V’ahavta
וְאָהַבְתָּ ‘…And you shall love…’
V'ahavta (...and you shall love...")
Hadassah from Jerusalem
“Just Say Yes”
“Now the LORD had said to Abram, ‘Get out of your country, from your family… to a land that I will show you…’ So Abram departed as the LORD had spoken to him.” Genesis 12:1,4
God said. Abram obeyed. He left everything- home, family, friends, country, all that was familiar. He was going… only God knew where. Abram trusted, completely. He said, ‘Yes’ by his obedience.
One night in 1979, God spoke to my husband and told him to take his family to Israel. To live. At the time, we had no idea why we would go to Israel. We weren’t missionaries. We knew nothing about Israel other than what was in the Bible and the news. We had no friends there. And we hadn’t a clue about Jewish immigration - Aliyah as it's called. We hadn’t even heard the word before!!
Clueless would adequately describe us at the time.
The only thing we knew for certain - God said “Go”. We said, “Yes”.
With our hearts looking towards the Land, we spent the next 10 years learning and getting prepared. Finally, in 1989, we took our five children and followed the Lord to Israel. It wasn’t a Garden of Eden. There were probably more tough times than good ones. LOTS of ‘giants’ in the Land and, as we learned, in our hearts also. We were tested and tried and stretched. And…. we learned.
We learned who Y’shua really is and what a relationship with Him is like. We, on the battleground, became more experienced in spiritual warfare. We practiced loving when we weren’t loved. We experienced the Presence of God.
Through all of that there never was a time that we regretted our decision. We have now lived here for a combination of 18 years.
Haifa Bay - photo by Hadassah
This week I was blessed to travel the Land for five days. From Caesarea, to Haifa Bay, to the Sea of Galilee, and Capernaum. Down to the Dead Sea and then on to Mitzpa Ramon, a crater near Egypt. What a wonderfully blessed place this is.
While I was watching the sun come up from the crater and worshipping, I was overcome with gratitude. I cried out to God, “Why have we been allowed to live here?”
And just as at times before when we have asked this question, the answer was the same - because you said “Yes!”
Mitzpa Ramon, a crater near Egypt
Those who follow Y’shua have many times when He says to us, "Leave all that is familiar. Move into My will. Receive My promise, My task, My desire."
It is always so easy to start weighing out the pros & cons of obeying. But like Abram, God is wanting our unqualified yes!
In relation to Israel (which is what these messages are about), what is He asking of you?
Using the Word as your insight to His will and plan, where is your part?
What about sharing the Gospel with Jewish people who do not know their Messiah as yet?
(Romans 1:16, 10:1)
To pray for the peace of Jerusalem? (Psalm 122:6)
To be a watchman on the wall? (Isaiah 62:6)
To comfort His people? (Isaiah 40:1)
If you are truly Jewish, to make Aliyah? (Isaiah 43:5,6; Jeremiah 29:11-14)
If you are Gentile - to help facilitate the Aliyah? (Isaiah 49:22)
Has He made His desire known? He has a place for you in what He is doing these days in Israel.
I would encourage you, like Abram, to say, ‘Yes’.
With our love from Israel,
Hadassah
Nissim & Hadassah
Jerusalem, Israel
June 2017
Hadassah and Nissim, her accountant husband, live in a settlement just outside Jerusalem with their dog Molly. After making Aliyah (immigrating) from the U.S. with their five children in 1989, they are now semi-retired and open their home to guests and those wishing to make Aliyah. When not busy with their 16 'GrandWonders', they enjoy a quiet life of study, prayer and learning to serve the LORD.
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06.21.17 #3
