PADDING
Seventh Night of Chanukah
Astronomers have estimated that the human eye can see the light from a single candle 1.6 miles away, according to Physics World magazine. That little light overcomes the darkness in its immediate environment, and the effect can be seen for more than a mile and a half.
The Maccabee's fight for the freedom to worship the God of Israel was one of light over darkness. The world had grown very dark around them as the Seleucid Empire pressed in on the Jewish people. Antiochus IV wanted to force them to assimilate into Greek culture and the spiritual darkness of idol worship. With increasing aggression, his armies enforced laws intended to extinguish the light of God’s people.
It’s not hard to see that the world around us seems to grow darker as we draw closer to Jesus’ return. The Bible affirms that this will be so in the End Times. (See Matthew 24.) However, we know that Jesus will – and indeed already has – overcome all the darkness and evil of this world. In John 16:33, Jesus explained to His disciples that sorrowful times were ahead and said, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
How do we endure darkness?
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By remaining close to the light. If your electricity has ever failed when it’s dark outside, you know that the first thing you do is fumble your way to where you keep the flashlights and candles (or your cell phone flashlight). And then, you stay near the light. You bring things nearer into the light to see them better; you shine the light into the darkness to identify your surroundings and take the light with you wherever you need to go. While navigating a spiritually darkened world, we must do the same – stay close to the light that has overcome the darkness. That light is Yeshua (Jesus).
Jesus proclaimed Himself the Light of the World, and John’s first letter explains that God Himself actually is light and “in Him there is no darkness at all.” (See John 8:12, 1 John 1:5.) We stay close to Him in our day-to-day life by staying in the Scriptures, praying without ceasing, clinging to what is good, praising Him, and being thankful. (See Psalm 119:11, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Romans 12:9, Hebrews 13:15, and 1 Thessalonians 5:18.)
As the Chanukah candles grow brighter each night, we see their light overcoming more and more of the darkness around them. May you always remain close to Yeshua, abiding in Him and basking in His overcoming light.
This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.
1 John 1:5
Shine a Light
Give a Gift of Gelt
The story of Chanukah is a story of a miracle...God’s miracle in providing light for eight days with oil that was only enough to last a single day.
Each day of Chanukah this year, you can give a gelt offering that shines the love of Jesus to Jewish people around the world. Your gifts throughout Chanukah — clean drinking water, medical care, the Good News and more — will demonstrate your commitment to reaching our Jewish brothers and sisters with the Gospel. Would you consider giving the following gift today?
Give $100 to provide DNA testing to find more of the “Lost Tribes”
For a gift of $100, you can help provide DNA testing for one person in areas where we are scouting to locate the “Lost Tribes.” The “Lost Tribes” have never been lost to God, and we believe no Jewish person is ever too far away spiritually or geographically to experience His hope and salvation.
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Light the Candles with Your Family
Place seven candles in the chanukiah tonight, setting them in the holders at the far right and placing them from right to left. As you light the Shamash, or Servant Candle, recite the Messianic Jewish Chanukah blessings:
Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with Your commandments and has given us Yeshua the Messiah, the Light of the World.
Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has performed miracles for our ancestors in those days at this time.
Using the Shamash, light the Chanukah candles in the opposite direction from which you placed them in the holders, according to the Jewish custom of honoring the newest first. Light them from left to right. Return the Shamash to its place. Let the candles go out on their own. They should burn for at least half an hour.
