​The beginning of creation demonstrates the power of God's Word. "And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light." (Genesis 1:3) All of creation is an example of how God spoke the word and the earth came into existence. God assures us in the much-quoted verse of Isaiah 55:11 that His word that goes out from His mouth will not return empty but will accomplish what He desires. God has a purpose for every verse in the Bible, and when it is read aloud, there is power in it. That is one of the reasons I am so encouraged by what happened at our nation’s Capital this past week.
 
As part of the celebration of America's 250th birthday, an organization called "Christians Engaged" arranged for nearly five hundred leaders from our country to read the entire Bible aloud from Genesis to Revelation. The initiative is called "America Reads the Bible." It began on April 19 and ran through April 25 with citizens reading Scripture from the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D. C. One of the event highlights occurred when our President, Donald Trump, read from 2 Chronicles 7:11-22 via video from the Oval Office.
 
In commemoration of this historic event the President sent out a message on April 17. Here is some of what he said: "...In every generation, through every trial and triumph, God's Word has guided our people and our country to incredible new heights...Today, during our 250th year of American independence, The America Reads the Bible initiative invites all citizens to once again acknowledge our Nation's extraordinary Biblical foundations and give thanks for countless ways in which God has been the sacred source of our unity and national strength. This one-week event, during which leaders in faith, government, business, and entertainment will read every verse and chapter of the Bible, will inspire countless citizens to rediscover the Biblical truths that animated our Republic for two and a half centuries and pray that the Bible will continue to guide us—as individuals, as a people, as a nation—for the next 250 years and beyond...Together we will honor Holy Scripture, renew our faith, usher in a historic resurgence of religion on American shores, and rededicate the United States as One Nation under God.”
 
It is reported that the inspiration for this seven-day reading of the Bible came from the book of Nehemiah where Ezra was instructed to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses a few days after the walls of Jerusalem were complete. "So, on the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men and women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law." (Nehemiah 8:2 & 3)
 
Let us remember what is says in Romans 10:17—that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. Statistics from the American Bible Society tell us that forty-two percent of Americans have never opened a Bible and that even professing Christians are increasingly Biblically illiterate. Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, wants to see Americans "rediscover the ancient paths" because "Those who know their history understand that the Bible played a fundamental role in the founding of this nation...We need to return to that understanding of the role that Scripture plays in guiding and directing us individually, but also collectively as a nation."
 
Think about the impact the reading of the Bible could have on our nation as the power of God's Word went forth! Perhaps there will be conviction of sin, a spirit of repentance, joy in the Lord, and/or revival. As the sound of truth permeated our nation, let us pray in agreement with the Lord that it will accomplish what He desires. Rest assured that this was both a historic and holy moment in our nation.

​There is a picture of an open Torah scroll making rounds on social media that should make us pause and think about God. As demonstrated by this picture, He speaks to us in a multitude of ways that will direct our attention toward Him. At the beginning of Israel's "Operation Lion's Roar" a missile came into Beit Shemesh, in Israel, and killed nine people and injured many more. These people were sheltering in the basement of the town's synagogue. Those who helped clear through the rubble found an open Torah scroll with a shard of metal from the missile that was stuck at the reading for the week.
 
The Parasha (Torah portion) to be read for that week is called "Zachor," which means remember. This Scripture commands us to remember the attack that Amalek made on the Israelites after they left Egypt. It would have been read on the Sabbath before Purim and comes from Deuteronomy 25:17-19. "Remember what the Amalekites did to you along the way when you came out of Egypt. When you were weary and worn out, they met you on your journey and cut off all who were lagging behind; they had no fear of God. When the Lord your God gives you rest from all the enemies around you in the land He is giving you to possess as an inheritance, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget!" With the placement of the missile fragment directly beneath this Scripture, God was speaking to His people.
 
The missile fragment seemed to be reminding the Jewish people, as they prepared to celebrate Purim, how connected the past is to the present and future. How is this so? Along with the weekly Torah portion, there is also a selected reading from the "Prophets" to be recited in the synagogues. This is called "the Haftarah." It is meant to relate to the Torah portion. The haftarah that connects to Deuteronomy 25:17-19 comes from 1 Samuel 15:2-34. It is the story of King Saul's battle against Amalek and his failure to destroy King Agag as instructed by God. Because Saul spared the life of Agag, years down the road Haman arose and continued the battle against the Jews during the reign of Queen Esther. Haman was a direct descendant of King Agag. (Esther 3:1) However, God always gives us an opportunity to redeem our situations. Just as Haman was a direct descendant of Agag, Mordecai, Queen Esther's guardian, was from Saul's tribe, Benjamin. Therefore, Saul's descendants had the opportunity to accomplish what he failed to do.
 
This uncanny position of the shrapnel from an Iranian missile under the "Parashat Zachor" highlights the importance of doing what God instructs: "Remember," and "Do not forget!" Isn't it interesting that the missile that struck the Torah scroll came all the way from Iran whose name was Persia where the story of Purim took place about 2,500 years ago? God uses every means at His disposal to speak to us and guide us in all truth. Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Every year Jewish synagogues read through the first five books of the Bible or Torah, written by Moses. There are fifty-four sections to the weekly Torah portions. These portions or sections are called Parashat. Each Parashat is named after a significant word at the beginning of the section to be read. Last week's portion is named Mishpatim for laws, judgments, or ordinances. This eighteenth Parashat covers Exodus 21:1 through Exodus 24:18. It contains a detailed system of rules for the people that include the civil code, social justice commands, ways for ethical living, and ways to apply the Divine law to everyday life.
 
In Parashat Mishpatim we see that one of the ways that God determines faithfulness to His covenant is how we treat one another, even enemies. Moses wrote how justice should be lived out in daily life. We have in this portion of Scripture an invitation to live in ways that reflect His justice and compassion. God wants us to remember that even our enemies are made in His image. In God's Kingdom, justice, and mercy work together.
 
God brings us into situations where we get to quietly attest to our faithfulness to His commands. One such situation is written about in Exodus 23:4 and 5. "If you come across your enemy's ox or his donkey wandering off, be sure to take it back to him. If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen down under its load, do not leave it there. Be sure you help him with it." We reflect the Lord to our neighbors, strangers, and adversaries by how we treat them." 
 
God leads us on the path of humility in our day-to-day experiences. There is a Hebrew word used only ten times in the Scriptures. That word, zud, means to boil up, seethe, or arrogance. When we allow arrogance to bubble up it leads us to behave in a way that does not honor God. We read that Nehemiah led the Israelites in confession of their sins. He reminded them of this: "But they, our forefathers, became arrogant and stiff-necked, and did not obey Your commands. They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles You performed among them..." (Nehemiah 9:16 and 17) He commands us to even protect the property of those who oppose us. Humility helps us cool down the arrogance of wanting to do things our way so that it does not bubble up and explode in anger.
 
Our behavior is shaped in the heart and manifests through physical action. We must ask ourselves, "What is brewing in my heart, and does it reflect the One True God that I worship?" We must follow the instruction given in Colossians 3:5. "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature..." Considering this week's instruction in Parashat Mishpatim, let us make David's prayer in Psalm 19:14 our own. "May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord my Rock and my Redeemer."

​The Church is defined as the Bride of Christ and Christ as our Bridegroom. Our time on earth is meant as a time of preparation so that we can present our lives to the Bridegroom as pure and spotless just as our spirits are now. The season of preparation can be difficult because it involves sacrifice and discipline. God's people, whose stories are told in the Bible, had to spend time in the wilderness. This is the place where we learn to focus on the Bridegroom. That means we must be willing to leave familiar places to follow the Holy Spirit into the wilderness.
 
One of the women in the Bible who exemplifies this bride is Rebekah. Before we meet her in the Bible, we read the story of Abraham and how he was preparing for his death. His servant, Eliezer (meaning "God is my help"), was directed to travel to Abraham's homeland to find a wife for his son, Isaac. The woman he would bring back had to be willing to follow him. In other words, she had to follow him into the wilderness. In this story, Eliezer represents the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is looking for a pure, virgin bride who is not enticed by the gods of this world.
 
Before meeting Rebekah, Eliezer had a talk with God and asked Him to bring him a woman who had a servant's heart, came from a godly family, and would be willing to leave her family to follow him. This expectation for Isaac's wife sounds like what Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 10:37-39. "Anyone who loves his father and mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it."
 
Eliezer was able to see Rebekah's servant heart when he met her at the well. Not only did she give him a drink, but she also offered to water his camels. Imagine how long it took her to draw water for ten thirsty camels! Next, her brother Laban came to the well and invited Eliezer to bring his camels to their home. As food was being prepared and set before him, Eliezer insisted on telling Rebekah's family the reason for his journey. They agreed that she should go back to Abraham's son. Rebekah sealed the deal when she agreed to go and said, "I will go." (Genesis 24:58)
 
Rebekah was sent off with a family blessing. "Our sister, may you increase to thousands upon thousands; may your offspring possess the gates of their enemies." (Genesis 24:60) This would not be an easy journey for Rebekah. I read that she would have had to travel about 600 miles on a camel. She left her place of comfort to be tested in the hot, dry desert. During the journey, Eliezer, her Holy Spirit, helped to prepare her for her commitment to Isaac, her bridegroom. Once Rebekah made her commitment to Isaac, she would have another wilderness to traverse—the wilderness of barrenness. Isaac was sixty years old before she gave birth to twins. It was Rebekah's faith that sustained her until the promise of her family blessing was realized.
 
All of us must go through wilderness seasons in our lives. God will use these seasons to develop our character and to teach us how to overcome the giants that war against our souls. It is vital that we keep our eyes on the Lord and remember the promises that He has given to us. He has planned every portion of our wilderness journey, knows what we are experiencing, and what we need to move through it. The Lord will teach us how to pursue His heart and follow Him no matter what the cost. There is an end to every wilderness, and God wants us to exit it leaning on Him, our Beloved, not leaning on our own understanding. (Song of Solomon 8:5)

From the very beginning of creation, God was intentional about the way He made the earth and all the creatures in it. However, His crowning glory was the making of human beings. "Then God said, 'Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.' So, God created human beings in His own image. In the image of God, He created them; male and female He created them." (Genesis 1:26, 27 - NLT)
 
I want to look more deeply into two parts of this Scripture. First, why is the plural "let us," used? The word for God in Hebrew is Elohim. It is used to emphasize the majesty of the One True God who is the Lord of all lords. Included in this name is all the attributes of Elohim. Our God is all powerful, all knowing, good, wise, trustworthy, and loving, just to name a few. This plural form of God may also be directing us to the Trinity--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
 
Next, we should note that we were created in the image of God. He created us with His nature and attributes. Ephesians 4:23 and 24 explain that we are being made new in the attitude of our minds. It says, "...Put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." When God made a covenant with Noah, He made it clear that we are to honor life. "...I will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man. Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for in the image of God has God made man." (Genesis 9:6) I believe that the image of God speaks of our entire being, the special relationship we can have with Him, and our mandate to reign over creation. Our self-worth is based on the knowledge that we are made in God's image. In our recognition of God's image in all people, we can see qualities that are not included in the rest of creation.
 
As Christians, we should be growing in our understanding of our image of Christ in us. Over the holidays I became aware that we think that God looks like us. My husband and I visited the Glencairn Museum. It is a castle-like home in Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania, designed by Raymond Pitcairn, an industrialist and collector. There are more than ninety rooms on ten floors of the Romanesque-style building constructed between 1928 and 1939. The reason for our visit was primarily to see the collection of nativity scenes from around the world.
 
We saw elaborate nativity scenes from Italy, China, Switzerland, Haiti, Zimbabwe, Peru, Columbia, and the United States, to name a few. Here is what struck me as I looked at the variety of nativities: Each character in the set was made to reflect the nature of the people in the country from which it originated. The figures—Joseph, Mary, Jesus, the shepherds, and the wise men—had faces and bodies and clothes like the individuals who made them.
 
While I understand that it may help us feel closer to God by imagining Him in our image, the truth is that God wants us to look like Jesus. This is the reason He came to earth. Romans 8:29 tells us, "For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers." Father God makes it clear in His Word that He wants us to reflect the image of Jesus to the rest of the world. Jesus told the crowds of people in Israel when He delivered the Beatitudes, "You are the light of the world...Let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." The call on our lives is to look like Jesus. 

​As we have moved into a new year, it is time to consider the call of God on our lives. Integrated with the new year is the tenth month on the Hebrew calendar called Tevet. The number ten is not only the number of testimony, (The Ten Commandments were in the Ark of the Testimony.) but the number of godly authority. When we consider our own lives, we should also be praying for godly authority for our Commander in Chief and other leaders of our country. The enemy of our souls tries to get to us through our leaders. This is why we are instructed to pray for them. 
 
The word Tevet means "good." God's will for us is to move toward the light. The natural light of each day will be increasing as we go into the new year. When we consider our plans for the new year we should be charting a course of righteousness. Proverbs 4:18 tells us, "The path of righteousness is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day." New life flows in the light. Isn't it fitting that the Hebrew letter associated with Tevet is AYIN which pictures an eye and a spring or well? We must see with spiritual eyes for new life to flow like a fresh spring.
 
The Lord desires for our eyes to be focused on the good. 2 Chronicles 16:9 talks about the eyes of the Lord. They "range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him..." This Scripture corresponds with the one that my pastor, George Matthew Clash, Lead Pastor at The Crossing in Washington Crossing, PA, gave to us last Sunday. “Come out from among them and be separate,” says the Lord. “Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters..." (2 Corinthians 6:17, 18 - NKJ) This word was delivered by the apostle Paul to the Corinthians when he was encouraging them to stay in the light and to live according to the righteousness of God. He asked a question that is pertinent in the month of Tevet. "And what agreement has the temple of God with idols?" (2 Corinthians 6:16)
 
The reason that this Scripture from 2 Corinthians hits home in Tevet and the beginning of the new year is because this month is associated with the tribe of Dan. Dan means to rule or judge. Grouped with the tribes of Naphtali and Asher in their camp and when they marched, they formed a rear guard and were called to help in the protection of the Israelites. Sadly, the tribe of Dan became the first one to worship idols. It was in Dan's territory that King Jeroboam set up golden calves where the people came to bow down and worship them. The constellation in the sky during this month is Capricorn, the goat. It should be a sign to remind us not to make wrong alignments. Goat nations formed alliances that show us their break from God's covenant.
 
Our desire should be to align ourselves with God and His plans and purposes for our lives. This will mean that we will need to make sacrifices in the new year. Psalm 33:18 and 20 says, "Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in HIs mercy...Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield." (NKJ) Tevet and the beginning of 2026 mark the start of a season of preparation. Ask the Lord for His divine strategy and vision for the year to come. He made a promise to His people in Isaiah 52:12. "...For the Lord will go before you. And the God of Israel will be your rear guard." What more could we ask for? Let us walk into the year ahead with willingness to be set apart from the world, to pray for those in authority over us, to focus on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, and to walk in righteousness and holiness to advance the kingdom of God.

​ 
After being hired by Balak, the king of Moab, to curse the Israelites, Balaam took a journey to evaluate what should be done. He warned Balak: "I must speak only what God puts in my mouth." (Numbers 22:38) Four times Balaam prophesied, and every time a blessing was pronounced over Israel. On the fourth time God used him to bring forth a message about the coming Messiah. "I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the sons of Sheth." (Numbers 24:17) Balaam was unable to deliver a message of cursing and had to forfeit the reward he had been promised. However, God used this man to speak a prophetic word that probably convinced the astrologers or kings to travel to Jerusalem to search for Jesus.
 
Scholars surmise that the wise men were from near the site of ancient Babylon. Perhaps those Jews who remained in exile in Babylon could have told them the prophecies of Messiah’s coming. Perhaps the wise men had copies of an Old Testament. Or, perhaps they received a message from God directing them toward the Messiah. We do not know the nature of the star that appeared to guide the wise men, but they were determined to follow the light and traveled thousands of miles to worship King Jesus.
 
God used another prophetic message to reveal the place where the Messiah would be born. It comes from Micah 5:2. "But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel." This message was quoted to King Herod by the chief priests when he asked where The Christ was to be born. We can also read it in Matthew 2:6
 
The star the wise men saw in the east guided them to Bethlehem, and when they saw Jesus with His mother, "they bowed down and worshiped Him." (Matthew 2:11) It is thought that Jesus was about one or two years old when the wise men gave Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Each gift is thought to be a symbol of Christ's identity and what He would accomplish. Gold was given to royalty, frankincense was a gift for deity, and myrrh was the spice used to anoint a body for burial.
 
There may have been another use for the gifts of the wise men. After they returned to their own country without stopping by to report to Herod, he became furious and gave orders for all the boys in Bethlehem two years old and under to be killed. Another prophetic word from Jeremiah 31:15 was fulfilled here. "A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more." Joseph had been warned in a dream to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt so that they could escape the wrath of Herod. Perhaps the gifts of the wise men provided the financial resources this family needed for their trip. The prophetic word from Hosea 11:1, "Out of Egypt I called my son." was fulfilled when Herod died and an angel directed Joseph to return to the Israel. Joseph, Mary, and Jesus finally settled in Nazareth so that the word of the prophet from Isaiah 11:1 which called Him a "Branch" was fulfilled. The Hebrew word for "Branch" is similar to the word for "Nazarene."
 
The word of God is our divine guide. Jesus fulfilled the prophetic words about Himself. Likewise, the Bible now speaks to us so that we can be successful in our quest to follow God's directions for our lives. As we stand on the threshold of a new year, why not pursue His guidance on how to live so we fulfill His divine purpose for our lives.