Remember when Gilad Shalit was released from 5 years of captivity by Hamas recently? A recent news report states that “Shas Minister Meshulam Nahari says formerly captive soldier should have gone to synagogue to pray on first Saturday after his return” essentially slamming him for going to the beach instead of the synagogue on their first shabbat after being released. A friend of mine pointed this news article out to me saying “one of the things that crossed my mind was that this man has no right to judge Gilad. Gilad may have already given his thanks to God in the privacy of his home for example.” If you do not know, there is a lot of harassment in Israel, other countries, and especially on the internet by the orthodox community against those who believe Yeshua is the Messiah questioning one’s Jewishness. The question of identity as a Jewish person. A lot of nastiness goes on online under the idea that one is doing service to God who align themselves with people, groups, or extremists orthodox groups such as Yad Lachim as an example. There were quite a few comments on the news article located here: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4143329,00.html one person commented saying:
Why don’t the rabbis leave this boy alone? Only HaShem knows his heart and he probably prayed more in Gaza than all the rabbis in Israel. His relationship to his Creator is none of Yosef or Nahari’s business. HaShem is looking for a personal relationship not some man made religious experience to please everyone watching.
Personally, I believe this is a form of terrorism. When I read the article and after discussing this with a few friends online, I thought on how the people who terrorize others in this way are living in complete lawlessness. They may not break man’s law, and they may keep the Torah command like observing the Shabbat and going to Synagogue, but they have complete and utter lawlessness in their hearts in the vile thoughts and actions towards others. Especially hating another human being like what is done with Gilad. Like this person who comments on the article said, we dont know how he (Gilad) has thanked God for his deliverance. Yeshua said that if you hate your brother you have committed murder in your heart (Matthew 5:21-23). I believe that even just thinking in our hearts someone is stupid or dumb, God sees and is disappointed, and we violate the Torah command (Leviticus 19:17). Recently I have been thinking a lot about this. I have caught myself and it has been pointed out by others that I am very judgmental. Personally I didn’t think that I am but as I prayed about it and thought on these things, the Lord has led me to realize that I really am. Every day I would think in my head that someone was stupid, driving down the road calling someone an idiot for driving too fast or cutting me off, or maybe at work if someone rubs me the wrong way, etc. My oh my I did not realize how messed up I really am. I cant even get it right on the inside not to mention everything on the outside. I pray and seek the Lord to help me to stop being this way in my heart. I have gotten in such a habit of doing these things, “hateful thoughts” and regarding the way I think as meaningless when I think harshly about others on this or that issue. The scriptures say that God desires mercy rather than sacrifice, and justice and righteousness rather than an offering (Proverbs 21:3). In my own heart I have been merciless and not had thoughts in righteousness and justice. When we stand before God as it says in Matthew 7:21-25, these scriptures really take on a new meaning when Yeshua says “I never knew you, depart from me you working of lawlessness.” How merciless and laweless I have been in my own heart towards others when I make a judgement in my heart. Is being a “worker of lawlessness” a function of how we think in our hearts because this is who we are and what motivates us in life? These people like the Shas Minister Meshulam Nahari or in Israel, or on the internet who openly harass others, who openly make a show of who they are on the inside, we can pray for them because certainly they need Yeshua to make peace in their hearts. But if we really step back and examine ourselves, we are just as bad before God. These are the things I have been thinking about recently, the last few weeks. We truly have to rely upon the Lord God Almighty for everything, and hope and pray for His mercy and grace. I thank the Lord that He sent Yeshua to make atonement for me and my sins. I am also thankful that Yeshua came and talked about these things, such as the hateful thoughts in our hearts (Matthew 5:21-23 which is commentary on Leviticus 19:17 “Do not hate your brother in your heart. …”) … We are so lucky today with all that we have and all of scripture to know God, to know His Messiah, and to know true peace with the Lord … It says in Scripture to pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalms 122:6), as we pray for peace, pray also that men will find true peace starting with God’s Messiah Yeshua, because until we get the inside right before God, it will be impossible to get it right on the outside. But not only that, when we stand before God one day, will He say “Well done good and faithful servant” or will He say Depart from me you working of lawlessness?” This is a serious issue and definitely something to think about and consider very carefully!
Blessings in Yeshua the Messiah!
MATSATI
