The Mercy of God – by Issam Hessen

This testimony, written on August 13, 1992, is posted in memory of our dear brother Issam, who passed away on July 20, 2017, one year ago.

Text edited by Petra van der Zande

The school holidays started on July 1^st, and my wife and I planned to travel to the Galilee with the children to visit my family. A few days later I went to East Jerusalem to return some books which we decided not to use for our ministry – “the Call of Hope”. After that, I planned to see the Rabbi of a synagogue, but because it was Friday, the synagogue was closed.  I returned home earlier than planned.

My mind and soul is always busy with the work of the Lord. Like all faithful children of God, my mind is filled with gratefulness -that is what counts in my life. Therefore, I expect every good thing from the Lord, the least of which is protection for me and my family.

The moment I entered my house, I found my wife kneeling next to the couch in the salon with five-year old Jonathan. (I have 3 daughters and one son). The Lord already showed me signs that He has plans for my son.

But now, Jonathan looked like a slain lamb. “We must immediately call ambulance and take Jonathan to the hospital,” my wife said. “His leg is broken.”

While playing football with a friend, Jonathan had broken his left femur bone, just above the knee. It was a complicated fracture, and we spent 12 days and nights with our little boy in the hospital. The fractured leg had to be brought back in place with a cast and traction, causing excruciating pain. Nobody else could sleep because of his suffering.

Jonathan shared his hospital room with a seven-year-old girl and her father, an orthodox Jew who stayed with her all the time.

“Don’t these trials weaken your faith?” I asked him.

“No,” he responded without hesitating. “Three years ago, one of my babies, who was only a few months old, died,” he said. “Since that time, I stopped questioning God why things are happening to me and my family. God promised us the coming life, not this.”

He told me that his father came from a Haredi family (Haredi means “men who fear God”). “I am also Haredi,” he explained. “After my father lost his whole family during the Holocaust, he no longer want to be religious. However, after having lived in the world for several years, my father decided to return to God.” Looking at me, he said, “There are many things we don’t understand, so just leave it all to God and do not think of it anymore.”

When something happens, like my son’s terrible mishap, one begins to question the love of God. In the book of Psalms, the love of God and His goodness are described as great. In Psalm 145:7 it is written: “They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy GREAT goodness. The Bible is full of promises, but these are for the Righteous who FEAR God.”

After a calamity, a child of God begins to check his conduct, his deeds, his desires and motives.

“What wrong did I do, Lord?” I asked. “Why did this have to happen to Jonathan?”

The most terrifying thought however was: “Did God leave me?”

For our Lord Jesus, the most difficult moment of His life on life on earth was not when He was on the cross, but when He felt abandoned by God. “My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?” He screamed. (Matthew 27:46)

Upon hearing the Lord’s statement about “eating His flesh and drinking His blood”, many of His disciples left Him. It was because they did not know Him. His true disciples however, refused to leave Him. Peter said: “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68).

In difficult and even desperate situations, a believer who truly knows the Lord can only say, “Lord, to whom shall we go, when we know You are the true God.”

Was what happened to my son Jonathan, a temptation?

Was it to test us and strengthen our faith?

Was it punishment?

Was it the Lord’s perfect will to teach us the fear of God?

Whatever the reason was, like Shadrach and Meshach and Abednego we shall say, “The Lord is able to deliver us... but if not... we will not serve other Gods.”  (Daniel 3:17,18)

And together with Habakkuk we repeat: “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat: the flock shall be cut off from the fold and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength and He will make my feet like hind’s feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high place.” (Habakkuk 3:17-19)

About Issam

Issam was born into a Druze family from Rama, Galilee, Israel. Being very ambitious, he also lived and studied several years abroad. During this period he went through a very difficult time. Someone gave him a Bible and told him, “Jesus is alive today! You can ask Him to help you get out of these difficulties.”

After reading about God’s miracles in the Bible, Issam asked God to help him. By revealing Himself through dreams and visions, God miraculously brought Issam out of his difficulties. From that time on, Issam didn’t become less ambitious, but rather more so – he dedicated his whole life to God. The focus of his life now became studying, living and teaching the ways of God from the Bible.  

Many years later, during Issam’s long illness, this testimony which he wrote back in 1992, became a source of encouragement for himself and his family.

The Lord called His faithful servant to His eternal home in July 2017. May Issam’s memory continue to be a blessing and inspiration, to the glory of God.

Shavuot - the Feast of Weeks

In Israel, Shavuot is celebrated only for one day - on the 6^th day of the Hebrew month of Sivan (This year on May 20.) In the Diaspora, Jews celebrate it for two days. The Christian holiday of Pentecost always falls on the 7^th Sunday after Easter which in 2018, is on the same Sunday as Shavuot.

The Hebrew word for Shavuot means “weeks” and refers to the counting of seven weeks from the second day of the Pesach (Passover) holiday. This period is called the “Counting of the Omer”. Shavuot is the only Pilgrim festival of which the Bible doesn’t give a specific date on which to celebrate.

The Festival has different names:

 à Chag Shavuot (Festival of Weeks)

à Chag ha Katsir (Reaping holiday)

à Yom ha Bikkurim (day of first fruits)

à Pentecost (Greek for 50)

According to a certain stream in Judaism: Torah must be reshit (first). This is linked to a set of customs, whose first letters form the word “acharit” (last).

1. Akdamot - a liturgical poem, read in synagogue.

2. Chalav - milk. The Rabbis reasoned that because the Israelites didn’t have time to prepare meat for Shavuot, they only consumed dairy products. It’s a popular custom to eat cheese cake and blintzes (pancakes filled with cheese) during Shavuot.

3. Ruth - the scroll of Ruth is read in synagogues. She became a member of the Jewish people by accepting the Torah. Converts to Judaism are honoured at this time. Tradition tells us that King David (form the line of Boaz and Ruth) was born and died on Shavuot. Many people visit his grave on Mount Zion in Jerusalem.

4. Yerek - greenery. Homes and synagogues are decorated with greenery. The bimah* (platform) where the Torah readings take place now looks like a chuppah* (wedding canopy). Moses, the matchmaker, brought the Jewish people (bride) to the chuppah (Mount Sinai) to marry the bridegroom (God). The Torah was the ketubah* (wedding contract).

5. Torah study (all night). Hourly subjects are taught by different teachers and ‘the night passes like a dream’.

Exceprt from the book "Remember, Observe, Rejoice - a guide to the Jewish Feasts, holidays, memorial days and events" by Petra van der Zande. 

Jerusalem Day and Six Days of Miracles

"Remember how the enemy has mocked you, O Lord… 

Rise up, O God, and defend your cause…" 

Psalm 74:18

In 1967, Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Iraq signed military alliances with each other. Egypt closed the Strait of Tiran to Israeli shipping, and told UN troops stationed in Gaza to get out. The young nation of Israel then knew it had to prepare and brace itself to fight another war.

June 5, 1967 – Deaf to Israel's entreaties not to engage in war, Jordan attacked Jerusalem from the east. At this time, Irene Levi (then Duce), was head mistress of the Carmel school in Haifa. She took on extra duties of teachers who had been called up by the IDF. Many believers flocked to the school to pray for God's intervention.

That first day was the beginning of many miracles: Israeli pilots destroyed the Egyptian air force on the ground; the Jordanian air force followed suit and two-thirds of the Iraqi Air Force were in shambles.

June 6: Irene kept the school open, and while telling the flannel graph story of David and Goliath, the radio news came on. 

""Israel has turned back the enemy at the Sinai Desert and has almost reached the Suez Canal". 

The children's mouths fell open. "The West Bank is now in Israeli hands", the announcer continued, "including Nablus, Ramallah, Jericho and Bethlehem."

June 7: With beaming face, a Bible School teacher hurried to the school to tell the great news: "All of Jerusalem is now united under Israel's rule!"

That morning, Motta Gur and his paratroopers broke through the Lion's Gate and liberated the Western Wall and the Temple Mount.

 "The Temple Mount is OURS!" Israelis would never forget those words coming over the radio. IDF Chief Rabbi Shlomo Goren had blown the Shofar. With tears in their eyes, the dust covered soldiers, for the firs time in their lives, touched the ancient walls. 

Many stood with head bowed, reciting Psalm 122,  "If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, may my right hand lose its cunning".

At the Haifa School, Irene (2nd from right) put up the Israeli flag with
"Jerusalem of Gold" -
 Naomi Shemer's song that became famous. 

Israelis found it hard to believe that after 19 years, all of Jerusalem was back in Israeli hands.

Irene knew that the war wasn't over yet, and continued to fast. She knew in her spirit that Adonai Tzva'ot (The Lord of Hosts) was fighting alongside and strengthening the soldiers on the Golan Heights.

June 8 – The Syrian positions on the Golan, which for so many years made life a living hell for the Israelis, because of their constant rocket barrages, had been conquered by Israeli soldiers.

June 9 – After the cease fire with Jordan, from all over the country people rushed to Jerusalem.

June 12 – After taken six days of heavy fighting, the war was over! Slowly, the magnitude of the Israeli victory dawned upon Israel and the rest of the world.

The "Six Day War" as it became known, had been a miracle from beginning to end.

Haya and Menahem Ben Haim had moved to Eilat in 1963, only to discover they were the first American couple to settle there. Despite the primitive living conditions, and the fact that in summer it felt like hell (as described in the Bible), they lived there for 14 years. With war imminent, the people in Eilat were also ordered to cover their windows (blackout) every night. Men prepared to be call up, and medics stocked up their supplies. The atmosphere was so tense you could cut it with a knife.

"Are we to live? Are we to die?" Haya and Menachem wondered.

Because most of the bomb shelters in Eilat were not yet finished, many left the town. All the hotels emptied out of tourists. The international press drove around in their vans, interviewing people at the airport and in the cities, Menahem one of them. Haya and Menahem decided to stay put in Eilat. It had been a wise decision, as those who fled to Jerusalem had to spend three days in a bomb shelter.

"A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation. 

I, the LORD, will hasten it in its time." 

Isaiah 60:22

Little Israel had become a strong nation, as the Lord had promised.

"I will hasten" – achishana could be two Hebrew words: shana (year) and achi (my brother). The numerical value of these letters is nineteen – the years from Independence (1948) to 1967. It happened swiftly (in His time, in six days). Jerusalem had been united on June 6 and 7. Even the newspapers spoke about the meaning of that amazing date: 6-7-'67 and 'achishana'.

Yom Yerushalayim – Jerusalem Day.

Throughout the world, (including the USA), Zionist Jews mark Yom Yerushalayim - Jerusalem's reunification, with a range of events. These include: recitations of the Hallel prayer for praise and thanksgiving in synagogues; street parades, parties, singing and dancing; special meals; and lectures on the history and future of Jerusalem and Zionism. In Jerusalem, a public reception by the mayor of Jerusalem, state ceremonies and memorial services for those who died in the Six-Day War are also held.

The so-called "Parade of the Flags" usually begins at Sacher Park. Happy participants (mostly religious young people) sing and dance their way to the Old City, where the parade ends at the Kotel (Western Wall).

Purim

Ta'anit Esther - ‎ Fast of Esther        

“They had established for themselves and their descendants the matters of the fasts and their cry.” Esther 9:31 (KJV)

The Fast of Esther (Ta'anit Esther‎) on the 13th of Adar (before Purim) commemorates the three-day fast observed by the Jewish people in the book of Esther.  Because this is not one of the four public fasts ordained by the Prophets, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and those who are weak are not required to observe it.

PURIM

Purim is the celebration of the deliverance of the Jews from an enemy bent on their destruction. It is celebrated on the 14th and 15th day of Adar (usually in March). 

Purim is the plural of the Hebrew word “pur”, which means lot (used to determine something by chance). It refers to Haman’s use of lots to choose the date for his intended destruction of the Jews.

Throughout the book of Esther, "...the name of God is not there, but His finger certainly is," wrote Matthew Henry. "His providence is obvious – quietly, but sovereignly at work in the lives of men and women."

Although Purim is a minor festival from a religious point of view (it is not mentioned in the Torah as a Feast of the Lord), people celebrate it with fervour.

Until 2 AD, Purim was called “the Day of Mordechai”, or “day of Protection”. People observed the holiday by reciting the story of the Megilah* (Scroll) in their homes and by exchanging gifts.

The Talmud describes public readings during the Second Temple period. Priests were instructed to stop their service in the Temple and listen to the recitation. This practice ended with the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD.

With the canonizing of the book of Esther and the appearance of synagogues, public readings in Hebrew and other languages became widespread. Between the end of the 3rd and beginning of the 5th century AD, the reading of the Hebrew Megillah was universally accepted. The liturgy was the same, but the drama, colour, merrymaking and pageantry varied from country to country. 

During the middle Ages, the celebration was enlivened by masquerades, jesters, musicians and actors. Noisemaking and selecting a Purim queen or king is traced to 14th Century France. Purim plays originated from the 16th century.

Fettmilch's demise and the return of the Jews to Frankfurt

In 1615, in Frankfurt, Germany, a local baker pronounced himself the “new Haman” and organized an attack against the Jews of the town.  Although they fought back, they were driven out of town, and had to leave their possessions behind. A few months later, the city's ruler realized what injustice had been done. A band welcomed the Jews back to Frankfurt, the baker was killed and his house destroyed. A plaque described his misdeeds and punishment. From that day on, Purim became a special celebration for the Jews in Frankfurt.  During the festival they read a special Megillah recalling their story.

The walking type of theatre, the Purim “shpil” eventually became stage performances. Until World War II, in Germany and Eastern Europe performances took place during the month of Adar. 

In Western Europe, North America and Israel, the emphasis was more on Purim masquerade parties for adults and children.

The book of Esther is usually written on a parchment scroll from a kosher animal. The Megillah (scroll) is often illustrated (permitted because the name of God is not mentioned in it).  

The scroll is read in synagogue on the eve of Purim and the next morning. Each time the name of Haman is mentioned, the people use their ra’ashan (greggers) and stamp their feet to drown out Haman’s name.

Purim is a feast of gladness, and the only time people are allowed to get drunk – so they no longer remember whether it was Mordechai or Haman who was to be praised or cursed.

During this festival, people send misloach manot (gifts to the poor). It is also customary to give money. In synagogue, just before the reading of the Megillah, male congregants often donate coins as a reminder of the custom that every Jew over twenty years old, paid half a shekel for the upkeep of the Temple in Jerusalem.

Because the city of Shusan was a walled city, an extra day was added for the celebrations. This is the reason why a walled city like Jerusalem celebrates Purim on the 15th of Adar. Purim is an official school holiday in Israel and the streets are filled with children and adults wearing various costumes, funny hats or wigs.

Oznei Haman

Oznei Haman or Haman Tashen (Haman’s ears) are three-cornered cookies which are a favourite Purim treat. One of the fillings is poppy-seed, called “mohn”  in Yiddish, which sounds a bit like “Haman”. Oznei Haman refers to the old European custom of cutting off criminal’s ears before they were hanged.

**********

PURIM SAMEACH - HAPPY PURIM

© 2024  Petra van der Zande

Exerpt from the book: Remember, Observe, Rejoice – A guide to the Jewish Feast, Holidays, Memorial Days and Events. 

Available through www.lulu.com or at Jerusalem Baptist Church

The book is also available in Dutch, German, Spanish, Portuguese and Traditional and Simplified Chinese. 

TU B’SHVAT - THE NEW YEAR OF TREES

Excerpt from the book "Remember, Observe, Rejoice" © Petra van der Zande

"As others have planted for you, so you will plant for your children."

Leviticus Rabbah, 28

Tu B’shvat, the 15^th of the Hebrew month of Shvat (end of January, beginning of February) is not mentioned in the Bible. However, the Mishnah (part of the Talmud), describes it as the "New Year for trees". Israel’s rainy season is usually over by now, but people still hope for the blessing of the "latter rain". This holiday marks the revival of nature, which is symbolized by the budding of the almond tree.

Leviticus 19 tells us what was expected from the Israelites when they entered the Promised Land:

“When you come to the land and you plant a tree, you shall treat its fruit as forbidden; for 3 years it will be forbidden and not eaten. In the fourth year, all of its fruit shall be sanctified to praise the Lord. In the 5^th year you may eat its fruit.” (NIV)

Having a specific date as the New Year for trees also helped with the law of tithing – 1/10^th of the farmer’s fruit had to be donated to the priests.

Biblical tithes were: 

•        Orlah - refers to a biblical prohibition (Leviticus 19:23) on eating the fruit of trees produced during the first three years after they are planted.
•        Neta Reva'i - refers to the biblical commandment (Leviticus 19:24) to bring fourth-year fruit crops to Jerusalem as a tithe.
•           Ma'aser Sheni - was a tithe which was eaten in Jerusalem.
•         Ma'aser Ani - was a tithe given to the poor (Deuteronomy 14:22-29) that were also calculated by whether the fruit ripened before or after Tu B'shvat.

 During the Second Temple period it was customary to plant a tree when a child was born - a cedar for a boy (referring to its height and strength), and a cypress (smaller and fragrant) for a girl. When the child married, the wood of the tree was used to make the chuppah, the wedding canopy.

Throughout the ages, the diverse Jewish communities in the Diaspora developed all kinds of customs to celebrate this day. In the beginning of the 19^th century, when the first Jewish settlers began to redeem Eretz Israel, part of their work was to plant trees on the barren and eroded hills.

On Tu B'shvat, January 25, 1890, Rabbi Zeev Yavetz and his students set a good example by planting trees in the agricultural colony of Zichron Ya’akov.

The idea to plant trees on Tu B'shvat, was in 1908 adopted by the Jewish Teachers Union and later by the Jewish National Fund (Keren haKayemet leIsrael), who, amongst other endeavours, began to oversee the forestation of the Land of Israel.

Many of Israel’s major institutions have chosen this day for their inauguration ceremonies.

The cornerstone of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem was placed on Tu B'shvat 1918, and the first stone of Haifa’s Technion was laid on the same day in 1925. The first Jewish parliament of the Jewish sovereign State chose to hold its first Knesset session on Tu B'shvat 1949.

On Tu b’Shvat it is customary to eat the types of dried fruit mentioned in Deuteronomy 8:8 (the Seven Species). Some Orthodox Jews make candy from their Etrog (one of “Four Species” during Sukkot) and eat it during Tu B'Shvat.

Tu B'shvat is sometimes called the Jewish Arbour day. 

The highlight of the holiday is planting a new sapling in the soil of Eretz Israel, the Jewish homeland. 

Introduction to the Gospel of Luke - Part 1

Sermon by Pastor Joel McElreath  preached at JBC on August 6, 2017 

This sermon outline is linked to the audio file:

https://soundcloud.com/user-528508442/sermon-intro-to-luke

Scripture Reference: Luke 1:1-4; 2:41 -3:1-20

                                          

INTRODUCTION: Each of the four gospels is uniquely different from the others.  From Revelation 4:7, historically, these four symbolize the 4 gospels.  Matthew is the regal lion. Mark is the ox representing Jesus’ work. Luke is the face of a man representing Jesus’ humanity. John is the eagle representing Jesus’ divinity from above. We begin today in our study of the Gospel of Luke.

 I.  THE AUTHOR AND STYLE OF THE GOSPEL  1:1-4

Luke 1: 1-4  ASB

Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, 3 it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; 4 so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.    

A.   The author. A physician from Antioch where the first church was planted.  He was a Greek of high education.

       B.     The style of writing.  This gospel is the most literary book in the New Testament.  The Prologue is written in Classical Greek.

       C.      The historical accuracy.  The writer Luke is a historian of the first rank and listed among the best in the ancient world.

       D.     The aim of the gospel was to demonstrate especially to Gentile believers the historical facts upon which their faith was based.

II.  THE EARLY LIFE OF JESUS.  2:41-52

Luke 2:41 Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.

A.  Only Luke records the early years of Christ’s life.  Curiosity of later generations resulted in fabricated stoies like in the Apocrypha writings.

B.  The Eternal Son visits His Father’s house in Jerusalem.  The eternal and unique relationship that Jesus had with His Father begins to be revealed.                                                                                                                                 

III.  THE MINISTRY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST.  3:1-20

Luke 3:1-20

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, 2 in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. 3 And he came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins; 4 as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight.5 ‘Every ravine will be filled, And every mountain and hill will be brought low; The crooked will become straight, And the rough roads smooth; 6 And all flesh will see the salvation of God.’” 7 So he began saying to the crowds who were going out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. 9 Indeed the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; so every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”10 And the crowds were questioning him, saying, “Then what shall we do?” 11 And he would answer and say to them, “The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise.” 12 And some tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” 13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than what you have been ordered to.” 14 Some soldiers were questioning him, saying, “And what about us, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages.” 15 Now while the people were in a state of expectation and all were wondering in their hearts about John, as to whether he was the Christ, 16 John answered and said to them all, “As for me, I baptize you with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in His hand to thoroughly clear His threshing floor, and to gather the wheat into His barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” 18 So with many other exhortations he preached the gospel to the people. 19 But when Herod the tetrarch was reprimanded by him because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the wicked things which Herod had done, 20 Herod also added this to them all: he locked John up in prison.

A.  The precise dating of the ministry is established by listing contemporary leaders and is probably set at 26-27 A.D.  John fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy in 40:3-5.

B.   The five descriptions of John’s ministry:

       1.  The road builder – 3:1-6.  John was both a prophet and the subject of prophecy

       2.  The farmer – 3:7-9.  John is chopping down fruitless trees and watching snakes fleeing burning fields.

       3.  The counselor – 3:10-14.  John took personal time to counsel people and prepare them for baptism and their new faith.

       4.  The witness – 3:15-18, 21-23.  John did not come to talk about himself but to bear witness and point to the “Lamb of God.”

       5.   The martyr – 3:19-20.  Luke does not give the full account of John’s arrest and martyrdom, but Matthew and Mark do.  (Matt. 14:1-12; Mk. 6:14-29).

APPLICATION:

1.  The Gospel of Luke is a Book of unique facts that complement the other three gospels.  It gives us doctrines for our faith and ethics to guide our actions.   The theme of joy sings its way through this book as Paul’s letter to the Philippians.

2.   John the Baptist’s life is a wonderful example for us in both attitude and action.  He was truly great in God’s sight because he was truly small in his own sight. 

3.   John was an effective preacher because it is written, “The word of the Lord came to ..John.”  

He proclaimed God’s message, denounced sin and hypocrisy and stressed repentance and faith.

John preaches, ‘Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven has come near.’