Hanukah, December 8th 2023
Shalom Friends:
“For with You is the fountain of life, and in Your Light, we see light.” Ps 36:9
“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above. It comes down from the Father of Lights [the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens.]” James 1:17
Hanukkah, The Festival of Lights, is a time of miracles. Hanukkah lights are being lit in Israeli homes, and inside of war-torn Gaza wherever the IDF soldiers are. Hanukkah reminds us of the history of the Maccabean wars. A brave godly father and his 5 sons stood up against evil, fighting for years for the liberty of Israel.
The war rages. Two senior Hamas intelligent officers were eliminated. Dozens of Hamas ‘Nekbah’ (the top fighting unit) operatives surrendered to the IDF. They were caught running away. They gave up and were taken into Israel, for interrogation. We are nearing the point when Hamas will have to surrender or die. You must know that all of the humanitarian aid Israel is sending into Gaza at this time has been snatched by Hamas. Gazans are becoming braver and are speaking out against Hamas. An old Gazan woman interviewed dared to say, “They will shoot us if we get in the way while they take all the food and fuel to their homes.” Hamas IS losing control. Keep praying and give thanks.
Light in Darkness:
The Hamas leadership and army will be taken out. This war is costing Israel her best military leaders. In the IDF is different from other armies. The leaders go before their men. To date 90 IDF have fallen, among them, the son of former Chief of Staff of the IDF Gadi Eisenkot, who serves as an observer on the War Cabinet.
The Ongoing Struggle:
Now, I am going to touch upon the sexual atrocities by Hamas. The world has kept silent. On October 7th, sickening sexual depravity was perpetrated against the innocent of all ages, men and women, children and babies (Including hostages.)
I want to open up the spiritual roots of this satanic sexual fixation and mutilation by Hamas. The roots go all the way back to Jacob-Israel’s struggle with the angel.
Israel’s call all through scripture until today is one of struggle. The Bible tells us in a hidden way, the real cost of Jacob’s name change to Israel. He struggled with the ‘messenger’, an angel? His hip was put out of joint, and consequently, he limped the rest of his life. For an unusual insight and understanding of what took place in that confrontation, I refer you to this explanation by Rabbi Pesach Wolicki.
“The Sciatic Nerve and the Eternity of Israel – Genesis 32:4 – 36:43
“ We read of the famous struggle between Jacob and a ‘man’ the night before Jacob’s much-anticipated encounter with his brother Esau. The man turned out to be an angel. During the struggle, Jacob’s hip joint was dislocated, causing him to emerge from the confrontation with a limp.
As a result of this incident, Jews are forbidden from eating the ‘thigh muscle’ of an animal, known as the sciatic nerve. Why did the “man” just happen to strike Jacob at this exact spot on his body? The location of the wound is obviously significant enough that it results in a commandment relating to that specific limb of the body.
Why, is his (the Angel’s) attempt to “uproot Jacob and his progeny”, Why did the angel strike Jacob’s hip? What was he trying to do? The Hebrew word for “hip” used here is yerech. Yerech usually refers to a hip or thigh. Interestingly, the word yerech also has another meaning, namely, it is used in many verses in the Bible as a euphemistic reference to the loins, the reproductive organ of man.
Here are a few examples:
“The descendants (yotzei yerech, of Jacob numbered seventy in all; Joseph was already in Egypt.”Exodus 1:5
“He had seventy sons (yotzei yerech,) 9f his own, for he had many wives.” Judges 8:30
In these verses offspring or descendants are referred to as yotzei yerech, literally, “those who emerge from the thigh.” See also Genesis 46:26
Based on this, I would like to suggest that the angel of Esau who wrestled with Jacob was attempting to cut off Jacob’s ability to reproduce, to destroy his future.
The prohibition against eating the sciatic nerve (thigh muscle) serves as an eternal reminder that, although Jacob and his offspring can be maimed by Esau – (Amalek – Destroyer) although Israel may often limp through history because of oppression at Esau’s hand. Their future is never in doubt. Esau’s angel missed the mark: Jacob’s ability to reproduce, Jacob’s future, was not destroyed. Jacob’s offspring, the nation of Israel – through our special covenant with God – is eternal and supernatural.”
Brave Women Speak Out:
I warn you that the interviews with these courageous women are grim. They give explicit details of the sexual atrocities perpetrated on Oct. 7th.
The United Nations Women:
The UN Agency for gender equality and Women’s Empowerment, released Nov. 25th was its first statement about the gender-based violence carried out on Oct 7; 50 days after they took place. A week later on Dec 1st, the agency condemned for the first time ever the Hamas terrorist attacks.
One Muslim Israeli Woman Speaks:
Lucy Aharish is an Israeli journalist and broadcaster, probably the most representative Israeli possible. She grew up in Dimona, was the only Moslem in school, dressed as Queen Esther on Purim and wore blue and white on Independence Day (Yom Ha Atzmaut.) She is a proud Moslem who married a Jew and is a wonderful proponent of the Jewish state. As a journalist, she interviewed a Hamas leader and accused him even then of atrocities. Her monologue, recorded in her home, is worth five minutes of your time.
Soldiers asking for Prayer:
The Israel Defence Forces in Gaza are heroes; confronting this cruel, depraved enemy entrenched among the civilian population. Sadly, it is apparent that 80% of Palestinians in Gaza are Hasmas-niks. To date, we have lost 90 IDF men, after 2 months of unprecedented challenges. The IDF is manoeuvring through Intense urban warfare and a dark underground system of 800 tunnels in 500 miles of Hamas strongholds. This is urban warfare never seen in modern history.
Prayer requests from soldiers in the IDF:
- missing fellowship in the congregation.
- Waning spiritual discipline
– strength to pray for the salvation of the enemy
– wisdom to share the Gospel in my unit
– shine the light and do the right things for the Lord
– lacking peace of mind and soul
– pray for our families, wives and children without husbands and dads
- very intense warfare, exhausting and busy
- need concentration and wisdom to heal and comfort as we deal with grief; losing friends who are kidnapped or severely injured and friends lost in the battle
- special help to fight in the winter cold and rain
God is bringing His Israeli people together in the midst of the suffering. He is El Elyon, God of Heaven and Earth. We have nothing to fear. We must all pray realizing how much power we have been given from Heaven. Evil knows the power of our prayers and how it can change everything. Thank you for keeping your watch! There is mighty power and strength is standing up and saying NO. Watch, our God turn this war around for great good for Israelis AND Gazans. IF you are unsure, pray using the Bible.
A Blessed Hanukkah to every Jewish family in Israel and around the world.
“Avenge the vengeance of Your servant’s blood
From the wicked nation.
For the triumph is too long delayed for us,
And there is no end to the days of evil.”
From the Prayer Book
138 souls remain hostages, two children a 10-month-old and 4 year old.
May we all be found faithful in prayer.
Meridel Rawlings.