Even beginning readers of the Bible can't help but notice how uncannily accurate the parents of children born in Bible days were in matching the meaning of the names of their children to the character they will develop in life, or to the divine mission to which their children's work will aspire. I'm inclined to suggest this week that this Biblically-based phenomenon appears to be alive and well of late in Israel with respect to a young lady named Hadass from Beit El and the parents of her girlfriend, Emunah.
Why do I suggest this? Well now, here's a story that's worth the telling.
Meet Myrtle and Faith
Hadass (the Israeli press hasn't revealed her last name) lives in Beit El, Israel. She's 16 years old. Her first name is a diminutive of the biblical name Hadassah, which means "myrtle".
Hadassah was the winner of a "Miss Persia" contest that was sponsored by King Ahasuerus to find him a new wife after he had dumped his previous wife, Vashti. The sordid affair is described in the Book of Esther in the Tanakh (Bible). That Bible book, by the way, is named in honor of the name given her as a sort of nom de guerre, so to speak, as she strategically disguised her name and heritage until the appropriate time came to stand up for her faith.
And speaking of faith, Hadass has a girlfriend named Emunah. Her parents chose that name for her at her birth. It means "faith" in the Hebrew language.
An incident that occurred way back a lifetime ago in the lives of these two young ladies, on 15 June of last year, serves as a remarkable example of how God protects those who trust in Him.
A Tale of Three Muslim Terrorists
Last June, Hadass and Emunah were standing on the side of Highway 60 at the Rechelim junction near Shilo, Israel, waiting for a southbound ride to take them toward Jerusalem. While they awaited their ride, three conservative, Wahhabi-type, radical Muslims stopped and attempted to kidnap the two girls.
Providentially - I employ the word deliberately here - an IDF officer happened to come along at that time. The officer interfered in the kidnapping, radioing for backup. The conservative, Wahhabi-type, radical Muslims left the scene in a big hurry, but were caught a short distance away without incident when local law enforcement personnel erected a few strategically-placed road blocks.
The Graves Had Been Made Ready
Investigators later learned that graves had already been dug by the conservative, Wahhabi-type, radical Muslim terrorists to contain the bodies of the two girls. After treatment at a Jerusalem hospital, the two young ladies are back with their friends at school.
Now they want justice. But during the intervening months that have elapsed since the attempted kidnapping last year, all weapons-trading charges have been dropped against the three conservative, Wahhabi-type, radical Muslim terrorists, along with accusations that they were involved in assisting in conservative, Wahhabi-type, radical Muslim terrorism. Only the attempted kidnapping charges remain.
So, this Wednesday, just before 10:00am Israel time, an IDF military judge will hold hearings regarding sentencing of two of the three conservative, Wahhabi-type, radical Muslim terrorists. The military court will convene in Salem, west of Afula, Israel.
It would appear that Hadass isn't waiting for the court hearing to give testimony. This is what she said to Israel's press just this week:
"God loves us." So confesses Hadass about herself and her friend Emunah, whose name means "faith". And so He protected them. Quietly, but effectively, acting in His providence to send appropriate IDF personnel at just the right time to quash the plans of the wicked.
I'm wondering how the parents of Hadass and Emunah could have known that their children would live out in a very, very public arena the central meaning of their names, as they take their own personal stand to combat the wickedness of conservative, Wahhabi-type, radical Islam.
Raq hazaq, v'ematz meod. "Only be strong, and of very strong courage." That was God's advice - or more accurately, his marching orders - to Joshua as that successor to Moses began to assume command of the armies of Israel and conquer the land that had been given to Israel by God.
Hadass and Emunah, keep those words in mind from Joshua 1:7, won't you? I've got a sneaking suspicion that the advice given 3,400 years ago to Joshua is going to be very, very practical as you continue to grow up in a land where conservative, Wahhabi-type, radical Muslims are determined to have their Haman-like way with the rightful people of the Land of Israel.
Why do I suggest this? Well now, here's a story that's worth the telling.
Meet Myrtle and Faith
Hadass (the Israeli press hasn't revealed her last name) lives in Beit El, Israel. She's 16 years old. Her first name is a diminutive of the biblical name Hadassah, which means "myrtle".
Hadassah was the winner of a "Miss Persia" contest that was sponsored by King Ahasuerus to find him a new wife after he had dumped his previous wife, Vashti. The sordid affair is described in the Book of Esther in the Tanakh (Bible). That Bible book, by the way, is named in honor of the name given her as a sort of nom de guerre, so to speak, as she strategically disguised her name and heritage until the appropriate time came to stand up for her faith.
And speaking of faith, Hadass has a girlfriend named Emunah. Her parents chose that name for her at her birth. It means "faith" in the Hebrew language.
An incident that occurred way back a lifetime ago in the lives of these two young ladies, on 15 June of last year, serves as a remarkable example of how God protects those who trust in Him.
A Tale of Three Muslim Terrorists
Last June, Hadass and Emunah were standing on the side of Highway 60 at the Rechelim junction near Shilo, Israel, waiting for a southbound ride to take them toward Jerusalem. While they awaited their ride, three conservative, Wahhabi-type, radical Muslims stopped and attempted to kidnap the two girls.
Providentially - I employ the word deliberately here - an IDF officer happened to come along at that time. The officer interfered in the kidnapping, radioing for backup. The conservative, Wahhabi-type, radical Muslims left the scene in a big hurry, but were caught a short distance away without incident when local law enforcement personnel erected a few strategically-placed road blocks.
The Graves Had Been Made Ready
Investigators later learned that graves had already been dug by the conservative, Wahhabi-type, radical Muslim terrorists to contain the bodies of the two girls. After treatment at a Jerusalem hospital, the two young ladies are back with their friends at school.
Now they want justice. But during the intervening months that have elapsed since the attempted kidnapping last year, all weapons-trading charges have been dropped against the three conservative, Wahhabi-type, radical Muslim terrorists, along with accusations that they were involved in assisting in conservative, Wahhabi-type, radical Muslim terrorism. Only the attempted kidnapping charges remain.
So, this Wednesday, just before 10:00am Israel time, an IDF military judge will hold hearings regarding sentencing of two of the three conservative, Wahhabi-type, radical Muslim terrorists. The military court will convene in Salem, west of Afula, Israel.
It would appear that Hadass isn't waiting for the court hearing to give testimony. This is what she said to Israel's press just this week:
Please remember all the preparations that went into this crime - the daring, the instructions, the way they obtained weapons, rented a car, recruited people, and they even dug a grave! They dug a grave for my friend Emunah and me - everything was ready! And so they set out.Does this little speech by Hadass remind you of anybody in the Bible? Do take a look at the Book of Esther, won't you please, to get your clue. Read how Esther (feel free to substitute the woman's Hebrew name, Hadassah, for "Esther" as you read) testifies against that rat Haman, and demands justice for her and her captive nation; just like her modern-day counterpart Hadass, who's only 16 years old, but who plans to testify loudly to see that the modern-day Hamans get what they deserve.
There were a few problems: one of the men quit, the car broke down, but they were determined to murder. They passed by the bus stop where we were sitting, Emunah and I, and then they decided that we were good targets for being murdered.
Why? Because we are weak and can't protect ourselves; they are contemptible murderers who seek out the weak....
So they made two U-turns and came to us. They just didn't realize that G-d loves us.... Does anyone here think that after they serve their punishment, they will be good people? Not at all; they will try to murder again.
My uncle, Kobi Zaga, may G-d avenge his blood, was murdered on a Sabbath night two and a half years ago by a murderer who had been released just two days earlier from Israeli prison. He couldn't hold himself back! These terrorists are murderers, and whoever releases them are their partners in murder....
"God loves us." So confesses Hadass about herself and her friend Emunah, whose name means "faith". And so He protected them. Quietly, but effectively, acting in His providence to send appropriate IDF personnel at just the right time to quash the plans of the wicked.
I'm wondering how the parents of Hadass and Emunah could have known that their children would live out in a very, very public arena the central meaning of their names, as they take their own personal stand to combat the wickedness of conservative, Wahhabi-type, radical Islam.
Raq hazaq, v'ematz meod. "Only be strong, and of very strong courage." That was God's advice - or more accurately, his marching orders - to Joshua as that successor to Moses began to assume command of the armies of Israel and conquer the land that had been given to Israel by God.
Hadass and Emunah, keep those words in mind from Joshua 1:7, won't you? I've got a sneaking suspicion that the advice given 3,400 years ago to Joshua is going to be very, very practical as you continue to grow up in a land where conservative, Wahhabi-type, radical Muslims are determined to have their Haman-like way with the rightful people of the Land of Israel.