Rick McPherson May Newsletter, 2023
“The Jubilee (Hebrew: yobel) is the year at the end of seven cycles of shmita (Sabbatical years) and, according to biblical regulations, had a special impact on the ownership and management of land in the land of Israel. According to the book of Leviticus, Hebrew slaves and prisoners would be freed, debts would be forgiven and the mercies of God would be particularly manifested. In the Holiness Code, it refers to a year of liberty, during which property would be returned to its original owners or heirs.” Wikipedia
If you’ll pardon my Yiddish, “Oy vey, such a deal!” Imagine, every 50 years all your debts are cancelled (including student loans!), your family farm is returned to you, your Uncle Ezra is home for Passover and your brother-in-law gets released from Jericho County Jail. I know it sounds too good to be true, especially the first part and having all your debts cancelled. Wouldn’t you celebrate, however, if it happened to you? Wouldn’t you muster a, “Praise God?”
Well, for all of us at Pacific NW Outreach, Inc., we are doing our best to celebrate the goodness and blessing of God for these past 50 years. And, to say an enthusiastic, “Praise God!” It is true, that prisoners have been released from bondage and slaves to drugs and alcohol have been set free. It is true, that which the Enemy has stolen and destroyed has been restored. It is true, that what He has killed has been brought back to life. It is true, that families, marriages and communities have been healed. It is true, that faith, hope and love have been preached…but the greatest of these is love.
You, dear friend, are a part of the Jubilee celebration. You have prayed, you have given, and you have partnered with us on each trip and outreach from the Quinault Reservation on the Pacific Coast in Washington to the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. So, THANK YOU! May God bless you, abundantly!
