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“And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work. For you it is a day of blowing the trumpets. You shall offer a burnt offering as a sweet aroma to the LORD” (Num. 29:1-2, Lev. 23:24 NKJV). “Behold I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed”. (I Cor. 15:51-52 NKJV) “For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (I Thes. 4:16-17 NKJV) Dear Intercessors for Israel: Shana Tovah 5781! Happy Jewish New Year! Friday, September 18th, brings with it, the seventh month on the Jewish religious calendar: Tishrei, and a new year on the civil calendar. The religious month begins with the blowing of Trumpets (Yom Teruah), and signals the start of what is called “the ten days of awe.” This is a time when observant Jews reflect on the sins committed in their past year and get ready to make things right. The day of Atonement is swiftly approaching (Yom Kippur) and the Great Feast of the Ingathering, a harvest celebration called the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) is near. The rabbis say that that the LORD commanded Yom Teruah to be a memorial, in remembrance of their ancestor’s assembly at Mt. Sinai, where the covenant was given. At that time, the Mountain was ablaze, and the great sound of the trumpet became louder and louder and heralded God’s presence (Ex. 19:19) Jewish tradition speaks that God created the world on Rosh Hashanah, as well as Adam. The Torah readings focus on the binding of Isaac, who it was said ascended the mountain with his father Abraham and said not a word. This picture of Isaac is a type and shadow of Jesus Christ who as “the lamb slain from the foundation of the world” spoke not a word to his accusers or Pilate (Mt. 27:12-14) Numbers represent letters in Hebrew and so 5781 ends with a Peh and Alef, which means mouth (Peh) and silence for the (Alef), is a silent letter. This Hebrew year can be said to be a year of the silent open mouth. Perhaps one might draw a comparison to the worldwide requirements to don a mask and cover the mouth. Better yet, is the scripture: “Be still and know that I am God.” God is at work in this Jewish new year, and we must remain silent and trust in Him. It is a year to take time to listen to His small voice and obey His instructions. Another interpretation of 5781 is “You will be amazed!” When you are totally amazed by something, your jaw drops, your mouth opens and sometimes you have no words to express what you are seeing. The British have an excellent expression for this: “Gob-smacked.” It means to be utterly astonished, astounded, and overwhelmed with wonder! Get ready church, God is about to do miracles of revival, renewal, and restoration among His people, in 5781. The Trump of God The shofar is repeatedly sounded during the Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah). Tradition accords that it must be blown 100 times. The first 99 of these blasts symbolize 1) Tekiah: (a long single sound) joy that the harvest is in, 2) Shevarim,(three short blasts) a weeping for sins and 3) Truah (Short staccato blasts) representing sorrow and the fear of approaching judgment . The final 100th sound is called Tekiah Gedolah and means “the last Trump.” This one symbolizes the hope of redemption, and is sounded by one very long final note, as long as the trumpeter has breath to hold it. This last signal portrays the regathering of Israel, the final return of the Jewish people to worship God in the kingdom (Is. 27:13). Possible this sounding of “the last trump” is what Paul, a former Pharisee had in mind when writing of the Jewish people in Romans 11;1-5.The last trumpet sound for the Christian speaks of the return of the Lord, the regathering into His kingdom and the judgment of the wicked. The greeting” “L’shana Tova Tikateivu Vtaichateimu.” “May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year is given to one another during the first day of this two-day feast. Perhaps these “days of awe” might serve as a time for the Christian to also reflect on the nearness of Christ’s return and what needs to be done to be ready for this return. We also thank the Lord that our names are written in the Lamb’s book of Life. Israel locked down For the second time this year, the government of Israel has ordered its citizens to remain in their homes. This new edict came about due to rising cases of COVID-19, topping out at 5,000 a day. Israel has limited its citizens to journeys of 500 meters or ½ kilometer, and closed all restaurants, hotels, malls, and swimming beaches. This lockdown will be enforced during all the High Holy days, a time when the Jewish people gather together in their sukkah’s and meet in synagogues. The Great Synagogue in Jerusalem will be closed for the first time ever. Fines for violating these restrictions range from 500 NIS (Shekels) to 5,000 NIS! The Israeli airwaves have been full of commentators, and respondents suggesting ways to circumvent this new governmental lockdown. There are already more than enough loopholes to weaken it. You can attend a protest legally, take care of your animals, go to a mikvah. The Arab and the Ultra-Orthodox sectors have mostly ignored these “lockdowns”, forcing the government to call out 6,000 police and 1000 IDF soldiers to enforce it. Prime Minister Netanyahu declared that “There may be no choice but to tighten this three-week lockdown, thereby adding more restrictions. Israelis as a whole are protesting the whole matter and feel there is no real justification for such drastic measures. There shall be Peace Last week saw a remarkable event take place at the White House. Two Arab nations: Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates signed a peace treaty with Israel. Only God, who is the God of the impossible could have brought this about. Saudi Arabia also granted Israel, overflight permission to use its airspace. This treaty was signed at 1:33 pm, which when one looks at Psalm 133 can only be another sign God is moving in this. Psalms 133 verse one, declares that “How good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell in unity.” The Palestinian Authority announced that this agreement was a “stab in the back.” Hamas in the Gaza Strip then fired a volley of rockets into Israel at the same time the Emirates foreign minister was speaking during the signing of the peace treaty. Many Sunni Arab nations are forsaking their allegiance to the P.A. and forging new agreements with Israel. The looming threat of Iran against these Arab states has caused them to seek to renew relations with Israel, Israel with its advanced technologies and superior military strength is attracting them. The current Arab world has split itself into two camps. “One that supports jihad (war) and other Islamist movements aligned with Iran, Turkey and Hamas and the other faction (The Sunni nations) have grown tired of all the violence”. (www.ynetnews.com) Continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and all of “Am Yisrael” (the people of Israel) L’shana Tova 5781 Gene and Marylois/House of Peace |