And the Winner Is

Click HERE to return to main site

And the Winner Is...

At this particular time of year I think it’s important to look at a bit of the history behind “Hanukkah.” At the time of Queen Esther, the Hebrews physical lives were being threatened. In the history of Hanukkah, we see the spiritual lives of the Hebrews put on the line “and” their physical lives. Judah Maccabee, (d.160 BCE) third of his five brothers, was chosen by his dying father Mattathias, to continue the revolt he had begun against the Greco-Syrians. The Greeks had attempted to suppress the practice of Judaism. They had also polluted and paganized the temple in Jerusalem. Antiochus had commanded a pig to be slaughtered on the altar. Not only had the Greeks polluted the altar, but had put a stop to all temple sacrifice, destroyed the temple furniture, and made it illegal to be caught with any Torah scriptures.

The Syrians wanted the God of the Hebrew people done away with! Around the year 167 or 166 BCE, Judah assumed overall leadership, which meant full military control of the revolt. Judah’s army was poorly prepared and poorly armed. Despite this fact, Judah brought about victory after victory in the first years of his command, defeating far superior forces. Although his fighter’s ideological commitment to their cause was a definite incentive, it was God giving Judah supernatural wisdom that confounded and routed his enemies. The mobilization against the combined three pronged force at Emmaus was considered by many, as the most brilliant of Judah’s military victories.

The fighters were first gathered at Mizpah, the ancient Israelite religious center. Here, amid fasting and prayers to the God of Israel, Judah appointed captains of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, in accordance with ancient Mosaic instructions for doing battle. By December of the year 164 (25th Kislev), the temple of God was once again being restored. The temple had been torn apart. However, they fashioned new utensils and made do with what they had left. The menorah was missing, so they took seven iron spits, covered them with zinc, and fashioned them into a makeshift menorah. The Kohanim found a flask of oil, enough oil to light the menorah for one day. Supernaturally, the light continued to burn for eight days. This was the exact amount of time it took to make a new batch of oil.

Three years to the day from the time the temple service had been interrupted, the entire service was renewed. They celebrated for eight days straight. Although we do see the miracle in the burning of the oil for eight days, as believers we see far more in this festival. We see the middle light (called the shamash light) as Yeshua. It was at this time of the year Yeshua was CONCEIVED. He was not born on Dec. 25th! Sorry guys, not even “close” to when he was born. That would have been in the fall, on the feast of Tabernacles. Next to the “biggest miracle” of the conception of Yeshua at this time of year, Judah Maccabee…you’re the winner!