November 2018
Salvation Thankfulness! by Sam Nadler
The Erev (evening) service for Rosh Hashanah, I taught on “The Three Books” from Daniel 7:9-10 and Revelation 20:12-15, utilizing the Talmud to show how God’s judgment is absolute and that only the Messiah can have our names indelibly inscribed in the (Lamb’s) Book of Life. Several people responded to God’s invitation to receive Yeshua’s free gift of salvation. The next day, for the morning Rosh Hashanah service, I taught on “The Joy of the Lord is our strength” the Rosha Hashanah teaching in Nehemiah 8. In that portion, though the walls of Jerusalem were built, the people wept at the reading of the Torah, for they realized that their own defensive walls could not protect them from the righteous demands of Torah, and that we all fall short. But they are told not weep, for the sacrifice for sin had been made. As right as it is to weep over sins, it’s just that wrong to weep after the sacrifice has been made. Because of the sacrifice, we can rejoice in our forgiveness from God, for “the joy of the Lord is our strength” (Neh 8:10). The Hebrew word for “strength” (maoz) is “stronghold” or fortress –this is our true protection –not in the walls we’ve built to protect ourselves, but in the provision that God has made in the final and perfect sacrifice of the Messiah. Once more, there were numerous people responding to God’s gracious invitation to trust in Messiah, including Neal’s mother, Lisa.
Following the service, during Oneg (a time of light refreshment and great fellowship), I went over to the table where Neal was sitting with his parents. I leaned over and asked his mom, “I noticed that you raised your hand.” And she responded with the biggest smile, “Yes, it’s wonderful!” But being me, I additionally asked her, “Did you trust in Yeshua this morning as your Messiah, Lord and Savior?” And again smiling from ear to ear, she responded, “Yes, it’s wonderful!” Then Neal said, “and so did my dad!” So, I turned to Stu and said, “You did? I didn’t see your hand?” And Stu said, “I did it last night.” And, being me, I then asked, “Wow, that’s great, but I didn’t see your hand? So, you believe that Yeshua is the Messiah and Lord”? And he looked me in the eye, and said, “Yes, I do.” They both said what really got their attention was the change Yeshua made in their son, Neal’s life. All I could say was, “PTL!”
Stu and Lisa are being followed up in Florida and discipled in the faith by Steve Weiler and Ed Marvin of Shoresh David Messianic Congregations. Neal reports that his parents are now reading the bible together and that they’re rejoicing in the Lord.
Gerry had come to faith over 20 years ago, and is in our worship team. He also helps with the discipleship of the youth. He has witnessed to his parents consistently, but apparently to no avail. His parents recently retired to Charlotte, started visiting our Shabbat morning services, and they too came to that same Rosh Hashanah service. Following that service, his dad, Don, asked if I would come to their home and talk about the matter, which I did two days later. Don’s questions revolved around knowing for sure that Yeshua is the Messiah. We read Isaiah 53together, and when we finished, I asked him who he thought was being spoke about. He said, “Yeshua, clearly.” This clinched it for Don. He asked if he should wait until the upcoming Shabbat for him to place his trust in Yeshua, so that Gerry would be encouraged. I reminded him that though he can pray to trust in Messiah anytime, he’s not to do this for Gerry, but only for God. Don thought about that and then, said, “Then let’s do it now.” And we prayed together as Don placed his trust in Yeshua the Messiah as his Lord and Savior. Isn’t the Lord good!
Thanks so much for praying for our High Holy Day outreaches. And please keep praying for the Lord to keep giving the ongoing increase as Messiah’s Good News is proclaimed, even to the Jew first.
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Repent, Regret, Relent by Sam Nadler
The Jerusalem elders defended Jeremiah’s ‘bad news’ ministry (“repent, repent, repent”) against the Judean religious officials’ desire to kill the prophet. In doing so they refer to an earlier prophet, Micah: “Micah of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah; and he spoke to all the people of Judah, saying, ‘Thus HaShem of hosts has said, “Zion will be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem will become ruins, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest”‘(see Mic 3:13).”Did Hezekiah, king of Judah, and all Judah put him to death? Did he not fear HaShem and entreat the favor of HaShem, and HaShem changed His mind about the misfortune which He had pronounced against them? But we are committing a great evil against ourselves” (Jeremiah 26:18-19).
In making this defense they give a tremendous insight of hope for Israel: repentance causes God to relent of His threatened judgment upon sinners. How does that work? The Hebrew word in Jeremiah translated to “changed His mind” is nacham. It essentially means to comfort, console, and is used in three ways for God: regret, repent and relent.
God can “regret” His chastening upon His people as in 1 Samuel 15:11, when God regretted making Saul king. Though it was a needed punishment upon Israel for their desire to have “a king like all the nations” (1 Sam 8:5), and thereby rejecting God as their king (1 Sam 8:7). So, Adonai gave them Saul, the first king of Israel. God regretted it, though this punishment was needed, it broke His heart and grieved Him to do so, even as we regret and grieve over having to discipline our own children.
The same word nacham is also translated “repent.” When we repent of our sinful course of action the Hebrew word that is used is shoove, literally to turn; but shoove is not used for God. The word nacham as “repent” is used in Numbers 23:19, “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should “repent.” This means that God does not repent, for He is not like sinful humanity, who shift their moral course at every temptation. But God will never repent, for He will not ever change from His righteous course of action, which was ultimately fulfilled in Messiah (Romans 1:17).
The third use of the word nacham, as in Jeremiah 26, is to “relent.” God only wants to bring about righteousness. This can be accomplished in one of two ways: One, God can bring righteous judgment upon sinners; or two, sinners can repent and trust God for His righteousness. Either will bring about God’s right objectives. When we repent, God relents (i.e., “changes His mind”) regarding the punishment that our sins required to bring about His righteous goal. Yes, when we repent, God relents!
Judah repented at Micah’s preaching which caused God to relent of His judgment upon them. This was also the result of Jonah’s preaching to the Ninevites; God relented of His threatened judgement upon them (Jonah 3:9-10). This, too, was the hope that Jeremiah presented to his own generation: Jeremiah 26:13 “Now, therefore, amend your ways and your deeds and obey the voice of HaShem your God; and HaShem will change His mind about the misfortune which He has pronounced against you.” But sadly, Judah did not heed Jeremiah, and God’s judgment came catastrophically upon the Jewish people during the Babylonian captivity. Even so, this principle stands: God relents when His people repent.
This doesn’t mean that we can fake repentance to evade His judgment. Nor does it mean that we can ‘twist God’s arm’ to do our will by our repentance. It does mean that God, who searches the hearts of His people, knows those who sorrow over their offenses against Him and His Messiah and seek to turn from their sins and have His forgiveness.
Today, by this same biblical principle, if Israel will repent and trust in the righteousness of God in Yeshua the Messiah, God will relent of the great tribulation that He has promised upon our rejection of Israel’s Redeemer. This tribulation would still come, of course, upon the unrepentant nations for their sinfulness. But as Israel was safe in Goshen from the plagues upon Egypt (Exodus 8:22; 9:26), so Israel, today, would be safe from the tribulation wrath of God that will be poured out onto this unrepentant world (see Daniel 12:1; Matthew 24:21; Revelation 7:14).
With this hope in mind, let us join with Paul’s encouragement, “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God is that Israel will be saved” (Romans 10:1). Yes, let’s “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (Psalm 122:6).
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Hope of Israel's Annual Chanukkah Celebration!
Friday, Dec. 7, 2018 @ 7:00 PM
Bring your friends and family to Hope of Israel's annual Chanukkah Celebration! A Jewish holiday that celebrates God's faithfulness to His people!
Sam Nadler
Sam's/WMM's Speaking Events:- Nov 4, 8:45 am, Benton Hts. Presbyterian, Monroe, NC
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- Nov 12-15, M L R, Phoenix, AZ
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