The Feast of Dedication - Hanukkah

We have victory through Messiah Yeshua!

The Feast of Dedication, Hanukkah Art Card is from the Feasts of Israel Fulfilled Collection.

Hanukkah is also called The Feast of Dedication and The Festival of Lights. Did you know that the Bible references Hanukkah in John 10:22-29?

Although it is not required that we celebrate this holiday, it is fun to remember God’s faithfulness to His people during this time. The Jews light one candle each day after the stars come out, starting with the candle on the right. They have specific Scripture passages they read and games they play. I thought about gathering friends and family to recount the Lord’s deliverance in our own lives and making cards with questions to spur conversation about His goodness along our journeys. One year when I didn’t have a Menorah, I created one with 9 candles.

History

The history of Hanukkah began in 168 BC when the Greco-Assyrians invaded Jerusalem and defiled God’s Temple. They demanded that a priest, Mattathias, sacrifice a pig to their pagan god, but he refused. His conviction and courage so inspired the people that their small army eventually overtook their strong enemy.

Hanukkah commemorates the Jewish people’s rededication of the Temple to the Lord in celebration of His prevailing victory. As the Levite priests lit the lampstand (or Menorah) after recapturing the Temple, they found there was only enough oil to burn for one day; however, the oil miraculously burned for eight days! Symbolically, the Hanukkah Menorah has eight candles plus an additional ninth servant candle to light the eight candles.

The prophet Isaiah foretold of another Servant, Messiah Yeshua: “Behold, My Servant will prosper, He will be high and lifted up and greatly exalted. Just as many were astonished at you, My people, so His appearance was marred more than any man and His form more than the sons of men.” Isaiah 52:13-14

Yeshua is the final Sacrifice for all people for all time. He delivered us from the enemy of our souls. He is the Eternal Light Who calls us out of the darkness into His marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9)

On the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, Yeshua (Jesus) said to those around him, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me, and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father who gave them to Me is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” John 10:27-30

If you would like to read how the art was created for the Hanukkah card, please continue reading.

The Menorah described in Exodus 25 was solid, poured gold with gold almond blossoms for the cups of the lamps. I intended to paint this, but received a vision early one morning of a mosaic Menorah, so I began to cut squares of paper to resemble small tiles of gold. The red servant candle represents Yeshua the Messiah Who gave His life for us.

As I painted the Menorah, a verse stayed on my mind, so I looked it up in my Bible – “so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.” (Ezekiel 1:28)   I remembered the emerald rainbow of Revelation 4:3 that surrounds His throne full of light!   

The Hebrew word for almond means eager anticipation or wakeful hastening. The almond blossoms on the Menorah are alive, white with pink hues, still speaking their fragrant message of encouragement to be awake as we anticipate Yeshua’s return!

Usually, after I paint a design, I scan the image, so that I can place it into a file for the printer. The scan did not capture the sparkles of the paint. So, I took a picture of the artwork with my camera in the intense morning sunlight to achieve the most sparkle. I painted the emerald rainbow several times before I was satisfied. The open window into the sky represents eternity – Yeshua, our Eternal Light and Victory!

God bless you!
Beth Ann

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