It is another Tuesday night in October 2018. I am joyous because on Tuesday evenings there is Bible study, and I love going to Bible study! The fall festivals--Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement and Feast of Tabernacles--have recently come and gone. A new year has begun on God's calendar. With all my health challenges from the last year, I am excited to start anew.
To my delight, at Bible study, a new couple has decided to join the group. I am overjoyed when new people attend as they always add insight into the study. Almost as soon as Bible study begins, I am shocked and overwhelmed with the new man's hatred toward Jews and Israel. Any time the man talks about Jews or Israel, I can see flames of abhorrence rage in the man's eyes. He continually states how backwards the Jews are in their thinking...they are all going to hell...they are dirty...and the man's animosity toward Israel and the Jews continues for the rest of the study. I am simply blown away with this man's remarks. I try to counter this man's thinking and show him that he needs to read his Bible. "You do know that Jesus is a Jew. If you hate Jews, you hate Jesus. You do know that the Jews are God's chosen people. You do know that the land of Israel is God's chosen place for His people and His temple." The man tells me I am all wrong. No, Jews are vile. Jews deserve to go to hell.
I try to continue guiding our group through the Book of James, but grief and sorrow threaten to overtake my soul. I constantly check the clock. I wish and hope that the study ends soon. My heart is broken. I have read about people hating Jews and hating Israel. But, I thought this only occur in other places in the world such as Iran, Syria and Saudi Arabia. I thought anti-semitism in western society was a thing of the past. We were just a few weeks shy of the 80th anniversary of Kristallnacht--The Night of Broken Glass. (On November 9, 1938, a Nazi propagated attack on Jews across Germany occurred in which over 250 synagogues were set on fire, over 7,000 Jewish owned businesses were looted and destroyed, and dozens and dozens of Jews were killed.) It's been almost 80 years since this great tragedy! We have moved forward as a people. We have seen beyond false propaganda and fallacious beliefs...haven't we?
The man and wife attend Bible study the next week. I become very stressed when I see the couple. I pray to God this man's erroneous ideas are changed. I pray God can change this man's heart toward Israel and the Jews. I pray God resolves this situation. I do not want to pray that I wish these people would never show up at this Bible study again; however, I am not sure I can continue attending if I must endure minute after minute of this man's repugnant remarks. Thankfully, God hears my prayers. The couple decides they have a busy schedule, and Bible study was not going to fit into it. The man and wife cease to attend Bible study. Relief flows through my veins upon hearing this, but I am also extremely sorrowful. I pray that this man can have a change of heart and learn to love the Jews, love Israel and love Jesus. Nevertheless, God uses this situation to prepare me for the future.
(For Part One click here)
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