HOLY WEEK .. Passion Week .. a Holy Time to both Jews and Christians .. The Passover, for Jews .. to us who believe on the Lord Jesus and the commemoration we make of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday .. His brutal treatment at the hands of men, His “sacrifice” and death upon the Cross .. and HIS RESURECTION .. I ask?? .. does Islam share any references in this holy season? I have read the story of Ishmael and Hagar and The mercy of El Roi, Our God Who Sees Us – We can use this story to reflect upon what is sacred to Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike and what we might share in common worship of the One God, “I Am Who I Am” .. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob .. and remember that all this started with Abraham and Sarah, GOD’S PROMISE .. mens’ and womans’ inability to wait upon The Lord Our God .. and GOD’S Mercy and Lovingkindness .. Read all about this story in: GENESIS 21 1-21.
Passover and Easter celebrations have Biblical roots. The Passover celebration is rooted in the narrative of the Book of Exodus, the second book of the Torah, narrating the Israelites’ liberation from Egyptian slavery by the Hand of The Most High God, The Great “I AM Who I Am” .. The God of Righteousness, Jehovah-Tsidkenu, Our God and Father Who said: “You Shall Have No Other God’s Before Me” .. and as so many times in the histry of mankind – God has dealt not only with mankind, but the “idols” that those stubborn men have made with their own hands!
WHO IS “I Am Who I Am” .. is He not, THE GOD OF ISRAEL? .. Is He Not Our God who stands in opposition and against all our difficulties — Our God, and Our Father who “contends” for you .. Our Jealous God [EL-KANNO] who competes , strives and debates all disputes in our behalf through the BLOOD OF JESUS [Our Advocate] the One We Call and the ONE John the Baptist called – The Lamb of God – who takes away the sins of the world!
Have you ever read the whole story, as told by GOD In His Written Word? .. Try It .. EXODUS 3 – 13 .. sure it’s a 15 minute read, but in this day of Pandemic, Covid 19 and this Corona Virus lockdown .. this may be the “best read” of your life, maybe the best read of the rest of your life? Thinking about things like: the man Moses, Aaron, his brother, the Pharaoh of “mighty Egypt”, what The Lord God Said .. how many times God offered a way out to Pharaoh .. who chose to “mock God” and say, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord and I will not let Israel go.”
DO YOU KNOW THE LORD OUR GOD? Do You Know His Name .. JEHOVAH-JIREH, Our God Who PROVIDES, JEHOVAH-ROPHE, Our God Who HEALS and RESTORES, JEHOVAH-NISSI, OUR GOD and Father – The GOD OF VICTORY, The Banner of the Cross, who sent His only Son, Jesus to represent Him ..
DO YOU KNOW, Our Father Who Art In Heaven .. JEHOVAH-M’KADDESH, Our God, The God of Holiness, JEHOVAH-SHALOM – Our God and Father, The GOD of PEACE! .. The One Who sent His Only Son – Jesus, the Prince of Peace – to bring His Father’s message to all men ..
DO YOU “hallow the Name” .. of Our Father In Heaven? .. JEHOVAH-ROHI, Our God Who GUIDES and Directs Us .. The One Who Shepherd’s Us even in a dark valley like: The Covid 19 Corona Virus Pandemic? .. The One Who Is A LIGHT unto your path and a lamp unto your feet .. and if you know His Son , you can say – Jesus, You are the “GOOD SHEPHERD” .. lead me to your Father ..
Today Is The Day of Your Salvation .. cry out to Jesus, the Way to the Father. John 14 5-7, Thomas ( The Doubter ) .. said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” .. Consider crying out today .. Our Father, Who Art In Heaven, Hallowed Be Thy Name .. HALLOWED BE THE NAME OF “JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH” , Our Father .. Our God and Our “Ever-Present” Friend!