Weekly Parasha: Parasha Shoftim (Judges)

Habakkuk {3:17} "Though the fig tree should not blossom, and there be no fruit on the vines, {though} the yield of the olive should fail, and the fields produce no food, though the flock should be cut off from the fold, and there be no cattle in the stalls, {3:18} Yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation."

From Rabbi Jack...

Habakkuk lived during turbulent and uncertain times in Judah; times of spiritual bankruptcy, injustice, oppression, violence, and wickedness. They were times of political instability and of national crisis and the war machine of Babylon was grounding nation after nation into the dust all around Israel. Sounds a lot like the world we are living in now. It was because of all this that Habakkuk is thrown into doubts, confusion, and even into lodging accusations against God. He was caught-up in frustration caught up and felt that God did not care about what was going on. However, notice that Habakkuk does not say in our verse; "THEN" will I rejoice in God; he says; "YET, I will rejoice in God." Despite what was going on in his life or in Judah, Habakkuk could still rejoice in the Lord! Maybe all your friends have rejected you, maybe you lost your job or have no job, maybe you are sick or your health is failing, maybe everything is going wrong in your life; can you still say, like Habakkuk said; "Yet, I will rejoice in God".

As Believers, we have to look around us and find a reason to rejoice and as Believers that should be easy. If nothing else, we can just think back to the goodness of Yeshua and all that He has done for us. Sometimes we just need to stop and count our blessings and realize that there are so many people who do not know Yeshua as their Lord and Savior, who are in much worse situations than us with no hope, no Yeshua in their lives. We have to look beyond our temporary setbacks and see the permanent fellowship we have with our almighty God. It is easy to see the evidence of our faith as a Believer when everything is going our way, when positive things are happening to us. However, "talking faith" and "having faith" are two different things. Talking faith is when things do not go our way, and instead of rejoicing we have a pity party. Having faith is when things are not going our way and we can still rejoice in the Lord.

Hi Ellen here…

In 1970 a film came out that everyone, I mean everyone, went to see. Maybe some of you remember it and maybe some will Google it after reading this. It was called "Love Story". A married couple so desperately in love, it was palatable. The saying in this movie which made it so memorable was…love means never having to say you're sorry. This saying is so contrary to us as Believers in Messiah Yeshua. A great part of our walk with God is saying sorry and meaning it. We are to forgive and forget! Did you know that when we are angry at someone it does not affect them but totally stresses us out! Anger and unforgiveness cause all sorts of negative effects in our lives! First of all, it causes stress. Stress causes disease which leads to a total lack of peace. Unforgiveness is also a cause of sin and it is a sin all in itself. I am not saying forgiveness is easy but I am saying it is a requirement within our walk with God. Unforgiveness can be a barrier for the Holy Spirit to work in us; unforgiveness can invite demonic activity in our lives; unforgiveness can even kill us! So now it is up to us…forgive and forget today. God has forgiven you and thrown your sins into the deepest part of the sea never to be fished for again by Him. So, stop peeking into that little box you have hidden from others, that is full of your unforgiveness and forgive yourself and those who have hurt you and start anew!

Yours in Messiah Yeshua; our Lord, our God, our soon coming King.

Rabbi Jack & Ellen