Being someone that points others to Yeshua HaMashiach is our great privilege. But it comes with a responsibility, a cost, and a blessing.
We’re all familiar with the Yad[1].The pointer that’s used while reading the Torah. While it has historic and practical application, it also has a personal call to action for us all.
The Yad, used by the "segan," or deputy representing the congregation, stands on the left. They point with the "yad" to the text for the reader to follow. Earliest references go back to the second century[2].
In addition to protecting the precious scrolls from wearing out and keeping them clean, the Yad performs a much greater function. The Yad points us to God’s Word, keeping our attention where it belongs. Makes sure that we carefully follow each and every word. Not losing our place.
With an outstretched hand and index finger, the Yad reminds us of God giving Himself and His Word. The Ten Commandments were written by the finger of God[3]. It also prompts us to recall when a hand appeared to King Belshazzar, predicting his death and dividing of his kingdom[4].
Pointing us to God Himself, the Yad continually brings all our attention to Gods unflinching commitment to His people. How God personally used His mighty hand to save.
Then the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror, signs, and wonders.
Deuteronomy 26:8, NIV
Yes, the Yad does a great work in reminding us about God’s personal involvement in history and our lives. But there’s application that we need to do more than reflect on. An application that we need to be actively pursuing.
Personalizing Our Yad-ing
While careful reading of God’s Word is of vital importance, so is personally applying the Yad itself to our lives. God wants every follower of Yeshua to be His Yad, pointing one and all to God’s HaMashiach. So, how do we do this?
You yourselves are our testimonial, written in our hearts and yet open for anyone to inspect and read. You are an open letter about Christ which we ourselves have written, not with pen and ink but with the Spirit of the living God. Our message has been engraved not in stone, but in living men and women.
2 Corinthians 3:3 Phillips
We are living epistles, letters of recommendation that point to our God. Here are three ways to be a Yad for Yeshua.
Open to see – Living for Yeshua is never to be behind closed doors. Hid away like a secret society. Quite the contrary, people should be able to see Him in our lives.
Open to read – As they see our lives, it’s clear that Yeshua is the source for our life. Our joy. Our loving one and all. Our patience during trials.
Open to all – No one, and I mean no one is to be kept away from seeing our life that’s being lived for the glory of God. Our lives are to be an open book, transparent before God and a watching world.
This starts within the Body of Christ[5]. The local assembly is to be a place where people within and without the congregation see His loving power and truth demonstrated in the lives of His people. Miracles are great, but there’s a greater, more powerful way to point people to the God who loves them.
This is how all men will know that you are my disciples, because you have such love for one another.
John 13:35 Phillips
Loving one another is God’s most effective, powerful demonstration of who He is and His ability to change lives. It doesn’t get any better than this. Loving one another is Job One.
Our Yad for Yeshua then extends to everyone we meet. And in this troubled world where so many are living desperate lives, we have a unique opportunity to point people through His hope within us
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect
1 Peter 3:15
But being a living Yad isn’t always an easy job. It’s not always smooth going. Sometimes the road of being Yeshua’s Yad can be tough.
Comes with a Responsibility – While salvation is free[6], we have a responsibility to “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.[7]” So, how are we doing with our Yad in daily life? Are we using our life to continually draw attention to the one who loves us? Died for us? Is coming again for us?
Comes with a Cost – There’s a price to be paid in this life for following Yeshua. It may not be popular to talk about this, but that doesn’t make it any less true. He predicted it for his disciples and us[8]. There’s even a guarantee that we will “participate in his sufferings[9]” as we know him and the power of His resurrection.
Yad-ing Starts Now
In The Chosen[12], there is a scene where Jesus reads from the first scroll of Moses. It shows Him using a Yad as he speaks those famous words, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.[13]” It then transitions to the Apostle John speaking the opening to his Gospel, “In the beginning was the Word.[14]”
Since Yeshua was there at the beginning, He’s eternal. He’s always been and always will be God. He’s more than worthy of all our love. All our praise. All our focus. And all our attention.
The Yad is to keep our attention and focus on Yeshua. He’s the true light[15]. The one and only source of all grace and truth[16]. He’s now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone[17].
So, let’s let our life be a Yad for Yeshua. Clearly pointing people to the one who loves them with an unending love.
[1] יָד [2] The Jewish Encyclopedia, https://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/15047-yad [3] Exodus 31:18 [4] Daniel 5:5,30-31 [5] 1 Corinthians 12:27 [6] Ephesians 2:8-9 [7] Hebrews 12:2 [8] John 15:18 [9] Philippians 3:10 [10] Romans 10:9 [11] Matthew 25:21 [12] https://youtu.be/5E3527LWwhA [13] Genesis 1:1 [14] John 1:1 [15] John 1:9 [16] John 1:17 [17] Hebrews 2:9