First, a note from Kim: Last weekend I was in an evangelism workshop learning ways to more effectively share the gospel message. As the group sang this song, it dawned on me how fitting the words are to go along with Susan’s article, “Making God Smile.” I met Susan Marcus last year in Israel. She was our Jewish tour guide in 2015 as we travelled “In the Footsteps of Jesus.” We were blessed by her knowledge and passion for the Scriptures and for the land. She is an amazing story teller who had us laughing one minute and crying the next. Two of her presentations were especially moving. The first was at the top of Masada, where she eloquently told the story of the Jews who held off the Roman army for months, before committing mass suicide instead of surrendering. This speech revealed Susan’s immense knowledge of the history of her people and her love for the land The second monologue was on the tour bus as we drove into the city of Jerusalem. As we came over the hill and our eyes laid hold on the Holy City, we were all openly weeping. This monologue revealed Susan’s heart – her love for her people, for her God, and for His Word.
I am thrilled that when we make Aliyah in April 2017, Susan Marcus again will be leading our group as we experience “The Life & Land of Messiah.” I hope this short portion of Susan’s story and her words regarding Proverbs 3:5-6 will inspire you to join us next year in Jerusalem. For more information on this 2017 tour, please email me and I will send you a brochure.
I leave with you and with Susan Marcus this blessing from Numbers 6:24-26:
The Lord bless thee, and keep thee;
The Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
Making God Smile by Susan Marcus
Proverbs 3:6 (KJV)
In all thy ways, acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.
To me, as a child, it seemed that if I recited the “ Shema” every morning and every evening, that would be enough to say “hi” and “goodnight” to God. That would be my way of “acknowledging” Him. As I grew up I realized that each action of each day would require me to be in His presence. Was God watching, listening, just to me? How would He have time to take care of the world? One of the biggest blessings I received from God was my father. A brilliant man of great Jewish scholarship I could always turn to him for the answers. He would smile, sit me down in the den, pull out one of his endless books on prayer, sanctity, relationships, and always find an answer for me. We would talk for a long time and then he would give me an assignment to read in Scripture. Each summer before I went to camp we would pick out a book of scripture for me to read and study during my time at camp. One year I remember I chose the book of Isaiah. I underlined a few scriptures that were meaningful to me and we would discuss them upon my return home. The first 39 chapters were really hard. Isaiah castigates the people of Israel for all their misdeeds. I felt awful! But then came Chapter 40 which begins, rest, rest my people and fromthen, on come all the prophetic blessings. It felt so good.
Fast forward in time, I grew up, became a teacher of Jewish studies, moved with my young family to Israel, and have spent the last 35 plus years teaching folks about Israel. The story should end here but it doesn’t.
Early on in my career, I was invited to speak at a church in Grandview, Mo. To prepare my talk, I took down my old Bible, the one I received at my Bat Mitzvah and began to scan through for ideas. I came across the lines I had underlined and it was a lightning bolt.
The verses I had chosen to really understand were the following:
40:1-3; 42:7,8; 56:1; all of 62; and 66:10 to the end.
For me, they traced my odyssey to trust in God, understand my history as a Jew, to realize His calling to me, which in the end is a return to the land of Israel where my history began.
Finally, I realized He was outlining to me His plan for me. He had a plan all along.
His plans have brought me home so that when I read Proverbs 3:6 again I can pray that every thought, idea and action of mine will make God smile. After all, isn’t that what life is all about?
Born and raised in Boston, educated at university of Hartford, Boston Hebrew College and Hebrew University, Susan taught Russian Jewish History, Holocaust, and Hebrew studies in the Jewish school system of greater Hartford, Connecticut. After making aliyah (immigrating to Israel) in 1977, she became a licensed tour guide. Specializing in Biblical and archaeological studies, the State of Israel has often featured her to represent them on teaching tours. She has been interviewed regularly by television and radio as well as many newspapers concerning current events in the Middle East. Susan and her husband Aaron live in the Biblical city of Modi’in where she actively continues her ministry of teaching throughout the land of Israel. Susan is the author of Enter His Gates to Your Jewish Roots. There are limited copies available on Amazon.com OR you can purchase them at the Jesus Boat Museum Gift Shop on the Sea of Galilee.
Click here to read more about Susan Marcus’s story.