Rooted in Wisdom

Yael Eckstein  |  March 28, 2023

teenage boy studying Torah with elderly man

Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still;
    teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
    and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. —
Proverbs 9:9-10

In Judaism, wisdom is something that should be sought, cultivated, and taught — no matter what age we are. Enjoy this collection of inspirational thoughts and insights about this godly pursuit.

If you’ve been following the news over the past few months, you are probably aware that there has been a rise in terrorist attacks in Israel. Tragically, The Fellowship’s Guardians of Israel ministry, which takes care of the needs of families who are devastated by these attacks, has been busier than usual.

Aside from supporting this and other critical work that strengthens Israel, the most important thing Christians can do to stand for Israel is to stay informed. I say this because when Israel is under attack, it’s not just the actual terrorist violence that threatens us.

Lies about Israel are the currency of anti-Semitism. Becoming knowledgeable about the facts will make you a stronger defender of Israel — in conversations with friends or even responding to lies that we see in the media.

Rooted in Wisdom

In Proverbs we read, “Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

A person who is wise is constantly seeking more wisdom. And the more we learn, the more truth we know and the better we are able to correct the errors that are produced by lies and ignorance. The more you know about Israel, the more likely you are to follow current events and get involved where appropriate.

But as the next verse teaches us, acquiring knowledge is not the only path to wisdom. True wisdom requires humility and faith, or in the words of the verse, “fear of the LORD.” So along with rooting ourselves in wisdom and learning the truth about Israel to combat the lies, we must also be committed to God’s Will.

We need to recognize that defending Israel is not merely about politics or history. Defending Israel is rooted in wisdom and aligning ourselves with the Will of God.

As Christians and Jews, we share a common heritage rooted in the land of Israel. Together we stand for Israel and the people He calls “my treasured possession” (Exodus 19:5).

Your Turn:

Set aside a time each week, specifically dedicated to learning about Israel and her history. Watch how this simple commitment empowers you to be a more effective defender of the Jewish people.