Many people don’t want to have children. And those who do often don’t know what to do with them or how to raise them, so they end up in the hands of strangers or in the educational and social systems.
The Pharaoh Syndrome: We Promise and We Fall Again
Many people don’t want to have children. And those who do often don’t know what to do with them or how to raise them, so they end up in the hands of strangers or in the educational and social systems.
Do You Live to Work Just to Keep Living…?
Many people don’t want to have children. And those who do often don’t know what to do with them or how to raise them, so they end up in the hands of strangers or in the educational and social systems.
The Art of Blessing Our Children
Many people don’t want to have children. And those who do often don’t know what to do with them or how to raise them, so they end up in the hands of strangers or in the educational and social systems.
And You… Have You Been Assimilated?
Yosef was not the first to confront cultural assimilation—and emerge victorious.
Cultural assimilation is a challenge people have faced throughout history. Before we go further, let’s clarify what we mean by such an expression: it is the process by which a person or group adopts, in part or in whole, the customs, values, norms, language, and behaviors of another culture—often one that is dominant or different from their own. This process can be voluntary, as a form of integration, or it can result from social, economic, or political pressures. While assimilation can make living and adapting in a new environment easier, it can also lead to the loss or dilution of one’s original cultural identity.
Yosef in Egypt
Yosef was not the first to confront the problem of cultural assimilation—and he overcame it successfully. Abraham, Isaac (Yitsjak), and Yosef’s father, Israel (Ya’akov), were able to maintain their identity and loyalty to Yehovah, even while surrounded by pagan peoples.
Now Yosef was alone. Sure, Yehovah was with him, but none of his family was there. Yet he was able to preserve his values and his trust in the God of his fathers, which becomes clear when he speaks to his brothers in their first encounter after seventeen years:
I fear Elohim (God).
Genesis 42:18
Not only had Yosef not assimilated, he also influenced those around him. This is evident when, on the second trip back, his servant returns the brothers’ money and says:
Peace to you; do not be afraid. Your Elohim, the Elohim of your father, gave you a treasure in your sacks; your silver has been given to me.
Genesis 43:23
Even though Yosef outwardly appeared Egyptian—he spoke the Egyptian language and bore an Egyptian name, Tsafnat Paneach—he never stopped being Yosef, the son of Ya’akov. Once established in Egypt, he could have forgotten his family and his beliefs, especially since his brothers had coldly rejected him and sold him as if he were not part of the family. Yet he clung to his identity. This conviction directed Yosef’s actions, even toward his own family.
And You—Have You Assimilated?
You are not of the world, because you were “taken out of Egypt” when you accepted submission to Yeshua the Messiah. But… if you dress according to the world’s fashion, speak like everyone else, eat what everyone eats, pursue goals set by the world (money, a good reputation, power), conduct your business the same way as those around you, and also celebrate the world’s holidays and traditions—then the answer is a lamentable YES. YOU HAVE BEEN ASSIMILATED!
The Maccabean Test: Faith Under Pressure
For some it is not obvious, but the pressure of society and the world’s system today is leading us into a situation similar to that of the Maccabees.
These days we celebrate Hanukkah — a Feast that primarily commemorates the victory that Yehovah gave to our ancestors when the Greek armies invaded Judea and sought to eliminate every trace of the Torah and its influence in the people of Israel. They defiled the Temple and forced the people to abdicate their obedience to the Torah.
But one family — the family of Sh’món the Maccabee — stood up and led a small army that defeated the enormous military machine of the Greeks. They then carried out the re-dedication of the Temple, cleansing it of all contamination. It was established that future generations would annually remember all these events.
It is worth clarifying that there is a legend about the miraculous multiplication of oil that kept the Temple’s menorah burning after its purification in that time of old — a story that gave rise to the tradition of lighting a nine-branched candelabrum called the hanukkiah. According to the rabbis, a sequence invented by them must be followed to light the candles each day, with certain prayers recited at each appointed time.
Unfortunately, this tradition has displaced the true reason for the celebration — which should be the valor, decision, commitment, bravery, and total dependence on Yehovah demonstrated by the Maccabees in order to overcome the enemies who threatened their freedom and their beliefs.
What About Yeshua?
Yeshua participated in this Feast of Dedication, as we are told in the Gospel according to John. But when we ignore the connection of this festival with the history of the Maccabees, we completely lose the sense of responsibility and commitment that Yeshua had toward His culture and the traditions of His people.
So It’s Worth Asking… Are We in Similar Conditions Today?
For some it may not be evident, but the pressure of society and the world’s system is indeed pushing us into similar situations.
When faced with such pressures, we can take one of three positions:
- Openly transgress the Torah, with a defiant attitude, claiming that these Instructions do not concern me.
- Ignore the Torah and its demands, thinking perhaps it is no longer relevant today or that obedience to it is too fanatical.
- Take a stand for the obedience that is fitting for a child of Yehovah, acting as the Maccabees did.
These are times that test our convictions; the pressure will increase, and we will be forced to assume one of these three positions.
You… what will you do?
What does Hanukkah Mean for Us
Dedication is a costly decision that involves renouncing everything that contaminates us…
According to John 10:22–23, Yeshúa was in the holy city during the days of the Feast. It was precisely during this Festival that He revealed Himself as “the Light of the world” and performed the controversial healing of a man born blind, bringing both physical and spiritual light into his life.
Hanukkah has a strong connection with what Yeshúa did and taught during the eve and celebration of this Feast; and although we are not commanded to observe it, understanding it can motivate us to do so, enriching our lives.
Chapter eight of the Gospel of John recounts that Yeshúa’s declaration caused discomfort among the Pharisees and sparked a heated discussion that ended with accusations that He had a demon. Then comes the account of the encounter with the man born blind, whom He healed on Shabbat, further increasing the tension. Now, if we observe carefully, these events are closely connected to the Feast that was being celebrated in those days.
Do you see the connection? Yeshúa proclaims Himself to be the Light of the world while the people are preparing for the Feast of Lights! Similar things occurred during the other appointed times. Yeshúa was not improvising; He was fulfilling a perfect plan designed by Yehovah, our Father, who had given His Feasts to His people so they would be prepared and recognize their Messiah. But because the people entangled themselves by adding to and taking away from the Word, contaminating it with traditions developed by themselves, they were unable to identify Him—just as is clearly seen in John 10:22–42.
Cleansing, Purification, and Dedication
Although Solomon had carried out a great dedication (hanukkah) of the Temple when it was built, it became necessary for it to be dedicated again by the Maccabees—though not before subjecting it to a meticulous process of cleansing and purification.
Something similar happens with our lives, which require the same processes: cleansing, purification, and dedication. And although it is very possible that we dedicated our lives in the past, it is necessary to re-dedicate ourselves time and again.
We are the temple of His Ruach (Spirit). And it is certain that in our daily walk we often become contaminated. This happens when we develop dependencies on things such as food, drink, pleasures, hobbies, or people; when our lives revolve around activities that absorb us—shopping, work, sports, etc.; when we allow our minds to take in harmful content such as violent or horror movies; when we consume foods that Scripture classifies as unclean; or when we listen to music whose content does not edify. In doing so, we have committed acts similar to the sacrifice of a pig in the Temple.
Cleansing is obtained when we confess our failures to Yehovah; purification takes place when we appropriate the forgiveness granted by the blood of our Messiah. But dedication is a costly decision—it involves renouncing everything that contaminates us. It is a decision that must be made repeatedly until we overcome the habits developed over a lifetime lived in ignorance of divine parameters. Very few are willing to pay the price, and for that reason the process often remains incomplete.
Our Father Yehovah expects us to complete it and to return to the path of obedience to Him, as He demands.
Yosef’s Fortitude
Resilience is not merely the ability to return to a previous state after a trial; it is the ability to continue growing—becoming better, stronger, more generous, and more committed—so that this world and humanity may be improved.
A modern synonym for “entereza” is resilience. Let us begin by defining it clearly:
RESILIENCE
It is a person’s capacity to adapt and overcome difficult or traumatic situations. In simple terms, resilience is the ability to recover and move forward after facing challenges and hardships in life.
If there is a biblical figure whose life is striking—other than Yeshua and Moshe—it is Yosef, the son of Ya‘akov, precisely because of his capacity for recovery, his fidelity to his principles, and his moral strength.
It is impossible to read his story without feeling bothered by the attitude of his brothers who, even if they had motives, cannot be justified for wanting to kill their younger brother—whom they should have protected.
But after that plan was stopped by Y’hudah, we see a boy barely sixteen years old thrown into an unknown, cruel, unjust, and materialistic world.
Though Scripture does not explicitly describe his intimate and total dependence on Yehovah, that is the only possible explanation for his ability to recover and rebuild his life while guarding his heart from dark feelings like bitterness, resentment, and revenge—feelings that, to some extent, we might even consider understandable.
We do not know what kind of spiritual formation Yosef received from his father; but his behavior allows us to infer that he was sensitive to the God of his ancestors Avraham, Yitzjak, and Ya‘akov.
How did Yosef maintain his identity beneath Egyptian garments when success finally came his way and life smiled upon him?
This is where the modern concept of resilience enters.
Resilience is not merely the capacity to return to a former state after a trial; it is the strength to continue growing—becoming better, stronger, more generous, and more committed—making this world and its people better.
Yosef Could Have Founded the Woke Movement
The woke culture is defined as a mindset or attitude of heightened sensitivity toward social, political, and economic issues related to injustice, inequality, and discrimination—racism, sexism, homophobia, etc.
Yosef faced several of these conditions head-on, yet he never fell into victimhood, something very common among many who embrace this movement today. Instead, he held on to his faith, his integrity, and his trust in God while navigating extremely adverse circumstances.
Let us look at some aspects of his resilience:
- Resilience in the face of family rejection:
Rejected and sold as a slave by his own brothers out of jealousy, Yosef did not allow hatred or resentment to define his life. - Adaptation to change:
As a slave in Egypt, Yosef did not give in to despair. Instead, he worked diligently and faithfully, earning the trust of Potiphar, who placed him over his entire household. - Moral firmness:
When tempted by Potiphar’s wife, Yosef displayed integrity by rejecting her, even though this cost him a false accusation and imprisonment. His ability to stand firm in his values, even at great cost, reveals his resilient character. - Patience in adversity:
While in prison, Yosef continued to trust in God’s purpose for his life. Rather than giving up, he used his administrative abilities and his gift of dream-interpretation, which ultimately led to his release and promotion. - Forgiveness and reconciliation:
When he had the chance to take revenge on his brothers, Yosef chose forgiveness and reconciliation, showing that he had not allowed suffering to embitter him but had allowed it to strengthen him.
This is resilience. Yosef’s resilience was possible because he never lost sight of God’s purpose for his life. His faith and hope in the divine plan enabled him to overcome suffering with courage and turn his trials into opportunities to glorify God and save his family—and many others.
And What About Us?
Now comes the essential question: What about us? What about you?
How resilient are you when facing failures, criticism, mistakes, persecution, trials, and everything else that comes your way?
In today’s culture, people often respond to injustice or hardship with violence, avoidance, blaming others, seeking revenge, or withdrawing in an attempt to avoid future pain. Seldom do we choose to leave those experiences behind, learn from them, and move forward with a clear resolve to do what is right and to bless others.
Those of us who have encountered Yeshua—and who have been led by Him to obey the Torah and to know Yehovah our Father—are equipped to be resilient. Our strength does not come from ourselves but from Someone greater, who takes our weaknesses and equips us to return love for hatred, generosity for selfishness, forgiveness for offense, and goodness for evil. After all, that was the model of our Lord and Messiah, Yeshua.
“For I know very well the plans I have for you,” declares Yehovah, “plans for welfare and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope.”
Jeremiah 29:11
So it is time to leave behind the mistreatment suffered in the past—whether caused by others or by life itself. Let us rise up, face forward, strengthen our roots, and do the best we can with what is in our hands.
Let us learn from the Japanese bamboo, a classic example of resilience. During its first years, bamboo barely grows in height; instead, it develops a strong and extensive root system. Later, in just a few weeks, it can grow several meters. This sudden growth is possible because of its strong foundation. Bamboo teaches us that resilience often involves invisible, underground growth that prepares us for future challenges.
Seeing Life the Way Ya’akov Did
You will never find a tombstone celebrating business accomplishments or financial success. When a tombstone speaks, it honors the person as a father, mother, husband, wife, or friend.
Ya’akov saw his brother Esav for the first time after many years of living in hiding. In their youth, Esav burned with anger, believing Ya’akov had stolen his birthright. Now, as they met again, Ya’akov tried to offer Esav part of his flock as a gesture of peace. Esav refused and said:
I have plenty, my brother; keep what is yours.
But Ya’akov replied: “No, please… take my gift, for seeing your kindly face is like seeing the face of ’Elohim. Accept this present I have brought you, for ’Elohim has favored me, and I have everything.Genesis 33:9–11
A Life Lesson
There is a deep contrast between what Esav meant when he said, “I have plenty,” and what Ya’akov meant when he declared, “I have everything.”
Esav, focused on material possessions, spoke in quantitative terms. To him, plenty meant owning much. His identity was tied to what he possessed. If he ever lost his wealth, he felt he would have nothing left.
Ya’akov, however —surrounded by his family and aware of Yehovah’s favor— could confidently say, “I have everything.”
Because the most essential things—life, health, family, purpose—cannot be purchased. They are gifts from the Almighty.
For generations, wise men have repeated this truth, yet we still resist it. Ask the elderly, and they will tell you their deepest regrets: not spending more time with family, not caring for their health, not appreciating the simple blessings of life. You will never find a tombstone celebrating business accomplishments or financial success. When a tombstone speaks, it honors the person as a father, mother, husband, wife, or friend. And when there were no such virtues, the stone remains silent.
Society praises material success, but in the end, that is not how a human being is remembered… nor how Yehovah measures a life.
Professional achievement is good and often necessary. Yehovah designed us to grow, build, and prosper. But ignoring what is priceless until it slips away is a tragedy. Ya’akov knew he had “everything” because the most important things were intact.
Think about it:
What wealthy man on his deathbed wouldn’t give his entire fortune for one more year of life?
Or even one more week?
Who among us would trade health for money? No one.
Yet many healthy, capable people live as if they possessed nothing, because they see life through Esav’s lens: always aware of what’s missing, never of what’s already present.
If you measure your life the way Esav did, frustration will follow you. But if you embrace Ya’akov’s perspective, you’ll realize each morning that, in what truly matters, you already have everything.
Devotional Closing
Take a moment today to pause honestly.
Reflect on what Yehovah has already placed in your hands: your life, your health, your family, your faith, your purpose. Don’t take these things for granted. Don’t let the culture define what it means to “have.”
Pray this:
“Yehovah, open my eyes to recognize true wealth. Deliver me from Esav’s mindset that fixates on what is missing. Form in me the heart of Ya’akov—one that recognizes Your favor and knows that with You, I truly have everything.”
And tomorrow morning, rise with this conviction settled deep in your soul:
“I have everything, because Yehovah is with me.”
A Universal Law that will always be fulfilled – Sooner or Later
A compassionate, generous, forgiving, and merciful heart will find those same blessings returning along the path of life.
Scripture tells us that from the moment of birth, Ya’akov attempted to overtake his brother. As the second to emerge from the womb, he grasped Esav’s heel—who came out first (Genesis 25:26). Because of this, he received the name “Ya’akov,” meaning supplanter (Genesis 27:36).
But here is the real question:
Did the meaning of his name shape his behavior? Or did it simply echo something already present in his character?
After losing the blessing, Esav accused his brother of stealing the birthright. Yet that accusation did not match the truth. Esav willingly sold his birthright in a fair, open agreement—no deception involved.
But years later, there was a serious problem: with his mother’s help, Ya’akov intentionally impersonated Esav to receive the blessing that, technically, was already his by right of that earlier bargain.
Later on, Ya’akov himself tasted the same bitter fruit. His uncle Lavan broke his promise: instead of giving him Rajel (Rachel) as wife, Lavan secretly gave him Leah. The same pattern arose again—just as Ya’akov deceived his father, he was deceived in return.
During the years he lived with Lavan, his uncle changed his wages ten times, manipulating him and exploiting his labor. And years later, once Ya’akov was settled in the land of Cana’an, his beloved son Yosef was sold into slavery by his own brothers. They dipped Yosef’s colorful robe in the blood of a lamb—blood that pretended to be his—and deceived their father, telling him some animal had killed his son.
This was the final harvest of a long-standing sowing of deceit.
But it wasn’t only Ya’akov who sowed such seeds. Rajel, by stealing her father’s idols and then lying about it, unknowingly placed herself under the curse Ya’akov pronounced when he said:
“Whoever has your gods—let that person not live.”
Genesis 31:32
Not long after, Rajel died on the road to Cana’an while giving birth to Binyamin. Her early death became one of the deepest wounds in Ya’akov’s life, for she was his beloved wife.
All of this shows us a sobering truth:
Life is a school we enter at birth. Through the years, we face lessons designed to form our character. If we fail a course, we repeat it until the lesson sinks in. And by the end of our days, the kind of person we become reveals what we truly learned.
For Ya’akov, this long and painful course shaped him into a whole, tested man—wise, humble, patient, and ready to become exactly what Yehovah intended: the father of the sons who would become the Twelve Tribes of Israel.
This Law Still Stands
The universe created by our Father Yehovah runs on this principle. He set these laws in place, and they never fail. What we sow, we will reap.
If we sow selfishness, we reap selfishness.
If we sow resentment or vengeance, we reap conflict.
If we sow lies, criticism, or betrayal, we eventually face each of those.
But the opposite is just as true.
A compassionate, generous, forgiving, and merciful heart will find those same blessings returning along the path of life. That is why Yehovah tells us:
“I call heaven and earth today as witnesses against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse.
Choose life, so that you and your descendants may live—loving Yehovah your God, obeying His voice, and holding fast to Him.
For He is your life and length of days…”
Deuteronomy 30:19–20
In other words:
If we treat others according to the righteous standards of Yehovah—His Commandments, His Statutes, His Decrees, His Laws, and His Ordinances—those same blessings will return to us.
As Shaul writes:
“Do not be deceived: Yehovah is not mocked.
Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap…
Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not give up.”
Galatians 6:6–10
And the wisdom of Qohelet (Ecclesiastes) adds:
“Cast your bread upon the waters,
for after many days you will find it again.
Give portions to seven, even to eight,
for you do not know what disaster may come upon the earth.”
Ecclesiastes 11:1–2
The choice has always been yours.
If you have sown the wrong seed and are now facing its harvest, there is still time to change. Sow what is right, sow what is good, and in its season you will reap blessing—if you do not give up.