COG Webcast

Remember Amalek!

Purim in 2026 will begin on Monday evening March 2

Moses in writing to the Israelites before entering their promised land, gave them an admonition, “Remember Amalek.” This brings to mind the question of who was Amalek?  Why were they to be remembered? And. how does this tie into the fact that this Sabbath before the days of Purim, is called the Sabbath of Remembrance.  Sabbath is a time to be refreshed and to renew the divine narrative in our minds. To understand Amalek we must go to the book of beginnings, for Amalek was a descendant of Esau. It was the relationship between Jacob and Esau, the sons of Isaac, revealed in Genesis that gives us the clues to understand God’s command….

When we remember Amalek, we become aware of the dark forces in the world. These forces  are constantly warring against those who are standing for godly values. Amalek’s history reminds us of the bitterness, hatred, and jealousy that motivates those who despise God’s ways. On this Sabbath of Remembrance, we can remember God’s power to protect Israel from Amalek. We can rehearse the story of God’s deliverance at the time of Esther. For she risked her life to  confront Haman the Amalekite and save her people from annihilation. We can remember the promises of our faithful Lord, who declared that he would never leave nor forsake us. And, we can be refreshed knowing God’s promises of eternal life to his covenant people. If we remember, we will not be discouraged when the battle with ‘Amalek’ comes to us in our time.