September, 2007

Dear Friend,

Labor Day is a national holiday in honor of the American working man and working woman and an acknowledgment of all that has been accomplished in this nation’s history by the diligent efforts of its citizens.  While it is a good thing, and an appropriate source of pride, to work hard and accomplish much (2 Thessalonians 3:6-13), it can also be a detriment to spiritual life.

In the sixty year history of the modern state of Israel, an enormous amount of progress has been made in turning that land from a backward, mosquito-infested swamp to a 21st century paradigm of agricultural, industrial, and technological advancement and productivity and this in spite of the necessity to constantly ward off enemies bent on national obliteration.  A major factor in these accomplishments has been the hard work (exemplifying Churchill’s call, in another context, for “blood, sweat, and tears”) of the Jewish people in the Land, especially the residents (“kibbutzniks”) of the three hundred collective communities (kibbutzim) scattered throughout the country.  As noteworthy and admirable as this is, it has had the negative effect of producing a self-sufficiency and faulty pride in man’s ability that obscure the profound limits of human efforts in controlling life and life-after-death.

Israel’s great king David recognized well the need to trust in the Lord, first and foremost, as expressed in his song:

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.  (Psalm 20:7)

It is only when all hope in human defense and help is lost that the nation of Israel, as a nation, will turn to the One who can truly help them, as prophesied by Zechariah, chapters twelve through fourteen.

Meanwhile, individual Jewish people are being confronted with their need to turn from personal pride and self-sufficiency to the One who, at the cost of His own life, offers them life abundant and life eternal.  Some are responding positively to the Holy Spirit’s work in their hearts and in this we greatly rejoice.