"Be Glad And Rejoice"

This past Tuesday at sundown, the Jewish people throughout the world started their celebration of the Feast of Hanukkah. The traditions of Hanukkah include the lighting each night of one candle of an eight-branched Menorah. Thus Hanukkah is known as the Festival of Lights.

The drama of Hanukkah begins with Alexander The Great during the fourth century, BC who had conquered the world by the age of 23. Several generations later, Antiochus Epiphanes, who ruled from Syria, had military control over Jerusalem. Antiochus had Jerusalem's High Priest murdered and set up a statue of Jupiter on the Temple Mount.

An old priest named Mattathias became angry and fled to the nearby mountains with his sons to prepare to wage warfare against the oppressors from Syria. Mattathias put his son Judah in charge and they defeated every attempt by Antiochus to end their uprising. Judah led his followers to Jerusalem where he drove the Syrian force from the Temple and out of the city.

Upon arriving at the Temple, they found inside the Temple a huge Menorah. The rejoicing Jewish conquerors found only enough oil to light the Menorah for one day. Levitical Laws stated that the Temple Menorah must burn continually. The miracle of Hanukkah is that our Lord God provided enough oil to cause the Menorah to be lit for the entire eight days.

What does this mean for us? Hanukkah is a story of overcoming in the face of overwhelming adversity. Our lesson from this holiday is that we can overcome with our God. Zephaniah 3:19 says, "Behold, at that time I will deal with all who afflict you." Our Lord God has dealt with our oppressors in the past, is dealing with them in the present and will deal with them in the future. As a result, Zephaniah 3:14 also says, "Sing, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!" 

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You In His Care This Day,

Frank