This week in Israel:
1. A THOUGHT FROM NORMA ON THE YEAR 2010.
As we move into the year 2010 (according to the Gregorian Calendar), I found myself musing on the number "10", especially on some particular groupings of ten in the Bible-and how the concept of "a majority and a remnant" often come into focus within this number:
* Genesis 18:32. As Abraham pleads for mercy over Sodom, God reveals that if there is a remnant of only tenrighteous found in the city, He will not destroy it. An evil city may be saved on behalf of a remnant of ten, if we will pray.
*Numbers 13. Moses sends ten men to spy out Canaan before launching an invasion. A majority, eight of them, fueled by a spirit of fear and unbelief, bring back an evil report, But a remnant-Joshua and Caleb-have a "different spirit" (14:24) informing their eyes and bring back a good report, encouraging the people to go forth in faith believing, to defeat the enemies and take possession.
*Matthew 25:1-13. In this parable of the Kingdom of Heaven, Yeshua (Jesus) tells a story of ten virgins. Here the division is equal, one portion have prepared themselves-their oil lamps are filled and they are ready for the coming of their Lord-ready for a "suddenly"-ready to move forward at a moment's notice; the other portion have foolishly become distracted and not prepared themselves as might have done. The bridegroom is delayed and they all get sleepy-but when the sudden awakening comes, only five are ready and able to go. "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming."
*Luke 17:12-19. Ten lepers are standing at a distance as Yeshua passes through Samaria and Galilee on His way to Jerusalem. They call out to Him for mercy, he tells them to go show themselves to the priests, and they are healed as they go-yet only one of them (a "foreigner" Samaritan) returns, glorifies God with a loud voice and falls at Yeshua's feet, giving thanks.
I felt the Lord saying, "This is a year when I will speak to and work with groups of my people. Some of them will respond with a "remnant heart" of courageous faith, of preparedness, alertness, of gratitude and worship. This remnant will be sustained in the midst of confusion and falling away and will be able to move forward. This remnant I can use as an example to others in the Body. This remnant is ready for the "NEW" in the approaching season.
PLEASE PRAY for the Believing Remnant in the cities and towns of Israel-for courage, preparedness, alertness.for hearts of gratitude and worship. Remember, if there is a remnant-even a remnant of ten-an entire city may be saved!
This week's Torah Portion:
From ancient times there has been a weekly portion from the five books of Moses (The Torah) and from the prophets (Haftarah-final reading) read on the Sabbath in synagogues around the world. This portion is given a Hebrew name taken from the opening words of the passage. An illustration of this practice appears to have been recorded in Luke 4:16 where Yeshua (Jesus) arrived in the synagogue in Nazareth and was asked to read the Haftarah portion (Isaiah 61) from the Prophets. We have found that in perusing these weekly readings, not only are we provided opportunity to identify in the context of God's Word with millions of Jewish people around the world, but very often the Holy Spirit will illumine specific passages pertinent that week in our intercession for the Land and people of Israel. All texts are those of English translations of the Scriptures.
The readings for December 27, 2009-January 2, 2010 are called VaYechi ("And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years"), and include:
TORAH: Genesis 47:28-50:26
HAFTARAH: I Kings 2:1-12
This week's readings bring us to the end of the Book of Genesis. They encompass the last seventeen years of Jacob's life in Egypt, his blessing of Ephraim and Manasseh, his final prophetic Word over his twelve sons, his death, return of his body to Hebron for burial, and the life and death of Joseph in Egypt at the age of 110. The poetic prophecy over Israel's sons in Chapter 49 continues we believe to have bearing on the identity of gathered and returned Israel today.as well as on the land to which their forefathers returned and took possession 400 years later-and to which they as their descendants have miraculously returned thousands of years later still.
*Genesis 48:5. "And now your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine." In fact, because of Reuben's sin, his birthright was transferred to Joseph, the first-born of Rachel, through these two sons (see I Chronicles 5:1-2). Yet rulership would come through Judah.
*Genesis 48:20. "By you Israel will bless, saying, 'May God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh!'" In many Hebrew households, this blessing is still used on Friday evenings by a father over his sons.
*Genesis 49:5. "Simeon and Levi are brothers; instruments of cruel violence (Hebrew:hamas) their trade. Let my soul not enter into their secret council, their assembly my presence shun. For in their fury they slaughtered men, at their pleasure they tore down ramparts. Cursed be their fury so fierce, and their wrath so remorseless!" The wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God (James 1:20); in the case of these two brothers, it resulted in loss or dispersion of much of their future inheritance. Recently, Israeli Jewish settlers in the vicinity of Shechem (where the violent attack of Simeon and Levi took place) in reaction to a governmental ruling freezing building in the territories, broke into and burned a mosque in the Palestinian town of Yasouf, painting threatening slogans on the walls. There have also been repeated outbreaks of vandalism on Arab olive groves, and occasional beatings of Arabs and scrawling of racist threats ("Death to Arabs", etc.). While actions such as these do not epitomize the conduct of all Jewish settlers in the contested territories, they do tend to surface disturbingly often. PLEASE PRAY: against the spirit of wrath which characterized Simeon and Levi - especially in those Jews who are heroically seeking to work the land of their inheritance in Judea and Samaria. The Evil One does not want the Word over this region to be fulfilled (see last week's Haftarah: Ezekiel 37:21-23). Many lies are spread about these settlers; whether through hatred and falsehoods, or though capitalization upon weaknesses of character and sinfulness within their midst, he will do what he can to blight their reputation and credibility Pray for revelation of God and of His Messiah to the settlers which will bring cleansing and righteousness and godly direction-and with it, a capacity to live permanently in the land and to inhabit its cities (Ezekiel 36: 27-28; 33-35).
*Genesis 49:10-11. "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to Him shall be the obedience of the people. Binding his donkey to the vine, and his donkey's colt to the choice vine, He washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes." There had historically been great mystery surrounding this passage, part of it related to what exactly is meant by the Hebrew word translated "Shiloh". It appears clear, nevertheless, that it is speaking of One who will come to whom the "scepter" truly belongs, and who will be worthy of "the obedience of the people." And there seem to be further hints in the New Testament: Matthew 21:2-7 refers to a donkey tied with its colt upon which Yeshua would enter Jerusalem; Revelation 7:14 speaks of those whose garments will have been "washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb"; and in Revelation 19:13 One called "Faithful and True" clothed with a vesture dipped in blood, and His name is also called "The Word of God." PLEASE PRAY: for revelation in Israel that the "Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Root of David" has come-and is coming again as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! (Revelation 5:5; 19:16).
[The Torah and Haftarah portions for next week (3-9 Jan, "Shmot") will be: Exodus 1:1-6:1; Isaiah 27:6-28:13; 29:22-23]
