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Great Expectations

Through The Lens with Rabbi Eric Walker – Great Expectations

12/3/2020

Great Expectations

When I first came to the Lord and began to regularly attend services at a Messianic Jewish Congregation. I was astounded at one question the Rabbi always asked. He would get up in front of the congregation and ask “Who came here expecting?” Every hand would go up and I thought man what a prolific congregation, everyone is pregnant!

But, of course, that was not the kind of expecting he was talking about –

Expectation of what the Lord was going to do that night was what he was referring to. But, expectation can also be at the very root of dissatisfaction. There is a difference between expectation and desire. When expectations are not met, the entire person becomes disappointed. When desire is not met it is just an unmet desire and does not affect the entire person.

You are all familiar with the story of the Exodus and the trials and tribulations of a generation who knew the comforts of Egypt and were now faced with new challenges.

This story of freedom from persecution and oppression has been the cornerstone of the Jewish people’s struggle since Pharaoh. In his footsteps were Haman, Hared, Hitler and now the mad man of Iran! Our people have struggled for 1000’s of years and G-D has always sparred us from annihilation.

This morning we are going to look to G-D’s Word for a deeper understanding of this condition called expectation!

Ex 16:6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “In the evening you will know that it was the LORD who brought you out of Egypt, 7 and in the morning you will see the glory of the LORD, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we, that you should grumble against us?” 8 Moses also said, “You will know that it was the LORD when he gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the LORD.”

Num 11:1 Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the LORD, and when he heard them his anger was aroused. Then fire from the LORD burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp. 2 When the people cried out to Moses, he prayed to the LORD and the fire died down. 3 So that place was called Taberah, because fire from the LORD had burned among them. 4 The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, “If only we had meat to eat! 5 We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost–also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. 6 But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!”

Num 11:18 “Tell the people: ‘Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow, when you will eat meat. The LORD heard you when you wailed, “If only we had meat to eat! We were better off in Egypt!” Now the LORD will give you meat, and you will eat it. 19 You will not eat it for just one day, or two days, or five, ten or twenty days, 20 but for a whole month–until it comes out of your nostrils and you loathe it–because you have rejected the LORD, who is among you, and have wailed before him, saying, “Why did we ever leave Egypt?” ‘”

What did they expect? Now it is compounded with comparison and that bred bitter disappointment.

Mark Twain wrote, “A thing long expected takes the form of the unexpected when at last it comes.”

In a similar vein, Sir John Lubbock observed: “What we see depends mainly on what we look for.”

What was the reason our Jewish people did not accept Jesus as the Messiah when He clearly met the four tests the rabbi’s had for Messiah – Raise the Dead, Heal Leprosy, Give Sight to someone blind from birth and deliver a dumb spirit.  This was the report Jesus gave when John sent word Luke 7:20-23  When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?'”  21 At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. 22 So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. 23 Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.”

SO why did they not receive Him as Messiah?

EXPECTATION !!

They claim Jesus was not a MILITARY LEADER  like King David and I say he was the Military Leader who waged war against sin and won the battle for my salvation.

They claim Jesus was not a JUDGE as written in Isaiah 2: 4 He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.

& Isaiah 11:3-4 He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; 4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.

And I say He is the one whose judgment witnessed to me and convicted me of my sins and then passed the sentence of forgiveness and salvation.

They claim Jesus did not bring PEACE as written in Isa 9:6-7 6 For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it

with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty

will accomplish this.

And I say that I have more peace and tranquility with Jesus as Lord of my life than I could have ever known without Him.

They claim Jesus did not bring HARMONY IN NATURE as written in Isa 11:6-9 ‘The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.  7 The cow will feed with the bear,

their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.  8 The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper’s nest.

9 They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

And I say I was the leopard and am now the lamb who follows the Word of the Lord. He restored harmony where only discord existed.

They claim Jesus did not bring UNITY AMONG JEWS as written in Isa 11:12-13

He will raise a banner for the nations

and gather the exiles of Israel; he will assemble the scattered people of Judah

from the four quarters of the earth. 13 Ephraim’s jealousy will vanish, and Judah’s enemies will be cut off; Ephraim will not be jealous of Judah, nor Judah hostile toward Ephraim.

And I say I have never had so many brothers and sisters as I have here in the Lord. Locust Fork Baptist is the testimony to Jesus bringing Unity between Jews and Gentiles and is the fulfillment of the Ephesians 2 One New Man!.

They claim Jesus did not ERADICATE DISEASE as written in Isa 35:5-6 ‘Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.  6 Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy.

And I say my blind eyes have been opened and my deaf ears have been unstopped. And I see more clearly than I have ever seen before.

It was all about expectations – Jesus came as the suffering servant to redeem each one of us one at a time. Filling our hearts and minds with His spirit. When we band together in Unity then Israel will cry out and fulfill the very words of Jesus on that Palm Sunday as He was leaving Jerusalem, when He said in Matthew 23:37-39 “37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! 38 See! Your house is left to you desolate; 39 for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’

He was the Lamb of God on Mount Moriah that brought redemption for Isaac and the lineage of Abraham to Jesus. He was the Lamb of God who redeemed Israel from 400 years of bondage in Egypt. He IS the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the World.

If you are watching today and have been disappointed because of expectations in another – there is one who will never disappoint…The Lord will provide exceedingly and abundantly beyond your expectations…

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