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Moving Music: A Story of
Faith by Miriam Nadler |
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No Christmas Music Until After Thanksgiving! reads the sign of some protest groups. Indeed, sometimes the “holiday cheer” can seem like a mere tactic to get us to buy things we do not need. Trite songs like “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” only deepen the irony that, for many people, it is more like the most stressful and spiritually depressing time of the year. |
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Yet, some songs beautifully reflect the truth and majesty of God. Take “For Unto Us a Child is Born,” from Handel’s Messiah. I was surprised at how many were unaware that these words come from the Hebrew prophet Isaiah (9:5-6). As I consider how God uses music to draw His people to Himself, I think of my friend Faith Eisler. I contacted Faith the first time by phone, introducing myself and telling her about Hope of Israel Congregation. She told me, “I accepted Jesus on Christmas Day this past December.” “Mazel Tov!”* I responded. When Faith heard this she began to cry with joy. I explained that many of us were also Jewish and yet believe that Jesus is the Messiah of Israel. Having never heard of this before, she said “this is what I need--to be with other Jewish people who believe in the Messiah.” Faith grew up in an Orthodox Jewish neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY, in a traditional home. As she put it, “women did not need to understand or question religious matters.” Consequently throughout her life she was curious to know more. While living in Las Vegas Faith asked her Orthodox Rabbi, “Rabbi, if Jesus was a Jew, why don’t we as Jewish people revere Him?” He replied, “Because this Jesus was just a rabble-rouser and nothing more.” This remark sparked a concern within her. She couldn’t understand “why the Gentiles loved Yeshua so much, and why we as Jews had turned our backs on Him.” Later in life, Faith moved to North Carolina, to be closer to her daughter. It was the Christmas season and various church groups visited her retirement home to present musical programs. Though she was not interested in hearing the music, one of the groups included Mark, a maintenance man who worked there. And so she decided to attend this concert. The choir began singing with harmonies that seemed to reach up to the heavens. As they lifted their hands in praise, Faith found herself drawn to the music with tears rolling down her face. Afterward, she asked Mark, “I enjoyed the music so much, could I come and hear you again?” The following Sunday service on Christmas day, her heart was drawn to the Lord. She went up for prayer and found herself telling the woman who was praying for her, “I believe in Jesus and I love Him.” Though Faith felt God’s peace and comfort, she was unsure what this meant for her as a Jewish woman. Over the next few weeks doubts began to creep in: ”What did I get myself into?”; “How can I as a Jew believe in this Jesus?”; “I’ll never be welcomed in a synagogue again”; “My family will turn against me”; “How could I turn my back on my heritage?” A month later Faith moved to Charlotte. Ernie, the manager of her new retirement community, asked if she would like to know about the synagogues in the area. Still plagued with doubts, Faith told him that she believed in Jesus and did not think that she could go to a synagogue. “Well, there is a Messianic congregation in town where Jews believe in Jesus,” Ernie replied. She couldn’t imagine this! Flash-foward three years: Since trusting
in Messiah, Faith has been immersed and become an active member of Hope of
Israel Congregation. She continues to reach out and share her faith with friends
and family members who do not yet believe in Messiah. For this reason, my heart
is warmed when I hear songs this season that speak of Yeshua (Jesus). May our
hearts reflect God’s love as we lift Him up in our music, our words, and our
lives, so that those around us will be drawn to Messiah.
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