From Rabbi Jack...
Ellen and I enjoy watching travel shows on television. In fact, Ellen has mentioned in the past that we have been around the world and have visited countless countries without ever leaving our living room. While in the country being featured on a show the host takes us to the exciting tourist attractions offered in it; museums, exciting cites and their features and beautiful vistas but they also engage, where available, in ziplining, bungy jumping and repelling. I am not afraid of heights but these are three things I have no ambition to do and are certainly not on my bucket list. I get butterflies in my stomach from just watching as the camera pans the gorges with either rocks or a raging river below the ziplines and high bridges, or the street below the tallest building in the city with cars speeding by where the repelling is done. Can you imagine trusting a rope while leaning backwards over the edge of a tall building or bridge seventy-six meters (250 ft.) or more in the air and letting yourself fall from it? Yet we can see people paying and standing in line to do it; not my definition of fun!
All over the world in our living room travels we have seen people putting their trust in ropes and harnesses. So why is it that so many people, including Believers in Messiah Yeshua, find it so difficult to put their confidence in Yeshua and release themselves into His hands? Throughout our lives as Believers in Messiah Yeshua we are going to have cliffhanging, edge of building type experiences where the only support we will have is not a rope or a bungee cord, but our faith. Ask an unbeliever and they will say faith in God is irrational while they would not hesitate to put their faith in a man-made rope. I do not know about you but I would rather trust in the Lord and put my faith in Him before ever putting my faith in man. There is probably nothing more exhilarating when falling into a difficult situation than to know that Yeshua is there as our lifeline. I would like to share the following verses with you:
Psalm 20:7 "Some trust in chariots. Some trust in horses. But we trust in the LORD our God."
Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6) in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight."
Hebrews 11:6 "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him."
From Ellen...
Hi Ellen here…On our first trip to Kenya in 2007 we had the joy to be able to minister at a retreat for a couple of days. This was not a religious compound but a rustic resort set close to Mount Kenya. Our accommodations were simple, clean and we had everything we needed. As Jack readied himself to teach a Bible study we were asked to go for a walk and view the grounds as it was still light. The trees and foliage were beautiful…mature and well cared for. As we approached a very old and very large tree there arose an odor, no more like a stench in the air and our host smiled…he beckoned for us to quietly come closer and there was a split in the trunk housing a very large and smelly badger. Many years have passed but that memory lingers, not sure if it is because of the beauty of the place or the stench of the badger.
This past week we were reading in Exodus concerning all the materials used for the Tabernacle and lo and behold the Lord directed Moses to use badger skins for the covering of the Tent. Yes, I am sure they were treated and all lingering odors had gone. What came to mind was the Lord used the skins of smelly animals to adorn and protect His dwelling, so how much more will he continue to use us for His glory!
Please continue to pray for Janet. Her mother abandoned her because she was premature and sickly and she could not afford to care for her needs. Pictured below:
Visit our blog for more teaching and to view previous Torah commentaries:
Please consider supporting the ministry to Kenya and Israel. In Kenya, we help the poor and orphans and in Israel we help the elderly poor and the sick.
Do not use PayPal? Contact me for other donation options.
Yours in Messiah Yeshua; our Lord, our God, our soon coming King.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Jack & Ellen
 |
| Read Parasha |
 |
| Parasha Commentary |
 |
| Sermon of the week "He Calls Us Friend: Part 2" |
No comments:
Post a Comment