Hanukkah is a memorial of cleansing and dedication; remembering when light overcame darkness; when the Maccabees said YES to YHVH and NO to the legislated practice of the day. It is when righteousness overcame evil.

The book of Proverbs tells us that when the wicked rule the people do wickedly; and when the righteous rule the people do righteously. Taking even just a casual glance at the state of affairs in the world today; it is with not too much difficulty that one can see evil abounding in the earth. The Scripture is full of stories of the people of YHVH doing wickedly to the point where they groaned under the burden of wicked oppression which then caused them to begin to call out to YHVH for deliverance. As YHVH’s people humbled themselves, turned from their wicked ways and prayed, He answered them and delivered them.

Jeremiah 46:27-28 “But as for you, O Jacob My servant, do not fear, nor be dismayed, O Israel! For, see, I am going to save you from afar, and your descendants from the land of their captivity; and Jacob will return and be undisturbed and secure, with no one making him tremble.” “O Jacob My servant, do not fear,” declares the LORD, “For I am with you. For I will make a full end of all the nations where I have driven you, yet I will not make a full end of you; but I will correct you properly and by no means leave you unpunished.”

Leviticus 11:44 tells us that YHVH wants us to be holy as He is holy. In other words YHVH wants us to take a firm stand against evil. 2Corinthians 6:17 “Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,” says the Lord. “AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; and I will welcome you.”

Judgment is coming, but will YHVH’s judgment be with restraint or unrestrained? The answer to that question, my friend, is up to each one of us. A few nights ago while I was in prayer I was left with a strong impression that judgment will be tempered if we repent — make Teshuva — turn from our wicked ways and seek YHVH’s face. It does not delight YHVH to allow calamity, death and destruction. He earnestly desires for us to live in the abundant life of Yahshua, where the world will know we are His disciples by the love we have for one another.

We must repent of our sins; we must stop making excuses for our bad behavior and idolatrous ways; we must stop justifying our involvement in the world’s systems. We must make teshuva NOW… Come under the blood covering of Yahshua NOW… We will all stand before the great Judge of the Universe — everyone will be judged — What will He, the Great I AM, say to me, to you? It will be either “Depart from Me”, or, “enter into the reward I have prepared for you”. It is our choice! Hanukkah is a perfect time to [re]dedicate your life to Yahshua — to cast all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you!

1John 1:6-9 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Psalm 103:12 “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” As we repent and make a full turn to Him.

May YHVH bless you as you turn,teshuva, to Him!