Shavei Tzyon | Return to Zion Congregation
Haifa, Israel
“Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent and took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her. Thus was Isaac comforted…” (Genesis 24:67)
Let’s look at this verse in relation to the situation we face as a nation and as individuals.
As I write, there seems to be a truce with Lebanon and a ceasefire with Gaza. The hostages have begun to return. Still, deep trauma remains. Soldiers and civilians have been killed. Many have been wounded and face years of rehabilitation or permanent handicaps. Many who have lived through these months of war are mentally and psychologically distressed with anxiety, sleeplessness, and physical distress. Many are waiting to receive therapy for post-traumatic stress disorders. What can we do? How can we live with this?
The Bible describes Isaac’s mental trauma, calling it “mother’s grief”. It may have originated from the altar and his father’s obedience to sacrifice him. The traditional Midrash says that when Sarah learned of Abraham’s plan, she died of grief. It may be that Isaac suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, and became distant from his father. Jewish tradition says that for many years he lived as if he was “unalive.” I expect modern psychiatry would have an explanation for this.
Isaac’s Paradox
Isaac was a man of God, a forerunner of the Messiah, a son of the Covenant, and yet he suffered from traumatic grief?! So what can we “normal people” expect? Unfortunately, we are all human and extremely vulnerable. Eventually, Rebekah helped bring comfort and healing to Isaac.
A good husband or wife is surely a comfort from the Lord. Every child of God has their own “Rebekah” sent by God to help in the healing process. Indeed, Paul writes about the gifts of assistance in 1 Corinthians 12:28, without specifying them, hinting that there are many of them and that we can be used by God to help heal others. Each of us can also expect healing through others. Even if we are overwhelmed by feelings of loneliness, destruction, and even betrayal, the Lord wants to reveal Himself and heal us.
Everyone Has His Own Golgotha
Every one of us will experience hardship. We each need to arrive at our own point of connection with “Golgotha” – a place where we give Yeshua our broken-ness and receive His mercy, atonement and healing.
The Golgotha effect, the substitution by the Messiah’s sacrifice, came force when: “…he was wounded for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).
This gives us hope for healing from that which afflicts us. In a brutally literal way, Yeshua took upon himself our woundedness. His utter distress becomes the source of our peace. He has “borne our griefs and carried our sorrows” (Isaiah 53:4).
Knowing the help that is available to others in Yeshua, can we be a comfort to those who are navigating trauma? Can we share what we ourselves have received from that hill of love-filled sacrifice?
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Yeshua HaMashiach, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).
Please pray for all of Israel and for God’s miracles and renewal to flow throughout the globe. Thank you so much for your prayers and financial support. Peace and blessings in Yeshua.
