The tapestry of our lives and all that occurs therein has been predestined by the foreknowledge of the G-d of all Creation, and that He has given us the free will within that tapestry to make our choices accordingly in the fulfillment of His good pleasure for our good in a fallen and sinful universe where other forces work hard to undo His will, and therefore tragedy ensues; while G-d works all things together for good to those who love Him, to those who are called according to His good pleasure.
Everything in this universe, every event, every life - every endeavor, every action and reaction - everything has not happened and does not happen by chance, but works within the tapestry of the Sovereign will and foreknowledge of Almighty G-d. We may understand it, we may not agree with how it appears at others times depending on of our understanding or lack thereof pertaining to it. I like the way a Chassidic Rabbi across the ocean in Ireland puts it, and I quote here:
"The life we see on a daily basis is like looking at the back of a tapestry … we see disjointed colours and threads. One day we will get to see the other side, the beautiful tapestry in full colour, and we will say, 'Ah, now we understand!' For now, we need to believe. Shabbat Shalom"
Rabbi Zalman Lent
Quoted from an article he posted on line about a beautiful Chanukah story about something marvelous that happened to a friend of his that illustrates the wonderful Sovereign hand of the Almighty in the every day affairs of our lives.
Even better is how Scripture describes it, where Rav Shaul, otherwise known to Christians as the Apostle Paul writes under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit the following:
When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1Corinthians 13:11-13
But I will tell of a greater work of G-d. Let's continue.
Remember, there is no such thing as chance and randomness in the Hebrew Bible, for the Lord who watches Israel neither slumbers, nor sleeps, and nothing escapes His notice, but everything must come before His throne before it is done or undone. In these days of seeming uncertainty and unrest; it is a good thing for US to remember that the G-d who has kept Israel since Abraham embarked on his journey out of Ur with his family, and later out of his father’s house to a land yet unknown to him, until the present day; this same G-d is with every Jew and every Christian who puts their faith and trust in Him, especially those who do it through Maschiach Yeshua, of whom Isaiah wrote “He (Maschiach) was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrowful pains and acquainted with sickness and grief; and like one from whom men hide their face He (Maschiach) was despised, and we (Israel and the nations) did not esteem Him. Surely our (Israel’s and the world’s) sickness and griefs He (Maschiach) Himself bore, and our sorrowful pains (Israel’s and all of mankind’s) He (Maschiach) carried; yet we ourselves (Jews and Gentiles) esteemed Him (Maschiach) stricken, struck down by G-d, and afflicted. But He (Maschiach) was pierced and wounded through for our (all of mankind’s) transgressions, He (Maschiach) was crushed for our (Israel’s and the nation’s) iniquities; the chastening for our (All of Mankind’s) well-being and peace fell upon Him (Maschiach), and by His (Maschiach’s) scourging we (Israel and the nations) are healed. All of us (every human being) like sheep have gone astray, each of us (every individual – no one but Maschiach is exempt) has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all (Mankind) to fall on Him (Maschiach). He (Maschiach) was oppressed and He (Maschiach) was afflicted, yet He (Maschiach) did not open His mouth; like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He (Maschiach) did not open His mouth. By oppression and judgment He (Maschiach) was taken away; and as for His generation, who considered that He (Maschiach) was cut off out of the land of the living and from life for the transgression of my people (Isaiah’s people, Israel), to whom the stroke was due?”
(Isaiah 53:3-8)
It was not by chance, it was by G-d’s design for us and for our well-being, as Isaiah prophesies above. Just as Daniel the prophet writes also regarding Maschiach centuries before it took place the following:
“Seventy (units of sevens) weeks (years) have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish and restrain the transgression, to seal up and make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place. So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with streets and plaza and moat, even in times of distress. Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have no one and nothing, and the people (Romans) of the prince who is to come (Titus) will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end war will be decreed for desolations. And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of detestable things and abominations will come one who causes horror and makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who causes horror makes desolate.”
(Daniel 9:24-27)
This happened on the Hebrew month of Av, on the 9th day, in the year 70 of our common era. Daniel prophesied that Maschiach would come and make His appearance before this event and that following His death, there would come great destruction to both the temple in Jerusalem and to the city itself, and that the armies of its destroyers would enter the city like a flood. Moreover, Daniel prophesies that Maschiach would cut off from Israel a legal phrase from the Law meaning one who is cut off from his people, usually followed by capital punishment with very few exceptions such as exile, though the two did take place; Maschiach died and not only was He cut off from Judaism but from life, and Israel was exiled and Judaism transformed both within a generation. This was not by chance, but by design, and regardless of what Post-Modern Judaism or Christianity may teach on the subject, it did happen and there is nothing that the two – either the rabbis or the priests or ministers can do or say to change it; it is history, and according to Isaiah, Ha Shem Our Lord planned it that way. Why? For the good of my people for whom the stroke was due, as he has prophesied. But look closely at the prophecy. Note the language Isaiah employs where he says: “who considered that He (Maschiach) was cut off out of the land of the living and from life for the transgression of my people (Isaiah’s people, Israel), to whom the stroke was due?” (Isaiah 53:8)
Nothing is by chance. Nothing is random, but the G-d of the Universe – the King of the Universe as we say in our prayers and blessings – He and He alone is Sovereign over every life and every event that transpires under heaven and in heaven. Nothing is by chance. This is why the choices we make are so important. They have far reaching ramifications. We are like the proverbial pebble that is thrown into a pond, and our life here comes only once, therefore we must make the most of it by loving and seeking G-d with all our hearts, minds, and strength, and love our neighbors as ourselves by treating them as we would like to be treated by them, and not hide ourselves for ourselves but do good works that G-d has predestined for His good pleasure and the well-being of others long before the foundation of the earth was laid. The choice is ours, just as it was for Israel at Mount Horeb when G-d gave His Law; life or death, blessing or curse, good or bad. He has in His kindness given us the free will to choose each and every one of us for ourselves. The restoration of the universe will not begin without first the restoration of each and every person who make their own personal peace with their Maker who through Maschiach has prepared the way for them. The OLAM HA-BA (Heb. עוֹלָם הַבָּא) – the coming world – or world which is to come, will not be populated by murderers and thieves and whoremongers, but by people whom have individually made their choice in this life to accept that which G-d has planned for their well-being regardless of what the religious order of their upbringing has told them, because these also have fallen with this fallen world, and it is by the revelation of the Scriptures by the Ruach Ha Kodesh (Holy Spirit) that Our Maker, blessed be He, gives light to each and every person to make their choices according to His will for them for their well-being. He has done everything for us, now the choice is ours to make as to what to do about it and with it. Nothing is by chance, but by G-d’s design.
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