This is the season of the celebration of Hanukkah. Historically, Hanukkah remembers the Jews successful fight against the Seleucid portion of the Greek cultural empire who had defiled the sacred Temple and sought to eradicate the Jewish religion through killing those who were faithful to the Torah and who sought to teach it to their children. Hanukkah is called the festival of lights because the right to worship and walk in faithfulness to God shinned upon them at a time when they could hardly hope for it. Therefore, the lighting of lamps and candles in the home became a tradition.
Today we see the Jewish people once again at war defending themselves from those who would seek their destruction—the destruction of families who love the Lord and who keep and teach His words. So, we pray for their success in rooting out demonically inspired terrorism. We pray for their comfort and restoration, and for the peace of Jerusalem (Ps 122:6).
Throughout history, Satan has inspired influential peoples and others to suppress and destroy the people whom God has called His own. This hatred today has been rising against those with whom God has established His covenants, both Jews and Christians alike.
Today, we also see another war that has been waging against families. We see Satan’s inspired actions against families and children through wars and persecutions, perverse cultural changes, governments and their policies, media, educational systems, pornography, and criminal activities, including child abduction and trafficking.
In the parable of the wheat and the tares, Jesus tells us that both good and evil will grow to maturity. He assures that in the end times all that is evil in the world will be bundled together and burned; and while the children of God have grown up with the children of Satan, the time comes where a distinction is made for all to see and make a choice (see Matt 13:24–30; 36–43). This confirms the word of the Lord through the prophet Malachi.
Malachi’s prophecy talks of God’s people returning to Him, walking in His ways, rehearsing His words with one another, and teaching their children. Through this, they become a light in the darkness. The Holy Spirit continues, telling us:
“Then shall you again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serves God and him that serves Him not. For, behold, the day comes, it burns as a furnace; and all the proud, and all that work wickedness, will be stubble; and the day that comes will set them ablaze,” says the Lord of hosts, “that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear My name shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in its wings; and you shall go forth, and gambol [skip about] as calves of the stall. And you will tread down the wicked; for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I do make,” says the Lord of hosts (Mal 3:18–21 JPS).
In His parable, Jesus also alluded to the book of Daniel where God tells us that the wicked will grow in their wickedness as the righteous will grow in the righteousness of God (Dan 12:10). He says, “Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever” (Dan 12:3).
God’s people who are committed to walk with Him, teach their families, and turn many to righteousness are the light of the world. They are the city set on a hill that cannot be hidden. Their light shines brightly that others may see their good works and glorify their Heavenly Father (see Matt 5:14–16).
The Feast of Hanukkah gives us unwavering hope that the light of God in His people will prevail over the darkness of evil. Therefore, we pray for the strengthening of every godly family, for the unwavering testimony of God’s word, and for all those who bring the light of God to others. We pray for those who rescue children, who fight against evil in the world, and who share the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We pray for the defeat of terrorism and for the peace of Jerusalem. And we pray for boldness and strength within families to not bow to culture, but to teach their children to walk in the ways of our God. We pray for the uprooting of wickedness in every area of world governments, economics, and culture, and that the righteous will shine brightly bringing the gospel of the Kingdom, the Lordship of Jesus Christ, to all areas of human existence—that through Jesus, all the families of the earth would be blessed.