The Shofar Sounds
At sundown on Sept. 20th the shofar was sounded
at synagogues worldwide to call Jewish people to gather, to celebrate Rosh
Hashanah (Jewish New Year), and to make amends with their fellow man. Jewish tradition teaches that three books are
opened in heaven at the outset of Rosh Hashanah. If their good deeds outweigh their bad deeds,
they may be inscribed in the book of life – for one year. Ten days following Rosh Hashanah, Jewish
people then seek to make amends with God.
They plead with God at Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, for
forgiveness. The books are then sealed –
and so is ones fate…for one year.
God requires a blood sacrifice for the atonement of sin
(Leviticus 17:11). The sacrificial
system ceased with the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD. The ultimate sacrifice had already been made
– Jesus. How are sins forgiven today at
Yom Kippur?
During our weekly Bible study at a
Scottsdale retirement community, Perla walked into the room and stood behind me
and shared that she had an announcement.
After explaining the time frame of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, Perla,
stated that in the midst of an entire year, Jewish people have been given only
ten days to repent of their sins so that they may be written in the book of
life. Following her bleak broadcast, I
said, “Isn’t that a shame? How sad it is
to believe that God offers Himself – His salvation – for such a limited
time! God declares in the Tanakh, Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him
return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on
him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” I then asked Perla if she was planning on
bringing an animal to the synagogue for Yom Kippur since God has required, in
the Torah, that blood must be shed for atonement. Perla told the class that she would ask her
daughter. I suggested that Perla ask her
Rabbi!
I was asked to lead
a Rosh Hashanah service at another retirement center in Scottsdale. While reading and explaining God’s provision
for Isaac in Genesis 22, one of the Jewish men excitedly blurted out, “This is
beautiful! Why haven’t we heard
this? Can I study with you?”
In explaining the Feasts of Israel to your Jewish friends,
ask them, “In what book will your name be written?” and “How will your sins be
forgiven?” It’s a great time to tell
them, “I know my name is written in the Book of Life – based on what God has
provided through the Feasts of Israel - because the Messiah, Jesus, the
Passover Lamb, shed His blood to remove my sins forever.”
In Him, Cathy
cathylouwilson@live.com
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