Hanukkah and the Torah Observant Believer in Yeshua (Installment 103)

To Observe Hanukkah or Not Observe Hanukkah

Today’s Thought and Reflections topic is season appropriate and it has to do with Hanukkah and its significance to the Torah Observant Believer in Yeshua.

Obviously, some of you do not observe or celebrate Hanukkah, and that’s entirely okay. Hanukkah, as I’ve mentioned in previous installments of this program, is NOT one of the 7-mandated Feasts of Yahovah that are expounded upon in Torah. Hanukkah, and her sister festival of Purim, are Jewish festivals that fall outside the Creator’s moedim—His set apart days—Father’s holy days. They are uniquely Jewish in their origin and in how they are celebrated and observed. Yet, when the Spirit-Filled Torah Observant Believer in Yeshua Messiah takes the opportunity to really examine what I choose to call ancillary Hebrew festivals, he or she can walk come away from that examination with some amazing spiritual insights that are not necessarily germane to the Torah-mandated Feasts of Yahovah—which, according to the writer of the Book of Hebrews, are “…a shadow of good things to come (Hebrews 10:1).”

Hanukkah has True Historical Significance

From an overall standpoint, these are festivals derived from two specific historical attempts by heathen nations to exterminate the House of Judah. These two specific historical events are established facts and even in the secular realm, their actual occurrences are not questioned. The origins of Hanukkah in particular is recorded in I and II Maccabees and Josephus’ Book 1, Chapter 1 entitled “Of the War.” Additionally, over the last 4-years, archaeologists in Israel have uncovered amazing finds (locating the likely graves of the Maccabees and a stash of coins recovered from the remains of a Maccabean-era home) lending even further proof to the Hanukkah story.

We do know that in both cases, the Jewish people were miraculously delivered from their evil antagonists—that is, those who sought to destroy the Hebrew nation. The people’s deliverance was not mere happenstance or luck. Clearly, the hand of Yahovah was all over these instances of deliverance. As a result, the human instruments used by Yahovah to deliver His people, named and established the celebration of these historical events as a reminder to us of our God’s providence, sovereignty and steadfast attachment to His chosen people throughout the ages.

Indeed, these two historical events and the holidays/festivals that are derived from them, have tremendous relevance to the Jew, even today. But what relevance do they hold for the Spirit-Filled Torah Observant Believer in Yahoshua Messiah? I’m specifically looking at Hanukkah in this installment. So then, what significance does Hanukkah hold for us who keep Torah and who are disciples of Yahoshua Messiah?

So what’s the deal with Hanukkah? Why should we Messianics and Hebrew Rooters care about this obvious Jewish holiday/festival?

I mean, isn’t it enough that we’ve successfully transitioned out of a world that is filled with religion, belief systems that are contrary to biblical teachings, and traditions that are based upon ancient pagan practices–into a lifestyle that was specifically ordered for us by the Creator of the Universe? Did not the Almighty give us all the holidays/holy days that He requires us to keep? Is not the sum of all Yahovah’s Truth contained in the 66-Books of our King James Bibles?

If the answer to all these questions is “yes,” then what does Hanukkah have to do with us Hebrew Rooters/Messianics?

I mean, many of us have determined that we want nothing to do with Christmas and Easter because of their suspected connection to ancient pagan religious practices and traditions. Indeed, many of us struggled with having to separate ourselves from Christmas, which of course, is a very family-centric holiday. Like so many of you, we personally went through a tough time of transition into this Faith and having to purge Christmas out of our lives. Needless to say, our abandonment of Christmas and adoption of a Torah-obedient life did not set well with many members of our extended family. But we’ve successfully worked through it—again, like so many of you out there.

So then we come to this ancillary festival called Hanukkah. Right or wrong, Hanukkah has taken on an obvious Jewish flavor, and most of us realize that Judaism is as much a religion as Catholicism, Islam and Protestantism. Thus we’ve identified a lot of problems with Judaism: over-the-top manmade Rabbinic traditions and laws that more times than naught, circumvent Torah, coupled with the wholesale rejection of our Master and Savior Yahoshua Messiah are two main problem areas that stand out most in my mind.

Thus, the natural inclination of a Spirit-Filled Torah Observant Believer in Yahoshua Messiah would be to question the relevance of Hanukkah to our Faith Community. Certainly, Hanukkah is not observed or celebrated by many members of our Community for a number of reasons.

The Obvious Problems with Hanukkah

Indeed, there are some obvious problems with Hanukkah—also known as the Festival of Lights and the Feast of the Dedication (reference John 10:22).

Let’s look at a few of the problems associated with Hanukkah:

1. Hanukkah is about gift giving over an 8-day period, typically right before or during the Christmas season. In this sense, Hanukkah has become known as the Jewish Christmas. No one has definitively determined when the practice of giving gifts during Hanukkah began, but it is a fair bet that it was intentionally meant to mirror the practice of gift-giving common to Christmas.

2. The lighting of candles on a 9-branched candelabrum, or as commonly referred to as a Hanukkiah. The lighting of the Hanukkiah entails the lighting of one candle for each night of the 8-day celebration with a 9th candle placed in a center holder—the shamash or helper or servant candle–that is used to light each of the 8 candles during the week-long festival. The most glaring problem associated with the Hanukkiah is its obvious disparity to the 7-branch Menorah that was envisioned and ordered created by Yahovah to service the Tabernacle in the desert and the two-Temples in Jerusalem. Thus, some of us may see the Hanukkiah as a counterfeit of the Menorah, which I initially felt at first. However, history bears out that the 9-branched candelabrum is a rabbinic invention; its use specific to the 8-day festival of Hanukkah. Bear in mind, now, that I’m not saying that Hanukkah is a rabbinic invention. What I am saying, however, is that portions of present-day Hanukkah celebration practices have significant rabbinic influences attached to them.

There are clear rabbinic directives as it relates to the lighting of the Hanukkah candles and the reciting of Hanukkah prayers that the so-called Oral Tradition/Oral Torah commands be observed by practicing Jews during this week-long festival. These commandments and instructions—known as takanot—are seen as being equal, if not superior, to Torah in Rabbinic—Orthodox Judaism.

3. The other, somewhat negative ancillary aspects of modern-day Jewish Hanukkah celebrations entails playing dreidel that some say originated as a German gambling game and toy that Yiddish Jews adopted into Hanukkah celebrations. Then there’s the cooking of foods in oil, the symbolism of which, to me, is the biggest detractor of this modern Jewish holiday/festival.

The Lie that Keeps Being Told Giving Year After Year

4. The lie that has been accepted as truth in Jewish tradition as it relates to Hanukkah is the so-called “miracle of the oil.” This so-called miracle of oil is nothing more than Jewish mythology, and that is stating it nicely. No record, either in Josephus’ work or in I and II Maccabees, provide for this myth that has become known as the 8-day miracle of oil.

According to Rabbinic tradition, when the Maccabees went to re-dedicate the desecrated Temple that was pillaged by the Seleucid Greeks under the leadership of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the Maccabean leaders could find only enough sacred oil to burn in the Temple lamps for one-day. But praise Adonai (I’m being facetious), the lamps continued to burn on that one-day supply of oil throughout the entire 8-day re-dedication period. Needless to say, no such thing ever happened.

You see, the tragedy of such an untrue story that is told over and over again, throughout countless centuries, especially to young, impressionable children, who in turn tell it to their children, detracts from the Truth of Hanukkah. And the Truth, that I believe Yahovah wants the world to understand about this amazing festival, is that He has can and will deliver His people from certain destruction if they but turn their hearts and lives over to Him. And when our God delivers, He delivers in such a way that no one can deny that His hand was involved in the deliverance. Abba also wants us to know from the true story of Hanukkah that He honors those who stand for Truth; who stand for His Torah; who go out of their way to discern the differences between the clean and the unclean; the pure and the impure; the holy and the profane. And Father honors those, at times through miraculous means, who are obedient and who stand firmly on the principles of His Holy Torah. As well as Father honors those who seek to dedicate the Temple—today the temple that is our bodies—to His service and His service alone.

Celebrations and Festivals

Contrary to the thinking of some in our Faith Community, I do not believe for one moment that Father begrudges His people celebrating holidays and festivals that fall outside His 7-mandated Holy Days. And I get it: there are festivals and holidays, both in and outside this country, that seem to be tied to paganism. Yes, I’m specifically talking about holidays such as Christmas, Easter, New Years Day, Valentine’s Day and Halloween. Certainly, Father would have a problem with His people observing or celebrating these pagan-linked holidays.

Father commanded us:

“When Yahovah your Father cuts off the nations from in front of you, and you displace them and live in their land, be careful not to be ensnared into following them by asking about their gods (elohim), saying: How did these nations serve their gods (elohim)? I also will do the same. You must not worship Yahovah your Father in their way, for every abomination to Yahovah, which He hates, they have done to their gods (elohim). They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods (elohim). Whatsoever I command you, be careful to observe and do it, you shall not add to it, nor take away from it (Deuteronomy 12 29-32; Book of Yahweh, adjusted).”

And then we find in the Book of Jeremiah a companion passage prohibiting our adoption of pagan-linked festivals and holidays, which reads as follows:

“Hear the word which Yahovah speaks concerning you, O house of Israyl. This is what Yahovah says: Do NOT learn the way; religious practices, of the heathen; Gentile nations; and do not be deceived by the signs of heaven; though the heathen are deceived by them; using them to set their feasts. [Sort of hints at the winter and summer solstice holidays such as Easter and Christmas.] For the religious customs of the peoples are vain; worthless! For one cuts a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the ax. They decorate it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, so that it will not move; topple over. They are upright, like a palm tree, but they cannot speak; they must be carried, because they cannot go by themselves. [Sound like anything familiar to you? Like, say, a Christmas tree?] Do not give them reverence! They cannot do evil, nor is it them to do righteousness! There is none like You, O Yahovah! You are great, and Your Name is mighty in power (Jeremiah 10:1-6).”

Indeed, such traditions and holidays are things that the True Child of Yahovah our Elohim must not practice or keep.

Keeping Festivals Outside the Feasts of Yahovah

However, when we look at whether or not Torah Observant Believers in Yeshua Messiah should, or for that matter, are permitted to keep festivals and holidays that are not pagan-linked, but are not of the mandated Feasts of Yahovah, it’s a stretch to say Father prohibits it. And to say that Father prohibits it in His Torah is twisting and manipulating the Words of our Creator—which in mind is a form of witchcraft.

Is it then wrong for Messianics to only observe and celebrate the 7-mandated Feasts of Yahovah. Absolutely not. We, as children of Yahovah, are required to keep the Feasts of Yahovah and to teach our children to keep His Feasts. But I disagree with those in our Faith Community who teach that any and every festival outside the 7 Feasts is an abomination or that Messianics must not observe them. Torah does not instruct such a belief.

Hanukkah is Not Biblical—Right?

I know, many may contend that the Bible does not mention Hanukkah as a festival or holiday to be observed or kept by believers. And to some extent they are correct—although it is recorded in John 10:22 that our Master Yahoshua observed Hanukkah. His teaching during that specific period were tailored to some of the principles embodied in the Feast of the Dedication, which for me, only lends to the significance Hanukkah holds for us Torah Observant Believers.

But as it relates to the story being not of Biblical origin, this would be true if one holds just the 66-Books of the current Christian/Protestant Bible as the only scriptural testaments believers should reference. Truth be told, the apocryphal books, including I and II Maccabees, which documents the origin of the Feast of the Dedication, aka, Hanukkah, were once part of the canon of scripture. It was around the 17th century that Protestant leaders deemed the apocryphal books as being “non-inspired,” and thus they were systematically removed from our Bibles. The Catholics, however, chose to keep these books in their Bible.

As it relates to the Hebrew Bible, the Tanakh, the Old Testament, the books of I and II Maccabees was originally included in this canon. However, sometime late in the first century of the common era, these books were excluded from the Tanakh. Some contend that this was the exiled Rabbinic Council’s response to the favorable acceptance of the apocryphal books, including the books of the Maccabees, into the evolving Christian canon. Today, the Jews don’t outright reject the books of the Maccabees and they even consider them worthy of study. However, like their Christian cousins, Judaism does not hold these books to be inspired and thus unworthy to be included in their canon of scripture.

So when we say that observance of Hanukkah is not biblical, such thinking and statements must be considered from the perspective of which Bible are we talking about.

In my mind, this whole discourse over what writings are or are not inspired, and which should and should not be included in the canon of scripture, is heavily embedded in the religious and personal agendas of the men who took authority to oversee the construction of our Bibles. I see the discussion of inspiration as wholly subjective. And I’m so happy that today, we have available to us so many writings, including the books of the Maccabees, where we can allow the Holy Spirit to speak to us, as individuals and a collective body of believers, as to their inspired nature.

I and II Maccabees a Testament to the Greatness and Providence of Yahovah

As it relates to Hanukkah, when I read I and II Maccabees this time each year, I see written throughout the entire narrative, the greatness and providence of our God. Anyone who is truly spiritually connected to Yahovah our Elohim, who reads these writings that are not profoundly affected by this story, must have a heart, mind and soul made of stone.

I have to tell you: I rejoice, give praise to Yah, weep, mourn, meditate and enter into a deep examination of myself and my relationship to our God every time I read these accounts. I and II Maccabees is not just a historical accounting of the Maccabean Revolt of the mid-2nd-century BCE. It is a lesson in so many spiritually important things that we as a people of the Most High Elohim must understand, take to heart and practice in our walk with Yahoshua Messiah.

Earlier we reflected slightly upon the problems associated with Judaism’s understanding and practice of Hanukkah, and those problems are essentially based upon Rabbinic influences that serve only to deter people from Truth. What I want to do for the remainder of this installment of Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections, is to simply reflect upon Hanukkah from the perspective of the story that is told in the Books of the Maccabees. And from this modest examination of the story, I hope we can arrive at some agreement as to the significance that Hanukkah holds for the Spirit-Filled Torah Observant Believer in Yeshua Messiah.

Background History

Before delving into the actual story that led to the first Hanukkah observance as recorded in I and II Maccabees, allow me to dispense with a little background history.

In 332 BCE, Alexander the Great, the Macedonian King and warrior whose appearance on the world scene was prophesied by Daniel (Daniel 8), conquered Darius III’s Medo-Persian Empire. Alexander’s realm became known as the Macedonian Empire, which he ruled for about 12-years. Alexander’s rule was accompanied by a robust Hellenization (that is, a transitioning of the conquered peoples into Greek culture) of all conquered territories.

Upon Alexander’s death about 323 BCE, the Macedonian Empire was divided up among four of his generals. The region where little, agrarian-based Israel existed, was subject to a number of power-grabs by these generals and their successors over the course of a couple decades, which for purposes of our Hanukkah reflections, brought Israel under the control of what became known as the Seleucid Empire and Dynasty, beginning sometime around 312 BCE.

As part of the Seleucid Empire, tiny Israel was subjected to extreme Hellenization, “…whereby a Greek political elite dominated, mostly in the urban areas.[10][11][12][13] The Greek population of the cities who formed the dominant elite were reinforced by immigration from Greece (wikipedia).”

These Hellenization efforts intensified under the Seleucid ruler Antiochus IV, surnamed Epiphanes, about 168-167 BCE. Israel’s stark uniqueness as a result of her keeping of Torah, ran in abject opposition to Antiochus’ extreme Hellenization efforts. Not to be denied his requirement that all of the cultures in his empire be completely and utterly Hellenized, and this included no less than the tiny nation of Israel, Antiochus aimed to bring Israel to heel, by targeting for desecration the nation’s religious-cultural hub—the Temple in Jerusalem. And if that weren’t enough and if Israel refused to be brought to heel, then it would be nothing for Antiochus to simply destroy the nation and her people.

Hanukkah—A Crossroads Story

And it is here where we enter the Maccabean story and the ultimate origin of The Feast of the Dedication—Hanukkah. It is here where we find Israel at another crossroads as it relates to her continued existence. It is here where we find Israel having to make a decision—at the risk of her total annihilation–whether she would give in and follow the ways of the heathen or stand fast and keep Torah and the ways of Yahovah her Elohim. It is here where the spiritual, moral and intestinal fortitude of the people—the true Hebrews–would be tested. It is here where the biological line whereby the savior of the world, Yeshua Messiah, would be imperil if it were not for her protector, Yahovah, intervening and rescuing her.

Apart from Yeshua’s ministry here on earth and Father’s handing down to us His Torah, this is, in my opinion, one of the most important stories of our Faith. Yet religion has diminished its appeal and significance by replacing the true Hanukkah story with man-made traditions and lies. It is my hope that somehow, the true story of Hanukkah will be told and retold and then discussed over and over again, each year, until the gems of Truth that Father would have us squeeze out of it are exhausted.

The Significance of Hanukkah Through a Brief Walk-Through

At this point in our reflections of Hanukkah’s significance to the Spirit-Filled Torah Observant Believer in Yahoshua Messiah, I feel it best to take a brief tour of the story that led to the development of Hanukkah, aka, the Feast of the Dedication. For the sake of time, I have only selected key passages from Matthew A. Misbach’s Apocryphal rendering of I Maccabees. So, let’s consider each salient point, referencing the associated I Maccabees passages.

1. Hanukkah is About Rejecting Compromise.

I Maccabees 1:11-15, 41-57. Here in this passage we clearly read how certain members of Israel’s community were willing to compromise the tenets of their Faith, for the sake of self-preservation. And one can but assume that some of these individuals were not entirely swayed in their quest to compromise their Faith out of fear, but more out of a desire to live a Hellenized-life.

As we all well know, a Torah-based life, is not for everyone. Despite the fact that our Faith Community numbers are today steadily growing, more and more members of our community are readily seeking to compromise on Torah: they are rejecting the weekly Sabbath and the Feasts of Yahovah; they are rejecting the food laws and even Torah itself. Some have taken it upon themselves to reject Yeshua as Messiah and the Son of our Elohim. The Bible, according to these individuals, has become nothing more than a book of archaic ideals and principles. It’s time that we stand-up to such teachings and orchestrated efforts to turn members of our Faith Community away from the purity and Truth of the Gospel and of Torah. For those of us who stand firm in our convictions, this is a reminder that we should always examine ourselves to ensure that we are not in a position to compromise our Faith: if there are people, places or things existing in our lives that may cause us to compromise our walk in Yeshua Messiah, we should be ready and willing to cut them off with extreme prejudice.

As His disciples, Master admonished us to deny ourselves and take up our stakes and follow Him (Mark 8:34). In terms of staying true to our call, Master likened our journey to that of a farmer who sets his hand to plowing his/her field. It is terribly bad form for the farmer plowing his field to gaze behind, him for whatever reason, as he is plowing, as doing so will only cause the plowed field to become crooked and distorted. Same principle applies to us and our walk with Messiah. Master said, “No man who puts his hand to the plow, then (talking about the cost associated with true discipleship), looks back, is fit for the Kingdom of Yahovah (Luke 9:62).”

2. Hanukkah is About the Risks the Enemy Poses to our Temple and to Us as a People of the Most High Elohim.

I Maccabees 1:20-25, 29-39, 59-64. Here in this passage we read how Antiochus entered and desecrated the Holy Temple. As we know, the Temple was the chief icon of our nation, symbolizing Father’s presence among us in the land that He’d given us. Although Father’s presence had long before left the Temple (as documented in the Book of Ezekiel), the Temple, like its two predecessors, was supposed to be a holy—set apart—edifice for the worship of the Almighty. It’s implements and furnishings were to remain in a sanctified state at all times. No impurity or unholy thing or person was to come near and touch these elements. The intrusion of the heathen emperor Antiochus Epiphanes and his hoards onto the Temple property was an affront, not only to Torah and to our nation, but to Abba Himself. Such a bold and disgusting act could not be less than a direct assault against Yahovah and His people by the kingdom of darkness.

For us today, we no longer have the Temple in Jerusalem. Under the renewed covenant and in the work of the Gospel, the Temple of Yahovah has now become our bodies (I Corinthians 3:16; 6:19). This realization moves the discussion of a physical Temple building being desecrated by members of the kingdom of darkness to that of our bodies being at risk of being desecrated by rulers and principalities in the heavenlies (Ephesians 6:12).

Hanukkah asks us to assess, where in our day-to-day living do we place our body-temples at risk of desecration, and thus, reduce our usefulness to Yahovah our Elohim?

3. Hanukkah is About Standing Firm in our Faith and Calling All Who are Willing to Follow the Call to Righteousness.

I Maccabees 2:1-27, 45-48. Here in this passage we read how a courageous, priestly man and his five sons stood up to pagan aggression and refused to compromise their Faith. These spirit-filled men assumed leadership roles and led their nation in a war against the kingdom of darkness. For us today, Hanukkah is about not putting up with foolishness when it comes to our walk with Yahoshua Messiah.

I know that we are subjected to a lot of stuff from people and issues both inside and outside our Faith these days that may cause some of us to cower off to the side or may cause our witness to be compromised. With our God’s grace and His precious Holy Spirit, we are called to be modern day Mattathiases and Judah Maccabeans, and stand against evil and for what is holy and right before our Elohim.

I’m not suggesting that we go out and slay dissenters who oppose the teaching of Yeshua our Messiah or who oppose Yahovah’s Torah. I’m simply saying that we must stand for the things that Father has required of us to maintain as holy, clean, pure and undefiled, and not compromise our walk with Yeshua Messiah. And whosoever gets in the way of our walk with Messiah, that we are not beyond moving beyond them. This is not always an easy thing to do. It can, at times, be a most painful thing to do, especially when it involves family and friends. When it comes to our jobs and vocations, when they interfere in our walk, it may come down to us making some hard decisions and letting the Holy Spirit guide our actions. Regardless the situation or issue, we are compelled to act in defense of our Faith and our walk. Our eternal destiny may depend upon what we do in obedience to Father’s leading and direction.

4. Hanukkah is About Overcoming, With the Help of Yahovah, Seeming Insurmountable Challenges and Winning.

I Maccabees 3:1, 17-26, 45-49, 52-60; 4:8-15, 24,25, 28-34. Here in these passages we read how Mattathias and Judah Maccabees stood up to the mighty Seleucid Empire’s military. Let’s put this into some semblance of perspective.

Mattathias and Judah, during the time of their leadership over Israel, never amassed more than a few thousand fighters. The vastness of the Seleucid Empire made the assembling of 10’s of 1,000’s of well-trained and war-tried fighters nothing short of child’s play. So, on one side we have little, farming town Israel, with her few thousand fighters, choosing to go up against the most powerful military forces of that day. In my mind, this contest before it was set to go down was so lopsided in favor of the Seleucid Empire fighters, it would have been another version of David versus Goliath. If we were to compare it, let’s say, to a sporting event, it would be like a professional football team squaring off against a local high school football team. The only way David could possibly win against Goliath–the only way the Hebrews could possibly win against the Seleucids—is for our God to be on the side of the Hebrew’s. I guess it’s safe to say that heaven does not always operate the way the world operates—that which appears impossible, is more than possible in Yahovah.

Master taught us: “For with Yahovah, nothing shall be impossible (Luke 1:37).” And indeed, we clearly see how the Hebrews were able to prevail against a superior military force. Why? I guess one could easily say that because Yahovah is sovereign, He could simply choose to turn the tide of battle on to the side of the Hebrews. But from my perspective, when we look at what led up to these victories—how the Maccabees stood on the side of the holy; the pure; the just; Truth; Torah and God’s people—Yahovah chose to honor their stand and aid in the nation’s deliverance.

If we fancy ourselves as modern day Maccabeans, our battle is not against flesh and blood as we read in the Maccabean account. Today, our battle is against “the principalities and ruling forces who are masters of the darkness of this world; the spirits of evil in the heavens (Ephesians 6:12; NJB).” And comparatively speaking—and this may sound crazy, but I declare this to be true—the battle facing us today as it relates to our spiritual foes, is a far greater threat and problem than we faced 2,100-plus years ago in Israel against Antiochus’ forces.

Hanukkah is about overcoming challenges in the midst of insurmountable odds.

5. Hanukkah is About Re-Dedication and Restoration.

I Maccabees 4:36-59. In this passage we read how Judas Maccabeus oversaw the restoration and re-dedication of the Temple months after it had been desecrated by Antiochus Epiphanes and his invaders. This is the heart of Hanukkah, which is also called The Feast of the Dedication. Hanukkah is not about a day’s supply of oil miraculously burning for 8-continuous days in the Temple. Hanukkah is not about lighting Hanukkah candles and reciting rote prayers that the Rabbis command Jews to do. It’s about restoring that which has been destroyed and desecrated by the enemy; it’s about re-dedicating that holy thing which was once dedicated as holy; it’s about honoring our Heavenly Father in the midst of adversity and enemy challenges; it’s about establishing and re-establishing the clean; the pure; the good; the whole. It’s about our God and not about ourselves, for we are simply servants and willing instruments of His divine will.