Saturday, November 14, 2015

Jehovah Jirah

 This morning, as my newsfeed lights up red, white and blue in mourning and empathy for the people of France, I wonder what the story of the birth of Isaac has to do with all the pain raining down on the world today.

And then I see it, the gem of hope. Among this week's stories about the long awaited birth of the promised son, the search for his wife, and the death of his parents Abraham and Sarah, we find the name of God.

Jehovah Jirah.

The Lord Will Provide.

He provided a sacrifice in place of Isaac. Won't he provide for the people of Paris as well? The song, linked above, was sung in the tunnels of Paris. Listen to the heart of the words from Isaiah 54:10.

Quand les montagnes s'elloigneraient
Quand les collines chancelleraient
Quand les montagnes s'elloigneraient
Dieu fera tout comme il promet.

Son amour, oui, son amour,
ne s'elloignera point de toi.

"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed ," says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

Today, we lift Paris up in prayer, that the people of this beautiful city will seek solace in the empty cathedrals and that they will find a God who is faithful and whose compassion and unfailing love do not change even when the world around them is in shambles.

This week's Torah Portion:
Genesis 25:19-28:9
Malachi 1:1-2:7
Luke 3:1-18


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