Sukkot party with our local group of Holocaust survivors was touching. We served lunch, sang a few songs, and than took them one floor down, to Bezel-El studio, where they used recycled materials and dried flowers to create a picture, while listening to a short explanation about perishable matters versus eternity.
Think about the Israelites in the desert, taking apart their personal booths each time the cloud moved, and watching the Levites as they took apart the Tabernacle. And when the cloud rested, they would set it all up again. Their perishable booths (we are so used to see tents in most pictures that portray Moses’ Tabernacle, but a more accurate depiction is actually of booths, not tents) set up again, and a glorious cloud resting on the Tent of Meeting. What an opportunity to think about things that decay and require ongoing maintenance, versus eternity and God’s glory.
Back to our precious group. When everyone arrived downstairs, a beautiful working area was prepared for them, with colorful materials. Eagerly they each found a spot, and started working.
With great worship music in the background and just the right environment, we read some verses to them.
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust” (Psalms 91:1-2).
“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of our God endures forever” (Isaiah 40:8).
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end” (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
At this point we explained that God is eternal, and that He had put something of that image inside us. Upon hearing that, one of the men stopped working and looked up. You could tell it touched a deep and tender spot in his heart.
“But it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, the Messiah Yeshua, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”
This powerful truth from 2 Timothy 1:10 was paraphrased to them gently, and than they were asked if anyone is interested in that eternity and immortality.
One lady and her caregiver responded immediately. And when that verse was explained again, most of them, if not all of them, joined the “Amen” with a loud voice.
It was touching to see them use the dried flowers, choose their materials – being engrossed in their work.
Later, around coffee and some delicious deserts, we set up their works for display.
Everyone wanted to have their picture taken with their art, before they all hugged and kissed goodbye.
Did they fully understand what we shared? Maybe. Maybe not. We are so thankful for every seed of Truth sown into them, and for every “Amen” their shuttered hearts echoed, and also for any glimpse they get into the riches that eternity in His bosom has to offer them!
Orna Grinman | Ot OoMofet Ministries | A Sign and Example 
How tender and loving you gave to them the message of Salvation, along with the art of illistration of eternity and temporary as did the booths coming out of Egypt through the desert, nothing is permanent here, we are just passing through.. I am always blessed by your insights which, to me, are profound and easily understood and to the point that leaves one with His Presence, as I hope each of them will ponder upon as they did agree with their response of ‘ amen’ . Enjoy throughly all your beautiful articles, looking forward to meeting you someday with our Lord when we’ll all be together never to depart.
LikeLike
Thank you, Fran. But I can’t take the compliments to myself this time. It was mostly done by a German member of our congregation. She asked not to show her picture or mention her, so it sounds like I did it all. But not really.
LikeLike