Daily Devotionals

Voice of the Lord

Devotional: 13th of Shevat

So much learning is driving you crazy! (Acts 26:24)

Rachmiel Frydland was a learned and humble Messianic Jew. He had received his training in the yeshivot (rabbinical schools) of pre-war Poland. He began his studies under his father at the age of four; soon after, his ability to learn quickly brought him to Warsaw where he studied under the best teachers in the top yeshivah (rabbinical school). Then Rachmiel found the Lord.

Shortly thereafter, the Nazis invaded Poland and Rachmiel was on the run. After the war, he lived in England and then the United States where he continued his intensive studies in Semitic languages. He acquired two master's degrees and had completed his course work for a doctorate at New York University.

On one occasion when Rachmiel was sharing the good news about Messiah, he was challenged by ultra- Orthodox Jewish anti-missionaries. Their stock approach was to point to a lack of Jewish education as the reason why a Jewish person would accept Yeshua. They began examining Rachmiel. In response, Rachmiel recited in detail the particulars of his religious training and education. They listened intently, looking for a weakness.

Unable to uncover any flaw, one turned to the other and said, "What a pity! All this education, and it is wasted on this belief in Jesus!"

Regardless of our educational background, impressive or unimpressive, an antagonist will always find a way to belittle our faith. Let us seek to please God and not men. Then we need not apologize for our limitations.

...use my background, whatever it may be, to share the Messiah Yeshua with others.

EK