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.

Torah Portion Yitro February 15 2020

The wisdom of counselors

 In our portion Yitro (Jethro) we learn that Moshe is sitting all day long answering questions and rendering judgments. Yitro points out to him that it is not good, that it wears the people and Moshe out.

Yitro suggests that Moshe share the burden of judgment, and follows it with “If you do this thing, and God command you.” It was a good suggestion, but Yitro recognized that God needs to approve even the best sounding ideas.

…And Moses chose men of ability from all Israel and made them heads over the people; rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. And they judged the people at all times; the hard matters they brought to Moses, and every small matter they judged themselves. (Exo 18:13-27)

The psalmist recognized the wisdom in Yitro’s suggestion as well.

In the absence of wise counsels the people fall, but safety is in abundance of counselors. (Pro 11:14)

 Counselors connected with justice, righteousness, and faithfulness

 Isaiah prophesied that the time would come that Elohim

…will return your judges as at the first; and your counselors, as at the beginning; then you shall be called the city of righteousness, a faithful city. Zion shall be redeemed with justice, and her returning ones with righteousness. (Isa 1:22-27)

Why would counselors be connected with a city’s righteousness?

One reason is the qualification of a counselor. The person must be knowledgeable in the Torah, and as such will be able to direct the government in the paths of righteousness. If the counselor is unlearned in the Word of God, he won’t be able to discern the right way, nor will he be able to hear the Ruach ha Kodesh (Holy Spirit) guidance.

Thus says Yehovah, Stand in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and you shall find rest for your souls... (Jer 6:16)

Counselors of wisdom

Not all those who are wise have the right kind of wisdom. Paul cautioned the Corinthians:

Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seems to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He takes the wise in their own craftiness. (1Co 3:18-19)

True wisdom shows

 How can we know what wisdom someone possesses? James gives us a list of signs of true wisdom to look for.

Who is wise and knowing among you? Let him show his works by his good behavior, in meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and contention in your heart, do not boast and lie against the truth. This is not the wisdom coming down from above, but is earthly, beastly, devilish. For where jealousy and contention are, there is confusion and every foul deed. But the wisdom from above is firstly truly pure, then peaceable, forbearing, yielding, full of mercy and of good fruits, not partial and not pretended. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for the ones making peace. (Jas 3:13-18)

As in all things, we need to be aware and cautious about who we choose as our counselors, and what their qualifications are. It is good to have counselors because they can help us discern if the path we are on is the right path, and if the decisions we are considering are as good as we think they are. It is equally important to be cautious that our counselors are qualified for the job from God’s perspective.

The best counselor

 The Holy Spirit is the ultimate counselor. If you are in tune with Him, and recognize His voice He will keep you on the straight path. Just make certain it is the Holy Spirit you are listening to and not some other spirit.

Torah Portion Beshelach February 7, 2020

Torah portion Beshelach

Should we be afraid to approach our Father when things are not going well? As we read portion Beshelach, we might begin to wonder. Look how Moshe and Elohim respond to the problems the Children of Israel encounter in the wilderness in our portion.

Justified Concern

There is no food. The seventy souls who entered Mitzrayim with Jacob have grown to an estimated 2 million approximately. Food for such a multitude is a big deal.

 It’s not as though they could find a fruit tree, or two, or a dozen, we are talking a serious quantity of rations to feed everyone.

There is a right way and a wrong way

The people are correct in asking for food, but it is the way they ‘complain,’ that the problem lies.

“And Moses and Aaron said to all the sons of Israel, ‘At evening you shall know that Yehovah has brought you from the land of Egypt; and in the morning you shall see the glory of Yehovah, for He hears your murmurings* against Yehovah. And we, what are we that you murmur** against us?’ And Moses said, ‘When Yehovah gives you flesh to eat in the evening, and bread in the morning, to satisfaction; when Yehovah hears your murmurings* which you are murmuring** against Him, you will see. And what are we? Your murmurings* are not against us, but against Yehovah.’” (Exo 16:6-8)

*telunah - grumbling: - murmuring in the sense of obstinacy

**lun - to be obstinate especially in words, to complain: - abide all night, continue, dwell, endure, grudge, be left, lie all night.

The wrong way

Lun is the root of telunah. This is not asking for food, it’s not even just complaining there is no food, there is more to it. The sense in the Hebrew is that they are obstinate, like a child who digs in her heels and says, “I’m not going anywhere until you give me what I want.”

The right way

Look at the contrast between their attitude and that of Moshe, Job, Peter, and Paul;

“And Moses returned to Yehovah and said, ‘Lord, why have You done evil to this people? Why then have You sent me? And since I came in to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done evil to this people. And You did not certainly deliver your people.’” (Exo 5:22-23)

 “For I know my redeemer lives, and he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.” (Job 19:25-27)

“Peter said to Him, ‘Even if it were necessary for me to die with You, I will not deny You, never!’ And all the disciples said the same.” (Mat 26:35)

“Not that I speak as to need, for I have learned to be content in whatever state I am. And I know to be humbled, and I know to abound; in everything, and in all things, I am taught both to be filled and to hunger, both to abound, and to lack.” (Php 4:11-12)

Remembering our place

Moshe complained, but he wasn’t obstinate. In this, we can learn how it is acceptable to take our complaints to Elohim; in fear, anger, or frustration, but not obstinately. Father knows we get mad sometimes, even at Him, Paul even says, “Be angry but don’t sin.” Eph 4:26. We need to remember even in times of frustration who we are and who He is.