The message of HOPE is a central theme of the Feast of Hanukkah. Hanukkah reminds us that we can have confident hope in God’s plans, purposes and promises. They will not be thwarted (Ps 33:11), no matter what scheme the enemy tries to use, or how out of control our lives, country or world may seem to be.
We do not need to fear, no matter what we may see in our own circumstances or in the world around us. Fear is not from God (2 Tim 1:7). The enemy loves it when we fear and keep our eyes on what we see versus what is unseen (2 Cor. 4:18), because fear gives him a handle or influence in our lives. He wants us to believe in our hearts that somehow God has abandoned us, or that He’s just “not in the picture,” or that He’s just watching from a far off distance, or that He’s no longer on the throne. We may watch or read the news and fear that our economy is on the throne, or that our president is on the throne, or that terrorists are on the throne. These, however, are all lies and Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44).
Although Antiochus’ evil schemes to wipe out all things of God may have been a surprise to the Jews at the time, they were not a surprise to God (Ps. 139:16). The events of Hanukkah were foretold by the prophet Daniel 400 years before they ever took place. God was still on the throne then, and He’s still on the throne now.
He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb 13:8). He is the one who was, and who is, and who is to come (Rev 1:8 ). “Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses,” (1 Kings 8:56), and not one word of His will fail in the future. God WILL continue to keep His promises, He WILL heal our hearts, He WILL NEVER leave us nor forsake us, Yeshua WILL return in victory, Satan WILL be thrown into the lake of fire for all eternity, there WILL be a new heavens and a new earth.
Don’t confuse the evil schemes of the enemy that you see all around you, with the always good, always perfect, always loving plans that the Lord has for your life (Ps. 25:10; Jer 29:11; James 1:17; Ps 138:8).
What are you fearing today that’s giving the enemy a handle in your life? Let the message of Hanukkah remind you that God is still with you and that He’s still on the throne. Let it give you the HOPE to focus your eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, and to call the things that are not as though they were! (Rom 4:17)
Chag Sameach
Happy Hanukkah!
Ps. 33:11 – The plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.
2 Tim 1:7 – For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
2 Cor 4:18 – So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Ps. 139:16 -All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
Ps. 25:10 – All the paths of the LORD are lovingkindness and truth to those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.
Jer 29:11 – For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
James 1:17 – every good and perfect gift is from above.
Ps. 138:8 – The LORD will fulfill that which concerns me; Your lovingkindness, LORD, endures forever.
