Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Holy / Set Apart, Is the Old Testament Relevant Today?, Traditions / Holidays

The Call of the Shofar: Rediscovering Yom Teruah

Have you ever considered that God’s calendar holds appointments most of us have never kept?

Growing up in a Christian household in the United States, the biblical holy days Yahweh established for His people were largely absent from our teachings. As Christians, we often overlook Old Testament instructions, deeming them outdated. Yet, these appointed times are not obsolete; they hold deep significance and can bring us closer to God.

Discovering Yom Teruah
Yom Teruah, often known as Rosh Hashanah in modern times, marks the beginning of the civil year on the Hebrew calendar. This day of shouting and blasting of trumpets is more than a cultural celebration; it’s a spiritual marker designed by God as outlined in Leviticus 23:23–32. Scripture gives us only a few direct instructions for Yom Teruah, inviting us to explore its meaning through the rest of the Word and in tradition.

Why It Matters Today

  1. A Call to Awareness: Yom Teruah serves as a spiritual alarm clock, awakening us to self-reflection and repentance in preparation for Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

  2. Prophetic Undertones: For followers of Christ, the trumpets symbolize not only historical observance but also the anticipation of Christ’s return. The blasts are a reminder to live in readiness, aligning our lives with God’s commandments.

  3. Symbolism of the Shofar: The shofar, or ram’s horn, has deep biblical roots. Its sound is a powerful call to action, a reminder to forsake sin and embrace God’s ways.

How to Begin Celebrating

  1. Begin with Scripture: Always measure traditions and interpretations against the Word of God.

  2. Join a Community: Participate in gatherings, whether online or in person, like those at JacobsTent.org, to experience communal worship and learning.

  3. Embrace Imperfection: God looks at the heart more than the checklist. Don’t worry about getting everything perfect at the start—choose a day to observe and refine your understanding each year. (Ecclesiastes 11:4)

Resources to Grow

Fellowship Opportunity
JacobsTent.org is a fellowship that meets in Tennessee and live streams events for the moedim and regular Sabbath services weekly. It is more than just a study—it invites you into genuine worship and community.

Conclusion
Yom Teruah is an invitation to reconnect with the roots of our faith, celebrating God’s sovereignty and our place in His plan. When you hear the sound of the shofar—or even imagine it—let it stir your heart to readiness. Begin observing Yom Teruah this year and allow God to awaken your spirit.

Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of Your appointed times that draw us closer to You. As we prepare to observe Yom Teruah, open our hearts to the lessons You have for us. Help us to hear Your call and respond with obedience and joy. May our observance be a testament to our desire to know You more and walk in Your ways. Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

All Knowing, All Powerful / King of All, Blessed, His Ways Are Not Our Ways

God’s Blessing Cannot Be Fooled (Genesis 27:1-29)

When people fail, God’s purposes still stand—and His blessing falls on those who honor Him.

Key Verse:
“See, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field which the LORD has blessed; now may God give you of the dew of heaven, and of the fatness of the earth, and an abundance of grain and new wine.” —Genesis 27:27–28 NASB

Background Context:
To understand this account, we must recall what came before. In Genesis 25, Esau despised his birthright and traded it to Jacob for a single meal. In Genesis 26, he continued to drift from God by marrying Hittite wives, a people known for detestable pagan practices. His choices reveal a heart set against God long before this blessing scene. Thus, when the blessing passes to Jacob, it is not because God was deceived—it is because God had already chosen Jacob as the heir of His covenant promise.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Genesis 27:1-29

Jacob’s Deception

      1Now it came about, when Isaac was old and his eyes were too dim to see, that he called his older son Esau and said to him, “My son.” And he said to him, “Here I am.” 2Isaac said, “Behold now, I am old and I do not know the day of my death. 3“Now then, please take your gear, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me; 4and prepare a savory dish for me such as I love, and bring it to me that I may eat, so that my soul may bless you before I die.”

      5Rebekah was listening while Isaac spoke to his son Esau. So when Esau went to the field to hunt for game to bring home, 6Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “Behold, I heard your father speak to your brother Esau, saying, 7‘Bring me some game and prepare a savory dish for me, that I may eat, and bless you in the presence of the LORD before my death.’ 8“Now therefore, my son, listen to me as I command you. 9“Go now to the flock and bring me two choice young goats from there, that I may prepare them as a savory dish for your father, such as he loves. 10“Then you shall bring it to your father, that he may eat, so that he may bless you before his death.” 11Jacob answered his mother Rebekah, “Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man and I am a smooth man. 12“Perhaps my father will feel me, then I will be as a deceiver in his sight, and I will bring upon myself a curse and not a blessing.” 13But his mother said to him, “Your curse be on me, my son; only obey my voice, and go, get them for me.” 14So he went and got them, and brought them to his mother; and his mother made savory food such as his father loved. 15Then Rebekah took the best garments of Esau her elder son, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob her younger son. 16And she put the skins of the young goats on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck. 17She also gave the savory food and the bread, which she had made, to her son Jacob.

      18Then he came to his father and said, “My father.” And he said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?” 19Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn; I have done as you told me. Get up, please, sit and eat of my game, that you may bless me.” 20Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have it so quickly, my son?” And he said, “Because the LORD your God caused it to happen to me.” 21Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come close, that I may feel you, my son, whether you are really my son Esau or not.” 22So Jacob came close to Isaac his father, and he felt him and said, “The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” 23He did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau’s hands; so he blessed him. 24And he said, “Are you really my son Esau?” And he said, “I am.” 25So he said, “Bring it to me, and I will eat of my son’s game, that I may bless you.” And he brought it to him, and he ate; he also brought him wine and he drank. 26Then his father Isaac said to him, “Please come close and kiss me, my son.”

27So he came close and kissed him; and when he smelled the smell of his garments, he blessed him and said,
“See, the smell of my son
Is like the smell of a field which the LORD has blessed;

      28Now may God give you of the dew of heaven,
And of the fatness of the earth,
And an abundance of grain and new wine;

      29May peoples serve you,
And nations bow down to you;
Be master of your brothers,
And may your mother’s sons bow down to you.
Cursed be those who curse you,
And blessed be those who bless you.”

Reflection on Genesis 27:1–29:
This chapter shows us both human failure and God’s sovereignty. Isaac favored Esau, Rebekah favored Jacob, and their divided household fueled strife. Instead of seeking God together, each pursued their own plans, and the family fractured under favoritism and deceit.

Esau, having rejected his birthright earlier, now blames Jacob instead of taking responsibility. Without repentance, his bitterness grows, and he plots to kill his brother. Jacob, for his part, secures the blessing but does so through deception, bringing consequences that would later drive him into exile and fracture his relationship with Esau.

And yet, God’s purpose prevails. The blessing given to Jacob is not the result of “fooling God.” Rather, it fulfills what God had already spoken: “the older shall serve the younger” (Genesis 25:23). The blessing carried immense weight for all involved, because it represented God’s covenant promise—not merely material prosperity, but participation in His redemptive plan.

Application:
This passage reminds us of the seriousness of God’s blessings and the danger of despising them. Do you treat God’s promises and commands as priceless, or do you undervalue them like Esau? It also challenges us to avoid the favoritism, blame-shifting, and scheming seen in this family. God’s plan does not need our deception to succeed. What He desires is faith, obedience, and repentance.

Closing Prayer:
Father, thank You that Your purposes prevail even when we fail. Guard my heart from despising Your blessings or treating them lightly. Help me to take responsibility for my sins, to repent quickly, and to trust that Your ways are always right. Teach me to honor You with faith and obedience rather than relying on my own schemes. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Grace / Patience, Holy / Set Apart, Humility, Interceding for Others, Learning To Pray Effectively

Not of the World, But One in Christ (John 17:20–26)

True unity with God and with fellow believers is found in relationship with Yeshua, not in conformity to the world.

Key Verse:
“I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.” —John 17:20–21 NASB

Background Context:
John 17 records the High Priestly Prayer of Yeshua before His arrest. Having prayed for His disciples, He now turns to all future believers. His request is not for ease or acceptance by the world, but for deep spiritual unity—unity with Him and with the Father. This spiritual oneness would also bind His people together, making them distinct from the world that rejects Him.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

John 17:20-26

    20“I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; 21that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.

Their Future Glory

      22“The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; 23I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. 24“Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

      25“O righteous Father, although the world has not known You, yet I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me; 26and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

Reflection on John 17:20–26:
Yeshua’s prayer highlights the kind of unity that matters: believers joined to Him as branches to the vine (John 15), and thus joined to the Father as well. This is not unity at any cost, nor a call to blend with the world. In fact, throughout John’s Gospel, Yeshua makes clear that His people are not of the world (John 17:14–16). The unity He prays for is supernatural—believers abiding in Him, sharing in His glory, and being filled with the love the Father has for the Son.

Notice the pattern:

  • The Father is in the Son.

  • The Son is in the Father.

  • Believers are drawn into this oneness through the Son.

It is this unity—God’s own life shared with His people—that causes the world to recognize something different. Not because we look like the world, but because we are set apart in Him. The church’s credibility, then, is not in chasing worldly approval but in visibly living out this oneness with Christ.

Application:
Ask yourself: Am I abiding in Christ daily, seeking oneness with Him above all else? Unity with other believers flows from first being united with the Son and the Father. We are not called to be “in step” with the world, but to walk in the love and truth of God. If you want to show your love for God, obey His Word, remain in His Son, and reflect His glory. That kind of unity will speak louder than any worldly compromise.

Closing Prayer:
Father, thank You for drawing me into the oneness You share with Your Son. Keep me abiding in Christ, rooted in Your truth and Your love. Help me to live in such close unity with You that it overflows into unity with my brothers and sisters, set apart from the world yet shining as a testimony of Your glory. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Holy / Set Apart, Interceding for Others, Learning To Pray Effectively, Purposeful / Intentional

In the World, but Not of It (John 17:6-19)

Yeshua prays not that we escape the world, but that we be kept faithful in it.

Key Verse:
“Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.” —John 17:17 NASB

Background Context:
After praying for Himself, Yeshua turns to His disciples. He affirms that they belong to the Father, who gave them to the Son, and that they have received and believed His word. Yeshua prays for their protection, unity, and joy—not for the world, but specifically for those who follow Him. Knowing He is leaving, He asks the Father to keep them in His name, guard them from the evil one, and sanctify them by the truth of God’s Word. This prayer sets apart the disciples for their mission in the world, just as Yeshua was sent into the world.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

John 17:6-19

  6“I have manifested Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world; they were Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. 7“Now they have come to know that everything You have given Me is from You; 8for the words which You gave Me I have given to them; and they received them and truly understood that I came forth from You, and they believed that You sent Me. 9“I ask on their behalf; I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom You have given Me; for they are Yours; 10and all things that are Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine; and I have been glorified in them. 11“I am no longer in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are. 12“While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and not one of them perished but the son of perdition, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.

The Disciples in the World

      13“But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves. 14“I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15“I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. 16“They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17“Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. 18“As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19“For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.

Reflection on John 17:6–19:
This prayer reveals the depth of Yeshua’s care for His disciples. He does not ask the Father to take them out of the world but to keep them safe in the world. Their calling, like His, is to live set apart in truth while still among people who reject God.

The emphasis on unity (“that they may be one as We are one”) shows that the strength of God’s people comes not from numbers or worldly power but from being united in Him. Division weakens witness, but unity magnifies the truth of who God is.

The heart of the prayer is sanctification. To be sanctified is to be set apart for God’s purposes, cleansed and shaped by His truth. Yeshua makes it clear: truth is not found in shifting opinions or traditions of men—it is found in God’s Word. As He was sent into the world, so His disciples are sent, equipped by the truth and guarded by the Father.

Application:
As followers of Yeshua, we are called to live in the world but not be of it. Let His Word sanctify you—shape your thoughts, decisions, and character. Pray for unity with other believers, recognizing that it reflects the very unity of the Father and Son. And remember that Yeshua Himself prayed for your protection and joy, so that you could fulfill the mission He has given.

Closing Prayer:
Lord Yeshua, thank You for praying for Your disciples—and for me, as I follow in their steps. Keep me in Your name and protect me from the evil one. Sanctify me through Your truth, and let Your Word shape every part of my life. Help me to live faithfully in this world while reflecting the unity and love of the Father and Son. In Your name I pray, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Proverbs (Wisdom & Folly), Purposeful / Intentional, Repenting from Sin, Unteachable / Foolish, Wise

Guarding the Heart in a World of Temptation (Proverbs 23)

Every choice reveals whether we treasure God’s wisdom or chase fleeting pleasures.

Key Verse:
“Apply your heart to discipline and your ears to words of knowledge.” —Proverbs 23:12 NASB

Background Context:
Proverbs 23 continues the wise sayings, offering instruction on discipline, self-control, and honoring God in everyday decisions. The chapter addresses desires that can easily trap us—wealth, food, drink, lust—and calls us to seek wisdom instead. It also emphasizes discipline in children and the blessing that comes when they walk in truth.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Proverbs 23

On Life and Conduct

1When you sit down to dine with a ruler,
Consider carefully what is before you,

2And put a knife to your throat
If you are a man of great appetite.

3Do not desire his delicacies,
For it is deceptive food.

4Do not weary yourself to gain wealth,
Cease from your consideration of it.

5When you set your eyes on it, it is gone.
For wealth certainly makes itself wings
Like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.

6Do not eat the bread of a selfish man,
Or desire his delicacies;

7For as he thinks within himself, so he is.
He says to you, “Eat and drink!”
But his heart is not with you.

8You will vomit up the morsel you have eaten,
And waste your compliments.

9Do not speak in the hearing of a fool,
For he will despise the wisdom of your words.

10Do not move the ancient boundary
Or go into the fields of the fatherless,

11For their Redeemer is strong;
He will plead their case against you.

12Apply your heart to discipline
And your ears to words of knowledge.

13Do not hold back discipline from the child,
Although you strike him with the rod, he will not die.

14You shall strike him with the rod
And rescue his soul from Sheol.

15My son, if your heart is wise,
My own heart also will be glad;

16And my inmost being will rejoice
When your lips speak what is right.

17Do not let your heart envy sinners,
But live in the fear of the LORD always.

18Surely there is a future,
And your hope will not be cut off.

19Listen, my son, and be wise,
And direct your heart in the way.

20Do not be with heavy drinkers of wine,
Or with gluttonous eaters of meat;

21For the heavy drinker and the glutton will come to poverty,
And drowsiness will clothe one with rags.

22Listen to your father who begot you,
And do not despise your mother when she is old.

23Buy truth, and do not sell it,
Get wisdom and instruction and understanding.

24The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice,
And he who sires a wise son will be glad in him.

25Let your father and your mother be glad,
And let her rejoice who gave birth to you.

26Give me your heart, my son,
And let your eyes delight in my ways.

27For a harlot is a deep pit
And an adulterous woman is a narrow well.

28Surely she lurks as a robber,
And increases the faithless among men.

29Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
Who has contentions? Who has complaining?
Who has wounds without cause?
Who has redness of eyes?

30Those who linger long over wine,
Those who go to taste mixed wine.

31Do not look on the wine when it is red,
When it sparkles in the cup,
When it goes down smoothly;

32At the last it bites like a serpent
And stings like a viper.

33Your eyes will see strange things
And your mind will utter perverse things.

34And you will be like one who lies down in the middle of the sea,
Or like one who lies down on the top of a mast.

35“They struck me, but I did not become ill;
They beat me, but I did not know it.
When shall I awake?
I will seek another drink.”

Reflection on Proverbs 23:
Life is full of competing desires, but Proverbs 23 warns us not to be deceived by what looks appealing but leads to destruction. The table of rulers (vv.1–3), the pursuit of riches (vv.4–5), strong drink (vv.29–35)—all are fleeting pleasures that can ensnare those who lack wisdom.

At the heart of this chapter is a call to apply our hearts to discipline and our ears to knowledge. Godly wisdom is not passive; it requires training our desires, resisting temptations, and shaping our choices to align with His ways. The chapter also reminds us of the joy parents feel when their children walk in wisdom (vv.24–25), reflecting the Father’s own delight when His children choose righteousness.

Application:
Proverbs 23 challenges us to examine what we crave. Are we feeding desires that lead us away from God, or applying our hearts to discipline in His ways? Seek wisdom daily in His Word, and don’t chase what fades. If you want to honor God, shape your desires to reflect His truth and pursue what lasts forever.

Closing Prayer:
Lord, help me not to be deceived by the fleeting pleasures of this world. Teach me to apply my heart to discipline and to value wisdom more than riches or indulgence. May my choices bring joy to You, my heavenly Father, and lead me to live in a way that honors Your name. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Depression / Discouragement, Faith / Trusting God, Hope, Psalms

From Despair to Deliverance (Psalm 22)

Even in the darkest hour, God is faithful to redeem and restore.

Key Verse:
“My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning.” —Psalm 22:1 NASB

Background Context:
Psalm 22 is a psalm of David, but it is most well-known as a prophetic description of Messiah’s suffering. Yeshua quoted its opening words from the cross (Matthew 27:46). The psalm begins with deep anguish and a cry of apparent abandonment but moves toward trust in God’s faithfulness and ultimate deliverance. Many details in the psalm—mocking by enemies, pierced hands and feet, casting lots for garments—are fulfilled directly in Yeshua’s crucifixion. The psalm closes with hope, declaring that all nations will one day worship the Lord.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Psalm 22

For the choir director; upon Aijeleth Hashshahar. A Psalm of David.

1My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?
Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning.

      2O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer;
And by night, but I have no rest.

      3Yet You are holy,
O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.

      4In You our fathers trusted;
They trusted and You delivered them.

      5To You they cried out and were delivered;
In You they trusted and were not disappointed.

      6But I am a worm and not a man,
A reproach of men and despised by the people.

      7All who see me sneer at me;
They separate with the lip, they wag the head, saying,

      8“Commit yourself to the LORD; let Him deliver him;
Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him.”

      9Yet You are He who brought me forth from the womb;
You made me trust when upon my mother’s breasts.

      10Upon You I was cast from birth;
You have been my God from my mother’s womb.

      11Be not far from me, for trouble is near;
For there is none to help.

      12Many bulls have surrounded me;
Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me.

      13They open wide their mouth at me,
As a ravening and a roaring lion.

      14I am poured out like water,
And all my bones are out of joint;
My heart is like wax;
It is melted within me.

      15My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
And my tongue cleaves to my jaws;
And You lay me in the dust of death.

      16For dogs have surrounded me;
A band of evildoers has encompassed me;
They pierced my hands and my feet.

      17I can count all my bones.
They look, they stare at me;

      18They divide my garments among them,
And for my clothing they cast lots.

      19But You, O LORD, be not far off;
O You my help, hasten to my assistance.

      20Deliver my soul from the sword,
My only life from the power of the dog.

      21Save me from the lion’s mouth;
From the horns of the wild oxen You answer me.

      22I will tell of Your name to my brethren;
In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.

      23You who fear the LORD, praise Him;
All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him,
And stand in awe of Him, all you descendants of Israel.

      24For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted;
Nor has He hidden His face from him;
But when he cried to Him for help, He heard.

      25From You comes my praise in the great assembly;
I shall pay my vows before those who fear Him.

      26The afflicted will eat and be satisfied;
Those who seek Him will praise the LORD.
Let your heart live forever!

      27All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD,
And all the families of the nations will worship before You.

      28For the kingdom is the LORD’S
And He rules over the nations.

      29All the prosperous of the earth will eat and worship,
All those who go down to the dust will bow before Him,
Even he who cannot keep his soul alive.

      30Posterity will serve Him;
It will be told of the Lord to the coming generation.

      31They will come and will declare His righteousness
To a people who will be born, that He has performed it.

Reflection on Psalm 22:
This psalm gives voice to the raw cry of despair: “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” It reflects the depth of suffering, when God feels distant and enemies seem victorious. Yet even in this anguish, David anchors himself in God’s past faithfulness: “In You our fathers trusted, and You delivered them” (v.4).

Yeshua’s use of this psalm on the cross reminds us that He fully entered into human suffering, bearing not only physical pain but the weight of sin and separation. The detailed descriptions of mocking, pierced hands and feet, and divided garments foreshadow the crucifixion centuries before it occurred. But the psalm does not end in despair—it moves toward hope and praise. David looks forward to the day when the Lord will be vindicated, and all nations will bow before Him.

Application:
When you feel abandoned or crushed by suffering, remember Psalm 22. You are not alone—Messiah Himself cried out these words. Like David, remind yourself of God’s past faithfulness and hold fast to His promises of future deliverance. Suffering is real, but it is not the end. In Christ, despair is transformed into hope, and what looks like defeat becomes victory.

Closing Prayer:
Father, thank You that You are faithful even when I feel forsaken. Thank You for sending Yeshua, who bore the weight of suffering and sin on the cross. Help me to trust Your past faithfulness and cling to Your promises in times of trouble. Turn my despair into hope and my cries into praise, for You are the God who redeems. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Father / Yahweh, Jesus Christ / Yeshua, Learning To Pray Effectively, Purposeful / Intentional

Glorify the Father (John 17:1-5)

Yeshua prays not that we escape the world, but that we be kept faithful in it.

True glory is found in fulfilling the Father’s will.

Key Verse:
“This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” —John 17:3 NASB

Background Context:
John 17 records Yeshua’s prayer to the Father just before His arrest and crucifixion. These are intimate, final words spoken aloud for His disciples to hear. In verses 1–5, Yeshua begins by asking the Father to glorify Him so that He may glorify the Father. His mission is clear: to grant eternal life to those given to Him by the Father. Eternal life is not merely about living forever—it is about knowing the Father and the Son. Yeshua closes this section by pointing to His obedience, having finished the work He was sent to do, and by asking to return to the glory He shared with the Father before the world began.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

John 17:1-5

The High Priestly Prayer

      1Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, 2even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. 3“This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. 4“I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do. 5“Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.

Reflection on John 17:1–5:
Here we glimpse the heart of Yeshua’s mission. Glory, for Him, was not about earthly recognition but about fulfilling the Father’s plan—even through the cross. His request for glorification points directly to the suffering He would endure, through which the Father’s love and salvation would be revealed.

Eternal life is redefined here as relationship: knowing the Father and the Son. This knowledge is not intellectual alone—it is intimate, personal, and transforming. Yeshua makes it clear that the purpose of His mission is not only to rescue but to reconcile people into fellowship with God.

We also see Yeshua’s divine nature affirmed. He speaks of the glory He had with the Father before creation, showing that He is eternal and one with God. His prayer points us to the reality that salvation is anchored in the eternal purposes of God, not in temporary human effort.

Application:
Eternal life begins now—not just in the future—through knowing God and His Son. Make your relationship with Him the center of your life. Like Yeshua, seek to glorify the Father not in empty words but in completing the work He gives you. And let your hope rest in the eternal glory of Christ, who was with the Father before the world began and who will bring His people into that glory.

Closing Prayer:
Father, thank You for sending Yeshua to give eternal life. Help me to live in a way that glorifies You, just as He did. Teach me to treasure eternal life as knowing You and walking closely with Your Son. Keep me faithful in the work You have given me, and remind me that my true hope is in the eternal glory of Christ. In His name I pray, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Children, Marriage, Peace / Rest, Purposeful / Intentional

When Choices Bring Peace—or Pain (Genesis 26:26-35)

Living faithfully means pursuing peace with others while grieving when loved ones walk away from God.

Key Verse:
“Then he made them a feast, and they ate and drank. In the morning they arose early and exchanged oaths; then Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace.” —Genesis 26:30–31 NASB

Background Context:
Abimelech, the king of the Philistines, recognized that Isaac’s prosperity came from God. Fearing conflict, he sought a covenant of peace with Isaac. Isaac, though previously mistreated by Abimelech’s people, chose to respond graciously. They made a treaty, shared a meal, and parted in peace. Immediately afterward, Isaac’s servants found water, further confirming God’s provision. The chapter closes with Esau’s marriages to Hittite women, which brought grief to Isaac and Rebekah—a reminder that family choices can cause deep sorrow when they run against God’s ways.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Genesis 26(26-35)

Covenant with Abimelech

      26Then Abimelech came to him from Gerar with his adviser Ahuzzath and Phicol the commander of his army. 27Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, since you hate me and have sent me away from you?” 28They said, “We see plainly that the LORD has been with you; so we said, ‘Let there now be an oath between us, even between you and us, and let us make a covenant with you, 29that you will do us no harm, just as we have not touched you and have done to you nothing but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the LORD.’” 30Then he made them a feast, and they ate and drank. 31In the morning they arose early and exchanged oaths; then Isaac sent them away and they departed from him in peace. 32Now it came about on the same day, that Isaac’s servants came in and told him about the well which they had dug, and said to him, “We have found water.” 33So he called it Shibah; therefore the name of the city is Beersheba to this day.

      34When Esau was forty years old he married Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite; 35and they brought grief to Isaac and Rebekah.

Reflection on Genesis 26:26–35:
Isaac’s response to Abimelech shows maturity and trust in God. Though he had been wronged, he chose the path of peace. This echoes Paul’s later words: “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men” (Romans 12:18). Isaac’s willingness to reconcile pointed back to God’s blessing, not to human strength.

Yet the joy of covenant peace was mingled with the pain of Esau’s choices. His marriage to Hittite women outside of God’s covenant people showed disregard for his heritage and faith, causing grief to his parents. This tension illustrates a reality many believers face: joy in God’s provision alongside sorrow when loved ones stray.

Application:
Seek to live honorably before all, even with those outside the faith, pursuing peace where possible. Trust that God’s blessing will shine through and point others to Him. At the same time, when loved ones make choices that grieve you, bring that pain to God in prayer. He knows the sorrow of rejection and can give strength to remain faithful even when family walks another path.

Closing Prayer:
Father, help me to walk in peace with others, showing patience and grace even when I’ve been wronged. May my life reflect Your blessing and point others to You. When I face sorrow because of loved ones’ choices, give me strength to trust You and keep praying for them. Thank You that You are faithful, both in providing peace and in sustaining me through grief. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Faith / Trusting God, Grace / Patience, Purposeful / Intentional, Tribulation

Blessed Even in Conflict (Genesis 26:12-25)

When you walk with God, no amount of opposition can block His blessing.

Key Verse:
“He moved away from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it; so he named it Rehoboth, for he said, ‘At last the Lord has made room for us, and we will be fruitful in the land.’” —Genesis 26:22 NASB

Background Context:
After remaining in Gerar, Isaac sowed crops and received a hundredfold harvest in one year—clear evidence of God’s blessing. His growing prosperity stirred envy among the Philistines, who stopped up the wells Abraham had dug. When Isaac dug new wells, the locals quarreled with him, forcing him to move on repeatedly. Finally, he dug a well at Rehoboth where there was no dispute, and he recognized God had made room for him. Later, God appeared to Isaac at Beersheba, reaffirming His covenant promise and encouraging Isaac not to fear. Isaac responded by building an altar and calling on the Lord’s name.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Genesis 26:12-25

      12Now Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. And the LORD blessed him, 13and the man became rich, and continued to grow richer until he became very wealthy; 14for he had possessions of flocks and herds and a great household, so that the Philistines envied him. 15Now all the wells which his father’s servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines stopped up by filling them with earth. 16Then Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are too powerful for us.” 17And Isaac departed from there and camped in the valley of Gerar, and settled there.

Quarrel over the Wells

18Then Isaac dug again the wells of water which had been dug in the days of his father Abraham, for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham; and he gave them the same names which his father had given them. 19But when Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and found there a well of flowing water, 20the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with the herdsmen of Isaac, saying, “The water is ours!” So he named the well Esek, because they contended with him. 21Then they dug another well, and they quarreled over it too, so he named it Sitnah. 22He moved away from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it; so he named it Rehoboth, for he said, “At last the LORD has made room for us, and we will be fruitful in the land.”

      23Then he went up from there to Beersheba.

24The LORD appeared to him the same night and said,
“I am the God of your father Abraham;
Do not fear, for I am with you.
I will bless you, and multiply your descendants,
For the sake of My servant Abraham.”

25So he built an altar there and called upon the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there; and there Isaac’s servants dug a well.

Reflection on Genesis 26:12–25:
This passage is a vivid picture of God’s blessing in the face of opposition. Isaac prospered, not because of his own ability, but because the Lord was with him. Yet that blessing stirred up jealousy and conflict. Each time Isaac’s wells were taken, he did not fight back but moved on, trusting that God would provide. His patience and perseverance eventually led to Rehoboth—“room”—where he recognized God’s hand in giving him peace.

Isaac’s story reminds us that following God doesn’t mean a life without conflict. Sometimes others will envy, oppose, or even try to take what God has given. But when we respond with faith and humility rather than strife, we position ourselves to see God provide in ways that bring Him glory. The reaffirmation at Beersheba shows that God’s promises remain sure: He is with His people, blessing them and calling them not to fear.

Application:
When you face opposition or envy because of God’s blessings in your life, resist the urge to fight for control. Instead, trust God to make room for you. Like Isaac, keep moving forward in faith, knowing that the Lord’s provision cannot be blocked by human hands. And when He provides peace, take time to give thanks and call upon His name.

Closing Prayer:
Lord, thank You that Your blessing is not limited by human opposition. Teach me to respond with humility and faith when I face conflict, trusting You to provide and make room for me. Strengthen me to walk without fear, remembering that You are with me and Your promises never fail. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Courage / Fear, Faith / Trusting God, His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Protector / Deliverer, Provider, Strong in Our Weakness

God’s Covenant Despite Our Weakness (Genesis 26:1-11)

Even in times of famine, God calls us to trust His promises rather than our fears.

Key Verse:
“Sojourn in this land and I will be with you and bless you, for to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore to your father Abraham.” —Genesis 26:3 NASB

Background Context:
Genesis 26 is the only chapter focused primarily on Isaac. It begins with a famine in the land, just as Abraham had faced before. Isaac goes to Gerar, where God appears to him, reaffirming the covenant made with Abraham: promises of land, descendants, and blessing for all nations. Despite this assurance, Isaac repeats Abraham’s mistake by claiming Rebekah is his sister, out of fear for his life. Yet God protects them, and Abimelech discovers the truth, rebuking Isaac, and ensures that no harm comes to them.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Genesis 26:1-11

Isaac Settles in Gerar

      1Now there was a famine in the land, besides the previous famine that had occurred in the days of Abraham. So Isaac went to Gerar, to Abimelech king of the Philistines. 2The LORD appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; stay in the land of which I shall tell you. 3“Sojourn in this land and I will be with you and bless you, for to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore to your father Abraham. 4“I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven, and will give your descendants all these lands; and by your descendants all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; 5because Abraham obeyed Me and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes and My laws.”

      6So Isaac lived in Gerar. 7When the men of the place asked about his wife, he said, “She is my sister,” for he was afraid to say, “my wife,” thinking, “the men of the place might kill me on account of Rebekah, for she is beautiful.” 8It came about, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out through a window, and saw, and behold, Isaac was caressing his wife Rebekah. 9Then Abimelech called Isaac and said, “Behold, certainly she is your wife! How then did you say, ‘She is my sister’?” And Isaac said to him, “Because I said, ‘I might die on account of her.’” 10Abimelech said, “What is this you have done to us? One of the people might easily have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us.” 11So Abimelech charged all the people, saying, “He who touches this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.”

Reflection on Genesis 26:1–11:
Isaac faced the same test his father had faced—famine. God’s response was clear: stay in the land, trust Me, and I will bless you. Isaac’s situation shows us that God’s covenant blessings are not just for one generation; they extend and are reaffirmed.

Yet Isaac also reveals human weakness. Despite God’s promises, fear drives him to lie about Rebekah, just as Abraham had done. This reminds us of our own tendency to repeat the sins of those before us, even when we know God’s Word. But God remains faithful—protecting Isaac and keeping His covenant intact.

This passage highlights a crucial truth: God’s plans are not derailed by human failure. He is faithful even when we falter, and His covenant rests on His promises, not our perfection.

Application:
When life brings famine—whether literal or figurative—trust God’s promises rather than acting out of fear. Remember that His faithfulness is greater than your weakness. Learn from Isaac’s mistake: fear leads us to compromise, but faith anchors us in God’s unshakable covenant.

Closing Prayer:
Father, thank You for Your covenant faithfulness that does not fail even when I stumble. Teach me to trust You in times of famine or fear, and to rest in Your promises rather than giving in to doubt. Strengthen my faith so that my choices bring honor to You, and help me walk in confidence that You are with me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

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