SUNDAY.
Quoting Willie, “often people say that “seeing is believing”; which has become one of the biggest lies from the devil that people have bought into.”
Willie is right. Our nation's entire history is woven with the actions of the Unseen God. Even now His unseen hand is guiding our lives. Mortally wounded soldiers are returning to their families alive after short hospital care. IAF flew to Iran, yet no country saw them flying over. Our unseen God is at work here, all the time.
The long war is taking its toll on the nation. People are trying to prepare for Pesach (Passover) and an added anxiety of deferred hope creeps in. Are the abducted hostages on their way home? Will they join us at the Seder table?
(Malachi 4:5-6) “See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse.”
Every Seder Pesach, a silver cup full of wine is set in the middle of the festive table – Elijah Cup. In my family, the cup of Elijah was always full until the morning. We opened the door during the reading to see if Elijah was knocking. An anticipation for the Messiah.
(Matthew 17:11) Yeshua answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things.”
Since the State of Israel was established, there is an empty chair at the table as a memorial for the 6 million Jews who were burned by the Nazis. In time, the chair became a symbol for the memories of all Jews who fought in the two world wars, as well as, those who fell on our land in all the wars from The War of Independence (November 1947) until today. The nation never forgets its heroes.
Passover is the time when the 12 tribes became one nation. Coming out of Egypt, from slavery to freedom, means much to our people. It is the start of our unity: one nation - under one God - speaking one language - in one promised land. All the uniting times of coming to freedom are celebrated in this feast. Coming out from Egypt, surviving the Holocaust, returning from Exiles, establishing the State of Israel.
There is no wonder that our hearts, minds and emotions are so tied to the return of the abducted hostages from Hamas. It is the time to bring them home, to their family tables, celebrate their freedom, and once again to be united as a nation.
Differed hope is expressed in daily conversations around town. Complaining and reciting names of places where rockets and drones fell are often heard. However, when we say Elohim Gadol – meaning, God is great, the positive hope takes over. Everyone, regardless if they believe or not, changed their tunes, “Yes, we'll make it, God is looking after us and fights with us, we'll be fine, the abducted will return and there will be peace.”
Willie and I prayed for the last 133 abductees to return. We both feel assurance that they will be back for Pesach. Willie shared yesterday, that he sees Sinwar surrounded by the Hostages walking out of the tunnels. We are told that Sinwar had been using them as human shields, so it is not surprising that he might do that.
All I can say is, Amen to that vision. Let them come home.
(Exodus 9:1) ‘This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: “Let my people go, so that they may worship me.”
Chag Pesach Sameach to all of Israel, and all of its friends, here and abroad.
May we celebrate it in freedom and in peace on our land.
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