WE WROTE THIS PERSPECTIVE FOR YOU A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE THE ASTOUNDING ASSASSINATIONS OF HEZBOLLAH LEADERS ON SEPTEMBER 27. ALTHOUGH FACTS ON THE GROUND ARE CHANGING BY THE HOUR, AND ISRAELIS ARE STARTING TO SEE GLIMMERS OF HOPE ON THE HORIZON, THE FOLLOWING CONTENT IS STILL RELEVANT. WE HOPE YOU’RE BLESSED AND INSPIRED AS YOU READ.
Israel welcomes Rosh HaShanah 5785 on October 2-3. Traditionally celebrated as the Jewish New Year, the day is actually set forth in Scripture as the Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah). According to Leviticus 23:24, Yom Teruah is to be observed as a Sabbath marked by the blasting of trumpets. We can think of Yom Teruah (literally, Day of Blasting) as a summons by the Spirit for humankind to re-sync with heaven.
Ten days of sober reflection and repentance follow Yom Teruah, called the Days of Repentance (Aseret Yemei Teshuvah) or Ten Days of Awe (Yamim Noraim). During this time we prepare our hearts for the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) falling this year on October 11-12. By tradition, the Day of Atonement is also regarded as a Day of Judgment. The Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) takes place five days later, culminating with Simchat Torah on October 23-24. (Leviticus 23:23-66, 16:1-34). According to the Hebrew calendar, Simchat Torah 5785 will mark the 1 year anniversary of Hamas launching Israel into a multi-front war, of which there is currently no end in sight.
Collectively, these biblically appointed times (moedim) are known as Israel’s fall feasts.
Normally this is the season when families and friends joyfully gather together, celebrating life with shared hopes for a good and happy, blessed new year. But unlike years past, the national mood is not highly celebratory. Yom Teruah will mark 360 days of ghoulish captivity for our hostages and of existential war with Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran. But that’s not all. In a very real sense, the entire world is at war with us, especially through the United Nations and its related global bodies. Adding to the doleful air is a domestic angst and anger over ideological and political rifts so deep they threaten to unravel Israeli society from within.
Is Israel in a wrestling match with God?
Recall the story of Jacob’s struggle with God as he returned to the Promised Land and prepared to meet his estranged brother, Esau. Fearing Esau’s wrath, Jacob sent his whole entourage away from his presence in a last ditch effort security measure. This left Jacob all alone—but for God—at a brook called Jabbok. The name Jabbok means “outpouring.” According to Genesis 32:24-31, here’s what happened:
“Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. And He said, ‘Let Me go, for the day breaks.’ But he said, ‘I will not let You go unless You bless me!’ So He said to him, ‘What is your name?’ He said, ‘Jacob.’ And He said, ‘Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.’ Then Jacob asked, saying, ‘Tell me Your name, I pray.’ And He said, ‘Why is it that you ask about My name?’ And He blessed him there. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: ‘For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.’ Just as he crossed over Penuel the sun rose on him, and he limped on his hip.”
You probably know that Jacob means “Heel Catcher.” Jacob was given the seemingly odd name because he was born trying to catch the heel of his twin brother Esau. Jacob struggled in his mother’s womb before birth, then during birth, and then for much of his life. Eventually, Jacob struggled for blessing in a wrestling match with either an angel of the Lord or with God Himself, quite possibly Yeshua.
Jacob’s desperate desire for blessing was in itself good, and God wanted to bless him. (Genesis 12:3, 28:11-19) Often, however, surrender must precede blessing. And so it seems that YHVH had to actually wound Jacob – slightly, not severely—to get him to stop striving in his own strength.
When at last Jacob surrendered to YHVH, blessing poured out for him. A changed man, Jacob became Israel.
“Israel” has a double meaning. According to Genesis 32:28, the name means “one who has struggled or striven with God and men and prevailed (or overcome).” But in a Hebrew word play, the name also means “prince of (or with) God.”
5784 has been a year in which Israel has wrestled with God and men, within the nation and without, striving with all our strength to survive. Facing the wrath of Esau, so to speak, it seems we’re in a Jabbok-like encounter, a holy struggle unto blessed surrender. We’re in a type of Peniel moment, a face-to-face place in time with God, although, like Jacob, we might not know it.
As we’ve shared in our letters to you this year, through the hardships of war, many Israelis are turning to God. It is increasingly easy, even normal, to talk about Him in the public square. There is genuine interest in the Messiah, with greater openness toward Yeshua. Hearts are softening.
Pray with us that this year’s fall feasts, especially the Ten Days of Awe, will be a place in time for a Jabbok outpouring of the Spirit for blessing on Israel. Pray that 5785 will be a year in which we, like our isolated forebear Jacob, face our God, surrender to His goodness, and by His grace, not let Him go. For as it was with Jacob, He wants to bless us. (Isaiah 30:15-21)
Like Jacob, we may emerge from the encounter a bit wounded, limping from our metaphoric, night long struggle. As we limp from God’s gracious touch, may we “lean on our Beloved” in the spirit of Song of Songs 8:5 as never before. (For those who like to think about symbolic meanings of numbers, Song of Songs 8:5 in year 85 suggests new beginnings of grace.)
In 5785, may Israel surrender to her calling as Prince with God. And, dear friends, may it be so for you and yours, as well.
Shana Tovah (Happy New Year) in His Shalom.