Once again, it’s time to hear from our sister in Jerusalem about what she is witnessing there as a believer in Yeshua. Put your prayer shawls on and pray for Israel and Sister J. Now here she is …
Greetings, dear Brothers and Sisters, faithful and hopeful, trusting in The Blood of The risen Lamb of God, May He be glorified and blessed and may you be blesse.
I doubt that there is one of you who has not heard about our election results, although the final outcome won’t be known until a government is formed. (Thanks to our incredibly complicated political system.
Polling stations were open across the country from 7a.m. until 10 p.m. At 7 a.m., my husband and I walked out of our apartment and crossed the street to our assigned polling place. I thought of you as we were immediately greeted by neat, kind faced, strong-bodied security men who blocked the way to the station. One glance up the block reminded me that our leaders set an example to the country by being at the polls first. It turned out that our President (Reuven Rivlin) and his wife were voting at our station. All waited patiently for them to finish.
There was a sense of excitement in the air, and indeed this was reflected in a high voter turnout – nearly73%, much higher then in past years. People were friendly one with another, yet not asking, “Who are you voting for?”
Most people seemed to assume that EVERYONE was voting for change because that’s what the polls had consistently reflected. What they DIDN’T count on was that the virulent intimidation and aggressive arrogance DEMANDING change, and accusing those who did not believe as they did of being stupid and racist, did not SILENCE their VOTE. We became the “silent majority,” not wanting to be exposed to the violence of words.
It was an upset. One that made MANY of us smile.
I was thankful to go for an emergency doctor’s appointment and also thankful that my doctor was willing to see me in spite of the incredible winter that we have had here, which has stretched the medical workers to the max. I saw a Doctor walk into the nurses’ station and in a couple of minutes heard angry yelling from one of the nurses. As I listened I heard: “Don’t you tell ME why I voted for him! I’m sick of the liberal media telling me that I was duped or it was fear mongering, or that I am uneducated or racist! I know EXACTLY what I am voting for and why!”
Hum…sounds like some backlash.
When I went for my blood test, Svetlana was smiling like a Cheshire cat and humming. “Shalom Svetlana, why so happy?”
Her eyes literally twinkled. “The election,” she said simply. “I would rather fear God then Obama and count on His help then America’s.” A
And THAT was exactly what I had seen as the decision maker here. Will we disobey the world or The Lord? The chips are finally down on the table.
I was happy but surprised to get the same reaction from a co-worker the following day, a young woman in her early twenties. She told me that she got into an argument at university about her vote and was shocked at the ugly words thrown at her. “I let them roll off,” she said. “So if it’s war now…at least we don’t wait till the West makes deals with our so-called neighbors and arms them further. If we look to God, He promises to be with us, doesn’t He?”
On the other side, there is angry disbelief that so many people can be so stupid.
But generally, on the bus and train, I feel that people are much calmer, more secure and less discouraged.
As I said, because of our incredibly complicated political system, we still don’t know who the government will be or even who will be at the helm, but in my spirit I sense that there IS a renewed strength. By the way, when the soldiers votes were counted, they raised our Prime Minister’s party by a full seat, showing that even the young soldiers are backing him, unexpected and encouraging.
I have no doubt that it WON’T be easy, but I would rather be in His will and cast upon Him.
I think you are hearing enough of world reaction…and you know, I am neither an expert nor a political analyst, just a witness. Hopefully, a faithful one.
Exodus 12:1-3 “ And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt saying, 2 This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. 3 Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:” (at sundown on Friday the 20th of March began the first month according to scripture…the month of Nissan leading up to Passover, (Pesach), the celebration of the liberation through the blood deliverance of God by the blood of the pascal lamb…AND…THE FULLFILLMENT…still not fully embraced here in the land.)
And now Passover preparations are entering full gear and that includes A LOT of work. Funny how we can make His gracious gifts so heavy at times.
Most of our larger food stores have already been scrubbed from top to bottom. The hometz of food with leaven, not kosher for Pesach, moved to a far corner. It will either disappear altogether or be shrink-wrapped and sealed by a rabbi with a label that can not be broken by law until after Pesach. On the shelves, matzo appears along with special cookies and cakes, flours, gefilte fish, grape juice and all sorts of foods peculiar to this holiday.
GARLIC APPEARS IN THE SHUK. That might sound funny, but the highly fragrant fresh huge bulbs of garlic, still caked with earth and bulky with long leaves seems to hail the oncoming Pesach. The garlic, woven into braids or wreaths are a much-enjoyed gift to receive at Pesach. The shuk also opens new stalls filled with inexpensive dishes and cutlery, pots, single use items, all fresh for Passover, never having been in touch with leaven of any sort.
Homes are being scrubbed from top to bottom and hometz being removed there as well. Many people will replace all kitchen items. Some throw out couches and all sorts of household items that might have crumbs inside them.
In the midst of these preparations, the synagogues are also full with heart-preparation taking place.
Yes, the mad dash has begun!
But in the midst, the reason is not forgotten…and I think particularly this year, so soon after the elections, people will be looking for comfort in the scriptures and their meaning.
May the Lord bless you,
your sister J
Larry Who 