Hanukkah—The Miracles in Our Lives

How do miracles happen? A miracle just takes one step of faith and God takes care of the rest!

That’s what today’s episode is all about, as host Yael Eckstein looks at the story of the miracle of the oil. We learn how when rededicating the Temple in ancient times, God’s people lit the menorah on faith alone because they knew they didn’t have enough pure oil for it to burn more than one day.

And guess what? God performed a miracle, and the flame lasted for eight days until they could get more pure oil!

This Hanukkah, all God wants us to do is light that first candle and He will do the rest. Just as the Hanukkah story has inspired the Jewish people throughout history, God’s miracles in our own lives ignite hope and let our faith burn bright. Listen now!

Learn more about Hanukkah in our Learning Center.

And listen to more of Yael’s teachings on her daily podcast, The Chosen People.

Episode Notes:

Yael looks at a well-known Jewish holiday that carries a message of faith, hope, and courage that is so relevant for both Jews and Christians today—Hanukkah!

This episode is all about the miracle of the oil on which this celebration is based. As Yael explains, after defeating the Greeks, the first thing that the Maccabees did was clean up the Temple to make it ready for daily sacrifices to God. Part of the process was lighting the seven-branch menorah that stood in the courtyard of the Temple. There was just one problem: there was just one jar of oil—only enough to burn the menorah for one day.

But this didn’t matter to God. What mattered was that His people trusted Him and had faith in Him to light the menorah anyway. And because of this, God made the flame last eight days until they had new oil. He gave His people a miracle!

On Hanukkah, the Jewish people remember that God wants us to let everyone know that He performs miracles for those who have faith in Him. As Yael reads in Psalm 9:1: “I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.”

We are to tell others of God’s wonderful deeds and miracles—and let them know that He still performs them today. All we need is enough faith, and as we share our own miracles we will light the candle of hope in others!