Look Who's Talking

12 Kislev 5774

I know I've said this before, but it's worth repeating. Since Har Sinai, the only free choice a Jew has in this world is whether he will fulfill his destiny by the easy way or the hard way. We saw this when we left Mitzrayim and could have made the trip to Eretz Yisrael in 11 days, but instead took the 'scenic' forty-year route. And we see it played out as well in the two redemption scenarios - achisheinah or b'itah.

When redemption comes achisheinah - the "easy way" - Mashiach arrives on clouds of glory, but when it comes b'itah - the "hard way" - Mashiach will arrive as if riding on a donkey; figurative language describing the unworthiness of the generation.

It would seem by all indications that we have entered into the period of redemption in its time. I believe that one of the most prominent signs of that is the way that we are receiving messages from Heaven. Yes, Heaven is still talking to us, but instead of coming through holy and pure sources, it's all round-about and obscure and hidden.  However, if we are open to this possibility, the results can be staggering.  Just take a look at the "messages" I saw today in the reportage of current events...

From a report on survivors of Typhoon Haiyan:

"Everybody knew a big storm was coming. But I had no idea it was going to be this hell. ... Nobody imagined what was about to happen."

And from another report about the mid-air plummeting of an airplane:

"[The pilot] said, we're going down. And everyone is looking around like, is this a joke? Is he serious? And then you felt the nosedive," ....

When I read these statements, they made me realize that these could be the words of all those who are going to be caught unawares when that day known to our prophets as The Day of the Lord arrives. Of that Day, the prophet said:

"Lament, for the day of the Lord is near; like a raid from the Almighty it shall come. Therefore, all hands shall grow feeble, and the heart of every mortal shall melt. And they shall panic; pangs and throes shall seize them;...." (Yeshayahu 13.6-8)

But for those who are aware and prepared...

"Mount Zion shall rejoice; the daughters of Judah shall exult for the sake of Your judgments." (Tehillim 48.12)