Daily Devotionals

I will spare seven thousand in Isra'el, every knee that hasn't bent down before Ba'al (1 Kings 19:18).

Let's face it: this was not much comfort to Eliyahu (Elijah). He seemed to be the only Jew in his era still following the God of Israel. Out of a nation numbering millions, God said there were seven thousand faithful ones—less than one tenth of one percent.

We in the Messianic Jewish movement have nothing to complain about. By the estimate of the Federation of Jewish Agencies in 1990, somewhere between eight and fourteen percent of American Jews profess some kind of positive faith in Yeshua of Nazareth. Do we feel outnumbered? Open our eyes, Lord, so we may see those who are with us (2 Kings 6:17).

Are we tired of the fight? So was Eliyahu, who, in his exhaustion even threw a fit of self-pity: "'Enough!' he said. 'Now Adonai, take my life. I'm no better than my ancestors.' Then he lay down under a broom tree and went to sleep" (1 Kings 19:4-5). But God's manner of dealing with the prophet seemed comical to me. God completely ignored the prophet's complaints! After feeding him and letting him rest, God simply issued him his next marching order. Almost as an afterthought, God told him of the seven thousand who had remained faithful to the God of Israel.

Let us detour around the delusional luxury of self-pity and seek God for our marching orders. Who knows how many millions are among Israel right now who already know Yeshua as Messiah, and have not yet surfaced? We are walking by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7) into the Messianic revival to come. So be it. Faith is the only way (Hebrews 11:6).

...look at my people, not through the lens of human sight, but through the filter of faith.

BC