What came next was astonishing—censorship, witch hunts, executions, the butchery of innocents . . . the beaten path of assimilation, once so willingly trodden by some, was now the road of forced passage and a death march for the rest. Te immoral, alternative lifestyle previously dismissed and tolerated in Israel had suddenly become the religion of the state—with all else outlawed and forbidden. Being Jewish— retaining any semblance of the unique, distinct peoplehood of Israel—was now, officially, a crime. Te traitorous, individualist assimilation of yesterday was no longer a free choice for the people. Now, for the entire nation, there was only one option: choose to convert, or die.
But all was not lost; for even as many were crushed by the evils of oppression, a stalwart few would reignite the peoples’ fire for God.
Matathias, a faithful priest and father of Judah Maccabee, lamented Israel’s ruin and his overwhelming sense of helplessness to stop it. As he witnessed the atrocities, he recognized the gut-wrenching patern of Israel’s former troubles in foreign lands. With the ancient, embedded memory stirring in his inmost parts, Matathias’ heart knew full well how the coming sequence of events would unfold.
When the officers of the king arrived in the city of Modein to compel the people to make the sacrifices, they were met with a visibly resistant Matathias. Sensing his antagonism, they atempted to appeal to him on a level they wholly expected would reach any Jew.
Te officers dangled the carrots of flatery, prestige, and obscene wealth before what they must certainly have thought to be just another corruptible Jew. Tey also endeavored to cajole Matathias into compliance by pressuring him to conform to the ways of his peers. But with this Jew, trying to capitalize on men’s usual weaknesses would prove to be a serious miscalculation. In appealing to his flesh, they succeeded only in unleashing the unquenchable, righteous zeal of God.
Matathias answered [the officers] in a loud voice:
“. . . God forbid that we should forsake the hrwt, Torah and the commandments. We will not obey the words of the king nor depart from our religion in the
slightest degree.” As he finished saying these words, [Matathias] killed the messenger of the king who was forcing them to sacrifice, and he tore down the altar.
Tus he showed his zeal for the hrwt, Torah, just as Phinehas did with Zimri, son of Salu (see Numbers 25:6-13). Ten Matathias went through the city
shouting, “Let everyone who is zealous for the hrwt, Torah and who stands by the covenant follow aſter me!” Tereupon he fled to the mountains with his sons, leaving behind in the city all their possessions. —1 Maccabees 1:19-28 (NAB)
Te rallying cry of the devoted priest rang aſter him as he sped through the streets of Modein. Many who could no longer bear the crushing weight of unrighteous oppression gathered with their families and followed Matathias out into the desert.
Matathias and his devout band of zealots fought the fight of righteousness, though it would not be until aſter Matathias’ death that the fruit of his dedication would be fully grown.
Judah Maccabee, the warrior son, would promptly pick up his father’s torch and lead the way to the victorious re-dedication of the Temple, and the institution of Chanukah, the Feast of Dedication.
Te spark of righteousness of a faithful few set a restoration movement on fire. Teir zeal was marked by an absolute refusal to conform, and a consummate fervor for the Torah, the covenant, and the God of their fathers. Fathers and mothers dedicated their lives and the lives of their children to the sole cause of reviving Israel.
May the real story of Chanukah ignite within us the same passion for righteousness and the restoration of God’s own people, Israel.
Adapted from Kevin’s book The Real Story of Chanukah.
Kevin Geoffrey is the principal laborer of Perfect Word Ministries, a Messianic Jewish equipping ministry. Visit Perfect Word online at
www.PerfectWordMinistries.org.
THE REAL STORY OF CHANUKAH What if Chanukah is more than just candles and presents? What if the real story is actually a rallying cry for the Jewish People, and a graphic exhortation to all who have dedicated their lives to serve the Messiah Yeshua? Find out in Kevin Geoffrey’s The Real Story of Chanukah: Dedicated to the Death. ORDER #9304 | $15.00 GIFT
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JewishVoiceToday.org | November/December 2011
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