Jaffa (Joppa) is mentioned four times in the Hebrew Bible: as one of the cities given to the Hebrew Tribe of Dan (Book of Joshua 19:46),
as port-of-entry for the cedars of Lebanon for Solomon’s Temple (2 Chronicles 2:16), as the place where the prophet Jonah embarked for Tarshish (Book of Jonah 1:3), and as port-of-entry for the cedars of Lebanon for the Second Temple of Jerusalem (Book of Ezra 3:7). Jaffa is mentioned in the Book of Joshua as the territorial border of the Tribe of Dan, thus the modern term “Gush Dan” for the center of the coastal plain. Many descendants of Dan lived along the coast and earned their living from shipmaking and sailing. In the “Song of Deborah” the prophetess asks: “דן למה יגור אוניו” Why does Dan dwell in ships?”
The New Testament account of Peter’s resurrection of the widow Tabitha takes place in Jaffa (Acts 9:36-42).
While Peter was in Jaffa, he had a vision of a large sheet filled with “clean” and “unclean” animals being lowered from heaven, which he later understood as a sign to accompany messengers from Cornelius to Caesarea (Acts 10:10-23). “While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit (of God) said to him ‘Behold three men are seeking you. Arise therefore and go down and go with them, doubting nothing, for I have sent them’ ” (Acts 10:19-20). Then after going to Cornelius’ house and seeing the Holy Spirit poured out on them (Acts 10:44-45), Peter told the apostles and fellow believers in Jerusalem what had happened, making the clear connection between the vision, the words of the Spirit directing his reaching out to non-Jewish people, and the salvation of Gentile believers (Acts 11:1-18). Therefore, Jaffa is significant to the Christian faith in that it was the city where Peter received direct instruction from God to share the gospel with non-Jewish people.
The love of Yeshua to the Jews and Arabs
Acts 10:35 –
“but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him.”
The man called Muhammad asked Zev: “Why are you being so nice? Do you not see we are Arab Muslims? What do you want?”. “I’m here to tell you that God loves the Arabs. Muhammad and his wife were shocked. They both became very defensive and said: “Allah is our God, not your Jewish God. We don’t want to hear your Jewish Bible.” At that moment, Zev wanted to leave as they started to speak very loudly. But the Holy Spirit kept telling Zev that love conquers all. Zev then said to them: “There is only one God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Muhammad asked: “Where does it say in the Bible that God loves the Arabs? You Jewish people hate us.” Zev then opened the Bible in Arabic and Hebrew and asked Muhammad to read
Genesis 17:20 –
“And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation.”
After reading this, they were silent. Glory to Yeshua! Zev then said that God loves everyone, has blessed the Arab people, and is calling everyone to come to Him through His son the Messiah, Yeshua, who died for our sins and conquered death and rose after three days. Muhammad replied that he was very touched that a Israeli Jew was so concerned with his salvation. He has never had anyone tell him anything about love in the Quran. Zev shared many verses in the Bible about God’s love. Muhammad and his wife received an Old & New Testaments Bible in Arabic.
“I never discredit the Quran when I share with Arabs. The Bible defends itself. The Holy Bible has NO contradictions from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21″says Zev.
There was a Arab Muslim praying on a cliff near the sea. While he was praying, Zev was praying for him and that his curse word would be cut off in the name of Yeshua. After he finished praying, Zev went over to the cliff to talk to him: “Shalom, are you from Jaffa?” Salim replied: “I’m from Ramala visiting. Are you upset that I’m from Ramala?” Zev replied with compassion and love: “Not at all. I’m very happy the Lord sent you here so we could meet.” Salim asked: “Are you a Muslim?” Zev said to him: “I am a child of God, the only true God of the Holy Bible, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Salim told Zev that he believes only in the Quran and doesn’t believe the Bible is true. Zev then asked Salim: “Do you know when man found out the world was round?” Salim replied with an arrogant smile: “About eight or nine hundred years ago.” Zev opened the Bible in Arabic and Hebrew and let Salim read:
Isaiah 40:22 –
“It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in.”
After reading this, Zev said that this was written thousands of years ago before man knew the earth was round. The Bible is the true Word of God.The Bible defends itself. Halalluya! The gifts of the Holy Spirit were working right there on the cliff over the beautiful sea in Jaffa. Salim was speechless, knowing the Quran does not contain evidence like this. Zev then asked Salim if he would receive a Bible as a gift. Salim agreed. Zev then told Salim how much God loves him and how He sent Yeshua to all people who put their trust in Him as their personal Savior.
Please pray for Salim’s salvation. In the Bibles we gave out there is contact information. The look on Salim’s face was a look of hunger. Glory to the King Yeshua!
Zev continued to share with many Muslims and Jews in Jaffa.
Please join us in prayer for all who heard the wonderful Good News of Yeshua, the Messiah. We will continue to share the Good News of Yeshua the Messiah with all people.
The true Peace is available ONLY through Yeshua The Messiah. AMEN.
Romans 1:16 –
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel: it is the power of God for salvation to every one who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek [non-Jew]”
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