GreatLight

      Isaiah perceived a great spiritual darkness upon the land. God's people were seeking the words of wizards and mediums, instead of seeking God. Isaiah wrote the Word of the LORD: "To the law and the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them...they will look to the earth, and see trouble and darkness, gloom of anguish; and they shall be driven into darkness." (Isa. 8:19-22, excerpt). There is no doubt that we can say that Isaiah's prophecy is still working today in our time. The prophets wrote of the great darkness that will precede the day of the LORD, and His appearing in the last days. Jesus also prophesied: "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven..." (Mt. 24:29-30). Even before the absence of natural light, there will also be spiritual darkness and deception (Mt. 24:9-12). As this darkness spreads, the light of the gospel of the kingdom of God will be preached to all the world (v. 14).

     It looks like a time of spiritual darkness is now covering the earth and its people, as we have turned away from God, and His Word. However, Isaiah then wrote this prophecy: "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined." (Isa. 9:1-2, excerpt). The LORD will not allow darkness to rule His creation. His light will rise up. Sometimes, we are so intent upon looking at the darkness that we forget that we have been called to be light, which we will see later.

     Jesus physically changed His dwelling place from Nazareth to Capernaum, in order to show the fulfillment of this prophecy of Isaiah (see Mt. 4:12-17). Also, using the foundation of Isaiah's prophecy above, a heavenly Jesus called Saul of Tarsus, renamed Paul, into salvation and ministry to the Gentiles:  "...to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me." (see Acts 26:15-18, excerpt).

     Hanukkah begins this week. It is also called the Feast of Lights, or the Feast of Dedication. Believers in Christ generally ignore this feast, although Jesus observed it (Jn. 10:22-30). It was during this feast that Jesus was asked to say plainly whether He was the Christ, The Messiah, The Anointed One, promised by God. He answered plainly that He was, and had demonstrated that He was, but they had not believed Him.

     This Sabbath reading portion titled Va-yeishev, meaning "And he (Jacob) settled (yasab - dwell, inhabit, abide, remain, tarry, continue, settle, marry, sit down)", as found in Gen. 37:1. Perhaps what we will learn in this Sabbath's portion will cause us to re-examine the importance of Hanukkah to us, the Believers in Christ. This portion covers Gen. 37 through 40.

     Last week we read about "Jacob's trouble". This week, while dwelling in Canaan (meaning "lowland, merchant, trafficker/bring anyone low, humble, bring down, vanquish, humiliate, fall to one's knees, depressed"), Jacob's troubles and sorrows increase and darken to such an extent that he will not be able to be consoled. He will say, on the occasion of what he believes to be the death of his most favored son: "For I shall go down into the grave to my son in mourning." (Gen. 37:35). Here are some of the terrible troubles that came into Jacob's life: 

• The sons of Jacob conspired to kill their brother Joseph because they envied him for receiving their father's favor, and because Joseph told them of his dreams of rulership which offended them. The brothers would eventually sell Joseph to slave traders for twenty shekels of silver, and tell their father that Joseph had been killed by a wild beast. Jacob was crushed in spirit.
• One of Jacob's sons, Judah, left the family camp and married a Canaanite woman, Shua ("wealth, to be rich/to cry for help or freedom from some trouble"). Judah had three sons with Shua but two were killed by the LORD for their wickedness. 
• Judah mistook his widowed daughter-in-law, Tamar, for a harlot, and had twin sons with her. One of Tamar's sons by Judah, Perez, was the forefather of the line of David and Jesus.

     Jacob's favorite son, Joesph, hated by his brothers, sold into slavery in Egypt, was meanwhile falsely accused and thrown into Pharaoh's prison and forgotten by one who owed him a favor. However, to all who encountered Joseph in Egypt, he would be the rising light of revelation that not only raised him to rulership in Egypt, but saved that nation, and provided food and rich land for his father and brothers in Egypt during a time of great famine. Though deep darkness covers the land and people, the LORD raises a light.

     In another reading portion from this Sabbath, Israel is caught in a period of spiritual darkness. The priests are corrupt and apathetic. That darkness is described this way: "And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation." (1 Sam. 3:1). Into this darkness, the boy Samuel, a miracle birth, was brought to the house of God to minister to the LORD, serving Eli the priest. As the result of a vow made by his mother, Samuel served in the house of God even though he was not a Levite. He was from the tribe of Ephraim (1 Sam. 1:1-2).  The spiritual condition of the house of God under the priesthood of Eli and his sons was growing dark: "...while Eli was lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to grow so dim (kehe/kaha - dim, be dark/be darkened, grow weak)

 that he could not see, and before the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of the LORD where the ark of God was, and while Samuel was lying down, that the LORD called Samuel. And he answered 'Here I am!'".  (1 Sam. 3:2-4). According to the statutes of the Law of Moses, the priests were to make sure that the golden lampstand (menorah in Hebrew) of the LORD remain lit throughout the darkness of the night hours (Ex. 27:20-21, Lev. 24:1-4). However, in this case, Eli, his eyes darkened, and resting during the night, neglected the keeping of the Lamp of the LORD. It is in this condition of darkness that the LORD raised up the boy, Samuel, who became a judge and prophet of Israel, and through him, the prophetic Word of the LORD and His revelation was restored to Israel. Samuel would eventually anoint Saul as the first king of Israel, and later David, who would replace the rebellious Saul.

     The feast of Hanukkah, itself, is observed as a memorial to a time in the history of Israel, when an enemy desecrated the temple of God in Jerusalem before being defeated by the Maccabee family. The Lampstand of the LORD in the re-dedicated (cleansed, purified, sanctified) temple was about to be extinguished because there was only one cruse of pure oil on hand, which would keep the Lamp lit for only one day. By a miracle of God, the Lamp remained lit for eight days, while the new supply of special oil could be prepared for it. (see The Miracle of Hanukkah, Talmud). The LORD would not allow His Light to go out.

     In another reading for this special Sabbath during Hanukkah, the prophet Zechariah wrote of a vision given to him of the Lamp pf the LORD supplied by an unending source of oil. The vision of the Lamp and the oil brought this Word of the LORD for Zerubbabel, the governor presiding over the difficult re-building of the Temple of God in Jerusalem: "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, ' says the LORD of hosts. 'Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of 'Grace, grace to it!...The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; His hands shall also finish it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you.'" (Zech. 4:1-9). According to the vision of Zechariah, the eternal light produced by the Lamp of the LORD is continually supplied by the oil of the Holy Spirit. In this light, nothing is impossible, and darkness cannot prevail. We see a similar description as the vision of Zechariah applied to the two witnesses in the Book of Revelation who will have a testimony to deliver in a time of spiritual darkness (Rev. 11:3-14).

      Jesus identified Himself as eternal Light: "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." (Jn. 8:12, see also Jn. 1:1-5, and 14, and Gen. 1:1-2).  He is a light that is from above, and not of this world (Jn. 8:23). We should not be surprised then that Jesus observed the Feast of Lights/Dedication, or Hanukkah. It is especially important to observe the powerful meaning of this feast as we see spiritual darkness trying to cover the earth. Jesus told us that we, being part of Him, were also the light of the world - not just any light, but light that is set high on a Lampstand, or menorah: "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.". This light that we are, by the oil of the Holy Spirit, in the manner of Christ, is the light of the Kingdom of God, and the same light into which we were saved (1 Peter 2:9).

     Each night, as a Hanukkah candle is lit, this prayer is said: "Blessed are You, O LORD our God, King of the Universe, who makes us holy with Your commandments (see also Jn. 17:17, Prov. 6:20-23), commanding us to kindle (light) the Hanukkah lights."  Here is another prayer offered during Hanukkah, which is especially needed today: Al HaNissim. The other prayers spoken while lighting the Hanukkah candles praise God for His miraculous salvation, as you can see in this video: Lighting the Hanukkah Menorah. David also wrote about the connection between the LORD's light and His salvation: "The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?" (Ps. 27:1). For me, the observance of Hanukkah is for all who desire to proclaim and praise our Father of Lights (James 1:17), and especially for those who believe in His Son, Jesus, the Light of the world.

     Isaiah wrote this Word of the LORD: "Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes all around and see...Then you shall see and become radiant, and your heart shall swell with joy..." (Isa. 60:1-5, excerpt).

     If you would like to know more about our purpose in the Kingdom of God as the light of Christ in the present time of spiritual darkness and trouble, you can pray with me: "Dear Father, how You have blessed us with Your light, and the light of Your Son, Jesus! This would have been enough of a miracle, but You also told me that I am of the same light, made to shine into the darkness. During this season of Lights and Dedication, let me dedicate myself to sanctification in Your Word of truth. Fill me with the oil of Your Holy Spirit so that I can shine with Your testimony. Darkness is here, but You will never allow the darkness to overcome Your eternal light of salvation. Instead of fearing the darkness, let me light a candle. I ask these things in Jesus' name. AMEN."

     

Compassion

Last week's entry marked the end of the one year Sabbath reading cycle as practiced in synagogues around the world. I learned so much about my faith in Christ reading along with them. Many of the Sabbath readings carry a prophetic importance as well. Israel and Jerusalem have a great and unique importance in the prophetic and salvation plan of God, especially in the days to come. God has made important promises to Israel that will impact the whole earth, and He will keep those promises. He is not done with either Israel or Jerusalem, and He will never be done with them! My intention, as a Christian, in following the Sabbath readings this past year was not to replace the Jewish people on their path of study, but to walk beside them, and learn with them. I have a feeling that as I begin the new yearly cycle of readings, it will be in a different way than I had done in this past year. This week, I opened the first chapter of Genesis, and the corresponding reading from Isaiah 42. As I started reading, I was surprised to find out about the role that compassion played in the creation of the heavens and the earth. The power God exhibited in the Creation seemed to have been focussed through the presence first of compassion in the form of the Holy Spirit, as I hope we will see. After stating that God created the heavens and the earth, Genesis 1:2 goes on to say: "The earth was without form and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering/moving over the face of the waters." There is great power in the Spirit of God, but the Spirit is also called "The Comforter" by Jesus (Jn. 14:26, 15:26). In this verse from Genesis, the Spirit was hovering over a terrible sight. The Hebrew word for "hovering" is rehap meaning "shake, move, flutter, to grow soft, to brood, with the feeling of tender love hence to cherish, to brood over/cherish young as an eagle, of parents who cherish their children, to soothe a child". (The Hebrew meaning, rehap can also include "to cause to tremble with fear, like the bones of a person terrified". Even as the Holy Spirit can move with comfort and compassion, we can also say then that it can move in a way to create fear.) The conditions over which the Spirit of God hovered in Gen. 1:2 above, are written as "without form, void, darkness, and deep". These words have the Hebrew meaning "the dark, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness, desolation, confusion, lie waste, abyss". Before the Word of God was spoken into this desolation, the Spirit hovered over it, "brooding" over it, cherishing it as a parent cherishes a child. In speaking "Light" over this void, and dividing the light from the darkness (v. 3-5), God (Elohim) was, at the same time, taking authority over the darkness on the First Day. John Ch. 1 tells us that the words of Creation spoken was Jesus, who was with God, and was God, and became flesh to dwell with us (v. 14). Again this first moment is described in John 1:5 as: "And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend (seize, overtake, overcome) it." (Jn. 1:5). We see again that the darkness cannot overcome the Word of God. As Jesus worked in the power of His anointing, it was often said in scripture that He was moved by compassion for the people, whether they had gotten into their calamities through their own fault or not (Mt. 14:14, 15:32, 20:30-34). Jesus taught in a heavy warning of the consequences of failing to show to others that same compassion which we have received from "the king", or the Lord (Mt. 18:21-35). He taught parables about incorporating compassion as a lifestyle, and as a fulfillment of the Law (Lk. 10:26-37), and a parable, know to us as The Prodigal Son, of the role of compassion in the restoration of one who was lost (Lk. 15:18-24). The apostles' teaching also reminds us to exercise compassion (1 Peter 3:8, Heb. 10:34). The Greek word and root word for compassion used in these parables means "from the deepest part of a person, having compassion from the seat of sympathy, love, and pity; a great passion that includes love, tenderer affections, kindness, benevolence, mercies, compassion". The only people that Jesus seemed to lack compassion for were those who lacked compassion for others, most of these being the religious authorities of His time. What can sometimes be surprising however, is how angry and stirred up some may become because of what they consider to be an inconvenient or inappropriate show of compassion (Lk. 15:25-32, Lk. 7:36-48, Jn. 12:1-7). Coming back to the Creation of Gen. 1, we see that it begins with the presence and work of Christ as the Word (Jn. 1:1-3), Who is also revealed in the first phrase of Genesis 1 for those who wish to search it out, but it also involved a work of compassion by the Spirit of God. Looking at Isaiah 42 of this week's reading, the words of the LORD remind the reader again of Gen. 1 as the LORD declares that He created the heavens, the earth, and gave breath to the living (v. 5). His unchanging purpose is to bring forth justice for the truth (v. 3-4). Will we see again compassion having a role in this work of justice? Towards this purpose, the LORD prophesies that He is sending Someone, whom He describes as "My Servant", "My Elect One". He says, "I have put My Spirit upon Him." (v. 1). To this special Servant, whom we know as the Messiah, Jesus, God says: "I the LORD have called You in righteousness, and will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people..." (v. 6). We will know this Servant by certain works to which the LORD has appointed Him in Isa. 42. They are works of compassion: "...as a light to the Gentiles, to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the prison, those who sit in darkness from the prison house." The LORD continues: "I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, and not forsake them." (v. 16). In this chapter from Isaiah, judgment has also been sent mong God's people in order to bring forth "justice for truth". The LORD describes the judgment of His people who would not listen to Him: "But this is a people robbed and plundered; All of them are snared in holes, and they are hidden in prison houses; They are for prey, and no one delivers; For plunder, and no one says "Restore!". (v. 22). The LORD said that He is the one who put them in this condition (v. 24). Even so, the LORD turns and shows His compassion: "But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are mine." (Isa. 43:1). Sometimes we may think that by showing compassion, we are ignoring sin. However, it may be that it is the constant, ever-available compassion of God that is one thing that draws men to repentance of sin. Why would a man seek repentance in the first place, unless he feels that he is dealing with the LORD who will turn and have compassion on him, and forgive him? First John 1:9 guarantees us that if we confess our sins before God, not only is He faithful to forgive, but His justice requires that He forgives. However, the compassion of God goes even beyond this. The prophet Joel wrote of God's people assembling for the purpose of repentance before the LORD. The LORD gave the promise of compassion to His people if they repented before Him: "Now, therefore, says the LORD, 'Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning. So rend your heart...Return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm." (Joel 2:12-13). Joel promised that the LORD would have pity, and answer His people (v. 18). Not only did the LORD promise to restore His people, but He went beyond restoration to even more abundance (v. 19, 23-27). On top of the greater abundance, He promised to pour out His Spirit upon all, regardless of gender, social position, or age in a miraculous way never before seen (Joel 3:28-29). In the same manner, for those who accepted His compassionate gift of forgiveness and reconciliation through His Messiah and Son, Jesus Christ, the LORD again did even greater than a restoring work: "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (Jn. 10:10). We are given even more than restoration as a result of salvation, beyond what Adam and Eve had before their fall into sin. They were given dominion over the earth (Gen. 1:26), but, to serve as an example of the compassion (love, kindness) of God, those in Christ are given greater. They are seated in the heavenly places with Him (Eph. 2:4-7), and have become joint-heirs with Christ Himself, which is the work of the Spirit, the Comforter, in us (Rom. 8:16-18). While Adam and Eve experienced a visitation of God in the Garden (Gen 3:8-9), those who have accepted God's gift of compassion through Jesus Christ, don't have to wait for a visitation, but now have both Jesus Christ and the Spirit of God dwelling within them, and communing with them (Rom. 8:10-11). The law of compassion, it seems from the evidence, does not just restore to the previous condition, but it supersedes the previous condition with even greater than before. Compassion is not the only quality of God that impacts man, and by which we impact each other, but perhaps it deserves a deeper look. The power of God is focused through compassion in the examples that we have read. Compassion does not give unrepented sin a "pass", but I think it is one way that God uses to defeat Satan at his own game of destroying human souls. Because of this, compassion should play an important role in our lives as believers. If you would like to receive and live in the compassion of God through Jesus Christ, you can pray: "Dear Father, You sent Your Son into my life out of Your compassion and love for me. Through Jesus, You not only cleansed me from sin, and reconciled me back to Yourself, but You gave me a greater, more abundant life. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that I can minister compassion to others as You ministered to me. Lead me in discernment so I may see when compassion shown can break the stronghold of the enemy over another person's life. Let me not forget to show others the same compassion that You showed me, as You drew me back to Yourself. I ask and thank You for this in the name of Jesus. Amen."