Recently I was led to read the story of Samson and Delilah so I was a bit on guard that day, since the message is one of betrayal. Later, while hitchhiking to Tsfat, an elderly Chabbad rabbi pulled over to pick me up in his car and the first thing he said was, “Who is this nice Jewish girl?” Then he said, “When Messiah comes, it will all be well.” I agreed saying, “When Messiah returns, all will be well.” He gave me a rather curious look.
Then he asked what I do and that always gives rise to explain about welcoming groups of Christians into our home for worship and Hasbara, public relations on behalf of Israel. Then this gives occasion to speak on Who I follow – Yeshua! “Shtuyot – nonsense!”, he cried. “Look how many of our people were killed in this name!” Then he asked me if I knew what a natzir is in Hebrew and he explained, “It’s a Nazarene like Samson, but Yeshua is for the Gentiles”.
So I replied that Yeshua is Jewish and He honored and kept the Leviticus 23 Feasts of the L-rd. The rabbi didn’t agree but he listened. We discussed the Parashat Ha Shavuah, the weekly Torah portion, and he was surprised to hear that I read and study it every Shabbat. When said Yeshua also kept Shabbat, he didn’t know what to say. Hallelujah!
In fact he continually asked for my help in arriving at a certain village because he wasn’t from the Galilee. I was able to steer him in the right direction physically and hopefully spiritually too!
Near the end of our ride, the rabbi advised me to leave Yeshua and be a good Jewish girl. But the Spirit of the L-rd gave me words to speak to this dear soul and his response was, “Now you’re speaking the truth!”
What did I say? I told him, “I only seek the truth, the way and the light of the world – the Messiah – the G-d of Israel!” Praise G-d for another conversation and time of seed planting…