Worthy Brief - 6/16/2020
Friend, send out the rescue team!
Luke 15:6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’
This week an interesting phenomenon occurred that had Israeli scientists baffled. Two sperm whales appeared off the coast of the Mediterranean Sea! It was the first time they've encountered it -- in the modern state of Israel. In February, a killer whale was seen for the first time off Israel's coast. These events had me wondering in numerous ways ... about whales...
....and reminded me of a story written in the San Francisco Chronicle about a female Humpback that had become entangled in a spider web of crab traps and lines. Weighted down by hundreds of pounds of traps that caused her to struggle to stay afloat, with hundreds of yards of line rope wrapped around her body, tail, and torso, and a line tugging in her mouth, she was a miserable victim indeed.
Thankfully, a fisherman spotted her just east of the Farralone Islands (outside the Golden Gate) and radioed an environmental group for help. Within a few hours, the rescue team arrived and determined that she was in such bad condition the only way to save her was to dive in and untangle her, a very dangerous proposition. One slap of her enormous tail could kill a rescuer. Undaunted, these brave souls worked for hours cutting her free. One guy who was cutting the rope out of her mouth says he saw her eye following him the entire time. Finally, they were able to free her.
The moment she was freed, the divers say she began to swim in joyous circles! She then came back to each and every diver, one at a time, and nudged them, gently --she thanked them all. Some said it was the most incredibly beautiful experience of their lives.
Now here is a powerful lesson from a beautiful story. There are deeply wounded and entangled souls in our congregations and communities who are desperate and near to sinking, never to be seen again. Where are the brave souls ready to risk the danger and gather a team of rescuers to cut them loose and bring them to joyous freedom? Isn't this exactly what our Lord has done for us? We can afford to do the same, and I believe we have this mandate from Him. These are difficult cases, perhaps there is even some danger in approaching them; but a brave and resolute team, led and empowered by our Captain, can accomplish the rescue and share in the amazing joy of the deliverance.
Friend, you may be the one to initiate this kind of rescue team for a brother or sister in distress. If so, just do it. The result will be as beautiful and rewarding as a joy-filled Humpback Whale!!
Your family in the Lord with much agape love,
George, Baht Rivka, Elianna & Obadiah
Tampa, FL
Editor's Note: Shalom Friends, thank you all for your messages of love and concern over the sudden death of my brother. We are grieving but we are healthy and well. I (George) have been going back and forth to Maryland, taking care of my brother in law’s situation, cleaning, fixing, taking care of debts and paperwork, trying to get my parents in a good, safe place. The airlines have not yet reimbursed our tickets or allowed us to use our them on a different date to return home to Israel despite our several efforts to contact. That all said, we are trying to make the best of our time here as we wait for answers. My wife (Baht Rivka Whitten, Lazman Hazeh Music) is currently working on new music and it looks like we are going to travel and minister for a couple of months. If you are interested in having us at your congregation, hosting a home meeting or connecting us with others please contact and let us know— love to see you on our way! You can send an email to george [ @ ] worthyministries.com for more information.
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