I was recently included in an email discussion about "uniting" the people of Israel. One fellow suggested that Israel would not be made "one" until the Messiah came, so we should not bother trying. Others in the group were arguing against his opinion. 

     I started to laugh out loud - because I know that it is almost impossible to "herd cats" - and because I felt the Lord was sending me a personal message. 

     You see, I was raised as a poor girl in the country

and we didn't have a lot of toys. So, one day, one of the neighbor boys put a small cat in a big paper bag, folded the top over a few times, and set the bag on the ground - to see what the cat would do. 

     This upset me because I was a cat lover. But, after banging around a bit, the little cat finally made its way out of the paper bag - and, when that foolish boy tried to catch that cat and put her back in the bag, he got the scratching of his life. 

     Because of that feisty little cat, when I encounter opposition to the truth about "both the houses of Israel" (Isaiah 8:14), I remember her. I especially remember how big boys could not "get her back into the bag." I remember her and sometimes say, "The cat is out of the bag and you will never be able to get her back in it!" Meaning, those who have escaped the bondage of misunderstandings about "Israel" will never again be put back in a confining bag - no matter how big the boys who try to take away her freedom. 

     Returning to the wine bottle, seeing it made me think that trying to get Messianics together is a bit like "Herding Cats." Like cats, Messianics tend to have a mind of their own. 

     Believe it or not, I am going to connect these stories to the fellow who feels we do not have to do anything to help reunite Israel. 

     I can understand anyone feeling like ours is an almost impossible task.
But, we must not give up on it, because the Word says, "Without faith it is impossible to please God." And that, "anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who diligently seek him." We also are told that, "To one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin." And finally, we know that our Messiah prayed that we might "all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me" (Hebrews 11:6; James 4:17; John 17:21). 

     This collection of verses tell us that we must have faith in God and believe that He can do what He says He can do. They also tell us that Messiah Yeshua's desire is for us to be "one" people. 

     In turn, this means, if I "know" something to be scripturally true, and I don't believe it, or, if I don't at least ask the Father what I can do to help herd His difficult cats, then I am in "sin." 

     If you know that He wants it, then you need to believe in it and work toward it. As difficult as it may be, we have to work toward Israel's full restoration. 

     Here's to "Herding Cats." 

     La Chaim! (To Life!),

     Batya 

     We are in a last-days spiritual war. We offer books that we believe will help you at this time.The things that we need to accomplish as members of YHVH's Army, will happen, "Not by might, not by power, but by His Spirit" (Zechariah 4:6; Isaiah 2:9).