Being a Jew in these times it's very difficult to trust anyone. As we stated before, being hated is a spiritual problem. I grew up in a neighborhood where I was called the ‘Christ-killer’. That moniker followed me around till I was in my teens.

Today we continue to live in fear and lack of trust. When I see all the protesting in universities and cities around the world against Israel, I can only imagine the fear that is in the hearts of the Jewish students in these schools as well as Jewish people everywhere.

When we consider how Jewish people have been scapegoats through so much of history we need to remember the scapegoat that God spoke about in Leviticus 16. Was the scapegoat to be Israel, or someone else?

Let me tell you that while I still lack trust and live in some fear, (yes, I’m not perfect), I also have moved from paranoia to peace. The scapegoat is not me, or the Jewish people. It is Yeshua Ha Moshiach. He is both the goat that was sacrificed on Yom Kippur as well as the goat upon which all the sins of Israel were cast.

We don’t need to live paranoid lives. The awesome plan for the Jewish people is stated by rabbi Shaul, in Romans 9-11 in the Brit Hadashah.

“All Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob…For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” (Romans 11:25-26,29)

I understand your paranoia, particularly so about Chrisian missionaries and their message. When someone comes to us with the offer of Jesus as our Messiah it is difficult for us to see the love in that because of all the hatred that has been done in His name. Why is it so difficult for us to trust?

…There must be a reason!

And yet we trust ourselves, our works, to be saved, to be in the Book of Life?

Maybe I need some of that paranoia about myself! And then move on to really trust Someone Else…

Yeah, maybe that’s the reason. But who? Who is the Someone Else I can trust?

Jesus?