that Middle Eastern Jews would have recognized in their language. Using the terminology of “Christ” repeatedly cements the Greek mindset primordially into a text that was intended to reach the Jew first and then the Greek.
Jesus came to be our Messiah and I was pleasantly surprised to discover that linguistically N.T. Wright agrees with me! He has favored the term “Messiah” throughout the New Testament for Everyone which is fairly groundbreaking since this translation is intended for a wide audience!
A sample to give you the idea:
The well known verses from the New King James translation of Philippians 2:9-11:
Notice how N.T. Wright has translated these same verses:
“And so God has greatly exalted him, and to him in his favor has given the name which is over all names: That now at the name of Jesus every knee within heaven shall bow – on earth, too, and under the earth; and every tongue shall confess that Jesus, Messiah, is Lord, to the glory of God, the father.” Philippians 2:9-11, New Testament for Everyone by N.T. Wright, emphasis added
This discovery has really convinced me that I am going to greatly enjoy this new resource and I believe you will, too!
N.T. Wright exhibits remarkable humility and dedication to the furtherance of the Gospel mission in his New Testament for Everyone. His lifetime of study and teaching has inspired him to translate the New Testament in a fresh manner that will bless laity, students, scholars, pastors, and teachers all over the English-speaking world. I highly recommend this resource to everyone who loves the Word of God.
Rev. Jennifer Mieliulis Fuentes, M.Div., Duke University
Book details
Title: The New Testament for Everyone Author: N.T. Wright Publisher: Zondervan Bibles Release Date: 2023 Genre: BIBLES/Other English Translations/Text
The Prophet Daniel had much to say about the end times and the war in Israel has really brought some of the Biblical prophecies to light as we witness the ongoing conflict. I have received many questions regarding the Biblical timeline of the end of days, so I thought we should take a closer look at Daniel today.
Daniel‘s prophecy describing the determined “seventy weeks” can be better understood as 70 “7’s.”
What is translated as “weeks” in most English Bibles is really describing groupings of 7 in Hebrew.
During the 70 “7’s, 6 important things will happen:
To finish with transgression
To put an end to sin
To make reconciliation (atonement) for iniquity
To bring in everlasting righteousness
To seal up vision and prophecy
To anoint the Most Holy (or the Most Holy Place)
Notice the first three are concerned with eradicating sin and transgression. The last three speak to the everlasting reign of our King.
In the Bible, 6 indicates lack of completion or total fulfillment. Therefore, we know to look more deeply, search God’s Word for more. Let’s move on to the next verse:
Daniel 9:27 clearly informs us that the antichrist (antimessiah) will make a covenant with Israel and then betray Israel. Daniel 7:8 so aptly describes this evil charismatic figure as the epitome of pompousness.
With the war in Israel, many Bible-believing Christians are starting to wonder:
Has the antichrist already been born? Is he walking the earth today?
Only prayer and discernment will answer those questions as history continues to unfold.
But for those who believe that the coming of our King is in the very distant future, consider all that is going on right now. If Iran and even Russia get involved in the current conflict (in a greater way than they already have by supporting Hamas and even Hezbollah) the violence will escalate to a level never seen before. The people of Israel will become desperate for hope and change, and many could quickly be swept away by the lies of a false messianic figure.
The final seven years begin with the covenant.
Are you prepared for the true end of days?
This is not intended to incite fear in you, but do you realize how very close we are to the true end of the age? We are nearing the end of the Biblical timeline of history. We must be prepared! We must know the Word and hide it in our hearts, we must have a living, ongoing relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Yeshua haMashiach), and we must do everything we can to share the Gospel to as many people as we can.
There is revival happening in pockets all around the world. It is not coincidental that we see so many falling away and so many also being rescued just in time. These are all signs that the end is near and soon, so very soon, our Righteous Redeemer will come again and reign!
Time to Forgive
Don’t worry if some of this seems overwhelming. Mathematics has never been one of my strengths so these prophetic words of Scripture make me scratch my head, too!
But there’s no escaping math, and even Jesus said we have to forgive 70 x 7 times!
The return of Jesus Christ (Yeshua haMashiach) is imminent
The imminent return of Christ should motivate each one of us to study the signs of the times and the signs in the heavens. Each of us should be diligently praying and fasting and studying the Word of God. There are so many parallels between the different concepts presented in the Bible and I believe this passage on forgiveness is one such parallel.
Redeeming the time
We know time is short. And so for that very same reason, we must be diligent to love and to forgive so that we can make the most of our time, redeeming our time:
I pray that you have taken to heart the importance of knowing the Word of God and where we stand in relation to the fulfillment of significant portions of Biblical prophecy.
I am praying for you today, dear reader, and your family – that you and your household may be saved. Please leave a comment below with any prayer requests, comments, or questions!
The End Times and the War in Israel
9 Cheshvan 5784 B”H
Most people who know the Bible agree that we are living in the end times. With Israel at war, what does living in the end times mean for us now?
The Word of God is a perfectly designed “guide to the end times”
In this world of uncertainty and turmoil, I am grateful that we have the unchanging Word of God.
The Bible is the perfect blueprint for how to construct our personal lives in relationship to God and it informs us about what will happen in the end times. If we follow God’s instructions properly we will build our lives upon the Rock with our Messiah as the Chief Cornerstone and the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. The Apostle Paul expressed this more eloquently than I ever could in his letter to the church in Ephesus:
God’s Word is also a perfectly designed “guide to the End times.”
The “perilous times” in which we live: a sign of the end times
If you are feeling overwhelmed lately, you are not alone.
It is one thing after another. Innumerable school shootings, a worldwide pandemic, widespread drug and substance abuse, global human trafficking, nations rising against nation (like Russia’s invasion of Ukraine),
and now the horrific war in Israel.
We are certainly living in eventful times. Paul called these “perilous times” when he taught Timothy about the end times to come:
Did you ever notice that it is in that very same chapter in 2 Timothy, we find the famous verse that declares the absolute infallibility and perfection of the original autographs of the Word of God:
When we are faced with the worst that the world has to offer, it is exactly at that time when we need to know we can rely on God’s Perfect Word. When we see the evil all around us, we can stand firm knowing that God has the Final Word. Our Aleph-Tav (our Alpha-Omega), the One who is the Beginning and the End has declared that He will help us to be “thoroughly equipped.”
It is safe to say we are indeed living in the last days and need to be thoroughly equipped in faith. In Scripture, particularly in Matthew, Jesus (Yeshua) talked quite a bit about the “end of the age.” Even in the Great Commission He assures us that He will be with us always – even to “the end of the age”(Matthew 28:19-20). With all that is going on, we certainly need to rely on Him being with us through it all!
Any serious Christian will acknowledge that no one knows the day or hour of our Savior’s return(Matthew 24:36), but we live in the end times tension knowing that we must be ready for the blessed hope – the rapture of the church. He will come for us at the end of the age and His return is truly imminent!
The current events we are living and witnessing are indeed end times signs of the soon coming of the end of the age. Be righteously vigilant!
If you are interested in eschatology (the study of the end times), you should definitely study the book of Daniel. As you do, you will see that there is no doubt we are living in the last days.
Daniel’s description of many running to and fro may well refer to the increase in easy and global air travel. Certainly we are aware that knowledge has greatly increased, even just within the past 100 years. Think of all the scientific and technological breakthroughs that have occurred. From medicine to iPads, the world has changed drastically and time seems accelerated.
Though there will be times of great change and trouble, the Bible tells us everyone who is found in the Book of Life will be delivered, those who are wise shall shine bright, and those who have reached people for the Gospel will shine like the stars forever! What awesome hope we have!
Did you know that modern Israel was born in just one day?
The very establishment and existence of the nation of Israel fulfills an end times word spoken through the Prophet Ezekiel:
When Israel became a nation in 1948, it was truly a miracle. In our lifetimes, we have witnessed the growth and prosperity of the beautiful nation of Israel. So many families have made aliyah (immigration to Israel) and it is easy to see how God has blessed the nation of Israel.
The modern country of Israel came to be in one single day.
“At midnight on May 14, 1948, the Provisional Government of Israel proclaimed a new State of Israel. On that same date, the United States, in the person of President Truman, recognized the provisional Jewish government as de facto authority of the Jewish state (de jure recognition was extended on January 31, 1949).”
The relationship between Israel and the United States is so special because our nation was truly a part of that miraculous birthing of a nation.
Iran’s irrational hatred
The irrational hatred toward Israel exhibited by countries like Iran seems to grow with each passing day.
Israel has been an example of stability, resilience, and democracy in the Middle East region.
Israel’s patience in not yet beginning the ground campaign in Gaza has been merciful and demonstrates commendable restraint.
IDF soldiers continually demonstrate kindness to Palestinian children and civilians.
Israel’s culture and military leadership operate in sharp contrast to many of the surrounding nations who seeth with anger, oppress their citizens, and encourage terrorism of civilians.
Sadly, it appears things are going to get worse for Israel before they get better.
Iran’s unrelenting threats against Israel and ongoing support of Hezbollah and Hamas demonstrate that the Iranian government is indeed poised to fulfill its role as instigator of war against Israel. Those who study the Bible closely are not surprised by this because Ezekiel 38 mentions Persia (modern day Iran) as a key player in the ultimate war of Gog and Magog that will lead to the end of the age.
The attack against Israel took place on the last day of the Biblical Feast of Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles) which is known as Simchat Torah (the Joy of the Torah). A day meant for celebration turned into the deadliest day for Israel since the Holocaust.
Notice the ways this prophecy of Ezekiel, prophesied 2,500 years ago just came to pass on October 7, 2023.
The Islamic militants from Gaza came up with an evil and brutal plan and attacked the peaceful Jewish villages in Southern Israel.
The Antichrist will promise peace to Israel
Israel has already suffered so much loss of life. Entire families have been ruthlessly murdered by Hamas and so many soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces have been killed protecting their families and country.
At some point in a now perhaps not-so-distant future, Israel will be looking to make a peace agreement. Daniel’s prophecy about the Antimessiah indicates that the Antichrist will confirm a covenant with Israel, but he will betray them:
Many are debating whether or not the antimessiah has already been born and is alive today. Time will tell, but in any event, we must use discernment and approach all things with fervent prayer so that we are never deceived by a counterfeit Christ.
End times prophetic fulfillment in progress: the Gospel will be proclaimed to the ends of the earth
With so many Bible translation efforts and global access to internet and smartphones increasing daily, the Gospel has truly made it to the ends of the earth. Yes, there are still unreached people groups, but at some point those people will encounter the Gospel message and our commission to go forth into all the world will be completed.
The LORD will return, and soon.
Be ready! Share the saving message of the Good News of Jesus Christ (Yeshua haMashiach) with everyone you meet before it is too late and make sure you set your sight on your Coming King.
Maranatha!
We are living in unprecedented times. How are you being led to pray in these times? Please leave your comments below. I enjoy hearing from you!
The War in Israel and God’s Word
5784 B”H
The Nation of Israel is the only Jewish state
When I was in undergrad, “just war theory” was a hot topic among my overwhelmingly liberal, pacifist- agenda-pushing professors. In fact, one of my first theology professors spent many years living in Palestine unfairly decrying Israel’s policies. He always condemned Israel as an occupier and he refused to give a balanced perspective of the Middle East conflict. This professor claimed that his “‘Christian’ convictions” brought him to conclude he must side with the “oppressed” as he vehemently opposed Zionism and all things related to the nation of Israel.
True Christian conviction must be Biblically sound.
The Bible is very clear that the nation of Israel and those who love it will be be blessed.
Bethlehem is located in Judea, but it has been governed by the Palestinian authority for many years now.
Because of this, people like my first college professors like to insist that Jesus (Yeshua) was a poor, “Palestinian” Jew.
They reach a fallacious conclusion that because Jesus was born in modern-day Palestine, we as American Christians “must” therefore support the leftist pro-Palestine agenda.
Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea (Judah).
The modern Palestinian agenda has nothing to do with Him.
The West Bank is actually Judea and Samaria.
Accountability for universities
Institutions of higher learning should promote Biblical principles and the ideals of democracy, including support for Israel, the only Jewish state.
The Jewish nation as a whole has endured oppression time and time again and deserve a safe homeland free of radical Islamic terrorism.
Israel is engaged in justified war. The beautiful, prosperous nation of Israel was unfairly targeted by hate-filled organized terrorists who are unwilling to compromise and are set on destroying Israel.
We must pray, as David did, for God’s people in Israel:
Universities need to be held accountable when they promote a false tolerance at the expense of Israel. The Holocaust happened, it was real, and cannot legitimately be denied. Raping and pillaging innocent civilians in Israel cannot be justified, under any circumstance. Universities should be held accountable for any anti-Semitic posture they are taking because it influences our future American leaders.
The recent news that some Harvard students signed an anti-Israel statement as part of the Harvard Palestine Solidarity Group didn’t surprise me at all. These students have been taught to believe lies about Israel, propagated by far too many leaders in American higher education.
What did surprise me has been some of the backlash and I am grateful that people are holding these Harvard students accountable. Companies want to know who these students are so that they don’t end up hiring these kids. It is harsh, but it is justified, and necessary given the current climate.
Personally, I don’t think it was right to post the students’ photos and names on billboards, but I do appreciate our nation overwhelmingly supporting Israel despite the abundance of anti-semitic rhetoric that is pervasive in most American universities today.
Our nation has long stood with Israel, and that is a friendship worth keeping. Universities would do well to re-evaluate the way that the Israel/Hamas conflict is presented to encourage unwavering support for Israel.
What does the Bible say about the current conflict?
Gaza City is one of 5 formerly Philistine cities
Gaza City has a long history.
It was one of the five formerly Philistine cities which included Gaza, Ashqelon (Ashkelon), Ashdod, Ekron, and Gath.
Even our English term “Palestinian” comes from the root words for Philistia and the Greek, palaistinei.
The Philistine and Edomite partnership
One prophecy that really stands out to me is found in Amos. Philistine Gaza had partnered with the descendants of Esau (the Edomites) to turn in Jews to them:
These offenses will not go unpunished. The God of Israel will not allow the Philistine goliaths of the world to conquer His chosen people. Gaza has remained unrepentant and hostile toward Israel, and the Word of God is very clear that the wall of Gaza will be burned.
Likewise, a prophecy in the book of Obadiah speaks against the treasonous Edomites:
The war that Hamas started when they attacked Israel is a decisive moment in history.
It has been so heartbreaking to know that so many innocent lives have been taken and in such horrific manners.
Being pro-Israel does not mean anti-Arab. Let it be known that there is plenty of room in the household of God for people of every ethnic background – every tribe and tongue – to repent of his or her sin and be welcomed with open arms into the Kingdom of God.
There is a stark difference between the terrorizing, hate-filled message of radical Islam and the message of love, forgiveness, and acceptance offered by the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Yeshua haMashiach).
This is a moment in which God’s people – believers around the world – need to stand with Israel while at the same time demonstrating fierce love.
Pray for the Palestinian people who are being used and abused by terrorists.
Pray for the Palestinian people who have been deceived into accepting lies and hatred.
Pray for unbelieving Jews to recognize the Eternal Savior who has come to rule and reign.
Pray for all of the hurting families (on both sides) who have lost dear loved ones. Pray for Israel’s hostages to be rescued. Pray for all the little children who are witnessing such horror. Pray for nations to support Israel.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
Please leave a comment about how you and your family are personally praying for Israel!
A young Israelite slave girl’s great faith and love + check out my Guest Post at A Child Shall Lead Them blog
5784 B”H
About two weeks ago, I was so blessed to be invited to Guest Post for the A Child Shall Lead Them blog about the Israelite slave girl mentioned in 2 Kings 5. You can find that post at this link.
It was a neat challenge for me because I am not typically very involved in “children’s ministry” per se.
But I do have children, so I do know that sometimes we need to break the Scriptures down into manageable segments for the youngest among us!
And sometimes, even we adults need the same.
Analyzing small segments of Scripture
Breaking down a passage into manageable segments does not have to mean missing out on the incredible depth and richness of Scripture!
In fact, analyzing small segments of the Scriptures is actually a marker of careful study, and provides such impactful results in the life of any follower of our Savior and Messiah Jesus.
If your schedule is super busy and you feel frazzled, this is great news for you! You don’t have to read pages and pages of the Bible to learn and to study (although I will never discourage anyone from doing so!). Often, one single verse is enough to meditate on for days, even weeks when you invite the Holy Spirit (Ruach haKodesh) to illumine your mind and heart to the multifaceted meaning of the Word of God.
It is a privilege to be able to access the Scriptures in so many translations, so we should respond in great gratitude by studying and learning every day so we can continually grow in our relationship with God.
Like I said in that guest post, I love to learn about some of the lesser-known figures in the Bible. Though mentioned only in a single verse or two, their story and legacy is important enough they still made it into the pages of the sacred Scriptures!
One such individual is the young Israelite slave girl mentioned in 2 Kings 5:2-4. She only gets two verses! But two are at least two!
Don’t ever think you are insignificant.
You might think you are making a very small difference, either in the life of your family or in your community, but if you are a person who seeks the LORD with all your heart and desire to serve Him each and every day, you are much more significant than you realize.
As I wrote in my guest post, Naaman the Syrian was a decorated soldier who served as the commander of the Syrian king’s army.
We see in the Scripture passage that the king of Syria revered him, calling him “great and honorable” and the LORD even gave Naaman’s country victory in battle.
I also pointed out that even the bravest and strongest of men can endure the greatest of difficulties: in this case, Naaman was suffering from leprosy.
At that time, leprosy was truly an isolating and painful condition, a disease seen as without remedy.
Yet the Bible shows us that when find ourselves quarantined and isolated, fearful and rejected, we are never without hope.
I imagine that Naaman was going through a dark time in his life. He was a conqueror, but now he probably felt like the disease was conquering him. It was something that would have damaged his reputation and his future goals. It was something that would have damaged his marital life. Perhaps Naaman had had to move out.
The Syrians had captured and enslaved the young Israelite girl mentioned in the passage, but surprisingly this sweet girl does not demonstrate any resentment. Instead, she chooses to be a witness in faith – she shows genuine concern for her master, Naaman!
“If” is such a short word, but it can change an entire outcome and outlook.
“If” is a word for people who know how to dream, to look beyond what our natural eyes can see. “If only” there could be a change. “If only” I believe! “If only” our God will work on our behalf!
He will!
He absolutely will!
“If” becomes “Yes and Amen” when we believe.
“If” we dare to seek God’s vision in our lives, we will see results of our faith – we will being to see healings and miracles and walk in victory.
The Israelite slave girl knew that if a true prophet of God were around, surely Naaman could be healed. She didn’t doubt – and did you notice? There’s no “maybe” in that verse. It is a verse of faith. This young captive girl knew there existed hope for her master.
She was able to find love in her heart to care enough that her master receive a healing miracle.
Elisha the Prophet and Miracle-Worker
I mentioned in my post for the children’s blog that the Bible indicates that Elijah’s successor, Elisha, was gaining quite a reputation in Israel – both as a prophet and miracle-worker. This Israelite slave girl had somehow either heard about or seen firsthand the wonders occurring in Israel through Elisha’s ministry prior to becoming enslaved.
The sons of the prophets had witnessed Elisha’s early miracle-working power.
Well, many of those sons would have had wives and children and so word would have quickly gotten around. Israel wasn’t a huge place, after all. You know how fast rumors spread, and this rumor just happened to be true!
Israel has always been such a unique place. Miracles were occurring, people were talking, and even a child like this slave girl had seen or witnessed the power of God.
It amazes me . . . no, more like “dismays me”! that there are many people who do not believe God is still working miracles today.
If He was willing to work in Israel in a miraculous way before the redemption won on the cross of Calvary by our Lord Jesus (Yeshua haMashiach), surely He is willing to work in miraculous ways today!
The slave girl may or may not have seen a miracle first hand, but she absolutely believed in miracles.
She knew a miracle could be waiting, even for her foreign master.
Do you have confident faith?
I love how this passage, short as it is, proves that the Israelite slave girl had confident faith.
It may be redundant to say “confident faith” because true faith must be confident!
But I urge you: be confident in the One in whom you have placed your trust!
Have great confidence in all of the promises that He has given you!
Trust and be confident – have a righteous certainty that the LORD God Almighty absolutely can and will work in your life and use you for His glory!
Be confident that even if you find yourself feeling bound or enslaved, He has the power to set you free and help you to love even those who have persecuted you.
What a mighty God we serve!
When you learn to love others, your own faith will grow, and like the servant girl, you will see the hand of God work in your life.
Love others today!
The Israelite slave girl concerned herself for the need of her master rather than her own predicament.
If I can give you one challenge today it is: love others. Be intentional. When someone crosses your path … and maybe it’s on the highway and you’re upset about it, pray for them.
There may be someone who you would never expect to follow God or love Him, but maybe, just maybe, they will see the love of God in you, and want to follow after Him, too.
Sweetness amid the sounding shofar: the prophetic significance of Rosh HaShanah
Elul 5783, B”H
Rosh HaShanah/Yom Teruah
Rosh HaShanah will begin at sundown on Friday, September 15 this year. This Biblical holiday lasts through sundown on Sunday, September 17. Rosh HaShanah is also known as “Yom Teruah,” literally the “Day of the Shout.”Yom Teruah is a more correct name, Biblically, for this feast. Many refer to it in English as the Day of Trumpets, or the Day of the Shofar.
Scriptural precedence for the Biblical feast can be found in Numbers as well as in the Psalms which we will look at in a moment.
There is a solemnity, calling all hearers to humble themselves before the King of all kings. There is also joy, for we know that one day the shofar will sound and the dead in Messiah will rise and those who are still alive will meet the LORD in the air:
Inherent and Inerrant Cohesiveness of the Biblical Narrative
Our Savior and Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) fulfilled the prophetic meaning of each Biblical feast found within the pages of Scripture.
I view so much of this as a “lost history” because so many believers have not been taught about our collective history as the people of God: native and grafted in members of the house of Israel.
The Biblical holidays (particularly the Fall Feasts) are eschatologically significant, pointing us to the end of days and affirming the inherent and inerrant cohesiveness of the Biblical narrative.
The Hebrew Scriptures form the foundation for the New Testament and all of the Scriptures are without error. The entirety of the Word of God is valuable and we must treat it as such!
Yom Teruah/Rosh HaShanah provides occasion for such shouting, though we should not limit our praise to just one time of year. If we look to the Scriptures, we will see that every aspect of the Feast days points to Jesus (Yeshua).
During the Hebrew month of Elul, spiritual preparation is made because it is known that soon the Bridegroom will come. You may be interested in my recent post explaining a bit about the month of Elul and preparations for Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur (the High Holidays).
When the shofar is sounded on Rosh HaShanah, we are reminded of the coronation of our King. He has sought us in the field, we are beloved and betrothed, and we await the Marriage supper of the Lamb.
Each Rosh Hashanah is sort of like a divine dress rehearsal. Some believe that the final shofar will indeed sound on Rosh Hashanah, but I am cognizant of the Word of God which says no one knows the day nor hour.
That said, Yeshua (Jesus) may have been alluding to Rosh HaShanah when He said this because “no one knows the day nor hour” had connotations as a wedding idiom at that time. “No one knows the day or hour, but we know those two are getting married!” Also, the Jewish community did not know the exact date or time for Yom Teruah, and it had become commonplace to describe Rosh HaShanah as the feast of which “no one knows the day nor hour!”
Word to the wise: always be ready.
The King is coming.
The Sweetness of a New Year
In Hebrew, Rosh HaShanah means “Head of the year.” It is the start of the Biblical new year and is a time of repentance as well as rejoicing.
I love how Rosh HaShanah occurs always just after the start of the school year. My children are homeschooled and we enjoy incorporating aspects of the Biblical Feasts into our studies of history and Biblical studies. It is customary on Rosh HaShanah to eat apples and honey and to pray for a sweet new year.
In our household, this means praying we will each demonstrate sweetness of character and be kind to one another.
Sweet and Sour: Sweetness amid the Sound of the Shofar
For those of us who are counted among the saved, sanctified, and sealed in the Book of Life, the New Year is very sweet.
But we must also be cognizant of the dichotomy between that which is sweet and that which is not-so-sweet.
If we are honest, Yom Teruah (Rosh HaShanah) reminds us of the sour reality that not everyone will be saved.
Not everyone will heed the warning blast.
Not everyone will repent.
We will find perfect relief of our burden to preach at the end of days, but until then, we must continue to introduce our loving and merciful Savior to a lost and dying world.
To me, it is a bittersweet reality.
We truly must do more to reach the unreached.
So great is ADONAI’s mercy, so sweet and so generous.
We have been commissioned to share that Good News, and we must. Before it is too late.
Wake up sleeper, open your eyes!
Have you heard the song by Austin French, “Wake up Sleeper, Open your eyes”?
“Wake up sleeper Open your eyes Oh sinner, arise Leave your past at the door Wake up sleeper Come to the light Christ is alive Death don’t live here anymore Death don’t live here anymore”
These lyrics are so appropriate for Rosh HaShanah/Yom Teruah because the sounding of the shofar is intended to wake up sinners out of their slumber so there will be repentance before it is too late!
As followers of Messiah Yeshua (Jesus Christ), we, too, need to be awakened once again. There is so much apathy in the church today and we must repent of our complacency. We must awake from our slumber! Like the Prophet Joel said, we must sound the alarm on God’s holy mountain!
Looking forward to things yet to come
This Rosh HaShanah/Yom Teruah, let us look forward to all that the LORD has in store for those who love Him:
Brooke Fraser’s recent song, “Honey in the Rock” also has such beautiful lyrics and it brought me some inspiration today.
“Sweetness at the mercy seat Now I’ve tasted, it’s not hard to see Only You can satisfy“
This Rosh HaShanah, may you experience the sweetness of salvation at the mercy seat of the LORD Most High. Once you have tasted and seen, you will know that our God is so very good and His love endures forever.
Shana tova! Happy New Year!
Elul: repent and rejoice! the King is in the field
Elul 3, B”H 5783
The Hebrew month of Elul
You may recall my post from July about Tisha b’Av. In that post, I introduced the Hebrew months of the year to help ubicate us in understanding the significance of certain dates on the Biblical calendar.
One of those months is called “Elul.”
Elul (Heb. אלול) comes from the root word “to search.”
This is the time of year when we are reminded that the LORD searches our hearts and knows us and we repent for those things which we continue to struggle with in our ongoing journey in holiness.
We are to search inside of ourselves and turn away from that which harms our relationship with the LORD Most High as we enter a new Biblical year.
When we reflect on this time of preparation, we see that Elul is a time of preparation for the Bride, for truly the Bridegroom is coming. This is a time of self-examination as we prepare to meet our Coming King. He accepts us with the deepest of love when we come before Him with a pure and contrite heart, made beautiful by our relationship with Him.
Elul, the High Holy Days, and the Coming of the Bridegroom
The month of Elul precedes what are known as the High Holy Days. These days include Yom Teruah (also known as Rosh Hashanah) and Yom Kippur. Yom Teruah occurs on the first day of the next month which is known as Tishrei. The High Holy Days are customarily a time of introspection as Yom Kippur serves as the yearly day of atonement. Israel pleads to be written in the Book of Life, and sealed for another year.
Now that our Messiah and Almighty Savior Yeshua (Jesus Christ) has come, those who have confessed Him as LORD and King have the assurance that the names of the saved are written in the Book of Life, never to be blotted out.
Elul is like the month before the wedding. Preparation is made because soon the Bridegroom will come. The Bride may prepare for the Coming Bridegroom with grace, dignity, and confidence because she has been set apart, consecrated, made ready for the moment when her King comes.
Repentance and Holiness
As saved and sanctified children of God, we continue to pursue holiness and the path of righteousness.
We are to live our lives with quiet and holy fear (reverence).
To do this fully, a true believer and follower of the LORD will very obviously seek to live in humility, all too aware of our faults and failings, but awesomely and intimately aware that He is perfecting us each and every day. We live with an attitude of repentance, thankful that His mercy blots out a multitude of sins. We do the work of ministry, always seeking to share the Word with those who do not yet know Him – not to gain a place in heaven, but to demonstrate our heavenly citizenship! The world glorifies sin. We glorify only Jesus (Yeshua), the One who died to take away our sins and the One who will return for us!
The Jewish understanding of the concept of “teshuvah” is slightly different than the traditional Christian interpretation of repentance.
Standard Christian repentance is about simply turning away from sin. There is nothing wrong with that. But teshuvah, true Biblical repentance, goes deeper than that.
Teshuvah is a “return.” More specifically, a return to our first love after being astray.
Inherent in teshuvah is the acknowledgement that we have sinned, but this is more about returning to the Way of the LORD than about guilt: it requires an action on our part to strive to right the wrong.
“Teshuvah” is seen as an action. It is often said one is “doing teshuvah.”
Teshuvah means the individual identifies the wrongs they have committed and actively works toward a behavioral change “to right the wrong.” The sinner confesses to God, but also goes back to the one he or she has wronged to ask for forgiveness and attempt to right the wrong.
Christians know that we cannot earn our salvation, so the concept of “teshuvah” gets a bit difficult for many Christians to understand. I have even found that some Christians simply do not want to understand because they would rather remain complacent. Some use texts about grace to shirk any semblance of responsibility, which is a truly irresponsible way to view YHVH’s immense and perfect grace. I believe in grace. I also believe in doing what is right.
Teshuvah is something the Christian can do in gratitude for salvation. Any decent person of faith ought strive to right their wrongs, right? The difference is, we know that we will never be able to erase the evil we have done to another so we cannot completely right our wrongs and we know that. We trust in our Merciful LORD, the Righter of Wrongs to bring healing, restoration, and ultimately wholeness.
Elul is the time of year when teshuvah is emphasized. Hosea uses the term “teshuvah” in admonishing the people of Israel to return to the LORD.
Biblical repentance is about returning to the LORD with nothing hindering our relationship. We are cleansed and made new by the blood of the Lamb and we are victorious by the word of our testimony.
The time of repentance observed in the month of Elul is set by Biblical precedent.
It sounds very much like a Hebrew “Lent” for those familiar with Lenten practices.
I will be controversial here, but I’m not one to shy from that . . .
Lent is a manmade invention championed by the liturgical world. It is not Biblical.
Historically, significant efforts were made to distance the “church” from its Jewish (and Biblical, mind you) history. It is no secret that Catholic and Lutheran churches alike were plagued with antiSemitism for many many years.
Those who invented Lent took the concept of Elul (a 40 day time of prayer and fasting lasting from 1 Elul to 10 Tishrei) and “Christianized” it, citing a time to prepare to honor the death and resurrection of Christ. Sadly, the Western inventions of things like Advent and Lent have served to confuse the body of Christ and isolate us from the true Biblical feast days and their significance.
Elul is about returning. Let us return to the basic (Hebraic!) tenets of our faith – to seek to walk on the path of righteousness, guided by the LORD Himself as written in His Holy Word.
From Genesis to Revelation, the Word of God is available to us and if we are not spending time in the Word, that is another reason for repentance.
Collectively, we should repent that the church has strayed so far and has actually contributed to the unbelief of the Jewish people as they observe the glaring discrepancies of many unBiblical “Christian” practices.
May we return to the essence of Elul.
Cheshbon haNefesh: The accounting for the soul
Cheshbon haNefesh is a Hebrew term used frequently throughout the month of Elul. “Cheshbon” is used in modern Hebrew to describe an invoice or bill, such as at a café. Cheshbon: what is owed, what must be paid, the account. Nefesh refers to the soul or what makes you you – it is a word that is also translated as “life” or “being.” Nefesh is the life force within you.
During Elul, we are reminded of His gracious gift. We fall on our knees in the humblest of gratitude, thankful that Yeshua (Jesus) shed His precious blood in payment to redeem our souls.
We owe everything to our Savior yet we know our account has been paid in full.
Elul is a time to reflect on how we are using our nefesh – how are we using the life that is within us to advance the Kingdom of God? It is a time to take ourselves to account.
This is a time to realize where we truly fall short in our relationship with our Creator. In what ways do we fail to love? Do we truly love Him with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind?
HaMelech ba’sadeh: The King is in the field
It is often said during Elul that “the King is in the field.”
The King of all kings, who may seem unapproachable, who is far in His heavenly palace seated on His throne is the same King who reaches out His scepter even when we are unworthy of His mercy. The King of all kings is the same King who comes to our level – He humbled Himself and walked in those fields ripe for harvest.
The Chassidic interpretation is that the King comes when the laborers are in the field – meeting His workers where they are. Surprising them with His presence. Demonstrating kindness.
The King is coming.
The King is in the field.
The King of all kings is approachable and He loves you.
You can go to Him and He will receive you with open arms.
And you will be raptured away in love together.
Personal Prayer and Devotional Time during the month of Elul
It is traditional to read Psalm 27 daily during the month of Elul.
Perhaps you would like to reflect on this passage during this time, as well. This Psalm truly speaks to the relationship aspect of our faith: that we call upon Him and He answers and we are to seek His face.
The King is in the field and the harvest is ready but the workers are few.
Will you meet Him in the field?
Will you share the Good News that the King is coming back again!?
Repent and Rejoice!
Our King is coming for us!
Please comment below! I’d love to hear your thoughts about the month of Elul and the coming of our Almighty King!
7 Biblical responses for when your child experiences racism for the first time
Our family bubble
I like my faith-filled bubble.
Our family prays together and we read the LORD’s Word together and we worship together.
We love to share our faith with those who do not know the LORD and all of us are pretty resilient in the face of argumentation and those who refuse to accept the Truth.
My children are homeschooled and sometimes I forget that we live in this joyful little bubble!
The enemy wants to burst your bubble
And I was taken off guard yesterday.
My son had gone outside to walk our German Shepherd, Canelo, on a small dead-end road that borders one edge of our corner lot house. Our family has walked that way many times because there is rarely a car and we often see beautiful wildlife including deer and sandhill cranes. I often try to get a close-up picture, but the creatures prove elusive.
Canelo
An evening walk has become a new summertime routine for my son. He started taking the dog all by himself about a week or two ago and I believe it is a quiet time for him. I have noticed an improvement in his snarky-young-teenager remarks and so I was very happy that he had learned to get some fresh air and exercise.
The road seems like a peaceful one, with just four houses on the short northwoods street.
The end of the road
Last year, the houses on that road held a little community rummage sale, so we stopped by and met the neighbors. They were all fairly friendly, but the couple living at one of the houses seemed less so . . . and overly interested in detailing the alcohol flask collection they were trying to sell.
We assumed from their demeanor and manner of conversation that they perhaps struggle with drinking.
I hadn’t seen or heard from them since.
Until last night.
My son came home and he had a look of disbelief on his face.
I asked him what had happened.
When loving thy neighbor is put to the test
“The neighbor lady yelled at me.”
I couldn’t imagine this, so I asked for details.
He recounted: “She came out on her porch and yelled out, ‘. . . You need to go use a different path. Can’t you see you’re making my dog bark? Go on.’ Then she just stood there and stared at me until I left.”
I asked him if he replied to her spitefully (which would not have necessarily surprised me).
He said, “No, I just said ‘Ok, I’m sorry’ and came home. I had a million bad things I wanted to say to her, but I didn’t because I know I’m supposed to be Christian.”
Well, there’s a proud mom moment. My child is trying to act like a follower of our Messiah ought to act.
Trying to give the neighbor lady the benefit of the doubt, I asked if she perhaps was kidding? Maybe she had a twinge of humor, “look, kid, you make my dog bark and it drives me crazy…”
“No. She was not joking one bit.”
So the mama bear in me was incensed that our very neighbor could be so mean to a child! Especially my child! My son’s mere presence in the road in front of her house caused her an issue? Our dog wasn’t barking at her dog. I have heard her dog on other occasions. I believe he looks out their front window and barks every time a dog passes. But that is her issue, not mine. And most certainly not my son’s issue.
I want to tell her that the road is public land and my child has the right to walk his doggie wherever he so pleases. And I want to shout right back at her. How dare she hurt my son’s feelings! But alas. I am a Christian. I am a pastor! I have to be “Midwest nice” at the least, right? I have to love my neighbor!?
Ugh. No one said following Yeshua (Jesus) would be easy.
Perceived Racism
But there was something else that my son said that really hurt my mama heart. He said that the woman had muttered something before yelling and he thought it sounded like “you ill . . . ”
I said maybe she meant, “you ill-mannered….”
I asked if he did anything that seemed disrespectful, such as allowing the dog onto her grass.
He said, “no, more like ‘you illegal’ . . . “
I paused and took a deep breath.
My husband is a legal U.S. citizen. But that doesn’t mean everyone knows or believes that about him. Quite honestly, I wish it didn’t matter. My husband is caramel-skinned and was born in Mexico. My son is handsomely half Hispanic with beautiful tan skin, mocha eyes, and dark curly hair.
Whether or not my neighbor said something that horrible or not, my son perceived it that way.
My son felt like a target of racism.
This sweet boy who has grown up fairly sheltered from the ugliness of the world’s ways says he no longer feels safe walking down this small countryish road right next to our own house.
Addressing Fear
He told me not to worry, that he would use the other roads in front of the house instead.
But you see, that requires crossing a much busier road. And it is not fair that my son would have to change where he enjoys walking in nature just to please an angry (and possibly inebriated) lady who isn’t interested in dealing with her own dog.
I have never felt unwelcome or unsafe in this community. But then again, I am white and I grew up just over an hour from where we currently live.
My son said he observed that the woman’s garage was open with two rifles on display.
Now, my son is known to have an active imagination, so I do not know if this is true or not, though it would not surprise me. It doesn’t help that we just watched the movie “Till” the night before.
What saddens me is that my son is now scared.
He said he’s seen the videos where angry people shoot kids who just ring a doorbell or just because of the shade of their suntan.
I told him that he cannot live in fear. We will still walk on that road with our heads held high. I am blessed because my son knows much of the Word of God, so I reminded him of 2 Timothy 1:7:
I guess I knew we would confront issues of race eventually, but it was so unexpected, right here just a few houses up the road.
That said, I do want to be clear. My neighbor may not have said anything racially charged at all. I am focused on what my child perceived. Racially-motivated or not, the outburst was still unprovoked and unsettling.
So how do you help a child who has encountered real racism OR perceived racism for the first time?
I’m not sure I have all the answers to that one, but I do know that we should turn to the Word of God.
He comforts us because our identity is found in Him alone, not in what the world has to say. I am writing this because it is therapeutic to me today.
I am searching the Scriptures, too, to be able to minister to my son’s little heart and I am hopeful this can help someone else somewhere, too, because our world is full of division and unkindness.
1. Remind your child that all of us were created in the image of God. Race is a social construct and racism is sin.
2. If your child has accepted the free gift of salvation that is given to us by putting our faith and trust in Messiah Yeshua (Jesus Christ), he or she is part of a holy, set apart and chosen generation and God calls us “special.” We don’t need to rely on anyone else to validate our existence or our skin color.
3. Encourage your child to turn to the LORD when feeling scared, discriminated against, alone, or unsafe. He is our Stronghold, our Fortress, and our Deliverer.
5. Hear out your child. Allow him or her to express their emotions about racism.
I sat down with my son and I commended his recent progress on working hard and improving his early teenage years attitude. (We had some rough moments a few months ago with this too-big-for-his-britches young fellow!) He acknowledged his improvements, but also admitted having some pretty ugly thoughts about the neighbor. I believe it is so important to allow my son to have space to talk about how he was feeling and even explore this early introduction to racism. He knew that he could trust me to support him and love him through this. I’m grateful he has time to work through this as he matures and potentially encounters something far more direct or offensive.
I told him: you are acting like a child of God.
You have a tender heart and you are seeking to do what is right.
But whether that woman knows it or not, she is serving the devil. As harsh as this sounds, that makes her a child of the devil.
And the devil uses people like that to try to unnerve the children of God.
I told him, clearly, son, you’re doing something right if the devil has to take the time to come out and bother you like that using a daughter of the devil.
The best thing we can do is pray for her to come to understanding and repent and that she would, by God’s grace and abundant mercy, become a daughter of God one day.
Our Savior told us to rejoice and not just be glad: “be exceedingly glad!”
We can confront anything with exceeding gladness because we know our journey doesn’t end here. One day we will rejoice in heaven, rewarded for remaining faithful to our LORD.
6. Exhort your child to be an overcomer despite any circumstance.
I told my son that while you pray for those who persecute you or revile you, your duty is to guard your heart and your mind with the Word of God.
Realize that the Scriptures serve for exhortation: we know who God is and we know that He cares for us, therefore we make a conscious choice. We will.not.fear.
This coming from someone who battles anxiety! But I know deep in my heart the Truth that whenever I, with faith and conviction, truly hold onto the hem of His garment, my fear is lost and He makes me brave. I seek to instill this understanding in my children so they, too, will always rely on our Father’s goodness, provision, and security.
Whether confronting racism, sexism, religious discrimination, anti-Semitism, classism, or any other -ism, if we remember that the LORD is on our side, we can and will walk in victory.
7. Pray together in the Spirit.
There is no substitute for prayer.
Pray with your child.
Model a life of faith for your child.
And pray for your neighbors and anyone else who would cause you distress.
Trust that the LORD will work everything out.
Remind your child to wear the armor that God has provided and pray together with your child in the Spirit.
