Rabbi’s Reflections – Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Shalom,
I learned something last week while hanging out with my friends on the Tikkun AAT (American Apostolic Team), and I’ll tell you what it is shortly. Truth be told, I’m having “meeting hangover.” This is a term I just invented
Rabbi Trail: I “Googled” it and “it” wasn’t on the internet. There was just plain “hangover” and there was “emotional hangover” (which is similar), but there was no “meeting hangover.” End RT.
A meeting hangover is the low that should be expected after the high of being in meetings with friends and associates for several days in a row. These men on the AAT, many of whom are faithful RR readers, are great men of integrity. They all lead congregations (except one, Dan Juster, and I’ll get to him in a minute). They all walk with God at a high level. We spent a lot of time just praying over one another. It is only natural that I would feel a “let down” after our 3 days of meetings.
Since I just invented the meeting hangover, I can now invent the cure for the meeting hangover. It could be another meeting (the hair of the dog…), but that’s not it. It could be to swallow two acetaminophen, but it’s not that kind of hangover. Let me ask you a question, “Would you argue with me if I told you life has its ups and downs?” As followers of Yeshua, how do we respond when we are experiencing a low? (With all due respect, I’m not trying to be “sappy” here.) We praise God!
Yes, it’s the same response as when we are up. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Messiah Yeshua. In “Finding Nemo,” Dori said it another way, “Just keep swimming.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Hkn-LSh7es I hope to return to this subject soon.
Meanwhile, what did I learn at the AAT meeting? A lot actually. Tikkun is going through a reorganization. Ron Cantor is the new CEO of Tikkun Global and Ben Juster has a new role as leader (I’m not sure of his exact new title) of Tikkun America.
Let me offer some testimony in support of Ben. I’ve spoken this publicly, but never written it down. Ben Juster is an amazingly gifted individual who is anointed by God administratively and spiritually. I believe he is God’s man to lead Tikkun America for many years to come.
Granted, this looks a lot like nepotism since he is replacing his father in this capacity. The odds are infinitesimally small that the son of our current leaders would be the best qualified person on earth to lead Tikkun America going forward. Yet after 10 years of examination, that is exactly my conclusion. Ben, if you’re reading this, “Vaya con Dios.”
All of that notwithstanding, (none of this is why I first mentioned what I learned), may I (finally) tell you what I learned? I learned the true meaning of “Shileach.” Shileach is the Hebrew word for Apostle. The Apostles (capital “A”) were the 12 selected by Yeshua to be sent by Him. The word “Shileach” means “one who is sent.” Dan Juster is our (little “a”) apostle. We invited him in 1997 to plant our congregation in Knoxville and in May of 1998 he came and did just that.
Modern Hebrew sometimes does damage to biblically significant words. Tikkun is one of them. “Tikkun Olam” means restoration of the world. This is our focus. We want to see the world restored to God. We want to take back what the enemy has stolen from us and God. But if you just say Tikkun in modern Hebrew you will be sent to the garage (where cars are restored).
Finally, here it comes… Shileach is another word that modern Hebrew has damaged. If you ask for a “Shileach” in modern Israel, you get the pizza delivery guy. Hey Dan, bring me a pizza.
Oh well, at least I’m still making me laugh. And that’s connected to the cure for the meeting hangover. Have some fun. God loves you. Philippians 4:4.
Week 46
Memory Verse: 2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, so that the surpassing greatness of the power may be from God and not from ourselves. 8 We are hard pressed in every way, yet not crushed; perplexed, yet not in despair; 9 persecuted, yet not forsaken; struck down, yet not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Yeshua, so that the life of Yeshua may also be revealed in our mortal body.
226 11/11 Monday: Acts 20-21
* 227 11/12 Tuesday: Acts 22-23
228 11/13 Wednesday: Acts 24-25
229 11/14 Thursday: Acts 26-27
230 11/15 Friday: Acts 28
Question of the day: What was it that Paul said to get in so much trouble?
Answer: Acts 22 records the answer. It surprises me, so I thought I would write about it. Paul is speaking to the members of the Sanhedrin. He is telling his testimony of how Yeshua spoke with him (Paul) in the Temple in Jerusalem. Acts 22:21 “And he (Yeshua) said to me (Paul), ‘Go! For I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”
Why would this push them over the edge? Paul had already testified that Yeshua appeared to him twice. They didn’t react to that, but when Paul says God told him to go far away to the Gentiles, the Sanhedrin erupts. I find that strange.
Acts 22:22 Up to this statement they listened to him. Then they raised their voices, saying, “Away from the earth with this fellow! For he’s not fit to live!”
The anointing (or calling) to be a light to the nations (goyim) has always applied to Israel. This was prophesied by Isaiah (42:6 and49:6) as a continuation of the promise made in the Torah to Abraham. Genesis 12:3b in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.
1500 years after that promise was made by God to Father Abraham, Paul is confirming his call to walk in it. He should have been applauded, but instead they railed against him. These are those who had eyes but could not see. (Jeremiah 5:21 and Psalm 135:16)
This points us to a paradox. The one place (in Yeshua) where all the issues of life are solved for all people (including Jewish people) is the one place Jewish people are forbidden to look for answers (or anything else).
Let’s pray during this season of harvest that the Lord will appear to His people in dreams and visions. Paul wasn’t looking, but God appeared. May God appear to Jewish people everywhere who are themselves not looking. In Yeshua’s name. Amen.