Elisha Vision – Commentary

Maybe I had too much free time during Hurricane Florence this week, but my thoughts have turned to repentance. Also, Tuesday at sundown is the start of Yom Kippur, the highest holy day in the Jewish calendar, which happens to be about repentance. My “brain floaters” (see: Brain Floaters) even drifted over to the bombshell accusation of Judge Kavanaugh. Here are my four thoughts in order.

1. Repent. We have already heard the usual criticisms of the weather forecasters for “exaggerating” the hurricane. And yet, thousands (probably millions) of people were praying that the possible Category 4 storm would diminish, turn out to sea, or in some way not be as bad as predicted. Their. Prayers. Were. Answered. I am sure there was a lot of repentance going on in the Carolinas. Yes, of course, it is still terrible. And the flooding will be terrible for weeks. But it was not a Cat 4! I personally saw SW Miami a few weeks after Hurricane Andrew. It was like a 30 mile wide tornado had roared through. There were no homes standing. Folks could not even find their streets because all landmarks were obliterated including trees and street signs leveled. Hurricane Florence hit as a Cat 1. Thank you merciful Father Yehovah God and Messiah Yeshua, for sparing us “the big one.”
2. Yom Kippur is primarily about repentance where observant Jews acknowledges their need of forgiveness through repentance. In Judaism, Yehovah covers their sins for another year. In Jesus, our sins are taken away permanently. Hallelujah! The Judeo/Christian heritage is one of forgiveness and second chances.The prayers of Yom Kippur are focused on the confession of guilt and on petitioning, both privately and publicly, for mercy.

   But Messiah having come as a Kohen Gadol (high priest) of the coming good things, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation, nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption. HNV – Hebrew Names Version 

3. Why read Jonah on Yom Kippur? The prayers of Yom Kippur are focused on the confession of guilt and on petitioning, both privately and publicly, for mercy. The entire Old Testament book of Jonah is read as part of the liturgy for Yom Kippur, because of its emphasis on God’s forgiveness for those who repent. (WRAL.com)        Connecting Jonah to Florence is easy. After Nineveh repented, God spared the city from utter destruction, and Jonah complained! He had prophesied destruction and God showed mercy. Moral?: Don’t complain that Florence was not as bad as predicted, be thankful.
4. What about the Kavanaugh accusation? Don’t you think 36 years of outstanding moral reputation is enough to conclude he is trustworthy? I don’t believe he is guilty, but even if one were guilty, I thought we were a country of forgiveness and second chances. His life bears the evidence of a man who has already faced his sins and found forgiveness. Let’s leave that dubious politically timed move alone. Christians are not perfect, just forgiven. Do you want to know what Judge Kavanaugh believes? Look at the life he has led for 36 years.

Pray for our country, pray for Jerusalem, and pray that some of our rain would go to Israel.

Les Lawrence, Voice of Christian Zionists                  (Read more)