Joel of Jerusalem Jun/Jul 1974
Today I received the new house for which I have been waiting four long years, but we cannot move in because they did not make good on the deal.
After two weeks, I went to the government office where there were many people, and sought information about the house. Jerusalem is not like New York City. After 25 years, many people know me and have become my friends, but others wait for me to die. Why? Only because I believe thai Jesus is my Savior.
One man came up to me in the office and asked me how I was. He seemed very friendly. I related to him our situation because we had been together in the army. He asked me what my business was. I told him I was waiting for a flat for four years, but now the waiting was over, thank the Lord, because today we were to receive it. He asked me why I needed the flat. I told him I have four children and that six of us were living in a small two bedroom apartment. He said, “Yes, I know why you want the flat, because you will open a new Shalom Mission there, You can see that I’m a good man, a quiet man, who doesn’t want to make trouble for you, but I know why you need this flat and it’s not for your family.’
I asked him what he wanted from me. “Should I give you the flat?” I asked, “Yes, if you like,” he responded. “If not, I will tell those who would be interested to know about you.
I told him, “I’m not afraid, not of you or any others like you.”
At that moment, he cried out and everyone could see what was happening. He said for all to hear, “See this man? He is a missionary. He tries to convert us from Judaism and the government has given him a flat, so he can open a mission station. Our family doesn’t even have a flat!
Finally, the director came to see what was happening. So the man began to cry out again. The director said, “This man is a citizen. I know him personally. Since 1948 we have been serving together in the army. We had to sleep together in one tent and he had the same privileges like everyone else.”
The director asked the intruder if he had something against me. He said, “Yes, because he took my flat away from me – He is not a Jew!”
I asked him if he was a Jew. I said, ‘How can you be a Jew when even your rabbi doesn’t know what a Jew is himself. I pray for people like you so that you would not be lost and that you will be saved by the blood of Yeshua HaMashiach. He cleanseth us from sin.”
At this time he said to the director, “You see? He speaks of Jesus in this office.” The director said to me, “It would be better if you would not speak of Jesus in our office.” I told him that I speak only what is written in the Bible. “It is not my mistake that God promised our Fathers to give us prophets to write the Bible, to tell us more about Jesus and what He has done for us.”
The director asked me, “Joel, who changed you? Why are you so different than before?”
I asked him to please take the Bible and read it “You are a good Jew. After you finish reading it go back and read Ezekiel 36:25-26 and Jeremiah 31:31-35.
“Then you will see how God can change us. I have inner peace and happiness and you can have it too. If you don’t accept Jesus Christ as Savior today – tomorrow may be too late! If you come to God. and ask for forgiveness of your sins, He will forgive you and will remember your sins no more. But our people, the Jews, are very stubborn – just as Moses said in the Old Testament.
Therefore, God had to send His only Son Jesus to save Israel as he promised. We hear about Jesus in Isaiah 53 and Isaiah. 6:8-10. We must be ashamed before God that our people have for so long rejected Him.
Later, the director said to me, “If you want, I can do something for you – I’ll help find you work.”
Many people were present during our conversation. I pray for their salvation.
