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Continued from page 3
Parallel Paradigms of Passover and Purim
In 2 Corinthians 12, The Apostle Paul describes how G-d responded
to his pleas for deliverance from all of this demonically inspired
persecution and how he learned to rejoice in the midst of difficulty
and distress. He learned to use it as an opportunity to overcome
by the blood of the Lamb, the word of his testimony, and by not
loving his life unto death (Revelation 12:10).
"To keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassingly
great revelations I have received, there was given to me a thorn
in my flesh, a messenger of Hasatan, sent to torment me. Three
times I besought the L-RD to take it away from me. But He said
to me, "My grace is sufficient for you. My power that strengthens
you is perfected in your weakness." Therefore I will boast
all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of
Messiah may rest upon me. That is why for the sake of Messiah,
I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions,
and in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
"You, however
know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith,
patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings - what kinds
of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra, the
persecutions I endured. Yet the L-RD rescued me from all of them.
In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Messiah Y'shua
(Jesus) will suffer persecution." 2 Timothy 3:10-12
As we look over the vast testimony of scripture at all the people
who have been called and chosen by G-d to reveal His glory in the
earth, we see a repetitive pattern of the paradigm of persecution.
Many times there was miraculous deliverance for G-d's people. Others
He supernaturally sustained through their ordeal, bringing them
home to their eternal reward as martyrs honored for their faith
(Hebrews 11:1-39). The common thread that we must grasp and hold
onto deep within us, is the awareness that we will be persecuted
for our faith while confidently knowing that G-d is in control!
I am reminded of Tevya , who after a small pogrom that rudely disrupted
his oldest daughter's wedding reception, questioned G-d about the
burden of being the Chosen people. Why couldn't He choose somebody
else for awhile? If we desire to fulfill G-d's ultimate purpose
for our lives, one of the major life lessons we will learn is because
we are precious to G-d, we are putrid to Hasatan, our adversary,
the devil. We must come to understand the evil spiritual dynamics
that is behind the pernicious perspective of prejudice or we will
naively think that politics and diplomacy can eventually solve the
world's problems and bring about a utopian society. No such luck.
The prophet Jeremiah warned us, "our heart is deceitful above
all things and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9)"
There is coming a day when there will be no more sorrow or suffering,
no more hatred and wars. Until that day we will keep learning the
lessons or paradigms of purpose, present ourselves, permission,
persistence, and persecution. As you celebrate the feasts of Passover
and Purim, try to remember these themes and may G-d bless you and
bring you further along in your pilgrimage through these paradigms.
The day of the L-RD will come like a thief in the night. The heavens
will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire,
and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything
will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to
be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to
the day of G-d and speed its coming. That day will bring about the
destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in
the fervent heat. But in keeping with His promise we are looking
forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the dwelling place of righteousness."
2 Peter 3:10-13
Tevya was a poor Russian Jewish dairy farmer who loved to question
G-d about the inequities of his life. He is the main character in
Sholom Aleichem's popular folk tales, which became the movie, "Fiddler
On The Roof."
Pogrom - (Pah-grahm') Russian - an organized riot or massacre officially
sanctioned by Czarist Russia to persecute Jews. |
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