FESTIVALS OF FREEDOM

There is just one day to go until we celebrate the two festivals of freedom and redemption, Passover and Easter. This year, the 70th Anniversary of the founding of the modern Jewish State, these two celebrations coincide, but I do not believe it is a coincidence. 

Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.  So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! 

Matthew 24 : 32-33

In Israel the fig trees are putting forth their leaves, and spring is heralding the imminent arrival of summer.  The land is clothed in its glory, green and full of the beauty of wildflowers and blossoms. The week before last I took a friend for a brief visit to the Galilee and remarked how you could think you were in England as the landscape was so green. 

As we traveled north I was, as always, amazed by just what has been accomplished by this small, beleaguered nation in just 70 years. We passed massive chemical factories, tall skyscrapers, as we drove along a state-of-the art highway through tunnels and over bridges, and on every side lush agricultural fields and orchards. What a contrast to what Mark Twain reported in 1867 when he passed through the Holy Land (1):

"Jerusalem is a dismal city, desolate and lifeless....

" The land of Israel is a barren and ugly land..."

Jerusalem from the Jerusalem forest today

Mark Twain described the Land of Israel as 'ugly', yet God calls it the Beautiful Land  (Daniel 8:9) . Actually the words translated in most English translations as the 'beautiful land' or the 'glorious land' are in Hebrew the 'land of the gazelle' (eretz hatzvi). How appropriate that, right in the heart of Jerusalem today, a reserve has been set aside for a  herd of wild gazelle, and anyone can visit them and see these beautiful animals. The hills around Jerusalem, once treeless, are now cloaked in forest and gazelles once more browse freely in Judah. I often see them in the beautiful forested valley across from my home.  I wonder what Twain would have to say today?

A gazelle buck feeding from an almond tree in Jerusalem's gazelle reserve. 

We truly have much to celebrate in the Holy Land.  Passover ('Pesach' in Hebrew) commemorates the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. The night before their exodus the Angel of the Lord killed all the first-born of Egypt but passed over the homes of the Israelites, which were protected by the blood of the sacrificed lamb painted on the lintels and doorposts of their homes (Exodus 12-14).  Easter celebrates the sacrifice of the Lamb of God, Yeshua, and His shed blood which protects us from the wrath of God, covering our sins, and permitting us to enter into the true liberty of spirit in God.  There are many parallels between these two festivals and their historical basis. I see the exodus as a prophetic type or foreshadowing of the crucifixion and resurrection of the Messiah Yeshua. It is pure joy therefore to celebrate these festivals together, so full of the rich symbolism pointing to the greatest reality of God's promised redemption. 

How sad it is that in celebrating these festivals of liberty and freedom, we so often make them into a time of bondage and hard labor by adding many man-made rules and regulations. I especially feel for the religious Jewish women who at this time must totally clean their house, searching every nook and cranny to ensure that not a crumb of hametz (leaven) can be found. Then they must shop for food and prepare meals for large family gatherings and much feasting. The children are home from school and it is also tradition to buy them new clothes at this time. I feel tired just thinking about it, and thank God for the liberty to observe his ordinances without the added burden of human rules and traditions.

This year the festivals of Passover and Easter coincide with Palestinian Land Day which commemorates the death of 6 Arabs during demonstrations in 1976 against the appropriation of Arab-owned land by the government for the expansion of the town of Carmiel in the Galilee.  This year the conjunction of the Passover and Easter Holidays, the 70th Anniversary of the founding of the State, and the planned opening of the American Embassy in Jerusalem in May with Land Day and Nakbah Day promises to raise the heat significantly. Nakbah (Catastrophe) Day commemorates the declaration of the State of Israel in 1948. Already we have seen an increase in terror incidents in the last weeks. In Gaza activists are calling people to mass along the Gaza border  and march towards Israel.  According to the Jerusalem Post newspaper, the IDF is deploying additional battalions and a hundred snipers from special units to prevent a mass infiltration. Troops have been prepared not only to deal with a large convergence on the border fence, but for scenarios where Hamas might use violent disturbances as a distraction to carry out an attack against troops or to infiltrate Israel and attack nearby communities (2) This is clearly a situation that could easily escalate into violence especially if civilians on either side are injured or killed. Hamas is calling for a continuation of mass marches on Israeli borders until Nakbah Day on the 14th March. 

As I want to publish this before Passover, I will finish here with a link to an excellent article describing the cultural characteristics of Israelis - should be required reading for all new immigrants, business persons, tourists and visitors. 

https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5147319,00.html

Prayer points:
1. Give thanks for the economic and social success of the State of Israel and the restoration of the barren and ugly land transforming it to become trutly the 'land of the gazelle'.
2. Pray that all Jews and Christians will have a fresh revelation of the meaning of these festivals this year. May the truth be understood and celebrated.
3. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and all Israel as we celebrate these festivals. 
4. Pray for the exposure of the lies of the Enemy especially as it pertains to the conflict between Jews and Arabs. 
5. Pray that the call of the activists in Gaza will not be heeded and the planned mass march on the border will fail.
6. Pray for the safety of defense personnel.
6. Keep praying for rain as the rainy season is already drawing to a close. 



References:

(1) Mark Twain  1867 Innocents Abroad
(2) http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Defense-minister-Anyone-who-harms-Israels-sovereignty-will-be-harmed-547430