Day 101 Would It Be Enough?

4/11/2025

"By this we know love, because He laid down His life

for us so we need to lay down our life for others."

1 John 3:16

When I was very young, I learned to memorize scripture, and I tried to instill this quality, the love of God's word, into the heart of my children. Now as I continue to lead Bible studies, I pass it along to those in my group. Many do not understand how close we came to losing our religious freedom, protected by our Constitution. It can still happen here, but thankfully, by the richness of God's mercy towards us, we were given another chance. Many are familiar with John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." The companion verse follows in John's epistle, as does the victorious reminder in Revelation 12:11: And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death." I am so grateful for the cross, and as we enter into Passover, then Holy Week leading up to the crucifixion, let us mediate on the great love of our Father and the sacrifice of our Beloved One, Jesus our King.

During the Jewish Seder there is a time that the Dayenu, an old Hebrew song, meaning "It Would Have Been Enough," is recited as a remembrance of all God has done for them from the time of their exodus from Egypt. It goes like this:

Leader: Had God brought us our of Egypt and not divided the sea for us

All: It would have been enough

Leader: Had God divided the sea and not permitted us to cross on dry land

All: It would have been enough

Leader: If God had permitted us to cross on dry land and had not pushed down our enemies in the Sea

All: It would have been enough

Leader: If God had pushed down our enemies in the Sea and not have supplied our needs in the wilderness for 40 years

All: It would have been enough

Leader: If God had supplied our needs in the wilderness for 40 years and not have fed us manna

All: It would have been enough

Leader: If God had fed us manna and not have given us the Shabbat

All: It would have been enough

Leader: If God had given us the Shabbat and not brought us close to Mount Sinai

All: It would have been enough

Leader: If God had brought us close to Mount Sinai and not given us the Torah

All: It would have been enough

Leader: If God had given us the Torah and not brought us into the land of Israel

All: It would have been enough

Leader: If God had brought us into the land of Israel and not given us the Temple

All: It would have been enough

There are variations and often more verses, but you get the idea. It is a special time of praising God and being grateful for all He has done. I've been thinking about making up my own Dayenu based on my life and all God has done for me and my family. How about you? Think about your life, recalling the blessings of God, and how He has been faithful to you and your family. Then share it with me. I'll do the same.