God in the Midst... Shalom Shalom! “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! Yahveh of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.” Psalm 46: 10 – 11 Yahveh is at work in the midst of chaos and wants to use us all. But in order to be effective we all need to cling to Him. Now is more than ever we need to rely upon the Holy Spirit to lead us day by day and hour by hour. The fruit of the Spirit will cause our lives to shine with Yahveh in the midst of a hurt, confused, and needy society. As we do so Yahveh is glorified among the people of Israel. Yahveh has given us the pattern of blessing by showing us His nature. Yeshua said, “Therefore be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Luke 6:36 The word for mercy has another meaning “ a great force of action; to be merciful means to be moved completely by compassion.” Again, we see the example of Yeshua: “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.” Matthew 9: 36 Merciful people know the joy of giving, sharing, and sacrificing. They know the joy knowing faith has been restored, and where gladness and joy have replaced gloom and misery. Salvation will come through the Messiah, whose identity will become increasingly clear as events unfold according to Yahveh’s Word. It is called the time of Jacob’s trouble because it recalls Jacob’s personal struggle with Yahveh on his return to the land of Canaan. Just as Jacob wrestled with Yahveh and would not let go until he received his blessing, Israel, as a nation, will struggle with the question of who Yahveh is and why he has chosen them and only when their own strength has been broken and they call upon the Name of Yahveh, will they receive the blessings of the Messianic Age Ezekiel 33: 4; 6 “… if anyone hears the trumpet but does not take warning and the sword comes and takes his life, his blood will be on his own head (6)… But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes the life of one of them, that man will be taken away because of his sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood.” Israel, surrounded by hostile nations, will once again be a cup of trembling to all nations Zech. 12: 2. It will be a time of distress for Israel, but the nations which stand against Israel will certainly not escape punishment, because it is essentially a time of Yahveh’s testing and judgment on both Israel and the nations. Daniel 12: 1 It is written in the book of Daniel that “there will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then.” Jeremiah 30:7 Alas for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.” Jacob’s trouble did not begin with political opposition, racial tension or hostility of nations. It began with Yahveh’s choosing him over his own brother in the womb of their mother before they were even born: (Gen. 25: 21 – 26) Rebecca knew that Yahveh had said that the older will serve the younger and yet, traditionally, the blessing of the father should have gone to the older. Thus, before he was even born, Jacob’s struggle with men and with Yahveh began. Isaiah 14: 26 – 27 This is the plan determined for the whole world; this is the hand stretched out over all nations. For the lord Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?” Yahveh wants us to be in the midst of the chaos with him. It is there he is seen, and His presence in us is best realised. May Yahveh prepare us all for the days ahead, that we may be ready and able to meet the need of the hour. We cannot do this without becoming one in value our contribution of prayer. May Yahveh give you the opportunity to visit Israel and ask that you continue to stand in prayer for mercy to Yahveh’s chosen people. A nation that has faced constant attacks and most hated by the world, but dearly loved by Yahveh. May Yahveh bless you with His perfect Shalom. Be blessed and stay blessed
Posted on: Tue, 22 Jul 2014 05:17:34 +0000
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