Torah Portion Vayak'hel 2020

A short side note to begin

Even as our nation, and the world is in the throes of this Coronavirus scare, we do ourselves an injustice by not recognizing Elohim.

There is much talk about what businesses, governments, and healthcare systems can do to stem the pandemic. But what about turning to Elohim? True we had a national day of prayer, but what about a national month of prayer?

Is it so far fetched that we should take more than a single day to appeal to the only one who truly has an answer to the dilemma and panic? May we continue to lift up our world, our nation, our families, and ourselves to our Father, plead for forgiveness for excluding Him from our nation, that this will pass soon, and we will be able to resume normal life with a renewed sense of Yehovah’s hand in the world.

This, as all science and tribulation should cause us to turn to Elohim. May this do so.

Torah portion Vayak’hel

Our portion deals with a time when Israel is in the wilderness. They have no means of increase since they move at a moment’s notice and never know how long they will dwell in any one place. I will deal with one aspect of the building of the tabernacle.

Moshe has come down from the mountain for the second time. His face shines with the close personal encounter he had with Yehovah. His first order of business was to share with the people the commandments he was given in the mount. The second is building the tabernacle. He tells the people,

“Take from among you an offering unto Yehovah: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of Yehovah; gold, and silver, and brass,” (Exo 35:5)

What did the Children of Israel take from Mitzrayim? All the things that would later be needed to build the tabernacle. Gold, silver, and brass, scarlet, purple, and blue cloth. It’s almost as if Elohim had this in mind when he told the people to ask of their neighbors certain items.

A willing heart

Just as Elohim commanded Moshe, he took offerings from all those with a willing heart, any other offering, either by constraint or persuasion would be unacceptable. Even as it is unacceptable today for someone to come to Elohim because they are forced, or feel they need to to please someone else. It is only the willing who come to Him for no other reason than that they want to come to Him. Often that desire is preceded by an external event, such as addiction, introspection, or need, but the decision still needs to be the result of the person being willing to come to Elohim. As David phrased it,

“O Adonai, open my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth your praise. For you don’t desire sacrifice; else would I give it: you delight not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” (Psa 51:15-17)

Forced conversion isn’t really conversion

That is one reason the idea of forced conversion is anathema to biblical teaching. It was practiced during times past, and is still practiced today to some extent. Forced conversion is a major tenet of Mohammedan theology, “convert or die.” It is one more evidence that their theology is deeply flawed. Far from a God of love, their god is one of force and violence at the core.

Father’s key to calm

Be alert to the blessings and instruction Elohim is sharing with us, and to the deceptions rampant in the world. Stay close to His word in the Bible and close to Him in prayer, obedience, and meditations. In this way we will divide truth from error and be able to follow Him through whatever awaits us.

“If you love me, keep my commandments.” (Jn 14:15)

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear has torment.” (1Jn 4:18)

Torah portion Ki Tisa

Messiah Yeshua and the brass laver

This week’s Torah portion includes the instructions for the brass laver for the priests to wash in prior to serving in the tent of meeting, or offering sacrifices. It is instructive where this is placed in the list of instructions as well as when and what the priests were to wash.

“And Yehovah spoke to Moses, saying, ‘And you shall make a bronze laver for washing, and its base bronze. And you shall put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar; and you shall put water there. And Aaron and his sons (the kohanim) shall wash from it, their hands and their feet; as they go into the tabernacle of the congregation they shall wash with water, and shall not die; or as they draw near to the altar to minister, to burn a fire offering to Yehovah. And they shall wash their hands and their feet, and shall not die. And it shall be a never ending statute to them, to him and to his seed for their generations.’” (Exo 30:17-21)

When Yeshua’s final hours approached, he sat with the disciples at the Passover. Notice that it says “Before the feast of the Passover.” If they are eating the Passover, why does it say “before”?

Feast of Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread

In Yeshua’s day, as it continues even today, the terms Feast of Unleavened Bread and Feast of Passover are at times used interchangeably. It is likely the writer is actually recording that this meal, the Passover is before the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which begins the next day, the 15^th of Aviv. That aside, look what happens.

“Now before the feast of the Passover, when Yeshua knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end… He rose from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then he came to Simon Peter: and Peter said unto him, ‘Lord, do you wash my feet?’ Yeshua answered and said, ‘What I do you know not now; but you shall know hereafter.’ Peter said to him, ‘You shalt never wash my feet.’ Yeshua answered him, If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.’ Simon Peter said to him, ‘Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.’ Yeshua said to him, ‘He that is washed only needs to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and you are clean, but not all.’… So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Master and Lord: and you say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.’” (Joh 13:1-17)

He that is washed

Note that Yeshua says, “He that is washed…” The disciples would have washed their hands in preparation for the meal as required by both sanitation and tradition. Now Yeshua washes their feet. Both washings are required of the priests before a sacrifice or entering the Tabernacle.

Yeshua has named them a kingdom of priests. He is about to go to His own sacrifice, and the curtain of the temple will be rent showing that the way is open into the Holy Place for all  priests, not just the descendants of Aharon.

They didn’t understand yet, but we do

That is why Yeshua said to them, “What I do you know not now; but you shall know hereafter.” They didn’t yet understand that through His death, Yeshua would open the way into the Holy Place for all who covenant with Father so they may “Come boldly before the throne of grace.”

We are blessed to live in a time that we do understand. May we often take the opportunity to come before our Father, and never take the privilege for granted.

Torah portion Tetzaveh Exodus 27:20-30:10

The order of things matters!

Have you ever become so familiar with something that you forget its order? For so long the picture of the completed Tabernacle has been in my mind that I forgot the order in which it takes place. This year it hit me, the order of the building of the Tabernacle is significant. It was this week’s portion Tetzaveh that illuminated the thought.

The ordering of building the Tabernacle

Here are the steps up to this week’s portion in order. I have not included all of the details for brevity sake.

1.      The ark of the covenant/testimony

2.      The table of the bread of the presence

3.      The menorah

4.      The mishkan/tabernacle

5.      The bronze altar of sacrifice

6.      The court of the Tabernacle/the fence around it

7.      Oil for the menorah

8.      The priest’s garments

a.       Aharon’s and the future High Priest’s

b.      His sons and descendants

9.      Consecration of the priests

10.  The altar of incense

Burning incense is a form of worship

I find it curious how far down the list the altar of incense is. Many times Israel is chastised because they burnt incense to other gods, the hosts of heaven, and the queen of heaven. In the Book of Revelation we read:

“And when He opened the seventh seal, a silence occurred in Heaven, about a half hour. And I saw the seven angels who stood before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. And another angel came and stood on the altar, having a golden censer. And many incenses were given to him, that he should give them with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne. And the smoke of the incenses went up with the prayers of the saints out of the hand of the angel before God. And the angel has taken the censer, and has filled it from the fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth; and sounds and thunders and lightnings and earthquakes occurred.” (Rev 8:1-5)

Incense seems to be an important part of our communion with our Father in Heaven and is mentioned as going up with the prayers of the saints. So why is the construction of the altar of incense listed as the last part of the Tabernacle?

Prerequisites to prayer

Perhaps it is because prayers, and the incense that accompanies them, require more preparation and are more weighty than we often give them credit for. Consider this, the ark, the showbread, the menorah, and the mishkan all represent Elohim.

The altar of sacrifice represents us, and the earthly mission of Yeshua.

Then we have the court of the mishkan, the fence around it, and it represents the separation of the holy from the general population and strangers.

Next is the oil for the menorah, the Ruach ha Kodesh given to us to lead us into all truth and be a comforter.

Then comes the garments and consecrations of the Kohen ha Gadol, the High Priest and the priests. We know from the apostolic writings that Yeshua is our High Priest, our Mediator with the Father as was Aharon.

Finally comes the altar of incense. The shadow shows me that in order for our prayers to reach our Father in Heaven, the whole system had to be put into place. We needed a mediator, sacrifice, the light to see Him, His presence, and a kadosh/holy/separated place to meet with Him.

Prayer time is separate time

I have seen a plaque that says “Time spent fishing is not deducted from a man’s life.” Maybe, but prayer time might better qualify for the exemption. With the construction of the Tabernacle in this order we see that prayer time is separate from the world, it comes after all the construction and furnishing. What follows in next week’s portion is the “tax” but literally the kopher neshama l’Yehovah, covering of soul to Yehovah.

The incense from the golden altar appears to do for Israel what the High Priest’s censer does for him when he enters the Holy of Holies. It covers our souls so we don’t perish.

May we ever be consistent in offering up our prayers before our Father that they may be a pleasing aroma to Him and remind Him that we are here and we are faithful.

Shavuah Tov

Torah portion Terumah 2020

Shalom and blessings in Yeshua’s name. Our portion this week is Terumah, offering.

Last week the people tell Moshe that they don’t want Elohim to talk to them anymore because they are afraid. They tell him to go talk with Elohim and then come back and share what He says. So Moshe did, and the people replied “na’asay v’nishma” “we will do and we will hear and understand.”

Moshe, Aharon, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy elders climbed up onto the mountain, saw El, lunched, and then Moshe left the group behind and climbed higher into the cloud where he waited seven days. It is on the seventh day that this week’s portion begins.

Waiting on Yehovah

After six days of waiting on the top of the mountain, Elohim speaks to Moshe, and over the next several chapters instructs him on how to build the tabernacle and the objects that will be housed there. It starts with:

“And Yehovah spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering (terumah): of every man that gives it willingly with his heart you shall take my offering.’” (Exo 25:1-2)

All that follows is grounded in this first statement, “of every man that gives it willingly with his heart…”

When Israel left Egypt, they plundered the country. When we hear the amount of silver and gold, gems and precious stones and dyed animal skins that will be required, we get a sense of the amount of riches they possess. The key is giving it willingly for the work of the tabernacle.

Tough decision?

From one perspective, it shouldn’t be a difficult decision. To give all the precious items to honor the Elohim who freed the nation from slavery, who split the sea for safe passage and destroyed the army that pursued them, who did miracles in providing water, manna, and quail, and who just gave them the ten words out of the thunder and lightning atop Mount Sinai.

From another perspective, gold and silver are shiny and worth money. The Israelites hold in their possession more wealth than these former slaves had ever had or likely ever imagined they could have. Besides, look at all that Elohim has done for them for no price. Wouldn’t He continue to take care of them even if they didn’t give all their new found treasure?

Human nature

Of course, I am supposing what they are thinking. But it is based on the observation that human nature has not changed in the intervening years, and people today have similar thoughts.

The instruction given here is echoed in the Apostolic Writings

“But this I say, He which sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which sows bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposes in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2Co 9:6-7)

I suspect that Elohim could get by just fine without out gifts, even without a tabernacle on earth. The question is, could we?

We discussed last Shabbat that all the instructions given are for life, for our good. It doesn’t do us any good if we give grudgingly. It doesn’t bring us closer to Elohim, and it doesn’t build us spiritually. But if we give cheerfully, it is usually because we want to bless our Father in heaven through our obedience, and we recognize that it is true what Yeshua said, “Seek first the kingdom of Elohim and His righteousness…”

Where is our real treasure?

We look at our gold and jewels, then we look toward heaven, and we determine that we would rather

“Lay up for (ourselves) treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust does corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal” (Mat 6:20)

Although the Israelites get sidetracked while Moshe is on the mount, later on they will contribute so much that Moshe tells them to stop giving.

There is always hope

I find the account encouraging that even though we might lose our way at times, our Father is gracious to forgive when we find our way back, repent, and walk in His path again. May you have a blessed week filled with the joy of our Elohim and His Messiah.

Torah portion Mishpatim February 22, 2020

Torah portion Mishpatim – Judgments

As I read this portion every year, I ask, “How can a portion that begins with buying a Hebrew slave be relevant to us today?”

“When you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve six years And in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.” (Exo 21:2)

 Is it relevant?

The portion goes on to talk about things that don’t apply to most of us.

“And when a man sells his daughter for a slave-girl, she shall not go out as the male slaves go out.” (Exo 21:7)

“And when an ox gores a man so that he dies, the ox stoning shall be stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten, and the owner of the ox is innocent.” (Exo 21:28)

This year, it is apparent that although many of the actual judgments no longer seem applicable, the underlying premise is the same today as it was in the Garden. Human nature hasn’t changed since the beginning.

 The more things change, the more they stay the same

The bottom line of Mishpatim is personal responsibility.

The culture today is geared toward alleviating personal responsibility. There are so many scapegoats. A parent didn’t parent correctly, or worse, walked out, all because they were unwilling to accept the responsibility of their child. Compounding that mistake, the child now abdicates his or her responsibility because it’s the parent’s fault. Now the child can justify any aberrant behavior because of their childhood home life.

All around us in so many ways it has become standard to say something along the lines of, “The fault is never mine. Someone else is to blame because I am the way I am, or  I did the thing I did.” And what is perhaps sadder still is we have a culture that accepts and encourages putting the blame onto others.

The Torah orders life by telling each one of us, “You are responsible for your actions and the actions of things and people placed under your control.” It speaks of an ox goring, but applies equally to making certain the brakes on a car work properly so as not to cause damage. And if you know your brakes don’t work, get them fixed. If you neglect to do so, you are responsible for any damage or injury you cause.

 No excuses

The Torah extends beyond the physical. None of us will be able to stand before the Judgment Seat of Elohim and say, “It wasn’t my fault.”

We are responsible for our words as well as our actions. Yeshua said,

“But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by your words you shalt be justified, and by your words you shalt be condemned.” (Mat 12:37)

 The good news

That sounds frightening. Think back on all the things you have said in a moment of fear, anger, or hurt. We can’t change what we have done and said, but we can commit to doing better from this moment. From now on we can choose not to speak words of anger. From now on we can treat others with love. From now on we can walk in the path of righteousness. Because not only are we responsible, we can control our actions and our speech because the Holy Spirit within us has freed us from the bondage of sin.

What's up with portion Yitro

Shouldn't this portion be called Esharot ha'devarim?

Going through the portion it's obvious that the highlight is Elohim descending on Mount Sinai and delivering the Ten Words known as the Ten Commandments.

So, what's up with naming the portion after Moses' father-in-law Yitro, Jethro?

Portion naming convention

The standard convention for naming the Torah portion is that the name is found in the first few lines of the portion.

But if the Torah is Elohim's word, why wouldn't He name it something better? The words are from Elohim, the chapters, verses, name of the portion are all done by people. The hope is that those people were inspired who made these insertions into the Scripture, but they are still insertions.

Yitro's Clues

We learn three important aspects about Yitro from the text.

1. And Yitro the priest of Midian, the father-in-law of Moshe, heard all that which Elohim had done for Moshe and for His people Israel, that Yehovah had caused Israel to go out from Egypt. (Exo 18:1)
2. And Jethro rejoiced regarding all the good which Yehovah had done to Israel whom He had delivered from the hand of Egypt. And Yitro said, Blessed be Yehovah who has delivered you from the hand of Egypt, and from the hand of Pharaoh; He who delivered the people from under the hand of Egypt. (Exo 18:9-10)
3. Now I know that Yehovah is greater than all the gods; truly, in the way in which He acted proudly against them. (Exo 18:11)

 1) Yitro was a priest of and in Midian and we know that when El first appeared to Moshe He said,

"When you bring out the people from Egypt: You shall serve God on this mountain." (Exo 3:12)

That mountain was in Midian where Yitro's sheep were kept. Israel was camping in Yitro's backyard. Unlike many other tribal leaders, Yitro allowed them to do so. He showed hospitality to the millions of Israelites.

2) In contrast to other leaders, "Yitro rejoiced regarding all the good Yehovah had done..." Other leaders saw the hordes of Israelites as a threat, and were afraid they would eat up all the food and drink all the water.

Yitro heard what happened, and rejoiced. He greeted his son-in-law, the leader of the Israelites and brought Moshe's wife and children to the camp. Yitro even offers sage advice to Moshe on how to deal with the massive numbers of people seeking rulings to help out.

3) Yitro acknowledges, "Now I know that Yehovah is greater than all the gods." This statement reveals that Yitro knew enough about other gods that recognizing what Yehovah had performed in Egypt and beyond Yitro was convinced Yehovah was greater.

Who is greater?

There has been an ongoing contest for millenia over who is greater. We see it in the plagues in Egypt. Yehovah showed that He was mightier than all of the gods of Egypt one by one. That contest continues today.

There is no question in the minds of followers of Messiah that Yehovah who created all things, and by whom all things continue to exist is Supreme. (see Col 1:16) Not everyone believes that though.

The Creator can make the Rules

If Elohim created all things, and all things are His, then He has every right and the responsibility to set down rules. Just as an earthly father sets house rules, so does our Heavenly Father.

Did you ever hear your father or mother say something like, "As long as you live in my house, you will obey my rules!"? I heard it. A parent has the authority to set rules and expect them to be obeyed.  Our Father sets rules and says the same thing. As long as we are in His household, we need to obey His rules.

What's the alternative?

"If you are unwilling to obey my rules, you need to get out of my house." That's not a bad thing when you turn eighteen or twenty, and it's time to leave the nest, but when it is Father Elohim, and He tells you to get out, you're in trouble.

Not everyone who says to Me, Lord! Lord! shall enter the kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord! Lord! Did we not prophesy in Your name, and through Your name throw out demons, and through Your name do many wonderful works? And then I will say to them I never knew you! Depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness! (Mat 7:21-23)

When Paul wrote, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Php 4:13) those all things includes keeping the commandments, instructions, and feast days of Elohim.

Torah Portion Pekudei (Exodus 38:41-40:38)

For all my friends who say that God really doesn’t care what we do once we are saved, I refer you to this portion Pekudei (Exodus 38:51-40:38).

Throughout the portion, the instructions on building and assembling the tabernacle, the mishkan, are intricate and explicit. It is only after all of the instructions are followed, and the mishkan is erected exactly as Yehovah described to Moses that the Spirit of the Holy One descends upon it.

Mishkan come from the Hebrew word shakan, to dwell, or dwelling place. It is related to shekinah, the dwelling of Yah, or Yehovah. When the Holy One descended to dwell in the mishkan, it began to fulfill its purpose. But only after Moses and the workers completed the meticulous instructions for its structure and assembly.

Read the portion. See how many times the portion repeats, “As Yehovah commanded Moses.”

God oversees each point and each process. Moses and the workers faithfully follow every instruction. Details. Details.

The end result?

“Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of Yehovah filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of Yehovah filled the tabernacle.” (Exodus 40:34-35)

What an awesome blessing for following God’s instructions to the letter.

When I hear people say that they don’t have to do anything except say the sinner’s prayer, and then go live their life however they choose, I think of how specific these instructions are. The New Testament compares the church to the temple. The mishkan is the precursor of the temple, and the intricate building instructions are reflected in the Torah instructions for each person.

God cares how you live, especially if you claim to be in covenant with Him. And He laid out His instructions for living in the Torah.

Your part of the covenant is to keep the Torah. Keep the appointed times that Leviticus chapter 23 says, “Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, concerning the feasts of Yehovah, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.” (Leviticus 23:2)

Too many good people have been deceived into thinking the Passover, Sabbath, Day of Atonement and God’s other feasts are Jewish. They aren’t. They are “the feasts of Yehovah.” Anyone who chooses to be in covenant with God should be keeping them, honoring them, and observing them.

Details.

Some I have spoken with tell me all the ‘Old Testament’ laws were done away with. Others say all of them except the Ten Commandments are done away with. Jesus, Yeshua, would disagree.

“For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. (even all those prophecies concerning His second coming) Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:18-19)

When asked what the greatest commandment was, Yeshua said, “You shall love Yehovah your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

Both of these two commandments are from the Old Testament, neither of them are from the Ten Commandments. Most people I speak with say these commandments are still in effect. That’s a problem if the laws in the Old Testament were done away with. All of what Yeshua taught came from the Old Testament.

Who is telling you what?

Consider for a moment; between God, and the adversary, which one do you think will tell you to keep God’s instructions? Which one will tell you that you don’t have to? Reminds me of the Garden of Eden.

“And Yehovah Elohim commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shalt not eat of it: for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.’” (Genesis 2:16-17)

“Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which Yehovah Elohim had made. And he said unto the woman, ‘Has God said, You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?’ And the woman said unto the serpent, ‘We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God said, You shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ And the serpent said unto the woman, ‘You shall not surely die: For God knows that in the day you eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.’” (Genesis 3:1-5)

The adversary lies 

The serpent lied, and he mixed the lie with some truth. The end result, Adam and Chava sinned, and brought death into the world.

“For the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23) What is sin?

“Whosoever committs sin transgresses also the law (Torah): for sin is the transgression of the law (Torah).” (1 John 3:4)

So, someone who tells you it is okay to transgress the Torah is convincing you to commit sin, and the wages of sin is death. It’s clear who is going to tell you it’s okay to sin, the adversary, even if he comes disguised as an angel of light.

Know the Truth

It is vital to know what the Scriptures teach, and not trust someone else to tell you what they mean. Read the Scriptures in context, and you will not be deceived easily.

Torah Portion Ki Tisa Does God Care?

Torah portion Ki Tisa (Exodus 30:11-34:35) is so rich with information, I am going to examine only a few of the insights it provides.

The first is the question, “Does God care what we do?”

When I talk with Christians, they seem to generally believe, no, God does not care what we do. As long as someone says the salvation prayer, they are good to go. After all, didn’t Paul say, “There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Peter warned us about Paul’s epistles. “As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to understand, which they that are unlearned and unstable [in the Torah] wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. (2 Peter 3:16)

Portion Ki Tissa has a different lesson.

The children of Israel were definitely in a covenant relationship with Elohim (God): They had a promise Elohim gave to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that their descendants would inherit the land of Judea. Elohim promised them, “I will rescue you, I will take you out… and I will take you to myself…. I will be to you Elohim, and you will be my people.”

And then Moses tarried on Mount Sinai. He was gone for over a month. The people confronted Aaron and told him to make them a golden calf. While Moses was up on the mountain, Elohim said, “The people have corrupted themselves, I will destroy them.” Moses pleaded with Elohim not to destroy them, and gave logical arguments why He should spare them. Elohim agreed not to destroy the people.

Of course, at the time Moses was making his pleas, he had no idea what the people were up to.

When Moses came down the mountain and saw the calf and the people worshiping it, I think he changed his mind. He broke the tablets with the commandments on them, destroyed the calf, sprinkled the gold onto the water and made the people drink it.

Moses showed the people he was really mad. Calf destroyed. The people punished. Good enough?

Not quite.

He called the faithful, “‘Who is on Yehovah’s side? Let him come to me.’ And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to him. And he said to them, “Thus says the Yehovah Elohim of Israel; ‘Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbor.’” And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.” (Exo 32:25-28)

It wasn’t just a tongue lashing from Moses the people received. About three thousand died.

Why?

The people who were in covenant with Elohim disobeyed Him and worshipped a calf. It seems to me Elohim takes things like that very seriously.

Yet today, people who have made a covenant with God turn their backs on His commandments and instructions. “All we have to do is love our neighbors,” I hear them say. Not quite, I think. Love your neighbor is the second commandment.

The first, and greatest, is “Love Yehovah your Elohim with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”

What did Elohim say in the Torah? “Those who love me and keep my commandments.” How do we know if we love Him? If we keep his commandments.

Yeshua said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” He also said, “Who are my mother and my brothers and sisters? Those who hear the word of God and do it.”

“Yeah, but all those Old Testament commandments were for the Jews,” I hear too many say. I think they have never actually listened to the words of the Torah.

“Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, ‘Verily my Sabbaths ye shall keep: [whose Sabbaths? Israel’s? No, Yehovah’s] for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that you may know that I am Yehovah that sanctifies you. You shall keep the Sabbath therefore; for it is holy to you: every one that defiles it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever does work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to Yehovah: [holy to whom? Israel? The people? No. To Yehovah] whoever does work in the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days Yehovah made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.’” Exo 31:14-17

“Why are we supposed to keep it today? We are not the children of Israel,” I can hear my Christian friends say.

Because those in covenant with Elohim are called the children of Israel.

“And if some of the branches be broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, [the children of Israel] and with them partake of the root and fatness of the olive tree; Boast not against the branches. But if you boast, you bear not the root, but the root you… if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not you. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if [big if] you continue in his goodness: [obedience to His commandments] otherwise you also shall be cut off…” (see Romans 11:17-28)

When anyone comes into covenant with Elohim, such as saying, ‘the sinner’s prayer,’ they are grafted in to the house of Israel.

What then?

If they continue in sin, they will be cut off. What is sin?

“And every man that hath this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure. Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the Torah: for sin is the transgression of the Torah.” (1 John 3:3-4)

Note: John advises every person to purify himself. How? By obedience to the Torah. God still cares what we do, and how we do it. He loves those who are obedient to His instructions.

I’ve talked too long. May your week be filled with the presence of the Spirit of the Holy One.