The fruit, the woman, and us

Shalom to all, here is our study for Beresheit chapters 3 and 4. 

You may eat fruit from all of the other trees in the garden, just not this one.

“Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which Yehovah Elohim had made. And he said to the woman, has Elohim said, Do not eat of every tree of the garden?” (Gen 3:1)

 Tactics of the adversary

 The adversary then, and now, comes to us and often exaggerates what Elohim has instructed us to do and not do. He also makes it sound oppressive. The serpent didn’t say, “Did Elohim say you could eat of all of the trees, except one?” He didn’t put his question in terms of the bounty Chava was allowed to partake of. No, he made it sound as though being prohibited from eating from that one tree, out of all the other trees, was such a burden.

 He still uses the same tactic today.

 Consider the Shabbat. He instructs us to work for six days and do all our labors, and then the seventh we are to rest from our labors and work, and not cause others to work. What does the adversary say? “What a burden it is to not be able to work on Saturdays! How can Elohim expect you to not work, go shopping, or cause others to work one whole day of the week? There is no way anybody could do that.”

 Or consider the clean food instructions. Father says we can eat meat from any clean animal, and all fruits and vegetables. But how does the adversary present the issue to us? “How can Elohim put such a burden on you that you can’t eat pork, or shellfish, or snakes, rats, and bats? You are so deprived! Why should Elohim have the nerve to tell you not to eat such delicacies?”

 Elohim can make the rules

 When we think about it simply, Elohim created all things, He has the right and responsibility to instruct us how we should live, He loves us, and wants what is best for us. If we love Him, we accept His instructions and do our best to live by them from our hearts out of love for Him and love for our neighbor, with all our heart, all our soul, and all our strength.

 The adversary doesn’t stop once he has our attention and has lied to us.

 His next step is to get us to see his temptation, really see it in a manner that entices us.

 “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, (sakal - prudent, circumspect, insight, comprehend, notice wisdom is not among the meanings of this Hebrew word) she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat; and she gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat.” (Gen 3:6)

   “Seeing” the adversary’s way

 Chava had probably seen the fruit on the tree many times, but Elohim said don’t eat it, and she saw it as you or I might see a tree at the side of the road as we drive by. After we have driven by the same tree a few times, we no longer even consciously notice it. But the adversary put a big orange sign on the tree. He made Chava see it as food, even though it was not, he made her see it as delightful instead of just like all the other trees, and he made her see it as desirable rather than detestable.

 To guard and cherish

How many things today have taken on the façade of good, delightful, and desirable? Not to you perhaps, but to the indoctrinated masses who flock into the streets leaving destruction in their wake out of a sense of “good” or “justice"? Part of Adam’s charge was to guard the garden. Our charge is to guard the words of Yehovah. Another sense of guard is to cherish because of their value and because it is our Father in Heaven who has given them to us. It goes back to love. Do we love our Father enough to cherish and obey His instructions?

 May we always love Elohim enough to keep His commandments, not out of duty, but out of returning His love that was so great He sent His only begotten Son. Shalom and blessings.

 October 31 we will study Beresheit Ch. 5-6, Jeremiah Ch. 2,  Matthew 5-7 I pray you will join us.

Torah Insights Genesis 1 &2

 Compulsion or Love?

Torah insights

Genesis 1:1 – 2:25

During our study last week, Susan said something that resonated deeply with me. She said that she keeps Yehovah’s commandments because she loves Him so much and He has done so many wonderful things for her that she didn’t want to ever hurt Him by disobeying Him.

 Many people grow up without a good father in the home. As a result, they sometimes can’t fathom the goodness, mercy, and beauty of Elohim. But He is not a man that He should lie, or change, or abuse His children. He is good, and He loves us so much He sent His only begotten Son.

 As we read the Torah, we learn about Elohim, and as we learn about Him, we have the opportunity to draw closer to Him. After all, the way we become friends is by spending time with each other and sharing our lives, hopes, fears, joy, and pain with each other.

 In the first two chapters of Genesis, we learn that He made all of the creation in such a way it is a balanced system and put humans in charge of the whole creation. We are not to abuse creation, but guard it, and work it, and care for it. We also learn that humans are different, more special to Elohim than any of the rest of creation.

 In Genesis, Elohim provides food for us, in parallel, Yeshua told us to feed the hungry. When Adam and Chava discovered they were naked, Elohim clothed them, so Yeshua told us to clothe the poor. Many of Yeshua’s teachings can be traced back to the book of Genesis.

 We learn that Elohim instituted the Sabbath at the creation, blessed it, and made it holy. Later in the Torah, Elohim expands on the requirements of the Sabbath commandment,

 

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shall you labor, and do all your work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of Yehovah your Elohim: in it you shall not do any work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger that is within your gates: For in six days Yehovah made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore Yehovah blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.” (Exo 20:8-11)

 We don’t use the word hallowed much today, according to the 1828 Webster dictionary, it means, “To make holy; to consecrate; to set apart for holy or religious use.” So Elohim tells us that He made the Sabbath holy, and tells us that we are to keep it holy. If you recall, holy means set apart. What do we set the Sabbath apart from? The other six days that we are commanded to labor and do all our work.

 The Sabbath commandment in Exodus mirrors what we were told in Genesis, where we are provided the very definition of shabbat, rest.

 “And on the seventh (sheve’e) day Elohim ended his work which he had made; and he rested (shabbat) on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed (baruch) the seventh (sheve’e) day, and sanctified (kodesh) it: because that in it he had rested (shabbat) from all his work which God created and made."
(Gen 2:2-3)

 Elohim wants us to obey Him, not out of rote, or compulsion, but because we love Him and love our neighbors. Susan has it right in acknowledging that she obeys His instructions because she doesn’t want to ever hurt Him by disobeying Him

 It is my prayer that this finds you safe, healthy, blessed by Elohim, and with shalom beyond measure.

Portion Ki Tavo, Deuteronomy 26:1-29:9

 Who wouldn’t want that?

 

“And it will be, if you shall listen carefully to the voice of Yehovah your El, to guard and to do all His commandments which I command you today, Yehovah your El will set you on high above all nations of the earth.” (Deu 28:1)

 

It’s a simple instruction; listen to what Elohim instructs us to do, guard His instructions, and actually do what He tells us to do, and an entire list of blessings will follow.

 

“You shall be blessed in the city, and be blessed in the field. The fruit of your body shall be blessed, and the fruit of your ground, and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your cows, and the flocks of your sheep. Your basket and your store shall be blessed. You shall be blessed when you come in, and blessed when you go out. Yehovah shall cause your enemies that rise up against you to be stricken before your face. They shall come out against you one way, and flee before you seven ways. Yehovah shall command the blessing on you in your storehouses, and all that you set your hand to. And He shall bless you in the land which Yehovah your El gives you. Yehovah shall establish you a holy people to Himself, as He has sworn to you, if you shall keep the commandments of Yehovah your El and walk in His ways. And all the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of Yehovah, and they shall be afraid of you. And Yehovah shall prosper you in goods, in the fruit of your body, and in the fruit of your cattle, and in the fruit of your ground, in the land which Yehovah swore to your fathers to give you. Yehovah shall open to you His good treasure, the heaven to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. And you shall loan to many nations, and you shall not borrow.” (Deu 28:3-12)

 

Who wouldn’t want those blessings?

 

The first criteria is listen carefully, shema, to what Elohim says. This isn’t the, in one ear and out the other, kind of listening. It’s the kind where dad sits you down and says “LISTEN to me!” It’s the kind where if you “listen” and then don’t do what he tells you to do, you didn’t really listen in the first place, you might have heard, but you didn’t listen.

 

The second criteria is to guard, shomer, the instructions. Notice the root of both shema and shomer are a shin and a mem. In Hebrew, when words have common roots, they have common meanings. To guard the instructions means to keep them from being changed by adding to them or subtracting from them, and from changing their original intent. One example is changing “You shall not incline after the majority to do evil,” to “You shall incline after the majority,” which the rabbis did change.

 

The third criteria is to do, asah, His instructions. This means to actually do what we are told to do. If Elohim says “Keep the Sabbath Day holy,” that’s what he wants us to do. He doesn’t expect us to make up loopholes so we can do what we want on the day He has set apart. We learn in the Torah and the Prophets some of what not to do, buy and sell, work, engage in commerce.

 

Unfortunately, looking at history, too many people who claim to follow the God of the Bible ignore many of His instructions so they can live their lives the way they want to live them. As committed followers of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the Bible, the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Yeshua, our calling is to love Him with all our heart, all our soul, and all our strength, and that includes doing what He says, the way He says to do it, and finding joy in doing so. 

Torah portion Korach for June 27, 2020

May this find you rejoicing in the day Yehovah has made. This week’s portion is Korach, but I am going to go to our haftarah for this week’s insight because it contains one of the greatest messages of hope in the TaNaKh.

The Children of Israel have rebelled time and again by the time of Samuel. They have gone astray after false gods and have turned away from their Elohim, the El of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They have committed spiritual adultery, they have served Baalim and Ashtaroth, they have done just what Yehovah instructed them not to do, committed all the abominations of the former inhabitants of Canaan.

As a final insult,

Then all the elders of Israel gathered together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,  And said to him, Behold, you are old, and your sons don’t walk in your ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto Yehovah. And Yehovah said to Samuel, Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say unto you: for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. (1Sa 8:4-7)

Samuel anoints Saul king

If you have ever felt that Elohim has rejected you, or that you have done something, or many things, that disqualify you from being His, and from coming back to Him, you are not alone. The Children of Israel in the days of Samuel are right there with you

Even after all their sin, the most grievous sins humans can commit, the people repent (somewhat, at least about their most recent affront to Yehovah) and go to Samuel.

And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for your servants to Yehovah your Elohim, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king. And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: you have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following Yehovah, but serve Yehovah with all your heart; And turn not aside: for then should you go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain. For Yehovah will not forsake His people for His great name's sake: because it has pleased Yehovah to make you His people. (1Sa 12:19-22)

Yeshua said, “Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith they shall blaspheme: But he that shall blaspheme against the Ruach haKodesh hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:” (Mar 3:28-29)

Lest you think you have committed that blasphemy against the Ruach haKodesh, keep in mind that even Peter denied Yeshua three times and gained forgiveness. Wherever you have come from, heed Samuel’s advice, “Serve Yehovah with all your heart; and turn not aside.”

Shalom and blessing in Messiah Yeshua’s name

Yochan ben Yaakov

Torah Portion Shelach June 20, 2020

Standing at the entrance

In this week’s Torah portion, we travel with Israel to the very entrance of the Promised Land, but they rebel and lose the opportunity to enter.

And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.  (2)  And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said to them, “Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would Elohim we had died in this wilderness!  (3)  And why has Yehovah brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? Were it not better for us to return into Egypt?”  (4)  And they said one to another, “Let us make a captain, and let us return to Egypt.” (Num 14:1-4)

So much happens before and after this point of rebellion that is applicable to us, but I want to focus on these few verses and their message to us.

 Why did the children of Israel weep that night?

It would be one thing if they wept because they reached the Land, and thought they might fail to conquer it because of giants and walled cities. I don’t see that sentiment here. The congregation turns away from Elohim, again. Look what they say, “Let us make a captain, and let us return to Egypt.”

The rabbis say that though the text here in the KJV reads “captain”, the underlying intention was to make another god, like the golden calf, to lead them back to Egypt. Either way, they are turning their backs to Elohim. The Hebrew word behind return is shoov the root word of repentance, teshuva. While teshuva is turning from sin and error to Elohim, here the kahal, congregation, plans to turn from Elohim, and back to Egypt with its idolatry, slavery, and sin.

 It is a rebellion against Moses and Aaron, but also against Elohim.

Followers of Yeshua have had it easy in America for generations. Just as the children of Israel. Need water, here it is. Need food, have some manna, all you have to do is collect it, it will be there every morning. Don’t worry about which way to go, Elohim will guide you with a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. Need a spiritual uplift, go to church; the pastor, the worship team, and your fellow worshippers will give you a boost. Need direction, no problem, there are plenty of traditions of men to follow that lay out a clear, though ungodly, path. Need spiritual nourishment, don’t worry about the Bible, go to church and get spoon-fed man’s doctrine.

New Challenges

Today we face new challenges in America. The last word I heard is that the church building may be closed until Labor Day in September. The world is calling good evil, and evil good. We are targeted as part of the problem. What now? Do we respond as Israel did and want to hightail it back to Egypt, or do we take this challenging time as an opportunity to rely more completely on our Elohim?

I say we draw closer to Elohim, seek His direction more earnestly, and follow what He directs us to do. I pray each of you agree it is time to come out of Babylon and enter into ever deeper fellowship with our Father in Heaven.

Torah portion Nasso for June 6, 2020

We have celebrated Shavuot, and are now wending our way toward the fall feasts. We enter a time when there are no moedim for the rest of summer. Our Torah portion this week is Nasso, take and refers to Bamidbar, Numbers 4:22, “Take also the sum of the sons of Gershon...”

Yehovah gives us one of the few revealed prayers in portion Nasso, the Aaronic benediction.

And Yehovah spoke to Moses, saying,  (23)  Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, In this way you shall bless the sons of Israel, saying to them:  (24)  Yehovah bless you and keep you;  (25)  Yehovah cause His face to shine on you, and be gracious to you;  (26)  Yehovah lift up His face to you, and give you peace.  (27)  So they shall put My name on the sons of Israel, and I Myself will bless them. (Num 6:22-27)

Of particular note is the structure and meaning of verse 27. Here it is in Hebrew,

  ושׂמו את־שׁמי על־בני ישׂראל ואני אברכם

The highlighted words translate as my name. The root word for name is שֵׁם, shem. The addition of the small letter, the yod, at the end of shem changes it from ‘name’ to ‘my name’. Remember, we read Hebrew from right to left, so in front of ‘my name’ is an aleph tav.

When we see the aleph tav, we look for shadows of the Messiah because He said in Yochan’s, John’s, Revelation that He is the Aleph and the Tav.

Yochan also wrote, “But these are written, that ye might believe that Yeshua is the Messiah, the Son of Elohim; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” (Joh 20:31)

Yeshua said, “I have come in the name of My Father, and you do not receive Me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive that one.” (Joh 5:43), and further, “I and the Father are One!” (Joh 10:30)

Saying that He came in the name of His Father means much more than just a moniker, it entails the authority, character, and power behind that name. In the Aaronic benediction, Yehovah told Moses. “They shall put My name on the sons (children) of Israel.” When His name is put onto us, we have both the opportunity to receive a portion of the power and authority to act in His name, but also the responsibility to not take His name in vain.

We become representatives of the Most High Elohim, and carry His name wherever we go and in whatever we do. It is a heavy (in Hebrew, Kavod, holy) responsibility we have been given, but He has also given us His Ruach haKodesh, the Spirit of the Holy One to help us. With His Spirit, we can overcome the world, without it, we are left on our own and subject to the weaknesses of the flesh.

May we always work to stay close to Him and pray as David prayed, “Do not cast me out from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. (Psa 51:11)

Torah Portion Shavuot

Pentecost, or as it is known biblically, the Feast of Weeks, Shavuot is one of the appointed times (moedim) of Yehovah, it is also one of the pilgrimage moedim. The book of Acts describes that there were Jews from all over the world in Jerusalem,

And suddenly a sound came out of the heaven, as being borne along by a violent wind! And it filled all the house where they were sitting.  (3)  And tongues as of fire appeared to them, being distributed, and it sat on each one of them. Act 2:2-3 

What were they all doing in Jerusalem?

Why were all these Jews from all over the world in Jerusalem on Pentecost? Because at that time, it was Shavuot, a pilgrimage moed, and they were obeying the instruction to go to Jerusalem.

Divorce and reconciliation

Most people today have divorced the biblical moed of Shavuot from the Pentecost occurrences in the Apostolic Writings, but when we reconcile them, we see a beautiful picture of our Elohim who doesn’t change. We learn that what happened in the time of Peter was not new, but a return to what had happened before. That is why the Jews knew it was a sign from Elohim. Here is what Jewish tradition in the Midrash says about the giving of the Torah at Sinai.

"On the occasion of the giving of the Torah, the Children of Israel not only heard the LORD’s Voice, but actually saw the sound waves as they emerged from the LORD’s mouth. They visualized them as a fiery substance. Each commandment that left the LORD’s mouth traveled around the entire camp and then came back to every Jew individually." Weissman, Moshe, The Midrash Says.

"And all the people witnessed the thunderings" (Exodus 20:15). Note that it does not say "the thunder," but "the thunderings"; wherefore R. Johanan said that God’s voice, as it was uttered, split up into seventy voices, in seventy languages, so that all the nations should understand.” Shemot Midrash Rabbah 5:9

The letter and the Spirit

Between the two occurrences, Sinai (the giving of the Torah) and Jerusalem (the Spirit poured out on all flesh); we see the fulfillment of the giving of the letter and the spirit of the Torah. We also see the correction of the error of Israel.

At Peter’s time, Israel had adopted the erroneous belief that only those born Israelites could participate in the covenant with Elohim. That idea persists today within Judaism. The opposite persists in Christianity in the idea that “the church” has inherited the blessings and “the Jews” are left with the curses. Both sides have left the Torah teaching.

Where much is given much is expected

The Torah is clear that those who have the Torah and the covenant are to be a light to others around them who do not. They are to move the unbeliever to jealousy and a desire to come into covenant and begin to obey Father’s instructions. The Torah contains the instructions that the Creator of all things gave to humans on how we are supposed to live.

Those who have the instructions are supposed to share with those who don’t, and we are all supposed to encourage each other to obey out of love for Elohim, and love for our neighbor. For on these two commandments hang all the Torah and the Prophets.

Torah portion Bamidbar

It’s easy to see why the English name of this next book in the Torah is called Numbers. It starts out with a whole bunch of numbers as Moses counts the Children of Israel, but not all of them.

 Numbers??

 In Hebrew, the name of the book is Bamidbar, in the wilderness, because we are still residing in the wilderness at the foot of Mt. Sinai, but soon we will be journeying through the land.

While it should have been a short journey, it is going to end up being forty years long, and for many of the Israelites that forty years is their lifetime. We read in the beginning of our portion the instruction to count the males by their polls.

What’s a poll?

 Head Count

 Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines poll as “a person’s head.” It’s where we get the concept of a poll tax, or a head tax, each person is taxed, or a head count where we count each person. The Hebrew word behind poll is gulgoleth, skull.

If gulgoleth rings a bell, it might be because in the book of Matthew Golgotha is the location of Yeshua’s crucifixion.

Mat 27:32-33  And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.  (33)  And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,

So, who did Moses count?

Num 1:1-3  And Yehovah spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying,  (2)  Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, after their families, by the house of their fathers, with the number of their names, every male by their polls;  (3)  From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel: you and Aaron shall number them by their armies.

Notice how long we have been camped at Mt. Sinai, two years! Now, here is an interesting observation.

Num 1:47-49  But the Levites, according to the tribe of their fathers, were not numbered among them.  (48)  And Yehovah spoke to Moses, saying,  (49)  However, you shall not number the tribe of Levi, nor shall you count their heads among the sons of Israel.

 Levites are set apart again 

 Why didn’t Father want the Levites to be numbered along with all the rest of the tribes of Israel? Maybe because He knew what would happen when they arrived at the border of the Promised Land, and He needed a quick and easily understood method of dividing the Levites from the rest of Israel. The Levites belong to Him in place of the firstborn of all Israel.

Num 14:29  Your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me,

 Hebrew roots are everywhere

 On a side note, how many of you have heard of the term the big kahuna? It is a Hawaiian term but used in reference to the most important or dominant person or thing in an organization or group. We can find the Hebraic origin of this concept in this week’s portion. It is the word translated as priesthood, and in its responsibility we can see why it means important or dominant.

Aaron and his sons were to guard their priesthood, to the extent that any stranger (zur) who comes near shall be put death. Stranger here is not the friendly ger or goy, but the zur, the rebellious ones, the strangers who are just there to cause mischief or ridicule.

Num 3:10  And you shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall keep (shomer, guard) their priesthood (kehunnah). And the stranger (zur) who comes near shall be put to death.

Torah portion Emor

Shalom and blessings, may this find you well, and rejoicing in the blessings of our Messiah Yeshua.

Hope for those of us who aren’t perfect

Have you ever felt like you weren’t enough for Elohim? Maybe what you’ve read in the Apostolic Writings makes it seem as though you will never be enough.

Eph 5:26-27  that He (Yeshua) might sanctify it, cleansing it by the washing of the water in the Word, that He might present it to Himself as the glorious assembly, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such things, but that it be holy and without blemish.

That sets a high bar; without spot or wrinkle, holy and without blemish. The washing of the water in the Word is the vehicle by which the assembly as a whole and each of us individually are sanctified, and if you have been putting His Word into your heart you are headed on the right path. Even when you are in the Word, does it still seem as though you have a spot here and wrinkle there, and maybe a few blemishes?

Can any of us meet the standard?

One reason believers feel inadequate is they don’t know the definition the Torah gives for a blemish. We tend to think of any issue we have as one, regardless of how small it is. Look what Father tells Moses and Aaron about blemishes in the sacrificial animals and the priests.

Lev 21:16-20  And Yehovah spoke to Moses, saying,  (17)  Speak to Aaron, saying, No man of your seed throughout their generations shall draw near to offer the bread of his God if there is a blemish in him.  (18)  For no man in whom there is a blemish shall draw near, a blind man, or one lame, or disfigured, or deformed;  (19)  or a brokenfooted man, or a brokenhanded man,  (20)  or one humpbacked, or one emaciated, or with a spot in his eye, or a scurvy one, or one scabbed, or one with crushed testicles.

Lev 22:20-25  You shall not offer that which has a blemish; for it shall not be acceptable for you.  (21)  And when a man brings near a sacrifice of peace offerings to Yehovah, to complete a vow, or for a freewill offering, of the herd or of the flock, it shall be without blemish to be accepted; no blemish shall be in it;  (22)  blind, or broken, or maimed, or having a flow, or scurvy, or scabbed, you shall not bring these near to Yehovah; and you shall not make of them a fire offering on the altar to Yehovah.  (23)  As to an ox or a sheep deformed, or dwarfed, you shall make it a freewill offering; but it is not acceptable for a vow.  (24)  As to anything bruised, or beaten, or torn, or cut, you shall not bring it near to Yehovah; even you shall not do it in your land.  (25)  And you shall not bring near the bread of your God from the hand of a son of a stranger (nokri), or any of these, for their corruption is in them; they are blemished; they are not acceptable for you.

Those are pretty obvious and serious blemishes. Notice the last part in verse 25, the stranger, nokri. Remember nokri? They are the ones who are in and around Israel, but they are the troublemakers, the rebels, and it says they are corrupt and blemished by their rebellion.

What is Elohim looking for in us?

Father is looking for those who love Him and want to follow Him. He understands that none of us are perfectly without any blemishes. He expects us to walk the path of Torah and improve, to move the right direction and not rebel against Him. He expects us to increase our faith in Him and love for Him, and obey His instructions as we learn them rather than rebel against them.

It’s not too much for the Creator of all things to ask of us, is it?

Torah portion Tazriah and Metzorah

This week we have a double portion containing both Tazriah (conceives seed) and Metzorah (leper). I want to deal with an insight into the nature of a plague on a house in the land. Elohim gives the instruction to Moses and Aaron.

Plague on a house

It is interesting the manner in which the whole plague on a house occurs.

Lev 14:33 “And Yehovah spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,  (34)  ‘When you come into the land of Canaan, which I am giving to you for a possession, and I have put a plague of leprosy in the house in the land of your possession;’”

Yehovah says, “and I have put a plague of leprosy in the house…” Elohim puts the plague of leprosy in the house. Not that a plague is discovered in the house, but that He puts it there.

Why would Elohim put a plague on the house of an Israelite? And why is there no instruction for finding a plague in a tent? After all, they were going to be living in tents for the next thirty-eight or so years. And He specifically makes it conditional that this applies, “When you come into the land of Canaan.”

Why delay reporting it?

It would seem that a plague, especially leprosy (tsaraath), would be important enough that it should be immediately reported when detected to prevent its spread into more of the city. But the instruction makes it seem the owner of the house has the option to report it.

Lev. 14:35 “then if he who owns the house shall come in and declare to the priest, saying, ‘I have seen a plague in the house.’”

A rabbinic explanation is that tsaraath is punishment for lashon ha’ra, the evil tongue. We see this in the case of Miriam, sister of Moses who became leprous after saying unkind things about Moses. The person who has spoken evil against another must first recognize their error before anything can be done to remedy the plague.

Recognizing our sin

We still need to recognize when we have spoken against another before we can be free of the plague it causes within us. We don’t see tsaraath on the skin or in the walls of our house today, but we see the damage of the disease in our minds and hearts when we say or do things that are uncomplimentary or damaging to others. Lashon ha’ra is common today. It slips out so easily it’s seldom noticed.

Confessing doesn’t fix the damage

But the damage is done, to the person talked about, the person listening, and the person who speaks. A story about a man who recognized he had spoken evil of another. He went to a rabbi to ask how he can be forgiven. The rabbi told him to take a feather pillow, cut it open, and let the feathers fly on the wind. The man did so, then returned to the rabbi asking, “Am I now forgiven?” “Not quite,” the rabbi said, “now go gather all the feathers.” It is obviously impossible, but that is the message, we cannot undo the effects of unkind or evil words we speak to and about others so we must guard our tongues.

Guard the tongue

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.” (Mat 12:36) John tells us however, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1Jn 1:9) Hence the need of the homeowner to decide to go to the priest and confess the plague. The house in the land is because Father knew that it would be an ongoing problem, more so when the vicissitudes of the wilderness were behind us.

Torah portion Tzav

Torah portion Tzav

Why did Elohim give us these portions on sacrifice considering that for two thousand years we have had no temple, and therefore no sacrifices have been performed?

Why take up valuable space in the Torah to explain them in such detail?

One reason is that we are living in the times of the end. We haven’t needed these instructions on offerings for two thousand years, but when they were given, there were still almost fifteen hundred years during which the sacrifices would be performed, and the people needed to know how they were performed.

But why are we reading about them this week in 2020?

All things come with a price.

The reason is difficult to see in English, but in Hebrew is clearer.

What we read as sin offering is simply sin chatat in Hebrew. Same with guilt, or trespass, offering. In Hebrew, it is guilt, asham. In a clear sense, we bring our guilt and our sin and the priest burns them in the fire on the altar.

While we don’t bring animal offerings, we still have the opportunity and responsibility to bring our sin and guilt to the heavenly altar.

Complete dedication

When a non-priest sins, the priest who offers the person’s sacrifice gets to eat a portion as payment for his service. But when a priest sins, his offering is completely consumed. No part of the offering is eaten.

Yeshua told us we are to be a nation of priests, and as such, we are told to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice, completely, just as the priest’s offering in our Torah portion this week.

No part of us is to be held back.

Separation/set apart/holy

Our Torah portion makes a clear separation between priests and everyone else. Priests are consecrated and anointed. They are holy, set apart, to the work of the tabernacle and to the service of Elohim. The work they do is no less physical, precise, or demanding than anyone else, but it is all in service to Elohim.

Even when they return to their homes after their assignment at the tabernacle is completed for that season, they are still the teachers of the Torah to their community.

Do all to Yehovah

So to, we should recognize that regardless of the work we do, our careers, our service, even in our families, even as we are counseled in the Apostolic writings, “And whatever you may do, work from the soul as to the Lord and not to men,” (Col 3:23).

By doing so, we are witnesses to His glory, and as we do, we will “Let our light so shine before men, that they may see our good works, and glorify our Father which is in heaven.” (Mat 5:16).

Torah portion Vayikra 2020

Torah portion Vayikra, and he called, Leviticus 1:1 – 6:7

Be aware of our actions

It could also be said, beware of our actions. We can at times be engaged in actions that seem to be right, but if we are to stop and consider what we are doing, we could well recognize that they are not in accordance with Father’s will or His plans for us.

We see an example of this recognition in our portion this week.

If all the assembly (aydot) of Israel shall err, and the thing has been hidden from the eyes of the assembly, and they do that which is not to be done to any of all the commands of Yehovah, and are guilty; when the sin shall be known, that which they have sinned against it, then the congregation (kahal) shall bring near a bull, a son of the herd, for a sin offering. And they shall bring it in front of the tabernacle of the congregation. And the elders of the congregation (aydot) shall lay their hands on the head of the bull before the face of Yehovah. And they shall slaughter the bull before the face of Yehovah. (Lev 4:13-15)

If All the assembly shall err

“If all the assembly (aydot),” basically all the people, or at least the majority, “shall err,” in other words, they have been doing something wrong in Elohim’s eyes, but they were unaware. When they become aware of their sin, transgression, or iniquity, they are to stop doing it, turn from their violation, and offer sacrifice.

We learn that it is both conceivable and prophesied in this that the entire assembly, each person, could be in violation. When it becomes known, it is the responsibility of the congregation, kahal, translated into the Greek in the Apostolic Writings as church to bring the sacrifice, and the elders, the representatives, of the people, aydot are to sacrifice the bull.

How could all the assembly err?

Why were the people allowed to get into the situation where they as a whole were engaged in a violation of the instructions?

One possible answer is they thought they were doing it right and nobody bothered to check back with the written instructions. Another answer may be that they were led astray, either by one of their own group, or by strangers who came into Israel with a “better” idea. The reason we are shown in the Apostolic Writings is that the leadership was afraid Rome would come and take their places and the nation; they were afraid of the government.

Return to the TaNaKh

Regardless of the reason, our responsibility is to return to the Torah and TaNaKh and find out what Elohim says we are to do, and not do, and change what we are doing to comply with His instructions. In Yeshua’s day, we see a fulfillment of this prophetic instruction given in our portion. Caiaphas the high priest recently said,

‘“You know nothing at all, Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.’ And this spoke he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Yeshua should die for that nation;” (Joh 11:49-51)

Then, in violation of the Torah, Caiaphas tears his garment, and the elders proceed prophetically to carry out the Torah instructions for a sin sacrifice for the people.

Then the high priest tore his garments, saying, He blasphemed! Why do we have any more need of witnesses? Behold, now you have heard His blasphemy. What does it seem to you? And answering, they said, He is liable to death. Then they spat in His face, and beat Him with the fist, and some slapped Him, saying, Prophesy to us, Christ. Who is the one striking You? (Mat 26:65-68)

Insurance against error

If even the elders in Yeshua’s day and in the congregation in the wilderness can go astray and lead the people astray, even so it can happen in our day.

We should be mindful to return often to the Scriptures and reflect on our actions and philosophies to see they align with Father’s instructions. In this way, in our day and culture we may be blessed to be, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of Yahweh, make his paths straight.” (Mat 3:3)

Draw near

That is why we study the Torah portion every week, to become conversant with Father’s actual instructions and to draw near to Him. As recorded in James, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. (Jas 4:8)

Have a blessed and healthy week. Shalom.

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