Learn Hanukkah’s Little Known History

It’s Hanukkah—an appointed time of miracles! This is the celebration Jesus spoke of in John 10, calling it the “Feast of Dedication.” Many of us know the story of the oil, which was intended to last for one day but lasted for eight. But did you know that it all started with a miraculous victory in war? The Jews suffered great loss as King Antiochus took over the second temple and desecrated it. Many Jews were killed and survivors weren’t allowed to practice their faith.

This went on for three years until they had enough. A rebel army led by Judah “the Hammer” Maccabee against all odds defeated the much greater Greek army to take back their temple. After their victory, they wanted to rededicate the temple but found only one container of oil for the menorah; however, they lit it by faith, and it burned miraculously for eight days—the time that was needed to prepare fresh kosher oil.

Israel’s founding father, David Ben Gurion, said, “The struggle of the Maccabees was one of the most dramatic clashes of civilizations in human history. The Maccabees overcame one of the most magnificent spiritual, political and military challenges in Jewish history due to the spirit of the people, rather than the failed spirit of the establishment.

“In these perilous days, we find ourselves at war with the same anti-Christ spirit that sought to overcome the Jews in 167 B.C. and the same spirit that killed Jesus. We can try to deny it, but war is now a fact of our lives. However, look up dear one, we have the Holy Spirit, the power of God within us!”

Hanukkah reminds us that we can fight and win. Hanukkah also means rededication, so let’s rededicate our lives to Jesus, the light of the world, and ignite the fire of first love within us to burn for Him and know that we too can begin to move in miracles.

For more on Spirit-filled topics like the significance of Hanukkah, listen to Arise With Susan on the Charisma Podcast Network. {eoa}