This year I have the beautiful privilege of learning so much more about the diversity in various cultures and religions, and essentially, more about God and His love and faithfulness to His people.
He also has blessed me with an amazing sister and friend, Sarah Landsman and her sister Miranda. I have loved learning about Judaism, and have grown in knowledge of scripture by the wisdom of these two.
A few months ago they led our squad in a Passover meal, Messianic Jewish edition. It was a rich experience and I have been greatly impacted, especially by the declarations of God’s faithfulness.
Following are some of those declarations based on the Israelites’ experience of walking through the wilderness:
In light of our redemption we acknowledge God’s goodness to us. For each of His acts of mercy and kindness we declare “Dayenu!.”
Dayenu is the Hebrew word which means it would have been enough.
Had He brought us out from Egypt and not judged the Egyptians. Dayenu!
Had He judged them And not judged their idols. Dayenu!
Had He judged their idols And not slain their first-born. Dayenu!
Had He slain their first-born And not given us their property. Dayenu!
Had He given us their property And not divided the sea for us. Dayenu!
Had He divided the sea for us and not brought us through on dry ground. Dayenu!
Had He brought us through on dry ground And not drowned our oppressors. Dayenu!Had He drowned our oppressors And not helped us forty years in the desert. Dayenu!
Had He helped us forty years in the desert And not fed us manna. Dayenu!
Had He fed us manna and not given us the Sabbath. Dayenu!
Had He given us the Sabbath and not brought us to Mount Sinai. Dayenu!
Had He brought us to Mount Sinai and not given us the Torah. Dayenu!
Had He given us the Torah and not brought us into the Land of Israel. Dayenu!
Had He brought us to the Land of Israel and not built us the Holy Temple. Dayenu!
As followers of the Messiah, we can add a further “Dayenu,” knowing that if God had only provided atonement for us through the death of the Messiah, it would have been enough for us. But He did much more.
Yeshua said, “I have come that you might have life, and have it in abundance.” He gives life abundant when we know Him as our Messiah.
Had he only given us Yeshua, it would have been enough. Dayenu!
DAYENU LYRICS
Ilu ho-tsi, ho-tsi-a-nu, Ho-tsi-a-nu mi-Mitz-ra-yim Ho-tsi-a-nu mi-Mitz-ra-yim Da-ye-nu
TRANSLATION
Had God brought all, brought all of us Brought all of us out from Egypt Brought all of us out from Egypt
It would have been enough
Da-dayenu, Da-dayenu, Da-dayenu Dayenu, Dayenu
Da-dayenu, Da-dayenu, Da-dayenu Dayenu, Dayenu
Ilu sha-lach, sha-lach la-nu, Sha-lach la-nu et Mashiach Sha-lach la-nu et Mashiach Da-ye-nu
Had God only sent, only sent us Only sent us the Messiah
Only sent us the Messiah
It would have been enough.
It would have been enough. Wow.
How often in my life do I stop to recognize that “it would have been enough”? And in light of that, embrace each blessing and each act of His mercy and love with such an overwhelming gratitude, knowing that God is never obligated to give me any good thing, but that He does it out of abundant love.
Take a moment to reflect on your life. Reflect on His goodness. Reflect on what would have been enough, but out of His great love, God did more. God gave more.
My team and I are wrapping up our month in Bulgaria. We are anticipating flying into Africa next week for our final three months!
In the midst of the thrill and excitement, I am quite sad about one thing. Our leadership sees it fit to do another round of team changes. If there is anything I want to take with me to Africa, it is my team.
Is this a “had the Lord done this and not this, it would still have been enough” situation? Maybe.
Change may be hard, but can I trust my God to bring beauty in the next season? No matter what hard things we experience, things we need to give up, or changes that come, looking back there is good we can see that God has worked, and even if we may not see it we can trust His goodness. He has never failed us, and He never will.
Dayenu!
