Rooted in the Word and not the World

I woke up this Shabbat to the heartbreaking news from Amsterdam, and my heart sank as I read about the senseless hatred spilling out onto the streets. Amsterdam—once a place where Anne Frank hid in an attic, fearing for her life—has become a symbol of the kind of evil that still lives in the world today. To think that such baseless hatred is now finding its voice there again is deeply painful. Since October 7th of last year, I’ve been trying to brace myself for the rising tide of hatred I see spreading, but no matter how hard I prepare, it still hits me like a punch to my gut. 

I can’t help but wonder how Elohim feels as He looks down on the world—seeing the hearts of men and women consumed by hatred without reason, longing only to tear down everything that is good. Scripture warns us about these moments:

"The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7, NIV).

When hatred takes root, it’s not just in the actions we see, but in the very hearts of people, hearts turned away from the righteouesness and goodness of our Creator.

It would be easy to fall into despair or resentment, to let the darkness around us swallow us whole. But we can’t allow ourselves that indulgence right now. This is a time to be grounded in Elohim's Word and to keep our eyes fixed on Him.

" Therefore, since we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also get rid of every weight and entangling sin. Let us run with endurance the race set before us, focusing on Yeshua, the initiator and perfecter of faith." (Hebrews 12:1-2, TLV).

There’s no time to look away or pretend ignorance. The storm may be fierce, but He is our anchor.

When we feel like the walls are closing in, we just need to take a moment to reflect on what it must have felt like for the Israelites at the Sea of Reeds, with the Egyptian army closing in behind them. It must have seemed like there was no way out—no escape from certain destruction. And yet, Elohim made a way.

“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still”(Exodus 14:14, NIV).

In those moments when we feel helpless, His promise remains: He is the one who delivers. We may not understand His timing or His ways, but we can trust that He is faithful, even when things seem impossible.

Now more than ever, we need to hold on to that truth—that our hope is in Elohim and not in what we see around us.

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:12, NIV).

In the midst of the pain and uncertainty, may we stand firm in our faith, keep our hearts anchored in His truth, and continue to be a light in the darkness.

This is not the time for retreat—it’s a time for resilience, for leaning into the strength that only Elohim can provide

As we reflect on these dark moments and the overwhelming hatred in the world, it’s fitting that we are approaching Chanukah. The season of Chanukah is a reminder of a time in history when a small group of brave souls stood up against forces of evil, against those who sought to destroy their faith, culture, and identity. The Maccabees, though outnumbered and facing a very probable defeat, chose not to hide in their fear or give in to despair. Instead, they stood firm in their conviction to honour Elohim, and because of this, they overcame their enermy against overwhelming odds.

The story of the Maccabees isn’t just one of military victory—it’s a story of resistance against assimilation and the preservation of a people’s identity in the face of an empire whose entire goal was to destroy it. Antiochus IV, demanded that the Jewish people abandon their faith, desecrated their holy temple and made life in unbearable. But the Maccabees remained rooted in the Word of Elohim. They fought not just for physical freedom, but for the preservation of their spiritual heritage and the sanctity of their relationship with Elohim. In their courage, they showed us what it means to hold on to what is true, even when the world pressures us to let go.

“Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God himself will fight for you” (Deuteronomy 3:22, NIV)

As we prepare to celebrate Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, we are reminded that light often shines brightest in the darkest of times. The story of miracle of the oil, where a small flask of oil—enough to light the menorah for just one day—lasted for eight, symbolises not just a physical miracle, but a spiritual one. It reminds us that no matter how darl the world may seem, Elohim is able to bring light. The Maccabees, though small in number, were able to overcome because they trusted in Elohim, and He provided the way.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house” (Matthew 5:14-15, NIV)

The same light that guided the Maccabees through their darkest hours is the light that shines in us today, calling us to be a beacon of hope and faith in the midst of a world that desperately needs it.

Chanukah is a reminder that we, too, are called to stand firm in the face of adversity. The hatred we see today is not new. It’s a force that has been around for centuries, looking to destroy faith, freedom, and truth. Just as the Maccabees did, we must find the courage to resist and remain faithful to our Elohim, knowing that He is with us in the fight. We don’t have to face these battles alone.

"The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1, NIV).

Our victory is not in our own strength, but in His.

Keep praying for Israel, keep being a light to those around you, stay rooted in the Word and seated at yeshua's feet. This battle belongs to our Elohim!