Friend, seek His face!

Psalms 27:5-8 For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock. 6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; Therefore, I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD. 7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me. 8 When You said, "Seek My face," My heart said to You, "Your face, LORD, I will seek." 

David’s “one thing” is not wishful thinking — it is anchored in God’s promise. He knows that when trouble comes, God Himself will hide him, cover him, and lift him high upon a rock. Notice the language: hide… conceal… cover… lift. These are not the actions of a distant God but of a protective Bridegroom. This is the confidence of Elul: when the shofar sounds, we are not exposed to wrath — we are invited into covering.

In Hebrew, the word for atonement, kippur, comes from the root meaning “to cover.” As Elul leads us toward Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, David reminds us that the God we seek is the God who covers us. He hides us in His shelter, He draws us under His tent, and He sets us high above the reach of the enemy. The covering of Elul is not abstract — it is personal. It is God Himself placing His Bride under His wings.

But covering is not the end — it leads to worship. David says, "I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD." (ESV) True covering produces true worship. When we know we are safe, hidden, and lifted by His mercy, we cannot remain silent. The Bride sings when she knows she is covered.

Then comes the turning point: God speaks. “Seek my face.” And David’s heart leaps to respond: “Your face, LORD, do I seek.” This is the dialogue of Elul. The King in the field calls, and the Bride responds. He is not summoning us into ritual but into relationship. His command is not “Work harder” but “Seek My face.”

Friend, this is the cry of Elul. The King is walking near. The shofar is sounding. He is covering you, lifting you, and calling you closer. Do not hide from Him as Adam did in the garden. Do not delay like the slumbering bride in Song of Songs. When He says, “Seek My face,” let your heart respond without hesitation: “Your face, LORD, will I seek.” The Bridegroom is calling. The covering is ready. The only question is — will you draw near?

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
George & Baht Rivka (Wilmington, N.C.), Obi (Baltimore, Maryland), Elianna (Married living in Missouri)

Editor's Note: This devotional is part of an ongoing Elul series. If you’ve just joined us, or happened to miss some earlier entries, I encourage you to start with the first one from August 25th. Each devotional builds on the last as we journey together through the month of Elul, preparing our hearts for the Fall Feasts — beginning with Yom Teruah (the Feast of Trumpets) and culminating in the Feast of Tabernacles.

Friend, one thing I ask!

Psalms 27:4  One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple.

David begins Psalm 27 with a cry of courage: “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” Yet courage in God is not an end in itself. It leads somewhere deeper. Having declared that God is his light, salvation, and strength, David then reveals the desire at the very core of his heart: one thing.

This is the language of intimacy. Not many things. Not divided desires. Not a long list of requests. Just one thing: to dwell with the Lord, to gaze upon His beauty, and to inquire in His temple. David’s greatest pursuit is not victory over enemies, not prosperity, not even safety — but presence.

This longing captures the essence of Elul. As the shofar sounds, calling us to repentance and return, it is also summoning us back to first love. Elul is a season of priorities. Just as the people of Haggai’s day were stirred on the 1st of Elul to rebuild the Temple, so Elul calls us to rebuild the inner temple of devotion in our own lives. The true work of restoration begins with returning to His presence.

Notice David’s threefold pursuit: he longs to dwell with the Lord — not as a passing visitor, but in unbroken fellowship; he yearns to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord — not with a fleeting glance, but with eyes fixed in wonder and adoration; and he desires to inquire in His temple — not merely to ask questions, but to seek wisdom, direction, and the intimacy of God’s presence. This is the cry of a heart wholly given to its Beloved, the single-minded pursuit of the Bride for her Bridegroom.

Friend, do not let this month of Elul pass with scattered priorities. Seek the one thing: to dwell with Him, to gaze on His beauty, to inquire in His temple. The shofar is sounding, the Bridegroom is calling — let your heart answer with passion and with love: "One thing I seek — to be with You."

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
George & Baht Rivka (Wilmington, N.C.), Obi (Baltimore, Maryland), Elianna (Married living in Missouri)

Editor's Note: This devotional is part of an ongoing Elul series. If you’ve just joined us, or happened to miss some earlier entries, I encourage you to start with the first one from August 25th. Each devotional builds on the last as we journey together through the month of Elul, preparing our hearts for the Fall Feasts — beginning with Yom Teruah (the Feast of Trumpets) and culminating in the Feast of Tabernacles.

Friend, the Lord is my light!

Psalms 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? 

As the shofar sounds each day of Elul, Psalm 27 is read according to Jewish tradition. This psalm is more than a reading — it is a cry, a declaration, a lifeline for the season of return. And it begins with this powerful statement: “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?”

Light is the first word David reaches for. In the darkness of confusion, in the shadows of uncertainty, in the face of his enemies, David anchors his hope in God as his light. Light means revelation in the midst of uncertainty, clarity when the way is clouded, and hope when despair presses in. Light is not just what God gives — it is who He is. “The LORD is my light.”

And because He is light, He is also our salvation. Not only does He show the way, but He rescues, delivers, and defends. David does not boast in his strength, his armies, or his strategies. His cry is singular: “The LORD is my salvation.” And because salvation rests in Him, fear has no ground. “Whom shall I fear? … Of whom shall I be afraid?”

This is why Psalm 27 is read during Elul. As the King walks in the field, His nearness drives away fear. Elul is not a season of dread but of confidence — not trembling before a distant monarch, but drawing near to a King who comes close with light, salvation, and strength. The shofar does not sound to terrify but to awaken courage, reminding us that God Himself is our stronghold.

Friend, hear the cry of David and make it your own: “The LORD is my light and my salvation — whom shall I fear?” In the days of darkness, let His nearness be your courage. In the shadows of uncertainty, let His light be your guide. In the battles that surround you, let His salvation be your confidence. The King is in the field. The Bridegroom is near. Do not be afraid — lift up your voice, for the Lord is your light!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
George & Baht Rivka (Wilmington, N.C.), Obi (Baltimore, Maryland), Elianna (Married living in Missouri)

Editor's Note: This devotional is part of an ongoing Elul series. If you’ve just joined us, or happened to miss some earlier entries, I encourage you to start with the first one from August 25th. Each devotional builds on the last as we journey together through the month of Elul, preparing our hearts for the Fall Feasts — beginning with Yom Teruah (the Feast of Trumpets) and culminating in the Feast of Tabernacles.

Friend, a season of restoration!

Philippians 1:6  being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; 

It is no coincidence that two of Israel’s great works of restoration — the rebuilding of the Temple in Haggai’s day and the repairing of the walls in Nehemiah’s day — are both marked in the month of Elul.

In Haggai 1:14–15, the Spirit stirred the leaders and remnant of Judah to begin rebuilding the House of the Lord in the sixth month, Elul (520 BC). Worship, the very heartbeat of Israel’s covenant, was restored in the season when hearts were being prepared for repentance before the High Holy Days.

Generations later, in Nehemiah 6:15, the wall around Jerusalem was completed in just fifty-two days, ending on the twenty-fifth of Elul (445 BC). The people’s protection, dignity, and identity were reestablished — again in the very month when Israel examined itself before God.

Thus, Elul becomes a prophetic reminder: God begins and completes works of restoration in this season. The Temple points us to renewed intimacy with Him, while the Wall speaks of His covering, security, and holiness around His people. Both remind us that as we turn our hearts back to Him in repentance, He establishes both our worship and our defenses.

As Paul writes, "He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ" (Phil. 1:6). Just as He did for Israel in Elul, so He does for us: beginning and completing His restoration work in the lives of His people.

Take heart in this: the God who moved His people to lay the foundations of the Temple and to raise the walls of Jerusalem in Elul is the same God who is stirring your spirit in this very season. He not only begins His work — He finishes it. He restores worship where it has grown cold, and He builds walls of fire around His people where there has been breach and vulnerability. Elul is your invitation to yield afresh to His hands — to let Him clear the rubble, restore His altar in your heart, and set His watch over your life. What He began in you, He will not abandon. What He stirs in you now, He will surely bring to completion.

Friend, so lift your eyes and strengthen your hands, for the season of restoration is upon you. The same Spirit who rebuilt a temple and raised a wall is breathing upon you today. Yield to His call, and watch Him restore both your worship and your defense — for the King is coming, and His Bride must be ready.

Shabbat Shalom -- have a great weekend! We'll see you on Monday!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
George & Baht Rivka (Spartanburg, SC), Obi (Baltimore, Maryland), Elianna (Married living in Missouri)

Editor's Note: This devotional is part of an ongoing Elul series. If you’ve just joined us, or happened to miss some earlier entries, I encourage you to start with the first one from August 25th. Each devotional builds on the last as we journey together through the month of Elul, preparing our hearts for the Fall Feasts — beginning with Yom Teruah (the Feast of Trumpets) and culminating in the Feast of Tabernacles.

Friend, Elul -- the bridal summons!

Revelation 19:7-8  Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready;  8  it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. 

If Elul begins with intimacy, it culminates in readiness. The sound of the shofar throughout this month is not just a wake-up call — it is a bridal summons. It is the voice of the Bridegroom calling His Bride to prepare for the wedding feast of the Lamb. John’s vision in Revelation declares: “Let us rejoice and exult and give Him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has made herself ready” (Revelation 19:7).

Notice this: the Bride made herself ready. Readiness is not accidental; it is not passive. It is a choice, a posture, a preparation. Elul is the season appointed for that work. Just as Israel washed and consecrated themselves before meeting God at Sinai, and just as Esther bathed, anointed, and prepared before meeting the king, so we are called to purify and prepare ourselves for our Bridegroom. Paul reminds us that Yeshua (Jesus) will present His Bride to Himself “without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:27).

How then do we make ourselves ready? We repent — allowing the Spirit to wash away the stains of compromise and sin. We devote ourselves afresh — trimming our wicks, filling our lamps with oil, like the wise virgins who watched through the night for the bridegroom’s arrival (Matthew 25:1–13). We set ourselves apart in holiness — refusing to be conformed to the world, but transformed by His Spirit until His likeness shines in us.

Beloved, Elul is the month of decision. The King is not only in the field, He is standing at the altar, preparing to receive His Bride. Will you be found ready? Or will you be caught distracted, spotted, wrinkled, unprepared? Now is the time to awaken. Now is the time to cast aside every weight, every distraction, every love that rivals Him. The shofar is sounding over your life: The Bridegroom is coming.

Friend, do not delay your preparation. Do not think there will be a better time. The hour is now. The door of mercy is open. The voice of the Beloved is calling. Lay aside every stain, every wrinkle, and let His Spirit make you radiant. Be awake. Be ready. Be holy. For the Bridegroom is at the door.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
George & Baht Rivka (Spartanburg, SC), Obi (Baltimore, Maryland), Elianna (Married living in Missouri)

Editor's Note: This devotional is part of an ongoing Elul series. If you’ve just joined us, or happened to miss some earlier entries, I encourage you to start with the first one from August 25th. Each devotional builds on the last as we journey together through the month of Elul, preparing our hearts for the Fall Feasts — beginning with Yom Teruah (the Feast of Trumpets) and culminating in the Feast of Tabernacles.

Friend, I Am My Beloved’s, and He Is Mine!

Song of Solomon 6:3  I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine; he grazes among the lilies. 

The month of Elul has always carried the whisper of covenant love. Even the letters of its name, Aleph-Lamed-Vav-Lamed (אלול), form the acronym for "Ani l'dodi v'dodi li" -- "I am my Beloved's, and my Beloved is mine" (Song of Songs 6:3). At its heart, Elul is not only about repentance, but about intimacy -- the Bride turning her heart back toward her Bridegroom.

The Song of Songs is more than ancient poetry; it is a prophetic picture of Messiah's love for His people. Just as the Beloved calls to the Bride, saying, "Open to me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my flawless one..." (Song of Solomon 5:2), so Yeshua, the Bridegroom, calls to His Bride, the ekklesia, with a love that will not relent. His knock is not that of a stranger but of the One who has given His life to make us His own.

Elul is the season of awakening -- when the daily shofar cry echoes the Bridegroom's knock. It is the call to rise from slumber, to cleanse ourselves, and to prepare for the coming wedding feast. Preparation begins not with outward adornment, but with inward devotion. The Bridegroom is not wooing us into busyness, but into love -- a love that delights in His presence and rests in His embrace.

Friend, the King is in the field -- and He is also the Bridegroom at the door. This is the Messianic call of Elul: the voice of Yeshua (Jesus), your Bridegroom, wooing you back to first love. Will you awaken to His knock? Will you open wide the chambers of your heart and let Him in? This is the time to renew love, to deepen intimacy, to be prepared not only as His servant, but as His Bride.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka, and Obi - (Baltimore, Maryland( | Elianna (Married living in Missouri)

Editor's Note: This devotional is part of an ongoing Elul series. If you’ve just joined us, or happened to miss some earlier entries, I encourage you to start with the first one from August 25th. Each devotional builds on the last as we journey together through the month of Elul, preparing our hearts for the Fall Feasts — beginning with Yom Teruah (the Feast of Trumpets) and culminating in the Feast of Tabernacles.

Friend, you are His temple!

Haggai 1:12-14  Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him. And the people feared the LORD.  13  Then Haggai, the messenger of the LORD, spoke to the people with the LORD's message, “I am with you, declares the LORD.”  14  And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God, 

When the shofar first sounded on the 1st of Elul in Haggai’s day, the call was clear: “Rebuild My house.” The people obeyed, and the work of restoring the Temple began. But in the New Covenant, the temple of God is no longer built of stone alone — it is within you. Paul declares, “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that His Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16).

Peter echoes this truth when he says we are “living stones being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5). The presence of God now dwells in the hearts and lives of His people.

And so the call of Elul comes to us in a deeply personal way. The question is not only, “Will you rebuild God’s house?” but, “Will you allow Him to rebuild you?” Are there broken walls of devotion that need repairing? Are there altars of prayer and worship that lie neglected? Are there compromises or distractions that have taken priority over His presence?

Elul is the month to rebuild. The shofar is sounding, summoning you to return to first love, to sweep clean the temple courts of your life, and to prepare a dwelling place for the King of Glory. The King is in the field — He is walking among His people, looking for a house fit for His presence.

Friend, the Spirit of God is calling with urgency: You are His temple. Open the doors wide. Tear down the partitions. Let His fire cleanse, His Spirit fill, and His glory consume every part of your life. Do not delay. The Bridegroom is coming. The shofar is sounding. Let His temple — your heart, your life — be made ready for His presence!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka, and Obi - (Baltimore, Maryland( | Elianna (Married living in Missouri)

Friend, rebuilding the temple!

Haggai 1:1-2 In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came by the hand of Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest: 2 "Thus says the LORD of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the LORD."

On the very first day of Elul in 520 BCE, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: “These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the LORD” (Haggai 1:2).

The people had returned from exile, but allowed discouragement and distraction to delay God’s work. They focused on building their own homes and securing their own lives, while the Lord’s house lay in ruins. Through Haggai, God shook them awake: “Consider your ways!” (Haggai 1:5). Their lack of blessing was tied directly to their neglect of His dwelling.

And the timing of this word was no accident. It was the first of Elul — the month of repentance and return. Just as the shofar was beginning to sound each day across Israel, God was sounding His own shofar through Haggai: “Rebuild My house. Make Me your priority again.”

The people responded. Later that same month, stirred by the Spirit, Zerubbabel, Joshua the high priest, and all the remnant of the people rose up and began rebuilding (Haggai 1:14–15).

This is the essence of Elul. It is not just about confessing sins; it is about reordering priorities. It is about putting God’s house — His presence, His kingdom, His calling — first again. Today, the temple is no longer a building in Jerusalem but the dwelling of God’s Spirit within His people (1 Corinthians 3:16). Elul calls us to clear away the rubble, to strengthen the foundations of prayer and devotion, and to rebuild our lives as holy places where His glory can dwell.

Friend, the shofar of Elul is sounding — not a distant echo, but a divine summons to rise and rebuild the dwelling place of God. Do not delay. Do not make excuses. Do not say, “The time is not yet.” The time is now. The King is in the field, walking among His people, searching for hearts made ready to receive Him. Will He pass by and find His house in ruins, or will He find you prepared as a living temple, holy and filled with His glory? The King is near — let Him find His dwelling in you.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka (Dallas, Texas) | Obi - (Baltimore, Maryland( | Elianna (Married living in Missouri)

Friend, a weekly call to return!

Matthew 11:28-30 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

As we walk through Elul, we hear the daily shofar reminding us to awaken and return. But God has already built a rhythm of return into every single week -- Shabbat.

Shabbat is more than a day of rest. It is a covenant sign (Exodus 31:16-17), a reminder that the work is not ultimately ours but His. Just as Elul prepares us for the High Holy Days, Shabbat prepares us for eternity. Each week we step aside from labor, lay down our striving, and remember that redemption and provision come from the Lord alone.

In Deuteronomy 5:15, God links Shabbat to the Exodus: "You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out... therefore the LORD your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day." Shabbat is tied to freedom -- a weekly declaration that the arm of the Lord has broken our chains. Elul amplifies that same truth: the King has come into the field to draw near, to free us from sin, and to invite us back into intimacy.

Elul and Shabbat together form a double call. Elul says: "Return in this season." Shabbat says: "Return every week." Elul looks ahead to the Bride's final preparation; Shabbat is the weekly rehearsal dinner. Both whisper the same message -- the Bridegroom is coming, and His Bride must be ready.

Friend, the King is not only in the field this month -- He is present in the rhythm of every week. Will you make space for Him? Will you stop your labor, silence the noise, and meet Him in the rest He provides? The Bridegroom is calling His Bride to awaken, repent, and prepare -- not only in Elul, but in every Shabbat until the final trumpet sounds. The King is near. Enter His rest, for the Bridegroom is at the door.

Shabbat Shalom -- have a wonderful weekened in the Lord!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka (Dallas, Texas) | Obi - (Baltimore, Maryland( | Elianna (Married living in Missouri)

Friend, the forty days of mercy!

Exodus 34:6-7  The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7  keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.

When Israel fell at Sinai with the golden calf, it could have marked the end of their story. But instead, God called Moses back up the mountain for another forty days. According to Jewish tradition, this second ascent began on the first day of Elul. For forty days and nights, Moses interceded for a rebellious people, pleading for mercy and the renewal of the covenant.

During this time, God revealed Himself in a new way. He passed before Moses and proclaimed His Name:

"The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin..." (Exodus 34:6-7).

When God revealed Himself and His attributes to Moses, it shattered the common picture many hold of the “God of the Old Testament” — a stern, vengeful, and ready-to-destroy deity, far from it. What He revealed was mercy, grace, patience, steadfast love, and forgiveness. This was more than words; it was God unveiling His very character. And this revelation became the heartbeat of Elul. That is why Elul is remembered as a season of teshuvah — return. Each of the forty days is a step deeper into repentance, mercy, and intimacy, culminating in Yom Kippur—the Day of Atonement. Kippur means "covering," the reminder that in His mercy, you are not exposed but covered by Him.

The forty days of Moses point us forward to the Messiah. Just as Moses stood on the mountain interceding for Israel, Yeshua (Jesus) now intercedes for us at the right hand of the Father (Romans 8:34). Elul is not only about our repentance; it is about His unceasing mercy and His covenant love that does not let go.

Friend, the shofar blast in Elul is the sound of mercy — the voice of a God who proclaims Himself merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love and forgiveness. Each blast is His invitation: “Return to Me — My mercy is greater than your failure, My love deeper than your shame, My covenant still stands.” The King is in the field, near and compassionate, extending His hand. Do not waste this season — every day is an open door to mercy, every moment a chance to be restored. The shofar is sounding — the God of mercy is calling you now.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Friend, He's the God of second chances!

Exodus 32:15-19  Then Moses turned and went down from the mountain with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand, tablets that were written on both sides; on the front and on the back they were written. 16  The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets. 17  When Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, “There is a noise of war in the camp.” 18  But he said, “It is not the sound of shouting for victory, or the sound of the cry of defeat, but the sound of singing that I hear.” 19  And as soon as he came near the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, Moses' anger burned hot, and he threw the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain. 

The month of Elul carries the fragrance of mercy because it was born out of failure. Two great collapses mark Israel’s journey in the wilderness. The first instance occurred at Sinai, when impatience led to idolatry and the golden calf was raised. Moses descended with the tablets of the covenant, only to see the people dancing around an idol. In grief and holy anger, he shattered the Ten Commandments at the base of the mountain (Exodus 32:15-19).

The second came at Kadesh Barnea, when the twelve spies returned from the Promised Land. Ten brought back a bad report — focusing on the giants instead of the promise of God. Fear spread through the camp like wildfire, and the people refused to enter the land (Numbers 13–14). That unbelief cost a generation their inheritance, as they were turned back into the wilderness.

Failure and rebellion marked Israel’s story — yet God did not abandon His people. Instead, He invited Moses back up the mountain. According to tradition, Moses ascended Mount Sinai again on the first day of Elul and remained there forty days, interceding for Israel. By Yom Kippur, he descended with the second set of tablets and the assurance that the covenant was renewed (Exodus 34).

That’s the heart of Elul: when man fails, God extends mercy. When we break covenant, He invites us into repentance and offers restoration. Elul reminds us that our failures do not have the final word. The shofar blast each day declares: “It is not too late. Return, and live!”

Friend, perhaps you feel like Israel — stuck in regret, ashamed of past mistakes, or paralyzed by fear. But hear the call of Elul: the God of Israel is the God of second chances. The King is in the field, and He is inviting you to draw near. Do not let your failures define you; let His mercy rewrite your story. This is the season to return, to repent, and to receive His forgiveness. The shofar is sounding. Do not harden your heart. Rise, for the Bridegroom is calling you to begin again.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Friend, the King is in the field!

James 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Elul is a month when the distance between heaven and earth seems to shrink. The rabbis used a picture to explain this: "The King is in the field." Normally, when a king resides in his palace, his people must pass through gates, guards, and endless protocol to gain an audience. Few are admitted, and even then, only with fear and trembling. But during Elul, the King is said to leave His palace and walk among His people in the open fields. He is close, approachable, and available to anyone who desires to draw near.

This picture captures the essence of Elul. God does not wait for us to ascend to Him by our own efforts; instead, He bends low, stepping into the ordinary places of our lives. He comes near where we labor, where we wrestle, where we sow and reap -- and in His nearness, He invites us to turn aside and approach Him.

To "draw near" in this season means more than a fleeting prayer or a moment of religious duty. It is an intentional turning of the heart. James 4:8 says, "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you." Elul reminds us that God is already moving toward us -- He is in the field, waiting for our response. To draw near is to make space, to set aside distraction, to step out of our routines and meet Him in the openness He has provided.

Even the name Elul hints at this intimacy. Its letters (Aleph-Lamed-Vav-Lamed) form the acronym for "Ani l'dodi v'dodi li" -- "I am my Beloved's, and my Beloved is mine" (Song of Songs 6:3). Elul is covenant love in action -- not distant, not unreachable, but near and personal.

Friend, beloved, the King is in the field. He is not behind walls or palace gates. He is walking where you walk. This is the time to stop, to look up, and to respond. Do not miss His nearness. Do not let the shofar sound without awakening. The Beloved is calling His Bride to Himself -- to intimacy, to repentance, to readiness. The King is in the field ... and He is waiting for you.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Friend, the month of Elul -- a season of return!

Song of Solomon 6:3 I am my beloved's, And my beloved is mine. He feeds his flock among the lilies.

This begins a very special season on God's calendar -- the month of preparation before the Fall Feasts. The month of Elul is unique: it is the 12th month on the civil calendar and the 6th month on the prophetic/biblical calendar. Each day of Elul is marked by the blowing of the shofar, a trumpet call that awakens the soul. These daily blasts prepare our hearts for Yom Teruah (the Feast of Trumpets, Rosh Hashanah) and ultimately for Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement).

In Jewish tradition, there are two calendars that run side by side. The civil calendar begins in the fall with the month of Tishrei, making Elul the 12th month — the close of a yearly cycle. The prophetic or biblical calendar, however, begins in the spring with Nisan (the month of Passover), which makes Elul the 6th month — the number often associated with man and preparation. In this way, Elul stands at the crossroads of ending and beginning: the closing of one cycle and the preparation for the new.

This devotional is the first in a multi-part series on the significance of Elul -- its connection to repentance, the preparation of the Bride, and the mercy of God. In the weeks ahead, we'll take a deeper dive into each of these themes.

Even the very name Elul carries this meaning. In Hebrew, it is spelled Aleph-Lamed-Vav-Lamed (אלול), which the rabbis saw as an acronym for "Ani L'dodi v'dodi li" -- "I am my Beloved's, and my Beloved is mine" (Song of Songs 6:3). Elul, then, is not only a season of repentance, but of covenant intimacy -- a month where the Bride turns her heart toward the Bridegroom.

Historically, Elul is also tied to Moses' second 40 days on Mount Sinai after Israel's sin with the golden calf (Exodus 34). During that time, God revealed His mercy and renewed the covenant. That season of intercession and forgiveness has marked Elul ever since as a time of second chances and restored relationship with God.

Friend, so as we begin this biblical month, let us heed the sound of the shofar blast. It is a call to awaken from slumber, to return to the Lord, and to prepare our hearts for the days to come. The Bridegroom is preparing us to be spotless and without wrinkle. Let us enter this season with hearts set on intimacy with God, ready for His appearing, and asking for a fresh anointing to draw us ever closer as we seek His face.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Friend, the arm that brings rest -- the final word!

Deuteronomy 5:15  And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the LORD your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day. 

Isaiah 40:11  He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom, And gently lead those who are with young. 

We have come to the final meditation in this journey through the Z’roah, the Arm of the LORD. From the Arm that redeemed Israel out of Egypt, to the Arm that pierced the dragon, to the Arm that is coming with reward — all of these revelations lead us here: the Arm that brings His people into rest.

Redemption is not complete until rest is secured. God’s arm not only broke Pharaoh’s power; it also gathered His people into covenant fellowship. Shabbat is the covenant sign of this rest — not a burden to bear, but a gift to receive. Israel was commanded to stop striving, not because they had accomplished enough, but because God’s Arm had already done the work. Sabbath is God’s weekly reminder: “You are not slaves. You are Mine, and you are carried.”

Isaiah’s vision shows the same truth: the Arm that split seas and struck empires now cradles lambs and carries them close. This is not a contradiction, but a completion. The Warrior Arm clears the way so the Shepherd Arm may gather His flock. In Messiah, the fullness is revealed: He conquered death, and then He spoke the invitation — “Come to Me… and I will give you rest.”

Every Shabbat, every quiet surrender to His finished work, is a rehearsal of eternity. It declares to the world and to our restless hearts: “The battle is already won. The Arm has finished the work.” And one day soon, when He returns, that rest will be eternal — the final Sabbath of God, where His people dwell in His embrace forever.

Friend, this is the last word of the Arm: Rest. Not a legal duty, but a covenant delight. Not striving, but surrender. Not fear, but being held. The Arm that shattered your enemy is the Arm that now carries you home. Stop struggling. Rest in His embrace — for you are not only redeemed, you are kept.

Shabbat Shalom -- have a great weekend, and we'll see you first thing on Monday morning!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Friend, the arm that is coming and rewarding!

Isaiah 40:10 Behold, the Lord GOD shall come with a strong hand, And His arm shall rule for Him; Behold, His reward is with Him, And His work before Him.

Isaiah’s vision looks ahead — not only to the Arm of the LORD revealed in the Exodus or even in the cross, but to the day when that same Arm will come again in glory. The Z’roah — the Arm of the LORD — comes clothed with strength to establish His rule, and He does not come empty-handed. His reward is with Him, and His work is before Him. The promise is sure: He is coming, and He is rewarding.

“His reward is with Him” speaks to the faithfulness of God’s covenant. The Hebrew word sakar carries the sense of blessing, vindication, and fulfillment of promise. The Lord does not forget His people. When He comes, He comes with restoration, with vindication for the righteous, and with the joy of fulfilled hope. The Arm that rules does not bring only judgment; He brings blessing for those who have trusted Him.

“His work is before Him” reminds us that nothing is left unfinished. What He begins, He completes. The story of redemption is still unfolding, and the Arm of the LORD carries it forward without delay or distraction. Creation itself testifies to His completed word, and redemption will likewise be brought to perfect fulfillment. The work of salvation is not a project abandoned halfway — it is always before Him, and He will see it through until the end.

Messianically, Isaiah’s prophecy echoes into Revelation 22:12: “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me, to repay each one for what he has done.” The Arm revealed in weakness on the cross will return in glory, not only to reign, but to reward. The Lamb who was slain will return as the King who repays justice for the wicked, and eternal blessing for the faithful.

For us today, this shifts our perspective. We live not as those scrambling under the chaos of the world but as those awaiting the certainty of His appearing. His work is still unfolding — and we are caught up in it. His reward is already secured — and we are heirs of it. Every act of obedience, every step of faith, every burden carried in His name will be answered when the Arm comes.

Friend, the Arm that once stretched wide to save you is the very Arm that will soon split the heavens and come for you.  Lift your eyes — your King is coming clothed in power, crowned with justice, and carrying blessing for His people. Stand unshaken, for His work includes you, and His reward will surely be placed in your hands.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Friend, the arm that makes His name known!

Isaiah 63:12-14  who caused his glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses, who divided the waters before them to make for himself an everlasting name, 13  who led them through the depths? Like a horse in the desert, they did not stumble. 14  Like livestock that go down into the valley, the Spirit of the LORD gave them rest. So you led your people, to make for yourself a glorious name. 

Isaiah recalls the Exodus as the supreme display of God’s Z’roah, His Arm of glory. Though the people saw Moses raise his staff over the Red Sea, it was not Moses’ power that split the waters. Behind the prophet’s hand was the Arm of the LORD — majestic, glorious, and unstoppable. The sea parted not to honor Moses, but to exalt the Name of the God who sent him. The Red Sea became a stage for God to reveal His glory, so that His Name would echo through generations as the Deliverer of His people.

The text emphasizes that this act of deliverance was for a greater purpose: “to make Himself an everlasting name.” The miracles of the Exodus were not random interventions; they were deliberate revelations of God’s character and covenant faithfulness. By cutting a highway through the sea, the Arm of the LORD was inscribing His Name into Israel’s memory and broadcasting His power to the nations. Pharaoh’s pride was crushed, Israel’s hope was restored, and God’s reputation as Redeemer was forever secured.

This same truth is repeated throughout Scripture. Every act of salvation magnifies His Name. When Abraham’s barren household was given Isaac, when David stood before Goliath, when Elijah called down fire on Mount Carmel — it was the LORD Himself making His Name known through human weakness. The Z’roah moves not to glorify men but to reveal the God who rules history.

In Messiah Yeshua, this reaches its climax. John’s Gospel declares that Yeshua’s (Jesus') greatest hour of glory was the cross. There, the Arm was revealed in ultimate weakness and ultimate strength — suffering to redeem, dying to conquer, rising to reign. Philippians 2 tells us that because of this, "God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the Name above every name." The parting of the sea pointed forward to the tearing of the veil and the breaking of death’s power, all for the glory of the everlasting Name.

For us today, Isaiah’s words remind us that the miracles in our lives are never just about us — they are about Him. When God makes a way where there is no way, when He divides the seas of impossibility before us, it is so His Name might be glorified in us and through us. Our deliverance is His testimony. Our freedom is His witness. Every act of salvation is the Arm of the LORD writing His Name upon our story.

Friend, the glorious Arm that split the sea is the same Arm stretched wide at the cross. He still leads, He still delivers, and He still makes His Name known through His people. Lift your eyes from your own strength to the One whose Name is everlasting. The waters before you will part, not for your glory, but for His — and in your deliverance, the nations will know that He alone is God.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Friend, the arm that does the impossible!

Jeremiah 32:17  Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You. 

Jeremiah uttered these words when everything around him looked hopeless. Babylon’s armies surrounded Jerusalem, the city was on the brink of destruction, and yet God told Jeremiah to buy a field as a prophetic sign that restoration would come. The prophet responded in awe: the God who created the heavens and the earth by His outstretched arm is not bound by human circumstances. The same God who set galaxies in place and boundaries for the seas is the God who still moves to redeem His people. Truly, nothing is too hard for Him.

The testimony of Scripture confirms this over and over. When Abraham and Sarah were old and barren, God promised a son. Sarah laughed at the impossibility — yet God replied, “Is anything too hard for the LORD?” (Genesis 18:14). Isaac’s birth was living proof God brings life where none is possible. What was beyond human ability was accomplished by the Arm of God.

Centuries later, that same Arm walked among us in the person of Yeshua (Jesus). The gospels show us His mastery over the impossible: blind eyes opened, lepers cleansed, the dead raised. Even the wind and the sea obeyed His command, for the One who set their boundaries at creation still held them in His hand. At His word, storms were silenced and chaos was calmed — a living demonstration that nothing is too hard for the Arm of the LORD.

The cross and the resurrection are the ultimate proof. Sin and death — the greatest impossibilities — were shattered by the Arm stretched wide for us. Where humanity could not rescue itself, the righteousness of God sustained His Arm to finish the work. And in the empty tomb, we see that no grave is too deep for His power to overcome.

Friend, let Jeremiah’s declaration be your anthem: “Ah, Lord GOD, there is nothing too hard for You!” No siege of fear, debt, sickness, or oppression can stand against the Creator of heaven and earth. The God who gave Abraham a son in his old age, who calmed the raging seas with a word, who broke the power of the grave through His Son, is the same God who stretches out His hand over your life today. Lift your eyes from the impossibility before you and fix them on the One who speaks worlds into being. Rest in His strength, declare His power, and stand in faith — for truly, nothing is too hard for Him.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Friend, the arm that pierced the dragon!

Isaiah 51:9  Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in days of old, the generations of long ago. Was it not you who cut Rahab in pieces, who pierced the dragon?

Psalms 89:9-10  You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them.  10  You crushed Rahab like a carcass; you scattered your enemies with your mighty arm. 

Isaiah’s words summon one of the most dramatic images of God’s saving power: the Z’roah — the Arm of the LORD — cutting Rahab in pieces and piercing the dragon.

Here, Rahab is not the woman of Jericho but a poetic name for Egypt (Psalm 87:4), often symbolizing arrogant nations and the dark spiritual powers behind them. In Hebrew poetry, Rahab also evokes the sea monster of chaos, a stand-in for the forces that oppose God’s order. To say the Arm “cut Rahab in pieces” is to recall how God shattered Egypt’s pride and broke the grip of the powers that enslaved His people.

The dragon, or serpent, is another layer of this imagery. Behind Pharaoh’s cruelty and Egypt’s gods was the same ancient serpent that slithered into Eden — the chaos-bringer, the deceiver, the enemy of God’s purposes. When the Arm of the LORD struck Egypt with plagues and split the Red Sea, it was not only Pharaoh who was defeated; it was the serpent himself who was pierced, exposed as powerless against the covenant God of Israel. The Exodus was more than political liberation — it was a cosmic showdown, and the Arm of God prevailed.

The cry “Awake, awake!” is not a suggestion that God has grown weary or inattentive. In Hebrew, "lavesh oz" — “put on strength” — means to clothe oneself for action, to rise up ready for battle. The exiles were invoking the Arm that once destroyed Rahab, pleading for Him to act again in their day. This was a declaration of faith: the God who pierces the dragon once will pierce him again.

Yet the Arm does not only strike; it saves. The same Arm that shattered Egypt also carried Israel safely through the sea, making a way where there was none. The battle was never for spectacle but for the flock’s safety. Every sword-thrust against the dragon clears a path for God’s people to walk in freedom. His piercing blow is always for the sake of deliverance.

Prophetically, this piercing of the dragon finds its ultimate fulfillment in Messiah Yeshua (Jesus). At the cross, the Arm of the LORD struck the serpent’s head, disarming principalities and powers (Colossians 2:14-15). In His resurrection, He proved that the dragon has no final claim over His people. Revelation picks up the same imagery, declaring the final defeat of the great dragon, Satan, who is cast down forever (Revelation 12:9; 20:10). The Arm that pierced in Egypt pierced again at Calvary — and will pierce once more at the end of the age.

For us today, Isaiah’s cry becomes our own. In seasons when chaos swirls and the enemy’s roar seems loud, we call upon the Arm of the LORD — not as if He were asleep, but as an act of faith that He will rise and act again. The dragon still snarls, but his fate is sealed. The Arm has already pierced him, and His victory is our inheritance.

Friend, the Arm that pierced the dragon is the very Arm stretched wide at the cross for you. Call upon Him, and remember that He has already given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy (Luke 10:18–19). He will carve a way for you through raging seas, opening a path where there seems to be no way. So stand firm — for the dragon’s roar is nothing more than the echo of his defeat, and his end is already sealed. The same Arm that cut Rahab in pieces, that split the waters, that crushed the serpent’s head, is the Arm that now holds you secure and will carry you all the way home!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Friend, the arm that wins the final victory!

Psalms 98:1-4 Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory. 2  The LORD has made known His salvation; His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations. 3  He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. 4  Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth; Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises. 

Psalm 98 is a victory psalm — a call to lift up a “new song” because the Z’roah, the holy arm of the LORD, has brought decisive triumph. In Hebrew thought, the arm is the active extension of the will, the power that brings intention into reality. To call it “holy” is to declare that it is set apart, dedicated fully to God’s purpose, incapable of corruption. The psalmist celebrates that salvation is not a hidden act, but an open demonstration — God’s righteousness revealed before the eyes of the nations.

The Z’roah here is not simply about a moment in history; it is the ongoing, covenant-keeping power of God. The psalm ties His victory directly to His mercy and faithfulness toward Israel — reminding us that every act of deliverance is anchored in His unchanging promises. His arm moves in perfect alignment with His covenant love, ensuring that His people’s salvation is never an afterthought but the goal of His mission.

The imagery points forward to the Messiah, the Arm of the LORD revealed in human form. Yeshua’s (Jesus') death and resurrection were the ultimate “marvelous things” — the victory that disarmed the powers of darkness and opened salvation to every nation. The psalm’s vision of “all the ends of the earth” seeing God’s salvation finds its fulfillment in the global proclamation of the gospel and will reach its climax when He returns to reign openly.

This psalm also shows us that God’s victories demand a response. We are not called to observe quietly but to join the chorus — to “shout joyfully,” “rejoice,” and “sing praises.” The Z’roah has acted, the victory is won, and the whole earth is summoned to celebrate. Worship becomes the public testimony of the redeemed, declaring to the world what God has done.

For us today, Psalm 98 is both a celebration and a prophecy. We sing because the Z’roah has already secured our salvation, and we sing because we know the day is coming when every voice will join the song. This is not just Israel’s story; it is the world’s invitation.

Friend, the holy Arm has accomplished what no power on earth or in hell could ever do. His salvation is not hidden in shadows but blazes in the light for all to see. Lift your voice now in praise, for the Arm that won the victory is the Arm that upholds you still. And just as He rested when His work was finished, so you are invited into His Shabbat — the rest secured by His triumph. This rest will be your song now, and His victory will be the anthem of eternity.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Friend, the arm that saves alone!

Isaiah 59:16  He saw that there was no man, And wondered that there was no intercessor; Therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; And His own righteousness, it sustained Him. 

Isaiah 63:5  I looked, but there was no one to help, And I wondered That there was no one to uphold; Therefore My own arm brought salvation for Me; And My own fury, it sustained Me. 

This is one of the most intimate revelations of the Z’roah in Scripture. God looks for a human intercessor but finds none. No man can bridge the gap. So His own Arm accomplishes the work. In Hebrew, v’tosha lo z'roah — “His arm saved for Him” — reveals that salvation originates from within God Himself, not from any outside help. Isaiah adds that His own righteousness sustained Him — it upheld His resolve to save — and His fury upheld Him, a holy passion that would not rest until justice was accomplished.

This truth is central in the Passover (Pesach) picture: Israel did not fight her way out of Egypt; she was carried out. The Lamb’s blood and the Arm’s power worked together without Israel lifting a weapon. In the same way, at the cross, Yeshua (Jesus) — the Arm of the LORD — bore the full weight of salvation without human assistance. His righteousness sustained Him through the agony, and His righteous fury burned against sin and death until they were utterly defeated.

Theologically, this leaves no room for pride. We bring nothing to redemption but our need; we do not earn it, we receive it. Just as the Arm moves only at the Head's command, Yeshua obeyed the Father's will flawlessly -- even to the point of death. His saving work was solitary, unstoppable, and completely sufficient. His righteousness was far more than a moral attribute; it was the unwavering strength that kept Him on course to fulfill the mission His Father had ordained for Him before the foundation of the world. (1 Peter 1:19-20)

Prophetically, Isaiah 63:5 echoes this: “My own arm brought me salvation, and my fury upheld me.” This is God ensuring that the work is perfect, untouched by human failure. His fury was not uncontrolled rage, but holy determination — the fierce love of the Redeemer refusing to let His people perish. The Arm finishes what the Head purposes, and nothing in heaven, earth, or hell can stop it.

For us, this means resting in the finished work. We add nothing to the cross but our surrender. The same Arm that saved alone is the Arm that sustains continually. The righteousness that held Him to His mission is the same righteousness now covering us, and the same holy passion that upheld Him is the passion that guards and keeps us until the end.

Friend, stop carrying burdens you were never meant to bear. Salvation is His work from start to finish — rest in it, and you will discover a strength you could never produce on your own. For His Arm accomplishes all that the Father commands, His righteousness will never fail, and soon that same Arm will lift you up and carry you all the way home.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Friend, the arm revealed!

Isaiah 52:10  The LORD has made bare His holy arm In the eyes of all the nations; And all the ends of the earth shall see The salvation (Yeshua) of our God.

John 12:37 -38 But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him,  38  that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: "LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT? AND TO WHOM HAS THE ARM OF THE LORD BEEN REVEALED?" 

To “bare” the arm means to roll up the sleeve and reveal the full readiness for action. In Isaiah’s prophecy, this is a global unveiling — no longer hidden, the Z’roah is on display for all nations to witness. This speaks directly of Yeshua's (Jesus') public ministry and, ultimately, His crucifixion.

In the Passover seder, the shank bone sits exposed on the plate — not hidden, not clothed — a visual reminder of God’s bare arm that brought deliverance. The imagery moves from private covenant to public testimony. In Yeshua’s death, the Arm of God was laid bare, revealing salvation to all who would see.

This revelation is not merely about what the Arm can accomplish — it is about who the Arm truly is. The nations are shown not only the works of God’s power but the very identity of the One through whom that power is revealed.

Isaiah 53, one of the clearest and most profound prophecies of the Messiah, opens with the piercing question: “To whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?” The answer is deeply prophetic — it is unveiled to those whose eyes have been opened to see that Yeshua (Jesus) is the promised Messiah, the living embodiment of the Arm of the LORD.

In the Gospels, every healing, every word of authority, every act of compassion was the Arm being revealed. And at the cross, the fullness of that revelation came — strength manifested in weakness, victory in apparent defeat.

For us, the revelation of the Z’roah demands a response. To see the arm is to acknowledge the One who sent it. The nations are invited to not just witness but to believe and be saved.

Friend, the Arm of God has been uncovered before your eyes — not simply to display His power, but to reveal His heart. At the cross, love in its purest form was clothed in flesh, stretched wide to gather the nations, and draw you into His embrace. Do not stand afar as a distant onlooker — step into the reach of that Arm. The Arm laid bare to save will never let go of what it has claimed. You can rest fully and forever in His embrace.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Friend, the arm that rules!

Isaiah 40:10-11  Behold, the Lord Jehovah will come with a strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him (v'zroah moshel lo); behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him. 11  He shall feed His flock like a shepherd; He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those with young.

The Hebrew phrase "z'roah moshel lo" paints the picture of an arm that governs with both strength and care. The same Z’roah that brought Israel out of Egypt in power now establishes righteous order and sustains His people in love. Deliverance without rulership is incomplete; the Redeemer becomes the King — and the King rules as a Shepherd. The Arm does not act independently but moves in perfect submission to the Head, carrying out the will of the Father.

In biblical thought, true rulership is never mere domination; it is covenantal stewardship. The Z’roah carries the full authority of the One who sends it, wielding the power to judge the oppressor while protecting the weak. Messiah, as the Arm of the LORD, executes justice, defends the vulnerable, and leads His people in righteousness — not by coercion, but by faithful, sacrificial love.

Isaiah’s vision joins two images often separated in our minds — the scepter of a king and the staff of a shepherd. The Warrior Arm that struck Egypt is the same Shepherd Arm that gathers lambs into His bosom. His rulership aligns creation under divine order, restoring peace where chaos once reigned. When His arm rules, shalom is not an ideal — it becomes reality.

In the ministry of Yeshua, this rulership took tangible form: demons fled at His command, storms obeyed His voice, and His touch healed the sick and raised the dead. These were not random displays of power, but the King’s arm setting creation back into harmony with heaven. And in the Messianic age to come, this rulership will be universal, with every nation under the care of the Shepherd-King.

For believers, submitting to the rulership of the Z’roah means embracing both His authority and His embrace. We cannot receive Him as Redeemer without acknowledging Him as Ruler. The arm that delivers us from bondage must also guide us on the path of life. His reign is our refuge, and His bosom is our resting place.

Friend, the Z’roah of God is not only the arm that saves you from the enemy’s grip — it is the arm that takes you to the throne. Let the Arm that delivered you also direct you, for where His rule is established, no enemy can endure and no chaos can survive. He is the Shepherd-King, whose scepter is a staff, whose power is wrapped in tenderness. Under His care, the path is certain, the journey is guarded, and the destination is sure — for His reward is with Him, and He will not rest until He has led you safely home.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Friend, the arm that redeems!

Exodus 6:6-7  Therefore say to the children of Israel: 'I am the LORD; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. 7  I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the LORD your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.

I’ll be doing a series on the "Arm of God," beginning with this first message — The Arm that Redeems. The Hebrew Z’roah (זְרוֹעַ) means "arm" or "strength," and in ancient Hebrew culture, the arm symbolizes active power in motion — strength applied for a purpose. In the Exodus account, God tells Moses He will redeem Israel "with an outstretched arm" (bizroa netuyah). This was not poetic metaphor; it was God’s declaration of decisive intervention. The Z’roah is the covenant-keeping arm that moves history, enforces promises, and breaks oppression. Every Pesach (Passover), during the seder — the festive meal of remembrance — the roasted lamb shank bone, the Z’roah, rests on the plate as a silent yet powerful witness to God’s mighty deliverance.

Israel was powerless under Pharaoh’s grip. The people could not free themselves, and their cries seemed swallowed by the weight of slavery. But God’s arm was not shortened; He reached into the darkness, crushed Egypt’s false gods, and led His people out. The Exodus was not won by Israel’s might but by God's own decisive action — the Z'roah moving in history.

Prophetically, the Z'roah is twofold: it brings judgment to the oppressor and salvation to the oppressed. Egypt was struck while Israel was shielded. This dual action foreshadowed the cross, where God’s judgment against sin and His mercy toward His people met in one act. The blood of the lamb on the doorposts and the outstretched arm of God are inseparable.

In Messianic fulfillment, Yeshua is the Z’roah revealed in human form. He is the arm by which God’s eternal plan was executed. On the cross, His arms were stretched wide — not in defeat, but in victory. His blood marked the doorway of our souls, and His resurrection became our Exodus from death.

Friend, for us today, redemption is not a distant memory but a present power. The same Z’roah that shattered Egypt’s grip still moves with unstoppable strength to break every chain and silence every enemy. Each Pesach, the shank bone proclaims without a voice: You are here because His arm reached for you; you live because the Lamb was slain for you. This is not mere history — it is the living story of the Arm that redeems, the blood that speaks, and the Shepherd who still carries His people toward the final rest. So stand in faith, lift your head, and walk in freedom — for His Arm still fights for you, and His embrace will never let you go.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Friend, the light, the altar, and the eternal song!

Psalms 118:27-29  The LORD is God, and he has made his light to shine upon us. Bind the festal sacrifice with cords, up to the horns of the altar! 28  You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you. 29  Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!

These closing verses of Psalm 118 begin with an unshakable proclamation: “The LORD is God.” In Hebrew, it’s emphatic -- YHVH, He is El -- the declaration that all authority, holiness, and sovereignty belong to Him alone. Yet this is not just a statement of who He is -- it’s a testimony of what He has done: “He has made His light to shine upon us.” This light is more than the glow of the sun -- it is the revelation of His presence, the warmth of His favor, and the piercing truth that chases away every shadow. His light doesn’t simply illuminate -- it transforms.

The psalmist then calls for a radical act of worship: “Bind the festal sacrifice with cords, up to the horns of the altar!” This is the language of the Temple, of worship that is both celebratory and costly. During Sukkot, this verse was read on Hoshana Rabbah, as worshipers circled the altar, praising God and crying out for salvation. The horns of the altar were the place of atonement and covenant -- the very spot where the blood of the sacrifice was applied. To bind the sacrifice was to fully dedicate it to God, with no option of taking it back.

This is no ordinary offering -- it is a festal sacrifice, brought with joy, not reluctance. In the light of God’s revelation, the only reasonable response is full surrender. It’s as if the psalmist is saying, “I will not just bring my gift to the altar -- I will bind myself to it. My worship will not be convenient -- it will be complete.” This points us directly to Yeshua, the ultimate festal sacrifice, who willingly allowed Himself to be bound and led to the cross, the final altar, so that His light could shine on all who believe.

From this place of total surrender, verses 28 and 29 overflow with thanksgiving: “You are my God, and I will give thanks to You… Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever!” The heart that has encountered God’s light and laid itself on His altar cannot help but worship. These words also carry a Shabbat rhythm -- just as Shabbat closes each week with blessings and praise, so this psalm closes with the eternal refrain of God’s goodness and enduring mercy. Shabbat reminds us that our worship flows from rest, not striving, and that our surrender is not loss, but delight.

Friend, your light has come, the altar is before you, and the cords are ready. Will you be a casual observer of His goodness, or will you bind yourself to His purposes with joy? This is the moment to go beyond convenience into consecration. Lay yourself down -- not as a reluctant offering, but as a willing one. Let the light that has shone on you ignite a life of thanksgiving. Tie your heart to the altar of His will and let your praise rise like incense. The LORD is God -- acknowledge it with your life. He is good -- declare it with your lips. His mercy endures forever -- live in it with every breath.

Shabbat Shalom ... have a great weekend and we'll see you first thing Monday morning!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)

Friend, the day of the Lord -- a cry, a king, and coming glory!

Psalms 118:24-26  This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. 25  Save us, we pray, O LORD! O LORD, we pray, give us success! 26  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We bless you from the house of the LORD. 

Matthew 23:37-39  “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 38  See, your house is left to you desolate. 39  For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” 

Psalm 118:24 is not merely about enjoying a new day -- it is a prophetic declaration of a divinely appointed moment. "This is the day the LORD has made" speaks of a kairos moment in history when heaven and earth converge. It points to the day when Messiah would be revealed, salvation would walk into Jerusalem, and God’s covenant plan would take a dramatic step forward. This is not the casual celebration of a sunrise -- it is the joyful response to God's redemptive unfolding.

Verse 25, “Save us, we pray, O LORD!” -- Hoshiana na! -- is the cry that echoed through the streets of Jerusalem as Yeshua (Jesus) rode in on a donkey. The people cried out for deliverance, quoting this very verse, though many did not realize that salvation had already come to them in the flesh. That same cry is lifted every year on Hoshana Rabbah, the final day of Sukkot, when worshipers encircle the altar pleading for salvation, rain, and revival. It is followed by Simchat Torah, the rejoicing in the Word of God -- a celebration Yeshua embodied as the Word made flesh.

Tragically and prophetically, on October 7, 2023, as Jews around the world danced with the Torah scroll on Simchat Torah, Israel was struck by war. And before the IDF entered Gaza, soldiers were praying Psalm 118:25: “Hoshiana na -- Save us, we pray, O LORD! Grant us success!” The cry of the ancient psalm became a modern wartime prayer. It was not staged -- it was spiritual. The plea of the people of Israel in their hour of need echoed the same cry once shouted before Yeshua in Jerusalem.

But the story is not over. Yeshua’s words in Matthew 23:37–39 reveal a prophecy yet to be fulfilled. After weeping over Jerusalem’s rejection of Him, He declared: “You shall not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’” That’s Psalm 118:26 -- the very next verse. The world has heard Israel cry out verse 25. Now, all creation groans, waiting for her to declare verse 26 -- the key that unlocks His second coming. When Israel cries out in recognition of Yeshua as the One sent by the Father, heaven will respond, and the King will come.

Friend, we are standing between verses -- between the cry of “Save us, O LORD” and the declaration “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!” The first has already been spoken. The second is coming -- and it will shake the heavens. This is not a time for passive faith. This is the day the LORD has made -- not just for rejoicing, but for revelation. The gates are open. The cries are rising. The King is near. Join the cry. Prepare the way. And pray with urgency that Israel will finish the song she began. When she sings verse 26, the sky will split, and Yeshua will come -- not as the rejected cornerstone, but as the crowned King. Maranatha!


Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)