Yeshua said to them again, “Shalom aleichem [Peace be unto you]! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” John 20:21, TLV

I Don’t Understand.   Shalom aleichem — Peace be unto you! Jesus has just entered a locked room three days after His brutal death on the cross. Why is the door locked? Because Yeshua’s followers are afraid that His fate would befall them. Especially since His body was missing and Miriam (Mary of Magdala) and the other women were speaking nonsense (Luke 24:11).

The last thing the Messiah’s disciples had was peace. Then seeing Him in the room with them . . .

How many times had the disciples been disappointed in their hopeful expectations? As a people, the Jewish people were historically persecuted and oppressed. Here, in this person Jesus, they had thought He was the One! He would rescue them from the Romans — from any future oppressors. That He would restore the kingdom to Israel (Acts 1:6)

Jesus was not the Messiah they were looking for. They didn’t understand their own ancestors and prophets.

Yeshua said to them, “Oh foolish ones, so slow of heart to put your trust in all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary for Messiah to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them the things written about Himself in all the Scriptures. Luke 24:25-27, TLV

Misguided expectations

How often have we had expectations of how God should work in a situation? Because a verse in the Bible seems to match our situation, we think we know how God will operate. Then, when the unthinkable happens and confusion follows, we become fearful.

Shalom aleichem — Peace be unto you! The confusion lies with us, not with our Heavenly Father. Somewhere our understanding separated from the truth, and rather than clinging to our Father, we stubbornly cling to our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6). Even reciting passages taken out of context.

With the recent murders of 21 innocents in Texas (plus unexpected death of the husband of one of the teachers), we may be feeling discouraged and confused by God’s actions — or lack of actions. We may blame Him for somehow falling asleep on the job.  But, know that He mourns with us. He’s here now to comfort us. We know that choices were made that led this man down a destructive path. A path that swallowed him. Why did he take the lives of these sweet souls with him in death? Because he was disturbed. Why did God allow it? I don’t know.

When confusion or doubt encircle me like a wagon train, I go back to the foundational truths before I assumed I knew what the LORD would do. Remembering that He is God, I am not. I do my best to move back into gratitude because of all He has done for me — the greatest being giving His own Son to sacrifice Himself for our sins. And that whatever may come my way or to those I love, I am His and He holds us as His children. Whatever happens from there, well, it is up to Him. So, I trust Him, not my understanding.

Shalom aleichem, not as the world gives peace, but our Heavenly Father. Bless and comfort all the families involved in this tragedy. That peace that surpasses all our understanding as we keep our heart and mind in the Messiah Jesus (Philippians 4:7).

Shabbat shalom.