Simple Reminders

The sabbath before last was Yom Kippur - the day of atonement.

The entire country literally shuts down from sundown Friday to sunset Saturday. People fast, and pray, and some will sacrifice chickens as an atonement for their sins. But even in the Old testament when God ordained this holiday the atonement was only partial and painfully temporary. It pointed to something greater that has now come.

Sunset on Yom Kippur

As I sat watching the sunset on Yom Kippur, listening to the Shofar signal the end of the day I couldn't help feeling overwhelmed by the knowledge that final atonement has been made for me. Permanently. How wonderful that because of Messiah the solemnity of Yom Kippur finds its end in joy. I've been freed to sin no more!

I love this tangible reminder of the grace bestowed to me. 

On the heels of Yom Kippur comes the week long celebration of Sukkoth, or the feast of Booths. 

In the villages and cities all over Israel rickidy shanties and plastic tents went up. Palm branches were supplied for Roofs, and colorful streamers, Christmas lights, and paper lanterns were hung. 

This past week families have gathered in their Sukkahs regularly to eat, and talk, and cook.  This is done so that they will remember that they once lived in temporary tents as sojourners and nomads in the wilderness, but the Lord was faithful to bring them into a good land, The Promised Land. 

Dinner in the IBEX Sukkah l Photo Credit: Caleb Donato 

This morning in keeping with Sukkot tradition the ladies of IBEX gathered in the Sukkah IBEX students built in our park for a Praise Fest. As we sang and read Psalms of praise I was reminded of Heaven. God's people are still sojourners. Having been grafted into the family of God I am just passing through this earth - which is just a rickidy, broken tent in comparison to what is to come. 

I love this visible reminder that this is a temporary state.

The past month or so has been very stretching for me. Moving to a new country. Learning a new job. Trying to figure out how to live intentionally in a new setting. Realizing that I am all too finite and have no hope of managing on my own. Learning to draw my strength from the infinite. 

This last week has ushered in it's own new set of challenges for my new-found IBEX family.

There have been days since I've moved here when I can barely wrap my mind around all that's going on. There are days of exhaustion. There are days when I don't know what to pray. There are days of saddness days of confusion. 

In Israel we pray for rain as much as anything else - it is just as tangible a demonstration of God's faithfulness as any holiday. In the summer months Israel becomes something of a dry and weary land, but this week God brought the early rains. In the midst of my own weariness and concern, Abba reassured my soul that He is still good. Because I am His, even the days of trail can be days of hope.   

I love this comforting reminder that my God is ever faithful, and strong. 

I'm so thankful to the One who wove these simple reminders into culture that I now find myself surrounded by. He must know how much I need them. 

Unchanged

Last week I moved to Israel.

My mailing address says 'in the hills of Judea' where most countries would write a city name.

Before I moved here I had this fantastic daydream of what this place would be like. After all, this is The Promised Land - The land to which God called Abraham to make for Himself a nation of priests. The country through which Holy God became accessible to sinful man. The place where Jesus sojourned for 33 years in order to make a way for the redemption of all man kind. I supposed I thought that meant God be closer here than other places.

But this is just a place.

A couple days ago I drove past the town where the Ark of the Covenant sat for a few decades on my way to the mall to buy plug adapters and toothpaste. Yesterday I went to Jerusalem to get health insurance and ink cartridges. In a couple days I will drive right past the valley where God made the sun stand still in Joshua 10 on my way to pick up students at the airport in Tel Aviv.

Life here is perfectly ordinary, and in these short 7 days God has not seemed extraordinarily closer. He as been much the same as ever. And while all this is rather the opposite of what I thought I'd be saying after a week in Israel, I find myself still more in awe of the Savior than I expected to be.

Before I knew I was coming here, I watched from a thousand miles away as some of my dearest friends experienced the Holy Land first hand. At the time I almost felt like God was somehow lesser in my life because I had never been to the land of my faith's foundation. I have never found so much comfort in the knowledge that I was wrong.

He's still the same. The God of Israel who met me in America has lived in me through life in Brasil, and Hungary, and India, and now Israel has never once changed! Though my understanding of Him is ever growing, no matter where I've roamed He's always been the same. I find such comfort in Him - my firm foundation - who does not change like shifting shadows. 

Thankful seems like a small word to express the joy I feel at the knowledge that I may call this unshakeable God of Israel Abba. I am beyond amazed to think that all of this was given to me because of a Man who died an unspeakable death on a cross and rose again just 10 miles away from where I sit.

I live in Israel. My mind still doesn't quite comprehend it. I can't call it luck, because I don't believe in that. I feel irrationally blessed to have been given this season of life to learn and grow in the land of my Savior. 

!הֹדוּ לַיהוָה כִּי־טוֹב