Thoughts on Hanukkah
It’s that time of year again. Hanukkah is fast approaching. There are many aspects to the holiday of Hanukkah and many lessons we can learn from the stories that come out of that time when the Maccabees stood up and fought. I’m sure many blogs and books have been written about those lessons and maybe even the point I want to make here has already been written about. But that’s the point isn’t it? Just because someone else is doing the work, doesn’t mean we are any less obligated to do our part. We all have an obligation to do our own part; to do our part in being a light to the world. We are to make sure that when we take our final breath we can honestly say “I was one of the flames that set the world on fire.”
The Jewish people were forced by the Greeks into renouncing their faith and to take up pagan practices and worship false gods. Daniel spoke about this in Daniel chapter 11. Just as the prophet foretold, so it happened.
“He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant (of God), but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action.” – Daniel 11:32
When the Macabees miraculously drove the Greeks out of Jerusalem and took the Holy Temple back, it was in ruins. It was a time of darkness. There were many who turned away from the true God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Spiritual darkness. The menorah in the Temple was put out. According to Leviticus 24 the menorah was to be lighted from evening till morning continually. They found one jar of olive oil that could be used to light the menorah and it would only last one day. A great miracle happened there and the menorah stayed lighted for eight days (until more oil could be made and obtained). Apparently the light of the menorah was important to God. So we should understand it shouldn’t we? What was the purpose of the menorah in the Temple?
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” – John 8:12
“I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should stay in darkness.” – John 12:46
Also, who can look over this passage?
“Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” – Psalm 119:105
It’s pretty clear that Yeshua is the Word of God made flesh. Yeshua is saying that He is the embodiment of the Word of God; He’s following it perfectly. He’s saying that we should follow Him (do as He does) and we will have light. We will know how to live and follow Him. During the time of the Macabees, the ones who turned their back on God and did what the Greeks told them to do (on penalty of death), were turning their backs on the Light. They chose to walk in darkness and forsake God’s commandments.
The Master calls us to walk in the Light. I love His teaching from the “Sermon on the Mount” most of all:
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” – Matthew 5:15-16
There are several important points here. One, we are the light of the world. Which means that we are followers of God and we shouldn’t be secretive about it (hiding it under a basket). We are to let everyone know about it. Two, we are not to let them know about it with words. It’s our actions that let them know. When we follow God and His ways at home and out in the world, everyone takes notice. Especially in today’s world that is so full of darkness. When someone steps out and is a lighted menorah, people take notice.
Don’t believe me? One simple flame can be a huge impact to a darkened world. Find one single candle and turn out all the lights in the room you are in. Do this at night time so there is absolutely no light. When it’s pitch black, light the candle. The darkness doesn’t overtake the candle’s light. Instead, the light takes over the darkness; it pushes it back. As it is in the physical world, so it is in the spiritual. When we follow God and become a light to the world around us, we are pushing the darkness back. However, we do this by action and not by words alone.
We can learn many things from Hanukkah this year, but one of the most important things we should remember is the lesson of the Macabees and set the world on fire.
“…but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action.” – Daniel 11:32
