HAPPY HANUKAH! DAY 8 – by Raphael ben Levi
The Talmud explains that Cheshvan means ‘movement of the lips’ implying fervent and incessant worship in spirit rather than a preoccupation with the busyness and tyranny of the urgent.
The greatest significance of the gematria for number eight is connected the resurrection of Messiah Yeshua on the first day of the week (i.e., on the eighth day) following His death by crucifixion.
Number eight represents the redeemer who offers us a new beginning. This is illustrated in the Greek. His name is ‘IHSOUS,’ that has a numerical value of 888. (I=10; H=8; S=200; O=70; U=400; S=200)
The last day of Hanukah falls on the eighth day as we consider the miracle of the oil which burned for eight days with just one day’s supply, providing the Temple priests with time to produce another batch which took seven days to prepare.
God is always entirely faithful and as we celebrate, we can know that the good work which He has begun in our lives will be brought to completion in the fullness of time. This is so true for His eternal purposes globally in addition to His dealings with us as individuals. Even amid the imponderables in life, God is always in control and His love never fails!
www.mekudeshet.co.za
