Making an Impact

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Hebrew Word of the Day miklat(bomb shelter) Hear Translation » February 3, 2012 "Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning." — Proverbs 9:9 When we talk about an impact in scientific terms, we typically are referring to a high force or shock of some kind, such as the collision of a meteor, asteroid, or comet with Earth. That, we all agree, would make a tremendous impact! But how can we impact someone’s life that would make such a difference it could be described in a similar fashion? One way that the Bible talks about making an impact on another person is in instructing them – teaching them wisdom and the way to righteous living. From the formation of the nation of Israel at Mount Sinai, God’s people were taught that if they followed God’s laws and commands, they would be considered a people of wisdom. Deuteronomy 4:6 says, “Observe them [God’s laws] carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’” The book of Proverbs was written to help guide its readers into leading wise, godly lives and avoiding the pitfalls of unwise, ungodly behavior. Indeed, the short pithy writings of this book were to help the Israelites understand how faith in God and His Word should impact their daily lives. Another way we can impact the lives of others is by equipping them with the proper tools to help them in their endeavors. For example, although God chose Solomon rather than his father, King David, to build His Temple, David did all he could to help Solomon accomplish this task. He gathered all the materials, he assigned tasks to the various workers, and he laid the groundwork for the administration of the Temple. Through his many victories on the battlefield, David even ensured that Israel would be at peace with its neighbors so Solomon could concentrate solely on building God’s Temple. In a similar way, The Fellowship, through its scholarship program, is instructing and equipping immigrant and underprivileged former combat soldiers. The program, appropriately called IMPACT scholarships, provides these young men and women with funds to pay for their education after serving Israel. In doing so, we not only are helping to instruct these young people, but also to equip them with the means to get an education, thereby removing their financial burden and worry. It truly is a blessing to help these young men and women who have served in the Israeli military and who now want to give back and make a contribution to Israel’s future. With prayers for shalom, peace, Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein President