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The Tribe of By Marc Chagall From the President The Chosen A star appeared suddenly in the eastern sky. People Astrologers, philosophers, teachers, politicians, all wondered about THE CHOSEN PEOPLE is published monthly the strange star. What did it mean? What did it signify? They had many (except August) as a medium of information 4 concerning the Jewish people Israel and questions, but no answers—so they did nothing. the work of the American Board of Missions to the Inc, 100 Hunt Road Orangeburg The common people, the masses, saw the same star. They waited for New York 10962. an appropriate response from their leaders, but—in the end—they too did President nothing. Harold A. Sevener Three other men also saw that same star. They had the same questions. Administrative Vice-President Roy Adams But with one major difference. They had heard about the that Editor & Creative Director foretold the birth of a Messiah—the Son of God. Jonathan Singer When they saw the wondrous star, they followed it, traveling Staff Writer hundreds of miles. They were wise men—they acted upon the knowledge Amy Rabinovitz Missionary Director they had about God. John Bell Sometimes I wonder why there were only three men who came. Regional Directors Where were all the others? Did only three men out of all the hundreds of Northeast: New York City, N.Y. thousands of people living in the East understand the "signs of the times"? Sam Nadler 212-757-6716 Did only three understand the prophetic Word? Southeast Reston, Va. I am positive that the influence of the Daniels, the Jeremiahs, and the Larry Jaffrey 703-471-0163 other of the Exile, had a greater impact upon the Gentile world of Midwest Chicago, IL their day than we could ever imagine. I believe these three men who came Roy Schwartz 312-338-5959 seeking Jesus were the product of the influence of godly Jewish men living in Southwest Fort Worth, Tx. the Exile. They became wise to the things of God because someone had Dr. Irwin (Rocky) Freeman shared with them the facts of Scripture. 817-731-6991 West Los Angeles Ca. Perhaps these three men represented a greater body of believers—men Dr. Goldberg and women who could not themselves make such a journey. Perhaps the 818-884-8245 precious gifts they bore represented the collective gifts of many who also National Church Ministries Director were wise—because they too believed God's Word. Barry Rubin International Conference Director Yes, wise men seek Him still. But, in order to be wise in the things of Tom Walker God, one must hear the Gospel. One must hear God's Word. Board of Directors Your missionaries, who you support with your prayers and gifts, are Dr. Daniel Fuchs Chairman the Daniels, the Jeremiahs, the prophets of this generation. They are telling Roy Adams C. Robert Clemensen Jew and Gentile alike that our Messiah, the Lord Jesus, was born; that He John J. Kubach died; that He was buried; that He rose from the dead on the third day; and John E Melhom Harold B. Pretlove that He is coming again. John L Pretlove Sometimes it seems that only a few respond. But we have found that Goldie Rotenberg the few represent the many more who are seeking, waiting and watching to Albert Runge Harold A. Sevener see the results. James W. Straub Thank you for helping us send wise men to the lost sheep of the House Directors Emeritus of Israel. Louis W. Ivins J. Leonard Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year! In our Messiah, Honorary Director Dr. Charles L Feinberg DECEMBER 1986, Vol. XCIII, No. 4 THE CHOSEN PEOPLE (ISSN 0164-5323) Copyright ©1986 by the American Board of Missions to the Jews, Inc. Not to be HAROLD A. SEVENER reproduced in any form without permission of the publisher. Second-class postage paid at Orangeburg, N.Y., and at additional Our cover this month: The themes and prophecies within the Tribes of Israel fascinated the mailing offices. Credits: Cover, Marc Jewish painter Marc Chagall. This month's cover and pages 9-12 feature paintings preliminary Chagall, Asher, from Chagall In , to Chagall's famous Jerusalem Windows in the Hadassah Medical Center Synagogue; all --ft, Leon Amid, publisher. inspired by 's blessings. 1‘... W.)

2 THE CHOSEN PEOPLE henTuning in,Turning On and Dropping Out Isn't Enough

TESTIMONY OF GOLDSTONE

Early 1973, Michael and Ron (left to right). All smiles, at the lowest point in their lives.

It was the age of natural foods, With these thoughts on my mind, Marijuana, music, Joan Baez, war protests (Vietnam), a friend and I left New York in the the beauty of na- Bob Dylan, and "getting back to the summer of 1971 to go "exploring." land." We (everyone under thirty) We traveled throughout Canada and ture—none of it was were positive that they (our parents' the United States, picking up hitch- enough. Michael generation) had sold out to a plas- hikers, talking with fellow seekers, tic life. It was going to be different and trying to see if we could find a grew introspective, for us. purpose to life. wondering why he Like most students in the sixties, I That trip was very instrumental in spent a of time asking a lot of my life. Until then all I had known hadn't found God yet. questions. It seemed that there was were concrete walls, the constant grave injustice in the world, and it noise of city life, and crowded seemed to me that I should be able to streets. I thought the whole world do something about it. But when I played stickball in schoolyards sur- joined the protest marches, even rounded by chain link fences. though I was helping my fellow- man, I sensed that we needed Fellow Sojourners something more drastic than a new Instead, I found a world outside of government. We needed all new New York, a land full of color and people, people who were changed fresh, clean scents. There were, on the inside. especially in California, streets full It also seemed to me that there had of fellow sojourners who were to be more to life than just being a seeking simple truths. They were nice Jewish boy from Queens who beautiful people living off the land. I would go to college, get married, listened to them all, read their books have children, and get a good . on Eastern mysticism, and adapted their inward-bound philosophy. By the time I returned to the University of Buffalo, I felt like a continued on following page

(DECEMBER 1986 3 stranger in a strange land. The pace means "beyond these things." I at school was frantic. Most of my wanted to lay under the stars, get friends were into sports and the bar high, have a garden, listen to good scene, and I couldn't relate to that music, and try to find God. anymore. Hungry To Meet Him My life was heading in a new direction. The name of my favorite The God I was looking for was not rock band summed up my destina- the God I had read about while tion: Procol Harum, which in Greek studying for my Bar Mitzvah. He The ranch (left) and left to right, Ron, Debra, and Michael. was not the God of any organized religion. I pictured the God I would find as one who loved and accepted all people and philosophies. Though I wasn't sure what or who He was, I was hungry to meet Him personally. School that year was especially dissatisfying. The courses I selected didn't take much concentration. I wasn't sure what I was doing at college anyway, and life was aim- less. My dream was to do something that would help me get in touch with myself. By the summer of 1972 I knew it was time to do more than dream. My good friend Ron and I decided to buy a patch of land and go into business raising hydroponic toma-

Debra, like me she was a Jewish New Yorker who came West on a personal odyssey. After three days I knew I was in love. toes. It may sound a little crazy now, Ron and I rented out the log cabin to listen to this ache inside of me. but actually this was a growing and to four hippies, and we moved into a Instead people were just interested profitable industry. shed on the property. That way we in themselves. We investigated other growers' could make our land payments Mexico was horrible. After hitch- methods, got some seed money without working at all. I grew even hiking for days and then taking an from our folks, gathered our two more melancholy. Eventually we old school bus 1,700 miles into the dogs, and pointed our VW bug decided to go to Mexico in search of interior, I got dysentery. This plus toward Florida. By North Carolina some magic mushrooms (organic rumors of massive arrests of Amer- we agreed that the West Coast was LSD). They were supposed to give a ican long-hairs forced us to turn more attractive, so we turned right very spiritual high which I thought back. Yet another disappointment. on the Interstate and didn't stop would help me find real truth. until we got to northern California. Wrapped up in myself the way I Something Wonderful Our search for land started in was, I became lonelier and emptier. I Then, with things at an all-time Ukiah and led us straight up 101 longed for someone who would low, something wonderful hap- North. At the Oregon border, we listen to me and understand what I pened on our way back to Oregon. kept on going along Highway 199. was feeling. In San Francisco I met a girl named Finally, in Grants Pass, Oregon, we Debra. Like me she was a Jewish wandered into the office of a neatly New Yorker who came West on a dressed, grey-haired, smiling fe- Hitchhiking down the personal odyssey. We talked and male real estate agent, who, for some Coast we met a lot of talked. I had finally found someone strange reason, took a liking to us. people. A number of who would listen to me and who seemed to understand my heart. Two Pony-Tailed Hippies Christians crossed our After three days I knew I was in love path. Ron later told and I asked her to marry me. Ron and I— two pony-tailed, long "Of course I won't," she an- haired, scruffy-bearded East Coast me that these Chris- swered. hippies—and our dogs all piled into tians had a strong But I knew better. her pickup truck (she drove most of It was spring when I got back to her clients around in a Cadillac). She effect on him. But to Oregon. My spirits were high from showed us every piece of land in the me, they were more the time with Deb, and I felt area. people just trying to strangely alive. I started taking long There it was. It was so beautiful. walks in the woods, falling in love Twenty acres of the kind of land push their own views. with the beauty of my ranch all over people call God's country. Fifteen again and trying to express my acres of woods. A gurgling brook. A Hitchhiking down the Coast we gratefulness to God for introducing log house built in 1919. A deep well. met a lot of people. A number of me to this wonderful woman. Beautiful views. Christians crossed our path, and we I had never been so happy. We chopped our own wood every even stayed in a Christian commune Finding Deb, seeing nature's beauty day and built our own fires. We were called the Lighthouse Ranch. Ron fresh and clean, hearing a new song 3,000 miles away from that other life. later told me that these Christians in my heart, all this burst inside of This was happiness, for at least three had a strong effect on him. But to me. Each day I walked a little farther months anyway. me, they were more people just into the woods, and each day I Then the dream disappeared. trying to push their own views. found myself having longer and Marijuana, music, the beauty of I'd let them talk about Jesus for more intimate talks with God. nature—none of it was enough. I about two minutes, then I'd tune The more I talked to God, the grew introspective, wondering why them out. It seemed obvious that more I realized I had found another I hadn't found God and why I wasn't they had nothing to say, and their Friend, a Friend who listened very feeling content even though I narrow mindedness really irked me. deeply. I wanted to learn to listen to seemingly had everything I wanted. Him also. All I could see was that my life was I pulled out the Bible I had had for empty; my dream was void; I was some time. I never really understood September, 1986, left to right Ron and dead on the inside; and I had tried it or liked it before. But now the Michael , business partners. everything I could. No one wanted continued on following page

DECEMBER 1986 5 words came alive and I couldn't stop The next day a car pulled up to my we are healed." reading. All the books on Eastern door and two men introduced Then he asked, "Where do you mysticism were like cotton candy. themselves as members of the think you could find that in the They had no substance compared to church. They looked about as Bible?" this piercing truth. different from me as anyone could, I shrugged. "Probably in Luke, or I went from Genesis through the with their three-piece suits and crew no, I know, it's in John." Psalms, the Proverbs, and the cuts. But I had never met people He shook his head. prophets before I faced the inevita- who loved God like they did. The "Romans?" ble: It was natural to continue into older man, William Lewis, must "No." the . For the first have been in his seventies, but he "OK, Matthew." time in my life I read about Jesus. was so full of the Spirit he absolutely He handed me the Bible. I No words had ever been so real glowed. couldn't believe it was in the Old and powerful. Jesus was remark- Testament! In chapter 53 of ! able. Loving. Wise. His love and Soon we were flipping through truth were so obvious that I couldn't Scripture and seeing the full picture stop reading. New questions came of Messiah, and I realized that New questions came to mind. to mind. How could believing in Jesus was a totally How could He say He was the only Jewish thing to do. way to the Father? How could I He say He was the believe He was God when I had only way to the A Neverending Story always believed there was only one Well, the good part about this God? Father? How could I story is that it never ended. My Star-Laden Darkness believe He was God friend Ron received the Lord; Debra soon came to faith as well. She and I Alone with these questions one when I had always got married. Shortly after that, my night, I walked under a canopy of believed there was mother got saved. Another year trees through the star-laden dark- later, my dad and brother made the ness. God seemed to walk with me, only one God? same commitment. and I was both less and more alone We have two children — Shawna, than ever. age 11, and Brian, age 6. Ron and I "I don't know," I told God. "How are still best friends, and for the past I can think about leaving everything three years we've been in business I've ever known? Show me what to My questions poured out, espe- together. do." A cold, clutching fear grabbed cially about how impossible it It's as wonderful today as it was me, but I had to go on. "If Jesus is seemed to be Jewish and believe in that spring in 1973. He's changed real, show me. Help me. If You are Jesus. He asked me to help him out our lives from the inside out and has the truth, Jesus, come into my life." with something and then he opened given us so much. Praise God! The The magnitude of my prayer his Bible. deep peace He has given me makes frightened and relieved me at the He read, "Who has believed our me love and praise Him, the Giver of same time. But I knew I had met God message, and to whom has the arm Life, the true God of Israel. ❑ in Jesus. of the Lord been revealed? He took The next Sunday I was invited to our infirmities and carried our Redwood Country Church by some- sorrows, yet we considered him one with whom I had shared my stricken by God, smit- experience. Fifteen minutes into the ten by him, and afflict- service I felt very out of place. The ed. But he was pierced hymn about the blood that washes for our transgressions, us white as snow made me feel he was crushed for our uncomfortable and strange. iniquities; the punish- Fortunately, part way through the ment that brought us sermon I recognized the same Jesus I peace was upon him, had met that day in the woods. and by his wounds A NEW HEART FOR HELEN

By URBACH married, I was taken to Auschwitz, Missionary, Denver along with my new husband, my widowed mother, and all my To please her Christian mother-in- brothers and sisters. They were all law, Helen was baptized and mar- sent to the crematoriums." ried in a church. But there was no Her tale of pain and unhappiness commitment to the Lord on the part spanned forty years and continued of this Jewish woman. for more than two hours as she Several people had explained the shared her anger at those who had Gospel to her. One fine Christian killed her family and the joyless life she now lived. "Dear lady," I told her gently, "the I felt an instant kinship answer is Jesus." I shared with her with this woman—she several verses and asked, "Do you had a European accent, want to turn all your woes over to physical features resem- Him?" "No, I'm not ready for that," she bling my own family, said. and an indelible number I left her with my phone number tatooed on her left arm. and my prayers, but it was three When I explained that I months before I heard from them again. Mary sent me a postcard too had been through the saying Helen would like to talk to me Holocaust, she began to again. We arranged a lunch meeting tell me her story. which was a special treat, for Helen did some old-world European cook- ing for us. woman, Mary, had taken her a Bible After lunch, I asked Helen point and the two of them were reading it blank, "Are you ready now to together. I had been praying for receive Jesus into your heart?" Helen and Mary every day when "Yes, I think so. Read to me those Mary asked me to come speak with verses again." Helen. This time as we discussed God's I felt an instant kinship with this salvation, she saw her own need for woman — she had a European a Savior. Together we prayed, and accent, physical features resembling she asked for forgiveness of sins, my own family, and an indelible inviting Jesus to come into her heart. number tatooed on her left arm. Please pray for this dear sister. When I explained that I too had been Only by His Spirit whom He has through the Holocaust, she began to given Helen can He heal the rage tell me her story. and bitterness which have lived in "Barely 22 years old and just her heart for so long. ❑

DECEMBER 1986 7 Value-Priced Titles From ABMJ/Chosen People Ministries' Bookroom

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By HAROLD SEVENER spiritual wickedness in high places" By naming this son , Leah also (Eph. 6:12). testified to the hand of God upon her Biblical names are frequently used We are also called upon to wrestle life, despite the fact that she as pictures of something God wants with the truth of God's Word and to remained unloved by her husband. to portray. For the last two months take a stand against wickedness and She remembered that God is faithful we have studied the names given unrighteousness. We are to be to all who trust Him. each of the sons of Jacob (later to Naphtalis, wrestlers for the truth. Inherent in the idea of good become the twelve tribes of Israel) fortune is the direct involvement of and how each name is a miniature GAD God. It is God who prospers the picture of the Messiah. From we now turn back to righteous (Ps. 1:1-3). It is the Leah, who then gave her hand- Messiah Himself who shall see His seed, those born of faith, prosper (Isa. 52:13; 53:10, 11). It is those who Continuing our study of the sons love Israel and who pray for the of Israel, we come next to Naphtali, peace of Jerusalem, who shall who, like , was a substitute son prosper (Ps. 122:6, 7). born to , Rachel's hand- Prosperity does not necessarily maiden. The name Naphtali means mean ma teria4 blessing, it can mean "to wrestle with God," giving us a spiritual blessing. In Gad we who play on words in the Hebrew. are believers should see that God is Rachel said, "With mighty wres- faithful in supplying our every need tlings (or "With the wrestlings of and that we who are believers in God") have I wrestled with my Messiah will prosper in our faith. sister, and I have prevailed" (Gen. 30:8, 9). So she named her son ASHER Naphtali. After Gad's birth, has a It is interesting to note that second son, whom Leah named sometime after the birth of Naphtali, Asher (see Gen. 30:13), meaning Jacob himself wrestled with God, "happy." Often in our English and God gave Jacob a new name— translation the Hebrew word Asher Israel. Israel, meaning a "prince has been translated as "blessed." with God," was given to him While the blessing of God implies because, in wrestling with the Lord, happiness, there is another Hebrew he prevailed (see Gen. 32:24). word meaning blessed — baruch. In In the name Naphtali is a picture maiden Zilpah to Jacob. Gad was the Asher, we have a picture of happi- those of us who are his spiritual first son from this union. (See Gen. ness from and in God. descendants can really appreciate. 30:9-11.) The name Gad, meaning In the Scriptures Israel is told to be As believers, we are told that "we "with fortune" or "fortune has happy (Dt. 33:29). The righteous wrestle not against flesh and blood, come," reminds us that in Scripture, man is said to be happy (Ps. 1:1). The but against principalities, against fortune is not a term meaning man whose sins have been forgiven powers, against the rulers of the "accidental prosperity" or "happen- is said to be happy (Ps. 32:1, 2). The darkness of this world, against stance wealth." continued on following page

DECEMBER 1986 9 one whom God corrects is said to be dwelling with her. happy (Job 5:17). Those who wait God always honors faith, and thus So, too, is the promise of God that upon the Lord are happy (Isa. 30:18). He blessed Leah again with a sixth He would dwell among His people. Those who put their trust in the Lord son, whom she herself bore to Jacob. He would dwell in the sanctuary of are happy (Ps. 2:12). This son she called Zebulun (Gen. His holy Temple (Ex. 25:8; 29:45, 46; When the Lord Jesus, our Mes- 30:20). The name Zebulun comes Num. 35:34; 1 Kn. 6:13). He would siah, was here on earth, He taught from a Hebrew word meaning "to dwell on Mount Zion (Isa. 8:18; His disciples the Beatitudes, all of honor" or "exalt." A cognate word 3:17, 21). which began with the word happy refers to elevation, having to do with He promised that when Messiah (see Mt. 5:3-11). Happy are the poor mountain heights that are lofty, such would come He would be called in spirit. Happy are those who as the abode of God's holiness on Immanuel, God with us. He would mourn. Happy are the meek. Happy Mount Zion and Mount Moriah. dwell among us (Jn. 1:14), and He are those who hunger and thirst for Once again there is a play on would dwell in our hearts by faith righteousness. Happy are the merci- words in the Hebrew, this time (Eph. 3:17). As believers we are ful. Happy are the pure in heart. between the meaning of "exalting" Zebulun. We are honored by the

- . k t I • - -1 P (1 '• , •

GAD ASHER

Happy are the peacemakers, for and "honoring through dwelling." indwelling presence of God in our they shall be called the sons of God. Leah said, "Now will my husband lives. Leah called her son "Happy am I," dwell with me, because I have born because she had experienced God's him six sons" (Gen. 30:20). grace. So, likewise, we as believers Throughout her married life, Now God remembered Rachel, in Messiah experience God's happi- Leah, in faith, trusted God that Jacob and she conceived and bore her first ness. would one day love her as he loved son. She named him Joseph, saying, Rachel, that one day he would dwell "May the Lord give me another son" with her as he dwelled with Rachel, (Gen. 30:24). The name Joseph comes ISSACHAR and that one day he would honor from the root word in Hebrew Honoring Leah's faith, God gave her with his presence as he honored meaning "to add to one." her a fifth son, Issachar, whose Rachel. The root word zebul is Rachel, trusting God and believ- name, as we've seen in our previous translated "dwelling," and inherent ing that He had removed her study, means "recompense" or in the naming of Zebulun is Leah's reproach, hoped she would con- "reward for faithful service." hope that Jacob will honor her by tinue to bear children; thus she

10 THE CHOSEN PEOPLE named her son Joseph. There is His Father. the right hand." another prophetic significance in Joseph met his brethren and Rachel, realizing that she was Joseph's name, for Joseph would made himself known to them. dying, perhaps thinking back over add two more names to the fathers Jesus, when He returns, will make her life, uttered prophetically the of the Messianic nation: , Himself known to the Benoni. Jacob, however, in- meaning "fruitful," and Manasseh, people. spired by the Holy Spirit, looked at meaning "forgetting." the son in a different perspective Joseph is also a type of the nation and called him . Joseph, the one who "adds to," of Israel. He was sold into slavery, represents a very significant addi- rejected, persecuted, and was ex- In the names Benoni and Ben- tion to our understanding of Mes- alted to rule over Egypt. So Israel as jamin, we have a twofold portrait siah. Although in Scripture there is a nation has been sold into slavery, of the Messiah—the suffering Mes- no reference that he is a type of the rejected, and persecuted, and it will siah, a Man of sorrows and ac- Lord Jesus, the parallel between the one day be exalted to rule over the quainted with grief, who is also the two lives is remarkable: nations of the world. Son of exultation, the Son seated at

ZEBULUN JOSEPH BENJAMIN

Joseph was the son loved by his There is still another significant the right hand of God the Father. father. Jesus was the Son loved by point to the name of Joseph. We, as The very place of Benjamin's birth His Father. believers, are to seek "first the , —on the road to Bethlehem (Gen. Joseph was hated and despised kingdom of God, and his right- 35:19)—speaks of the advent of by his brethren. Jesus, likewise, eousness; and all these things shall Messiah. Jacob was on his way from was hated and despised. be added unto [us]" (Mt. 6:33). Bethel (meaning "the house of Joseph was sold for twenty God") to Bethlehem (meaning "the pieces of silver. Jesus was sold for BENONI (BENJAMIN) house of bread"). Likewise, our thirty pieces of silver. Joseph was Rachel named her second and last Messiah left the house of God sold to the nations (Gentiles). son Benoni as she died in childbirth (heaven) and came as our Savior to Jesus was sold and turned over to (Gen. 35:18). The name Benoni Bethlehem. He left the "house of the nations. literally means "son of affliction," bread" to become the "Bread of Joseph was exalted to the right "son of sorrows." Yet Scripture life." Having died for the sins of hand of Pharaoh. Jesus was points out that his father called him mankind, He has been exalted to the exalted to the right hand of God, Benjamin, which means "the son of continued on following page

DECEMBER 1986 11 Throughout the Bible, God reveals his prophetic HANUKKAH THE FEAST OF LIGHTS purposes, His redemptive program. The names and characters of the scriptures are given to us as On December 26 your Jewish friends will celebrate Hanukkah. examples. God faithfully keeps His promises to Because the holiday falls around the nation of Israel and to all those who trust in Him. Christmas and presents are ex- changed, Hanukkah has become known as the "Jewish Christmas." But in fact, Hanukkah does not right hand of God (Acts 2:33; 5:31). Placed together, these names may commemorate a religious event, but Let us now put the names of the read: a military one: the Jewish revolt sons of Jacob together in the order of Behold, the Son; hear ye Him; against Antiochus Epiphanes. their birth and notice the redemptive join Him in faith; praise Him; for Antiochus, a Syrian ruler who program of God as spelled out in the God is our Judge; we wrestle with occupied Israel between the Testa- sons of Israel, through whom the God; He gives good fortune; ments, commanded the to Messiah would come: happy are we; for He rewards us; worship his idols. His contempt for , behold the son; Sime- with great honor dwelling in His the God of Israel was so great that he on, hear him; , join him; presence; He adds to His family; slaughtered pigs on the altar of the Holy Temple. One brave priest, Mattathias, led his family and a faithful band of Israelites in a revolt. Fighting val- iantly in the name of the God of Israel, this group of unlikely heroes became known as Maccabees (ham- merers) because they hammered against Antiochus and eventually defeated him. With the fighting over, the Mac- cabees went to the Temple and cleared it of idols. When the Temple was ready to be rededicated, they had only one jar of oil for the menorah (Temple lights). Then, as the legend goes, God did a great miracle. The single day's supply of oil lasted eight days, until a new supply could be consecrated. REUBEN LEVI It is for this miracle that Hanukkah is also called the Feast of Lights. The Bible mentions Hanukkah , praise him; Dan, God is my because of the Son of affliction, only once, in John 10:23-23, when who is the Son of His right hand. Judge; Naphtali, wrestling with Jesus went to Jerusalem to celebrate God; Gad, with good fortune; Throughout the Bible, God re- Hanukkah (referred to as the Feast Asher, happy am I; Issachar, there veals His prophetic purposes, His of Dedication or the Feast of Lights). is reward for faithful service; redemptive program. The names The fact that our Lord celebrated Zebulun, honor in dwelling in and characters of the Scriptures are Hanukkah is a reminder to us that given to us as examples. God He is the Light of the World; He is God's presence; Joseph, add to faithfully keeps His promises to the the way to cleanse the temple of our one; Benoni, son of affliction; nation of Israel and to all those who body from the occupying enemy of Benjamin, son of the right hand. trust in Him. ❑ sin. ❑

12 THE CHOSEN PEOPLE See Israel JewishTHROUGH A UNIQUE TOUR OF THE Eyes • CONDUCTED BY HAROLD SEVENER, PRESIDENT, A BAWCHOSEN PEOPLE MINISTRIES.

■ DIRECT FLIGHT VIA EL AL, THE WORLD'S SAFEST AIRLINE • FIVE-STAR HOTELS • VISIT SPECIAL SITES USUALLY OFF-LIMITS TO TOURISTS

Here is a wonderful opportunity to show your sup- port for Israel and the Jewish people and experience an unforgettable ten days in the land of the Bible. Your tour host is Harold A. Sevener, President, ABMJ/Chosen People Ministries. Mr. Sevener brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to your time in Israel, having done graduate study there and maintained many friendships with government officials. You'll see many sites normally off-limits to tourists, like the "Rabbis' Tunnel;' and visit in Israeli homes. Special arrangements have been made for you to meet with officials of the Israeli government and hear rabbis' lectures. For an unforgettable journey, for the opportunity to truly see Israel through Jewish eyes, please plan to join this historic tour. It's also not too early to reserve your space and travel with Mr. Sevener on one of the tours planned for 1987: April 27 - May Z June 29 - July 9, October 26 - November 5. Information is available by writing to the President, ABMJI Chosen People Ministries, P.O. Box 2000, Orangeburg, NY 10962. From the Exile to the Christ The Rise of Greece

By DR DANIEL FUCHS were couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and other costly Old Testament history closes with the Jews under stones. Wine was served in goblets of gold." Persian rule. A remnant of the Jews had returned to (Est. 1:6, 7). Jerusalem, and after many trials they rebuilt the Temple. The great majority of the Jews were still Xerxes Wasn't "King of Kings" dispersed all over the Persian Empire. The Book of was written to demonstrate that Not much is known about the history of the Jews in Xerxes was not "king of kings." It was written to the this period. The Scriptures, particularly , Jewish people who were scattered all over the Persian Nehemiah, , and Zechariah do give us some world and who were facing a seemingly certain important details concerning the history of Judah, but extinction. Xerxes "ruled over 127 provinces from authoritative data are sparse about the history of the India to Cush," but one night he couldn't sleep (Est. Jews who remained in the Persian Empire. 6:1). God was to show the enemies of the Jews who the An indication of their condition is found in the Book King of Kings really is! of Esther. This book vividly describes life in Persia The reign of Xerxes ushered in a new era in during its decline. The story opens with an account of redemption history. Old Testament history is the story a luxurious feast staged by the king. He is Ahasuerus of two civilizations, each of which thrived around the in Ezra 4:6 (KJV) and in the Book of Esther. deltas of great rivers. In the East the Mesopotamian "The name Ahasuerus is an appelative, which civilization grew in the delta of the Tigris and means the chief king, or king of all kings. Xerxes, the Euphrates rivers, which flow into what is now known son of Darius Hystaspes, bore this title, king of kings. as the Persian Gulf. This title is also given to him in the cuneiform in- scriptions. One of these reads as follows: 'I, the mighty The Fertile Crescent king, king of kings, king of populous countries, Fifteen hundred miles to the west another great king of this great and mighty earth, far and near."' civilization rose on the delta of the River, which A.C. Gaebelein, Concise Commentary, p. 403. empties into the Mediterranean Sea. The only feasible The Bible describes him as "the Xerxes who ruled corridor through which these cultures could com- over 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush" municate either through trade or war was the Fertile (Est. 1:1). The familiar story opens with the account of Crescent, which is the fertile green area that extends a sumptuous "banquet for all his nobles and officials. northwest from the Persian Gulf along the Tigris and The military leaders of Persia and Media, the princes, Euphrates rivers and then dips southward into and the nobles of the provinces were present" (Est.. . 1:3). Abram was born in Ur of the Chaldees, near the Xerxes had three capital cities, but his proudest confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. When possession was his winter capital, "the citadel of he was 75 years old, he followed the Fertile Crescent to Susa"(Est. 1:5). and from there, he and his family migrated to The Bible gives us a glimpse of the opulence of his Canaan (see Gen. 2:4, 5 and map, "World of the winter palace. "The garden had hangings of white and "). blue linen, fastened with cords of white linen and From Canaan Abram migrated to Egypt and later purple material to silver rings on marble pillars. There continued on following page

14 THE CHOSEN PEOPLE returned to Canaan. The road traveled by Abram was Egypt thought that this was a good time for revolt. the same route taken by the nations in the Old Xerxes decided to handle his problems one at a time. Testament world. When the Assyrians or the He subdued Egypt. Then Babylon also revolted and Babylonians attacked Egypt, and when Egypt Xerxes cruelly demolished their temple. Ever since, attacked the Assyrians, the only feasible route was the Persian kings used "King of Babylon" as part of through Canaan, which is now the nation of Israel. their royal title. Xerxes called himself "King of Persia With the ascendancy of Persia, a different area of and Media." potential conquest arose. When Cyrus the Great Xerxes felt it was now time to attack Greece. He began his campaign for world dominion, before he carefully planned his attack both by land and sea. attacked Babylon, he defeated Croesus in Lydia. This "Xerxes prepared leisurely but thoroughly for the kingdom was in western Asia Minor (now western second Persian attack upon Greece. For four years he Turkey). In Lydia there were a number of Greek collected troops and materials from all the provinces of settlements. his realm; and when, in 481, he at last set forth, his army was probably the largest ever assembled in Fierce Rivalry history before our own century. Herodotus reckoned These Greeks maintained very close ties with it, without moderation, at 2,641,000 fighting men, and their kinsmen in Europe just across the Aegean Sea. an equal number of engineers, slaves, merchants, The Greeks in Europe lived in independent city-states. provisioners, and prostitutes; he tells us, with There was fierce rivalry among them, and Cyrus perhaps a twinkle in his eye, that when Xerxes' army realized that if Persia was to rule the world he would drank water whole rivers ran dry. It was, naturally and not only have to subdue all of Lydia, he would continued on following page eventually have to conquer the Greek city-states as well. Sooner or later Persia would have to fight the European Greeks. The Book of Esther was written to Both Cyrus and Darius the Great made abortive demonstrate that Xerxes was not attempts to crush the city-states of Greece. All that they did was to unite the quarreling cities for a time. "king of kings." It was written to the When the Ionians revolted, Darius determined to Jewish people who were scattered all bring the city-states of mainland Greece into his over the Persian world and who were empire. He sent an expedition to Athens. This ended facing a seemingly certain extinction. in failure at the Battle of Marathon in 490 B.C. Xerxes was 35 years old when he succeeded Darius. God was to show the enemies of the He had two problems at this accedence — the Greek Jews who the King of Kings really is! cities were continually revolting, and the land of

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DECEMBER 1986 15 fatally, a highly heterogeneous force. There were where the Greeks trapped the Persians and destroyed Persians, Medes, Babylonians, Afghans, Indians, an entire corps, as well as the Persian navy. Xerxes' Bactrians, Sogdians, Sacae, Assyrians, Armenians, army retreated and was defeated at Plataea in 479 B.C. Colchians, Scyths, Paeonians, Mysians, Paphlago- If the Greeks had not defeated Persia, the de- nians, Phrygians, Thracians, Thessalians, Locrians, velopment of Europe under Xerxes would have been Boeotians, Aeolians, Ionians, Lydians, Carians, very different! Cilicians, Cypriotes, Phoenicians, Syrians, Arabians, Egyptians, Ethiopians, Libyans, and many more. A Greater King They were footmen, cavalrymen, chariots, elephants, All students of history realize the importance of and a fleet of transports and fighting triremes Greek-Persian wars. A believer in the Scriptures numbering, according to Herodotus, 1207 ships in all. realizes much more. Xerxes was a great king, as kings When Greek spies were caught in the camp, and a go, but his father, Darius, knew of a greater King. general ordered their execution, Xerxes counter- For he is the living God manded the order, spared the men, had them and he endures forever; conducted through his forces, and then set them free, his kingdom will not be destroyed, trusting that when they had reported to Athens and his dominion will never end. Sparta the extent of his preparations, the remainder of He rescues and he saves; Greece would hasten to surrender." he performs signs and wonders Will Durant, The Life of Greece, p. 238. in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel Engineering Feat of All Time from the power of the lions. In the spring of 480 B.C. the Persian hordes reached (Dan. 6:26, 27) Hellespont (now called the Dardenelles), the narrow The Jews were generally well treated during the two strait which separates Asia Minor from Europe. The centuries of Persian rule. Throughout the Empire they Egyptian and Phoenician engineers in Xerxes' army built synagogues. There is evidence that after the built a bridge of ships across the Hellespont that was events in Esther they became intensely missionary- one of the outstanding engineering feats of all time. minded. The Persians gave the Jews an autonomous According to Herodotus, the bridge was constructed government in Jerusalem. They had their own of 674 ships, each moored with a heavy anchor. They governors, who were mainly priests of the house of made cables of flax and papyrus, bound the cable to . During these centuries, the order of the scribes the ships, and made the cables taut by using capstans. arose. They devoted their lives to the preservation, Trees were cut and planks were laid across the cables. copying, and teaching of the holy writings. From this The planks were covered with earth, and the bridge time on, the intellectual life of the children of Israel became a road. In one week the entire host crossed was devoted to the study of the Law and the Prophets. from Asia into Europe. The scribes and the synagogue welded the Jews into one people. The center of worship at Jerusalem brought foreign Jews to , thereby increasing The Jews were generally well treated both the wealth and population of the Holy Land. during the two centuries of Persian rule. Throughout the Empire they built syna- Daniel's Vision gogues. There is evidence that after the Persia was the second world empire prophesied by events in Esther they became intensely Daniel. The third, Greece, was on the threshold of missionary-minded. They devoted their world dominion. Two centuries before Alexander the Great defeated Persia, Daniel had a vision: "In my lives to the preservation, copying, and vision I saw myself in the citadel of Susa" (Dan. 8:2). teaching of the holy writings. From this This is where Esther became the queen. It was a vision time on, the intellectual life of the children of a ram with two horns and a goat "... from the west, of Israel was devoted to the study of the crossing the whole earth without touching the Law and the Prophets. ground" (Dan. 8:5). interpreted Daniel's vision: "The two- horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Imagine the terror of the Greeks as this horde Media and Persia. The shaggy goat is the king of advanced. For once Sparta and Athens and the other Greece, and the large horn between his eyes is the first Greek city-states united, but at first it seemed that king" (Dan. 8:20 21). defense was futile. Athens was occupied, but the One of the truths of the Book of Daniel is that there Greek refugees fled with the Greek navy to Salamis, is a greater King than Alexander the Great!

16 THE CHOSEN PEOPLE They SawHis Star.

By MICHAEL RYDELNIK Three Gentile wise men God (2:13). But God's plans are Missionary, Long Island never hindered. God sovereignly directed by a supernatural protected His Son by sending Him to The Grinch scorns it; Macy's star came to Jerusalem. Their Egypt until Herod's death (2:13-15). counts profits; Tiny Tim blesses worship demonstrates the everyone. Christmas evokes a varie- proper response to the There are still those in the world ty of responses, but each of these Messiah in four ways. who would destroy the Lord Jesus. only demonstrates attitudes toward It may be a government that Christmas. Of greater significance is persecutes or even murders His how we respond to Jesus, the The King's Hostility followers or a business executive Messiah whose birth is cele - First, there was Herod's reaction who hinders the advancement of a brated at Christmas. of hostility. This Roman puppet king believer for his or her honesty. Such The visit of the Magi (Mt. 2:1-15) is of the Jews feared the One who was persecutions, which on the surface probably recounted in every church rightly born King of the Jews (2:2, 3). are directed against God's children, Christmas play. Yet, this familiar He was afraid that this little Baby truly demonstrate hostility toward story is not for Christmas only, but was going to interfere with his life, God's Son. Our comfort remains the for every day. It demonstrates three his place, and his power. So Herod same: God is in full control. His possible reactions to the Lord Jesus, plotted to murder the promised purposes cannot be thwarted. which persist even now. Messiah and to thwart the plan of continued on following page

DECEMBER 1986 17 continued on following page activities when he can obey the The Religious Leaders' command to "Be still and know that Indifference I am God." Second, the chief priest and Second, the Magi worshipped scribes responded with complete joyfully. After they left Herod, the indifference to the Messiah's birth. guiding star reappeared, prompting Their apathy was even more culpa- them to rejoice at the prospect of ble because it was knowledgeable. seeing the Child (2:10). The irksome- Herod, the political leader, asked ness often felt when approaching these religious leaders where the the Lord is inconsistent with Messiah was to be born (2:4). They worship. Remember, worship of the immediately knew the answer was Lord of life is a joy, not a burden. Bethlehem. They turned to the correct prophetic Scripture; they Submissive Worship interpreted it accurately; they even Third, the Magi's worship was knew the reason for Messiah's birth: submissive. They brought the no- to shepherd His people (2:5, 6). blest gifts that they could to express The religious leaders lacked only their reverence and submission one thing: They did not act on their The tyranny of the (2:11). Likewise, we must bring all knowledge. They did not go to urgent and the cares that we have, our time, our goals, Bethlehem to seek Him. The Prom- our egos, and our talents and lay ised of ages, the Shepherd of Israel, of daily life often them at the Savior's feet. the King-Messiah, the One for separate us, like a Finally, the Magi's worship pro- whom all Israel waited had been duced obedience. After adoring the born. Yet Israel's religious leaders barren desert from Child, God warned them not to refused to travel the five miles from our King. Worship- return to Herod but to go home Jerusalem to Bethlehem to welcome another way. Risking the wrath of or worship Him. They were so ping Him must be a Herod, they obeyed God's Word out engrossed in Temple worship and of love for His Son (2:12). In the same biblical discourse that they were priority. way, believers must obey the Bible indifferent to the One to whom the no matter what the cost. Haddon Temple and the Bible pointed. All Robinson once said, "Selected their information was useless. They obedience is not obedience, it is responded with intellectual, in- of the Jews. Their worship demon- merely convenience." formed indifference. strates the proper response to the If we are to be wise men this Overcoming Indifference Messiah in four ways. First of all they gave worship Christmas and every day, we must There are still those who are so number-one priority. They told respond to the Savior even as the interested in their own affairs that Herod, "We saw his star... and have Magi did. We must worship the the Lord Jesus means nothing to come to worship him" (2:2). Because Lord Jesus, the King of the Jews. ❑ them. Even believers can get so of this goal, they crossed a trackless caught up in Bible study groups, desert, paid for provisions and church projects, and social issues guides, braved the elements, en- Give Someone You Love a that they begin to care little for the dured the threat of robbers, even Hanukkah Gift...... that Lord Himself. We can know much obtained an audience with King lasts forever! Select an ABMJ/ Herod, so that they could worship Chosen People Ministries doctrine and Bible but still be Charitable Gift Annuity and indifferent to God. The way to the Jewish Messiah. make an investment in world- overcome indifference is found in The tyranny of the urgent and the wide evangelism to His chosen the response of the Magi. cares of daily life often separate us, people. For more information like a barren desert, from our King. and an annuity application Worshipping Him must be a prior- please write or call: ABMJ/ The Magi's Worship Chosen People Ministries, Box The Magi reacted with worship. ity. As J.B. Phillips said, "If the 2000, Orangeburg, N.Y. 10962 These Gentile wise men from the Christian is to maintain the spiritual (914) 359-8535. East, directed by a supernatural star, life within him, he must by desper- came to Jerusalem, seeking the King ate resolution elbow a space in his

18 THE CHOSEN PEOPLE By GARY DERECHINSKY Questions and Answers

QUESTION: Is the traditional peace-offerings. Rabbi Judah says, if Thus the shepherds mentioned in date of Messiah's birth during the valid for Passover-offerings they Luke were on their way to Jerusalem month of December trustworthy? It must be considered as Passover- with their flock to offer as sacrifices would appear unlikely that shep- offerings if (such cattle are found) at the Temple. These flocks were not herds would have been pasturing within thirty days of the Festival (of regularly pasturing in the open their flocks during the winter Passover.)" (Shekalim 7.4). during this season. Rather, they months. The shepherds to whom the were just passing through. ANSWER: Many who have ob- angelic message came (Lk. 2:8-20) Rabbi Judah's statement is also jected to the traditonal date of were those watching the flock near noteworthy for it indicates that if Messiah's birth on the grounds that Bethlehem destined for sacrifice in such cattle or flocks were found the rains or rare snowfalls of the Temple. The Migdal Eder, within thirty days of the Passover December would prevent the flocks referred to in the Mishnah, was a festival and were valid for Passover- from being kept out all night "in the well-known "watch tower of the offerings, they must be considered field" are mistaken. The Mishnah flock" located between Bethlehem as Passover-offerings. Thus the sheds a great deal of light on this and (see Gen. 35:21; Mic. Mishnah considers the possibility of question. It states; "If cattle be 4:8). In fact, it was so well known cattle or flocks in the open pasture found, between Jerusalem and Mig- that if flocks or cattle were found as thirty days before Passover, or dal Eder (The watch tower of the far from Jerusalem as the Migdal during the month of February when flock) — and to an equal distance Eder, and within that circuit in all the rainfall in Israel is the heaviest in (from Jerusalem) in every direction directions, the males were offered as the year. — males are to be considered as burnt-offerings and the females as burnt-offerings and females as peace-offerings.

For more information about introducing your Jewish friends to the Messiah, please contact a regional director near you

WESTERN USA SOUTHWESTERN MIDWESTERN USA SOUTHEASTERN NORTHEASTERN USA WESTERN CANADA USA CENTRAL CANADA USA EASTERN CANADA

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DECEMBER 1986 19 Non-Profit BULK Orangeburg, NY Permit No. 32

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