"For Zion’s sake I will not be SILENT, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest…" Isaiah 62: 1

Dear Partner and Friend of Israel,

This is the season of Christmas and it is a time where most homes and shopping Centers will set up Christmas trees with lights that flicker. It is a time when a wonderful spirit of giving comes upon the world. Family and friends come together to celebrate the most wonderful gift to mankind the gift of Yeshua (Jesus). And, it is also the season of another biblically-connected holiday, Hanukkah.  Certainly, God is not one to be left out of the celebration.

His miracles are commemorated in many festivals. He initiated and described in the Bible, such as; Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. However one festival, Hanukkah, which commemorates a fantastic miracle of the Lord, is not directly described in the Bible because it occurred after the Old Testament canon was closed. Nevertheless, its celebration was incorporated into the calendar, and it was even celebrated by Yeshua (Jesus).

Hanukkah, meaning DEDICATION, is also called the Feast of Dedication. It is a post-biblical holiday which commemorates the Maccabean victory over the Syrians in the year 165 BC.

Hanukkah - The Miracle Story:

The story of Hanukkah (also spelled Chanukah) begins in strife during the reign of Antiochus IV. At this time, the Temple in Jerusalem was rededicated after it had been defiled by the tyrant, Antiochus IV, king of Syria when he slaughtered a pig on the altar of God to mock Him and the faith and worship of the Jewish people. It is known as the Festival of Lights because it celebrates God’s glory in an ancient victory of the Jews over their enemies. 

In 165 BC, Antiochus, king of Syria, marched his army of soldiers into the kingdom of Judea with the intent of destroying the Jews and their religion. He insisted that the Jews worship the Greek gods. He stormed the temple in Jerusalem and completely desecrated it. Shortly thereafter Antiochus returned to Syria but the soldiers stayed on and continued with their vile ways of disrespect in the very Tabernacle of God.

To the Jew this was an act of blasphemy for they worshipped only One God, Yahweh, and the God of their fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Many refused to obey the king’s decree, holding on to their faith and tradition even to the point of death.

It is here where the story of faith and courage begins to burn bright. Mattathias Maccabee, a man of conviction, organized a group of Jewish freedom fighters, which included his five sons to take back the Temple. They fought bravely; using whatever hand made weapons they could devise. They gained in numbers and in strength fighting the enemy anywhere and in any way they could. When Mattathias became sick, his son Judah Mattathias led the group to victory.

Maccabee and his followers had one goal in mind, to restore their Holy Temple and to honor the Lord their God and they did so with all their heart, mind and soul. One of their first tasks after their victory was to clean up the Temple and to rededicate it to the Lord. When they restored the holy lamp, the Menorah, to its rightful place, they found only enough clean and holy oil to last one-day but MIRACULOUSLY lasted for eight days. Therefore Hanukkah is called the Feast of Lights.

Since the days of Judah Maccabee, Hanukkah has been celebrated by the lighting of candles for eight days as a reminder of the miracle. A special candelambra is used, called a Hanukkiah, which has holders for nine candles. One candle is called a shamash candle, and is used to light the others: One on the first night, two on the second night, and so on throughout the week.  At Jerusalem, the giant Hanukkiah at the Western Wall is set ablaze.

We can see that here lies the Miracle of the story.

They lit the Lamp knowing there was just enough oil to last one day, but they lit it anyway, and sent someone to get more oil. The flames of the menorah burned steadily for eight days and with each passing day it is told that the flames grew brighter. The Miracle may seem so simple but it reaches into the very heart of those whose faith is in God, and whose heart for tradition is an act of Worship. God miraculously provided "unseen oil" to burn in His Menorah for eight days. (Until more clean oil could be brought into the temple)    His Light shone brightly in His Temple for His people to come and worship Him. 

Knowing His peace, His faithfulness and to know His presence.  That is the Miracle of the Story. 

The menorah was originally designed as the means of providing light in the holy place of the Israelites’ wilderness sanctuary. The Ancient Menorah has become more a symbol than apparatus to the Jewish people and Israel an irresistible force of light.

Because of the extreme attention to details given to the design of the menorah, it is clear that it is more a symbolic form, rather than a mere religious apparatus. Moses was instructed by God to "make a lamp stand of pure Gold.  The lamp stand and its base and its shaft are to be made of hammered work… six branches shall go from its sides; three branches of the lamp stand from its one side and three branches of the lamp stand from the other side"(Exodus 25: 31 – 31, NASV).

What actually happened in 165 BC?

Let’s listen to what Josephus, the 1^st Century Ad Historian, had to say about Antiochus Epiphanes: King Antiochus returning out of Egypt, for fear of the Romans, made an expedition against the city of Jerusalem; and when he was there, in the hundred and forty-third year of the kingdom of Seleuciade, he too the city without fighting, those of his own party opening the gates to him. And when he had gotten possession of Jerusalem, he slew many of the opposite party, and when he had plundered it of a great deal of money, he returned to Antioch.

Now it came to pass after two years, that King Antiochus came up to Jerusalem, and pretending peace, he got possession of the city by treachery; at which time he spared not even those that admitted him to the city, because of the riches that lay in the Temple, but was led by covetous inclination (for he saw there was in it a great deal of gold, and many ornaments that had been dedicated to it, were of very great value). And in order to plunder its wealth, he ventured to break the treaty he had made.

So he left the Temple bare, and took away the golden candlesticks, and the golden altar (of incense), and table (of showbread), and the altar (of burnt offering); and did not abstain from even the veils, which were made of fine linen and scarlet. He also emptied it of its secret treasures, and left nothing at all remaining; and thus cast the Jews into great lamentation, for he fore bade them to offer daily sacrifices which they used to offer to God, according to the law.

And when he had pillaged the whole city, some of the inhabitants he killed, and some he carried captive, together with their wives and children, so that the multitude of those captives that were taken alive amounted to about 10,000. He also burnt down the finest building; and when he had overthrown the city walls, he built a citadel in the lower part of the city, for the place was high, and overlooked the temple.

And when the king had built an idol upon God’s altar, he slew swine upon it, and so offered a sacrifice neither was according to the law not the Jewish religious worship in that country.

He also compelled them to forsake the worship which they gave to their God and to adore those whom he took to be gods; and made them build temples, and raised idol altars, in every city and village (In Israel), and offer swine upon them everyday.  He also commanded them not to circumcise their sons, and threaten to punish any that would be found to have transgressed his order. He also appointed overseers, who would compel them to do what he commanded.

And indeed there were many Jews that complied with the king’s commands, either voluntary, or out of fear of the penalty. But the best men, and those of the noblest souls, did not regard him, but did pay a greater respect to the customs of their country, then to the punishment which he threatened to their disobedience; on this account, every day they underwent great miseries and bitter torments:  for they were whipped with rods and their bodies were torn to pieces, and were crucified while they were still alive and breathed: they also strangled woman and their sons whom they had circumcised, as the king had appointed, hanging their sons about their necks as they were upon the crosses.

And if there were any sacred book of the law found, it was destroyed; and those with whom they were found miserably perished also. Instead of intimidating the persecuted into silence it served to unite the different factions of the Jewish community. Martyrdom inspired others to greater loyalty.

Some Faithful Jews Fought Back

This was a time of great darkness in Israel, both physically and spiritually. Antiochus sent his Greek-Syrian soldiers throughout the countryside, setting up altars and holding official ceremonies which included the sacrifice of pigs, a ceremony which mocked Jewish practice and was abhorrent to the Jews. Then they came to the village of Modiin, near Israel’s Ben Gurion airport and they met resistance. The villagers assembled, including the family of Hashmon: Mattathias and his five sons, Johanan, Shimon, Judah, Eleazer and Jonathan. Mattathias refused to kill the sacrificial pig and said, "We will not obey the law of the king by departing from our worship, either to the right of to the left."

Another Jew came forward and offered to perform the sacrificial ritual. Mattathias, overcome by righteous anger, pulled out his sword and killed the man upon the altar.  

Then he and his son’s turned on the commander and the soldiers, and killed them all on the spot. Then mattathias cried, "Whoever is for God, follow me!" He, his sons and their supporters fled to the hill country where they became guerrilla fighters.

Mattathias died during the first year of the revolt and was succeeded by his son, Judah – known as the ‘Maccabee, usually translated the hammer. The name may also refer to Judah’s strength and persistence or to the blows that he dealt to the Syrians. Or, it could be an acrostic for the scripture written on his battle banner; (mi kamkha ba – elim Adonai) – Who is like unto Thee, O Lord? Exodus 15:11 Down through history the family has been known as both the Hasmoneans and the Maccabee’s.

Soon others joined the Maccabee’s with the goal of liberating Jerusalem and purifying the temple in Jerusalem for proper biblical worship. There were four major battles against the Syrians before the temple was regained. The final battle took place near Emmaus, a town familiar to readers of the New Testament. The armies clashed at dawn and the Maccabee’s were victorious.

The road to Jerusalem was opened to them. But their joy turned into bitterness when they saw the Temple, where pigs had been sacrificed and Greek gods erected. They set to work, tearing down the pagan altars and cleansing the Temple.  On the 25^th of Kislev in 165 BC their Temple was rededicated.

When it came time to light the great Menorah, only one small flask of oil could be found. They remembered the commandment of God – (command the Israelites to bring you clean oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning) Exodus 27: 20; Leviticus 24: 2. The oil, barely enough for one day miraculously lasted for eight day!

Kindling the Hanukkah lights (festival of lights).

This year Hanukkah or (Chanukah) will begin on the 22^nd December, 2008.

The meaning of Hanukkah

Hanukkah meaning "dedication," has become a festival of light and freedom. Hanukkah celebrates both a military and a spiritual victory. Proverbs 20:27 says, "The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord." In each generation God looks for Men and Women who will receive His light within them and let it shine out upon their world. The Maccabee’s believed in a God who cared for His people and who gave ultimate victory to those who put their trust in Him. Some of the family died in the conflict but others lived to recapture Jerusalem to rededicate the Temple.

The events of Hanukkah took place in the time when the Jewish community had been exposed for 200 years to the eroding influence of Hellenism (the world system), the beginning of the battle between the sons’ of Zion and the son’s of Greece. This simulation almost caused their downfall. Have we Christians assimilated into our world around us, often Christianizing the ways of the world so that we are often numbed to the idolatry and wickedness it produces? 

The glories of ancient Greece are long past, but the influence of the Greek Philosophy still affects our age. The Greek world view glorified man and gave us gods made in the image of man. What a contrast to the God of the Bible. The Hebrew God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, 1) existed in glory and majesty before the world began, 2) spoke and brought an ordinary universe into existence and 3) disciplined and guided His children as a good father. This God was unknown to the Greeks. He is also virtually unknown to many in our modern world.

Hanukkah should remind all God’s people, Jews and Christians alike that we who are called by His name, cannot hide among our pagan culture and assimilate. The battle between Zion and Greece continues on earth because it continues in the heaven lies. God looks for servants who will share His light to a dark world. Pray that in Israel and through the world He will find many who will stand for righteousness when it is costly, who believe in a God who does miracles, who are willing to cleanse and dedicate their lives to His worship and service.

Would their have been a Jewish community to nurture Mary, Joseph, Zechariah, Elizabeth and Simeon and Anna if the Maccabee’s had not been faithful to defend Jewish life 160 years earlier? Only God knows, but it is important for us to know that our choices matter. As C.S. Lewis once wrote, "A small stone may determine the course of a great river. I may that stone at this moment of history."

Perhaps Christians would be enriched by de-emphasizing the Santa Clause myths and spending some time this holiday season telling the real life story of the Maccabee ‘s along with the miraculous birth of Yeshua (Jesus), who came into the world to bring the ultimate light.

It is often mistaken by some Christians that Hanukkah is the Jewish alternative to Christmas. There really is no historical connection but there is the connection of light. Hanukkah dispels the darkness of the evil world created by pagans who hated God, and tried to thrust their evil ways upon Israel and the Jews.

What dispelled the darkness is symbolized by a little lamp that God kept burning for eight days. This miracle is inspired and galvanized the people to finish the job that Judah Maccabee began. Christmas, which celebrates an event that occurred about 165 years later, is when God sent His Son into the world as a light to dispel the greater darkness out of the entire world.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. In Him was life and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it." (John 1: 1, 4-5) 

Israel, God’s lamp

The Jewish people see the seven flames of the menorah the collective souls of Israel as God’s light to the nations (Isaiah 42:6; 49:6). From the time God incorporated them as His chosen nation, he commissioned Israel to be the light to the world. "Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statues, and say; surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people." (Deuteronomy 4:6) Israel was to model before the nations a lifestyle governed by God’s instructions. The successful and blessed lives that they would live in obedience to the Word of God would enlighten the gentiles and turn them to God. As they elevated the light of the Menorah, Israel would also be exalted.

Jewish tradition says, "God is the light of the universe… yet he commands that a lamp be lighted to give light back to God… So God has led Israel by His light, and in gratitude Israel is to give light in return… The light of the Menorah does not perish as must even the Temple, but in its continued burning symbolizes the fact that God’s blessings endure forever for His children"(Midrash Rabbah, Numbers 15:4). 

Even the words of the commandment for lighting the Menorah speak of Israel being elevated so as to enlighten the Gentile world. The command is, "When you raise the light" (Numbers 8:1). Israel was designed to lift up God’s fire upon a lamp stand so it would give light to the household of humanity. They were not to hide, or lower, the light. They were to raise it, exalt it, and make it glorious. Israel itself was elevated above other nations of the world for the express purpose of raising the light: " you are a holy people to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples who are on the face of the earth"(Deuteronomy 14: 2 NKJV). Israel was not exalted to the status of an elite super race; they were chosen in order to raise God’s light. Israel was selected to be a demonstration of God’s holiness.

Even when given the exquisite Menorah and its glorious light, Israel looked beyond the living emblem and its radiant splendor to the divine Light Himself. They knew that their own radiance and that of the Menorah were wholly dependent upon God, as the prophet declared: "Arise, shine, for thy light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. "(Isaiah 60:1) Israel could arise to shine only because God’s glorious light had risen upon them.

For 3,500 years, Israel has continued to be God’s lamp, man’s light. Though many Christian Theologians have stated that God rejected His ancient people in favor of the Church, the Apostle Paul strongly renounced this assertion: "God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew… Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! " (Romans 11: 2 NRSV; 11:1 NIV)

Despite every genocidal attempt to snuff out the lives of the Jewish people, Israel remains to this day God’s Torah light to the nations, modeling the ethical conduct that God demands, and serving as a material witness to God’s unfailing promise; "I am GOD--yes, I AM. I haven't changed. And because I haven't changed, you, the descendants of Jacob, haven't been destroyed." (Malachi 3:6)

The Menorah is the centerpiece of one of the most powerful images in Bible prophecy, the prophecy of Zechariah 4. It is an extended metaphor that speaks powerfully to both Jew and Christian of the importance of manifesting the divine light through the Holy Spirit to accomplish God’s purposes in the earth.

We truly trust that you have enjoyed reading this fascinating story of Hanukkah just as much as we did writing and researching it.

May God bless you and your family, as you celebrate the miracle of Yeshua (Jesus) this Christmas season!

From Northern Israel we send greetings and thank you from our hearts for praying for us and financially supporting Pray4Zion so that together we can be a part in fulfilling God’s plan for the Jewish people.

Yours in Yeshua,

Alf & Julie Saunders

December 08, 2008