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)