Rabbi’s Reflections – Thursday, November 11, 2021
Shalom,
Today is Veterans Day. Remember to thank every veteran for their service. And if you are a veteran, please accept my thanks for the many sacrifices you and your family made to protect our freedoms. On account of you, and many like you, America is the land of the free and the home of the brave. May it forever be so.
Yesterday I wrote about Reuben. Today we will examine the name of the second son born to Jacob (Leah #2), Simeon. Genesis 29:33 Then she became pregnant again and gave birth to a son, and said, “For Adonai heard that I am hated, so He’s given me this one also,” and she named him Simeon. Simeon is spelled with 5 letters in Hebrew, Shin-Mem-Ayin-Vav-Nun(soffit). Shin-Mem-Ayin is how we spell “Shema” which is the command to listen. Leah rightly said, “Adonai heard.” God heard that she was hated and poured out a second blessing.
Now we are building the image of the destiny of every follower of Yeshua. Step one, see the Son. Step two, listen to Him. Isn’t it enough that we see Him? Some believe so, but the salvation experience is only the beginning of a victorious life, not the end. To grow into maturity, we must listen to Yeshua.
John 10:27 My sheep hear My voice. I know them, and they follow Me.
Rabbi Trail: A word about “hearing.” In the Bible and in real life, hearing is interactive. We hear and respond. Very rarely is hearing done passively. Even when our hearing is tested, they make you push the button when you hear the tone. If your mom told you to get the dinner table set, and all you did was sit there, she would wonder out loud, “Did you hear me?” God also, expects us to respond, saying, “And they follow Me.”
God is building a faithful army. How will He know we are faithful? If we obey His orders in the day of battle. Mankind has a sad history of running from the voice of God. He even asks, Luke 18:8b But when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”
The people of God will not run from His voice, but toward His voice. Don’t be caught listening passively, as if to a lullaby. Move to the sound of His voice, and see how fast every trial is turned away. Isaiah 45:5a I am Adonai—there is no other. Besides Me there is no God.
Yeshua is the good shepherd. The good shepherd watches out for the sheep and destroys every enemy. John 10:14 “I am the Good Shepherd. I know My own and My own know Me.” And how do we show that we know Him? We respond to His loving command. Open our ears, Lord.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Thu 11-Nov-2021 7th of Kislev, 5782
Ge 30:28-31:16 Jdg 18 Ps 39 Mt 28 (Ro 15)
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 11/8 Monday: Acts 20-21
227 11/9 Tuesday: Acts 22-23
228 11/10 Wednesday: Acts 24-25
229 11/11 Thursday: Acts 26-27
230 11/12 Friday: Acts 28